The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-04-15
Rowe QUITS SESSION IN HUFF
Alderman From the Second Ward Turns
Down Plan to Have an Arbitration
Board Named to Decide on Price For
City Property and of Simmons Co.

mcIHU6rS OF Inc common cOunc1I ana
the members of the water commission
met at the office Of the commission on
Monday afternoon to discuss the pro-
posed sale Of the pumping station to
the Simmons Manufacturing Company,
but the meeting ended without any de-
clslon being reached as to the proposed
terms for the sale. Alderman Rowe, a
member Of the committee, failed to
stand with the majority of the mem
bers of the body and when the meet
ing was half over he took his hat and
left and declined to have any further
part in the deliberations The alderman
from the Second appears to be vigor-
ously opposed to the proposed sale of
the plant.
Other members Of the joint commit
tee did not show any marked opposition
to the plan and there seemed to be
great sentiment in favor Of a change
in the location of the pumping station
from the present location to the pro-
posed location on Washington Island.
The only matter at issue was the ques-
tion of the price that the city should
receive for its property. The offer of
the Simmons company is $4,000 in
cash and seven acres of land on Wash
ington Island. Alderman Rowe sug-
gested that the cash should be at least
$4,000 and there is some question as
to whether or not he would be favor
able to the sale at this price.
Much Of the meeting was given over
to answering the objections of the con-
tending alderman. 1t was suggested
that the matter be referred to board
of arbitration to be named by the com
mittee which would place value on
the property Of the city and that own
ed by the Simmons company to be
taken in exchange. Alderman Rowe did
not concur in this suggestion. He was
asked to name his own board of arbi-
tration to fix the value but he again
declined.
Alderman Bounsall, chairman of the
committee on building and water works
of the council and as such chairman of
the special committee is working on a
proposition to submit a counter propo-
sition to the Simmons company This
proposition would provide thatSthe city
receive pay not only for the pump
house and the land adjoining in other
lands and cash but that the city also
be paid something for the streets which
"a oo%o &c
a part of the proposed deal.
There was no representative of the
Simmons company present at the meet
ing on Monday and when the adjourn
ment was taken plans were made to call
another meeting later in the week at
which some representative of the COM
pany will be present. The officials of
the company have intimated that they
believe their proposition to the city a
liberal one and that they do not care
to make any further propositions. Not
withstanding this fact, the officials of
the company have shown willingness
to treat with the city before the final
contract is made. Members of the coun-
Gil have shown an active interest in the
proposed plan. The question has been
raised as to the necessity of the coun-
Gil members voting on the proposition
and it is generally believed that the
water board would have the right to
60 ahead and make the deal. 1t is
pretty certain however, that the board
would not take this action without the
sanction of the council. It had been
hoped that the matter could be settled
before the reorganization of the new
council on account of the fact that the
aldermen now serving were pretty well
versed in all conditions of the deal, but
there is little reason to believe that
the matter can be closed up at the
last meeting of the council on Monday
evening, and it viii probably go over
to the new council. All the members
of the committee with the exception of
Alderman Swift will be members of the
new council.
The members of the water board are
anxious to get some final action in the
matter SO that the new intake can be
started early in the building season.