The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-05-27
LOSING SIGHT OF THE REAL IDEA

problem.
tt is evident that the members Of the coun-
ell in their zeal to be economical have lost sight
of the ideals which brought about plans for the
general collection Of garbage in Kenosha. The
decision of the council to force the purchase OF
garbage cans at price higher than was form
erIy charged is pretty certain to put quick
and effective quietus on any suggestion that
municipal collection of garbage be made gem
eral in the city. The collection of garbage was
proposed in the city not as a money making
venture for the city but as a big movement to
secure proper disposal Of the garbage and by
proper disposal of garbage guard the health
of the people against disease germs which al
ways follow the dirty back yard and the I'M
proper disposal Of garbage. It was expected
that the collection of garbage would cost money
and that it would cost more money as the work
done came nearer to the ideals of the men
who promoted the movement. IT was expected
that the cost Of collection would be paid for
from the money raised by general taxation and
that this cost would include the purchase Of
cans to be used as well as the purchase Of
horses and wagons. If the city ever gets the
reduction plant that has been planned it will
be an absolute necessity for all the garbage
of the city to be collected in order to fulfill the
citys portion Of the contract proposed to the re-
duction company
To demand that the people buy garbage cans
means nothing in financial way to the city.
If a few people buy the cans and pay for them
they will be saved nothing in taxes and there
is no way that the city can force all Of the
people to purchase these cans If the colec-
ton Of garbage costs are charged directly
Iii oe4 al
in paying the cost Of collection and all Of them
will insist in having the city take care of the
garbage of their homes. 1t means little Wheth-
er the people pay for this service by buying
cans or by paying taxes. No one is going to
escap the cost. If the house owner must pay
the tax of collecting garbage it is going to be
charged back to the tenant, The important
thing is to make this collection Of garbage gen
era throughout the city and in this way to give
the city chance to insist on cleanliness in
handling garbage.
The city has purchased six thousand addi-
tional garbage cans and tied up in the pur-
chase Of these cans something over fifteen
thousand dollars The cans are paid for and
undoubtedly small amount of this money can
be secured for the city from selling them at
three dollars each. The people are not being
age cans along with everything else has gone
up and the city is not unfair in charging late
Corners for them three dollars instead Of two
dollars and quarter as has been charged in the
garbage can. These same people would not
start revolt against the city if they were
assessed for the collection Of garbage in the
tax roll The whole problem is one Of method
to get results. In any event the people of the
city are going to pay for it. The city has
spent something over twenty-three thousand
dollars to get ready for collection Of garbage
from all the homes Of the city. If this is to be
used for the collection Of garbage from cou-
past. The city is not profteering in selling the
cans but they are getting away from the cen
trail idea of the plan. 1t is not to be expected
that any great number Of the people of the city
are going to show any great interest in garbage
collection by buying three dollar cans than they
showed in the cans Of cheaper price 1t is tc
be expected that very large number OF the
cans now in the various repositories of the
city will be left there to rest The people dc
not want to spend money to buy garbage cans
A lot of them do not think that garbage car
is necessary for their happiness. Most Of then
would rather dump the garbage on their owl
back yard or preferably on the back yard OF
neighbor than to expend the initial cost of {
pie of thousand houses the plan immediately
becomes a miscarriage. The people who pay
for the cans are also paying taxes The people
who are getting no service at all are also pay
ing taxes.
It is to be hoped that the council will revert
to the central idea of the plaza health move
ment for cleaner city-and give away the
garbage cans with the understanding that this
will open the way for all of the homes of the
city to be served by the city.