The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-11-08
"CURFEW" FOR FORD FLEET
City Atty Slater Tells Council That It's
Power TO Regulate Public Utilities Is
Curbed by Railroad Commission
Law and Suggests Appeal.

Members of the police and fire der
partments of Kenosha are to have aid
from the city in meeting the high cost
of living, as at the meeting of the
Common Council on Monday night the
council voted by an overwhelming ma
jority to grant to the men employed in
the two departments bonus of ten
dollars monthly for such time as the
members Of the council believed that an
increased wage was necessary to make
it possible for the members of the de-
partments to keep pace with the rising
cost Of living. Some Of the police Of
fcers came mighty near "spilling the
beans" They sent communication
to the council in which they "peti-
toned and demanded an increase in
pay. III was evident that a majority
Of the members Of the council were in
favor of raising the pay of the men
temporarily, but they bucked on the
"demand." They held that the Of
fcers had been just little Trough -
and they at once demanded to know
whethe~ or not the police officers would
90 on a strike if the demand was not
met and met promptly. A representa-
tive of the force present declared that
the men had no idea of quitting in a
body but that the word demand had
been put in the petition by some one
who did not know the Difference that
police officer was expected to show
to an alderman. The ruffled aldermanic
dignity insisted that the petition be
sent back for the elimination of the
demand. Tt rested in the police Office
for half an hour and when it came
back in expurgated form the council
promptly voted the bonus.
Curfew for Fords.
No longer will the fleet of Fords
owned by the city be seen racing about
the city on nights and Sundays as the
council voted, without decision, to open
a municipal garage and under the order
of the council all Of the automobiles
owned by the city-including those
purchased under the order ofthe Board
of Education--must be in the garage
at six O'Clock in the evening. The
coNncil has not fixed the penalty for
the officials who fail to comply, but
they will probably be guilty Of con-
tumacy and subject to being laid off
the pay roll. The city has rented a
garage belong to DR.. Helen Harbert
and an expert automobile nan will be
placed in charge of it. He will have
charge of the repair of all the city
cars. Tt is also expected that the
city will carry full supply of parts
at the garage.
Commission is Only Remedy.
Replying to the petition of Virginia
Wulf, which asked the city to take up
her battle against the Wisconsin Gas
and Electric Company for alleged dis
elimination in supplying heat to Gus
toners in the city, the special commit
tee composed of the mayor and the city
attorney sent an interesting report to
the council. 1t touched especially on
the rights of cities to regulate public
service utilities since the passage of
the railroad commission law. It point
ed out clearly that the rights of cities
to enforce provisions of franchises had
been curtailed by this law and that if
individual property owners sought red
ress it would be necessary for them to
oO N Aha ro;1rood oo,,, M; Co., ~, for -
The petition of Miss Wulff was ordered
certified to the commission with a re-
quest that it be acted on. In the report
the committee declared that any indi-
vidual with a grievance against the
company would have full legal redress
under an appeal to the court, but that
it was not the province of the city to
fight such individual battles.
The question of the re-opening of the
Sunday dance hall in Kenosha did not
reach the council. One dance hall
owner was present but he made no eff
fort to address the council. An appeal
was made to the city attorney to draw
a petition along these lines, but he
had declined to do it. 1t was declar-
ed that the sentiment of the copn.
cil was opposed to the proposed fitting
Of the lid,
The proposed widening of Park and
Wisconsin streets, west of Chicago
street, was discussed at some length by
the council and the city attorney was
ordered To prepare an order for con.
demnation of property with the view
Of fixing a proposed street line and
with the further view of fixing the
amount to be paid in benefits and dam
ages. 1t is understood that no action
will be made to actually change the
street lines at this time, but that the
fixing Of the new line is an emergency
measure and it viii be little mere than