The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-04-15

and Electric company in handling bills
for gas consumption is forecasted in
the report of Alderman M, j. Donahue,
chairman of the committee on gas and
light, of the common council, who, for
three nights has been holding hearings
to get facts in regard to the alleged
sudden and terrific jump in the
amount of gas bills He has received
complaints from the east west and
central portions of the city, and will
conclude his investigation on Sunday
afternoon when he hears the COM
plants of people living on the north
side Of the city. The hearing is sche-
duled for the north side engine house
at one o'clock Sunday afternoon.
Alderman Donahue was seen at the
west side engine room on Friday even
ing "Here is one that just came in"
he said. Here is a bill Of twenty-seven
dollars and fifty cents for a months
consumption of gas from a family
consisting of a man, his wife and in
FAINT child living perfectly normal lives
in the city Of Kenosha"
Disconnected Stoves Expensive.
Alderman Donahue declared that one
Of the most interesting things he had
found in connection with the investi-
cation into gas bills was the fact that
disconnected gas stoves were something
of a luxury in houses. Here is one
man who had gas stove, and lad it
disconnected for two months, and his
bill for last month was $14. He is
willing to make an affidavit that the
gas was not used at any time during
the month"
Alderman Donahue declares that the
objections on gas bills are not sectional
but that there have been complaints
from every part of the city and that
the committee will have some excellent
evidence to lay before the council at
the meeting to be held a week from
Monday evening
Investigate Every Complaint.
The committee is not being satisfied
with hearing complaints and receiving
gas bills for the last month and from
other months to compare them with.
The committee is going right out into
homes and looking into the situation
to discover whether or not there was
special reasons for largely increased
gas BILL A leak in gas main in
a house would run up considerable
bill in month and the committee is
looking for leaks and other defects
as well as for kicks. 1t is the inten-
ton of the committee to make its re-
port fair to all parties concerned with
view of giving the company the chance
to show why these very large increases
in bills have come about.
Commission Only Redress.
a have gone far enough in this in
vestigation to see that the city must
make an immediate appeal to the rail-
road commission for full investiga-
tion into the methods of the company"
said Alderman Donahue Friday even
ing. There can be no doubt but that
these bills have gone up at an alarm
ing rate. Many people have had their
bills for gas doubled in a month with
out any appreciable increase in the
service rendered by the company. 1t
is possible that there is reason for
some increase but it is hard for me
to believe that. all of these Increases
are justified Certainly the people
with whom the members of the COM
mittee have come in contact with are
not of the opinion that they are be-
ing charged fair rates They are con-
WINGED that there is something wrong
and they are looking to the city to
find out what is wrong and what the
remedy can be"
People Not Backward.
The workings of the committee have
shown that the people of Kenosha are
not backward in protesting against
what they consider unfair charges.
Every complaint received by the com
mittee has been voluntary complaint
and the committee has not gone out
into the districts of the city seeking
complaints,
It is expected that the officials of
the company will ask that it have q
chance to make an examination Of the
complaints before they are presented
to the council. 1t is not known
whether the committee will be willing
~ dtAuW SuCu COISNlEIablOHSs lie
complaints have not been received as
confidential information and the peo-
pie making them have shown willing
ness to make afiidavits of the amount
of gas used in their homes
Mayor Boosting Investigation.
The mayor Us taking part in the
Investigation of the gas bills and he
has received in his official capacity
large number Of complaints. He has
one complaint from a householder who
insists that her bill increased nine.
hundred per cent in single month.
The bill was for seventy-fiye dollars
and some small change. Another bill
Tor . home in the city was above the
fifty dollar mark and lot of them
reported to the mayor have ranged
well over the twenty-five dollar mark.
The mayor admits that it is possible
that the people had the gas which the
bills call for but he has expressed
doubt, 1t is expected that the last
act Of the present council will be an