The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-04-29
''SMELLER' HERE
SEEK COMPLAINTS

F. W. Huels, official "smeller out"
OF the Wisconsin railroad commission
came to Kenosha Monday afternoon
to make Investigations of gas bills,
meter readings and bookkeeping
methods of the Wisconsin Gas & Elec-
trio company. Kenosha people who
have any special complaint can notify
Mr.. Huels by calling the offices of the
gas company. He will attend in per-
son to these complaints investigating
bills and investigating meters. Engi-
neer Huels has just completed an in
yestigatien of similar nature at La
Crosse and he is fully advised as to
just what kind Of job he has before
him.
Goes Straight to Books.
Il don't know just how long am
going to be here" said Mr.. HueIs. 81
am going into the thing just as deep
as | can, and of course this will include
some Investigations of the books Of
the company. | am going to see the
complaints which have not come out
into the open before the hearing of the
other day. | will be glad if people
will make complaints to me, but if they
do not am expected to find them from
the books of the company. OF course,
/ haven't anything to say about the
Investigation until make it."
Mr.. Huels is not making his first
investigation He was in Kenosha be-
fore when Kenosha complained on the
quality of the gas served to it. He
spent weeks here and became pretty
well acquainted with conditions sur
rounding the business methods of the
Kenosha plant of the Wisconsin Gas
& Electric company.
. Commission to Act Later.
Mr.. Huels will submit, his findings
to the members of the railroad com
mission later on and his findings the
commission is expected to take some
action. He has been given all the in
formation gathered by Engineer Stein
berg at the recent hearing and at sub
sequent private Investigations and has
a transcript of the evidence as pre-
sented at the hearing held a week
ago. He is prepared to test out meters
if necessary and will personally make
Investigations Of all complaints of
soaring bills.
No Gas Famine Here.
Today was the day set by Manager
Calendar of the gas company for a
gas famine for Racine and Kenosha.
It was announced on Monday evening
that the danger for Kenosha was pass
ing. Manager Koenes said that a boat
load of coal had been shipped to Ke-
nosha and that it was expected to ar
rive on Wednesday. "We have enough
coal to run the Kenosha plant until
some time later in the week and if
necessary we can supply domestic con-
sumption from this plant. We believe
that wit hthe coal coming on Wednes-
day, we will be able to get through
without shutting the gas off from
any consumer"
Mr.. Koenes said that if it became
necessary to shut off gas from anyone
the supply to the factories would be
curtailed and that with this load off
the system, he was convinced that the
local plant could supply the gas need
ed for domestic consumption. Coal
is also coming by lake for the Racine
plant and it is expected to arrive in
time to prevent q shut down of the
plant on Wednesday. 1t was declared
that if any curtailment was made
necessary in Racine it would mean
the shutting down of the entire plant
and the cutting off of all consumers
there.