The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-12-09

city council kicked over the traces at
the meeting on Monday night, turned
down the report of the finance commit
tee which had recommended fifteen
mill tax levy and jumped the levy to
sixteen mills. This action was taken
with the definite purpose of making
some preparation for the payment of
the $4,000 refunding bond issue when
it becomes due and as far as the coun.
Gil could go it provided that the one
mill added to the levy be set aside as
a sinking fund to be used for the pay
ment Of these bonds in 1919. The pro.
posed levy was adopted only after an
argument Of more than two hours and
against the solid vote of the members
of the council who have been consider.
ed closely allied with the administra.
ton. When the committee reported in
favor Of fifteen mill tax levy, Alder.
man Shearer took the floor and declar.
ed that while he had signed the report
he wanted to go on record as saying
that the levy would not raise funds
enough for the operating expenses of
the city for the coming year and that it
made no provision for any sinking fund
to pay off the old debts of the city
He Immediately got support from AL.
dermen Anderson, Bounsall, Kisten,
Donahue and Goodman. Alderman
Bounsall took up the fight for the in
crease of the levy declaring that it was
simply business proposition to pro
vide for the payment Of the debts of
the city and holding that this was an
excellent year to make the provision.
The amendment to make a sixteen mill
levy finally got to q vote and was car
ried by a vote Of eleven to six. The
vote was as follows: Ayes-Roberts
Rowe, Shearer, Barr, Anderson, Kisten
Rauen, Donahue, Gundlach, Bounsall
and Goodman. Nays--Tully, Martin,
Burt, Willems, Joachim and Smith.
The mayor got terribly mixed up in
his terms and he insisted on recognizing
an apportionment of the tax money as
an appropriation. He at first declared
that it took two-thirds vote Of the
council to adopt the report of the com
mittee or to make a tax levy and he cit.
ed his story in support of his ruling
Then the city attorney was called and he
informed the council that it could not
appropriate something that it did not
have and he held that there was moth.
ing in the rules which made it necessary
for thirteen votes to be cast for the
report or the tax levy in taxes. The
mayor appeared regretful and he fenced
for time. There was no question but
that an appeal would be taken from his
decision if he decided the motion lost
and he finally decided it carried 'on
the opinion of the city attorney" II
was stipulated in the motion by which
the added mill tax was raised that the
money secured amounting to $32,330 be
put into special fund which is to be
kept intact. The motion stated speci
fcally that no loans should be made
from this fund to any other city fund
and that the money be held to pay off
the old debt. The levy takes its place
as the largest tax levy ever assessed
against the property of Kenosha in
modern times. The report of the com
mittee showing the distribution of the
funds is as follows:
To the Honorable Mayor and Common
Council of the City of Kenosha, Wis
consin.
Gentlemen:
Your committee on finance, would re.
spectfully recommend that a tax of
sixteen (16) mills or $517, 2S0.o1, be le
We'd upon the assessable property of the
city of Kenosha, for purposes as fol
lows, viz;
C+ate county county school