The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-09-16
MEETS ALDERMEN ON MONDAY
Members of lie State Board of Control
Declare That His Zeal for Better
Conditions May Have Run Away
With His Pen-To Make Changes.

William H. Graebner Of Milwaukee,
the member Of the state board of con-
troll who recently numerically roasted
the Kenosha poor farm and the mem
bers Of the common council of the city
following the advice Of Dave on
Monday afternoon and met each other
face to face. The Milwaukee man had
learned in advance that the members
OF the council were in a belligerent
frame Of mind and he hurried to make
an abject apology for some Of the
things he had said in regard to the
poor farm. He declared that he had
never expected that his report to the
city would be given out for publication
and admitted that he might have made
his statement of conditions at the poor
farm ulwarrantably strong in his zeal
to get Kenosha to clean up, paint up
and clear up the poor farm.
The meeting Of the council with Mr..
G aebner was limited to between
trains'' but in the hour that the two
were together there We're a lot Of things
said. Mr.. Graebner referred to a part
Of his report as a !" German joke Of
course some Of the Aldermen who had
closely followed recent events took it
that he meant it was an atrocity.
At the conclusion of the discussion
of ho Al Il Of
the council had come to the conclusion
that while Graebner had far exceeded
any official authority he might have
had in making the report that it still
remained a fact that there were lot of
changes to be made at the poor farm.
Graebner declared that the Board of
Control vas ready to wash its hands of
the matter now that he had laid the
conditions fully before the council. His
suggestions along many lines were taken
in good faith by the council and it is
probable that they will be carried out.
Other recommendations will be either
forgotten or thrown into the discard.
Tt was admitted by the members of the
council that the poor house on the farm
was sadly in need Of better water and
sewer systems and these are to be in
stalled at once. The new well was dug
with the idea of meeting just such de-
mands. The council members agreed
that the inmates of the poor house
should not use the kitchen for lava
tory They admitted that a shower
bath. could be Of great value and that
one should be provided. It was insisted
by members of the council and by
Keeper Meyer that even with the most
model equipment for the bath room the
city would need regiment of soldiers
to force some of the men to take
baths. The need Of better bathing ia
cilities, however, was admitted by all
and some provision will be made along
this line. Cleanliness Of beds and bed
ding came in for long discussion and
in this Graebner hurried to say that
he had not meant to in any way criticize
Mrs. Meyer in regard to the conditions.
He declared that the bedding had been
used for so long ! time that it has be
come so saturated with filth that it was
impossible for even the most careful
housewife to keep it clean. He urged
the substitution Of straw ticks for mat
tresses at the poor farm with the under
standing that these ticks could be fire.
quentlv washed or thrown away when
they became dirty. The members of the
council showed willingness to install
proper fire escapes for the building and
also agreed to work out plan for Sc
curing better heating system. Just
as soon as the electric light wires
are carried out to the Sanatorium cleo
trio light will be added at the poor
house. This will remove one of the
great dangers of fire.
The meeting Of the council with
Graebner cleared the situation pretty
fully and it is expected that as a result
of it the city poor farm will be greatly
improved. Common humanity has de-
manded changes out at the farm and
the members Of the council seem to be
willing to do anything in reason.