The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1919-08-21
Buying a Pig in a Bag.

the city officials the latest quotations
on funk is disconcerting but not
alarming. , 1t puts it up to the Kenosha
people to vote on the purchase Of pig
in a bag. The company may not have
any idea what the railroad commission
NAV think of the value of its proper
ties but it is pretty certain that some
of the long-headed officials of the COM
pany know how much they think they
ought to get to unload them. The COM
pany is probably just little fearful
of taking chance. They feel that 1t
would be horrible mistake for them
to quote price which might be lower
than that quoted by the railroad com
mission and undoubtedly they are OF
the opinion that the price made by the
commission is always subject to review
in the proper courts.
1t makes little difference to Kenosha
any way what price the company might
suggest as sits" price for the street
railway or the other utilities. The city
if it ever takes over the railway or
other utilities will be forced to take
them over at the price set by the rail
road commission
The railroad commission may be ex-
pected to deal fairly as between the
city and the company. 1t has made
valuations of public utilities in many
cities and in most cases where the ap-
peal was taken it was taken by the
former owners of the utilities. The
people can trust the railroad commits
sion with pretty good assurance that
they will get justice and they may ex-
pect that the scales may be tipped just
little in the direction Of the inter
ests Of the people. 1t would have been
lot better If the people could have
something definite to vote on. There
is still one definite proposition on which
the people may vote and that is the
proposition Of the guarantee.
For guarantee purposes it is going to
be easy to value the property of the
company. This has already been done
by President Mortimer. The value has
been placed at $4S0,0OO and Mortimer
is pretty certain not to WEIGH on this
valuation if the city wants to 60 into
partnership with the company.
This proposition still offers the city
the chance to buy street railway ser
vice without getting into the mire of
,,,,,n;osv,o1 cum ~chirN
The question that is designed to be
submitted to the people is not "Does
the city of Kenosha desire municipal
ownership of the street railway but
Do the people of Kenosha feel that
municipal ownership or municipal man
agement of the lines or municipal guar
antoe Of profits will bring to the peo-
pie of Kenosha the kind of service on
the railway that the city must have to
properly insure its grOwthf'
The direct issue Of municipal owner
ship or no municipal ownership is not
the real question. The question is
s'Servfce or No Service.'' 1t is diff
cult to believe that the city Of Keno
sha with sober second thought would
vote to take over all Of the utilities
of this company. There has been no
demand to take over all of them. The
demand for service is expressly con-
nected with the street railway proper
ty. So far as we have been able to
ascertain the service of the company
so far as light, power-yes, and even
heat--has been reasonably acceptable
to the people. The rates may have
been deemed rather high and there may
Aave at times been protests on the
character Of gas supplied, but it is
pretty certain that both Of these ohjec-
tions would be found under city con-
troll Of the utilities.
The important consideration is for
the people to get together on one prop
osition. If the shot of public opinion
is scattered all over o half a dozen
questions, the referendum will not be
of great value. 1T will amount to lit
tie more thaa protest against the
present service Of the railway. This
protest has been expressed vigorously
already. What the people want now is
suggestion to the officials of the city
as to the remedy to be applied. If the
city wants to buy the line or other
utilities, it will take long time to get
commission valuation Of the proper
ty and this will probably not be any
great enlightenment to the people. The
business of the Wisconsin Gas & Elec
trie, Company is an involved business
1t serves many communities and it is
going to be difficult to separate the
cost Of service in Kenosha and these
'ther cities Keeping away from mu
sicipal ownership and going to munich
lal guarantee, the people avoid all the
troubles over valuations with the ex
option of the one figure-the present
slue of the street railway system and
IS equipment. The cost Of the extern
ions win be an open book to the PEG
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