The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-22


providing for a complete separation of
the school districts from the govern
ing bodies of the city and giving over
to the school board the power to levy
taxes for school purposes which pow
er is now vested in the city council or
governing body of any municipality.
This was the action sanctioned by the
city council on Monday evening at the
regular council meeting when it voted
to send City Manager G. M. Osborn
and City Attorney Clifford E. Randall
20 Madison to oppose the bill in ques-
lion when it is called for hearing.
The official notice of the council was
sailed to the proposed legislation by e
communication from the League of Wis
,onsin Municipalities, which organiza-
ion is strongly opposed to the passage
VI the bill.
To Give School Boards Power.
The bill, if passed, would provide
hat school boards be authorized to
evy taxes for school purposes under
che same restrictions now laid upon
the council, They would be allowed to
levy tax as heavy as that now allow
ed to the council and in addition would
be allowed to bond to five per cent of
the assessed valuation just as the
council is now authorized to do. 1t
would in effect make four taxing
bodies the state, the county, the
city and the school district, each OPP
Grating separately.
Under the present system the coun-
Gil actually levies the tax and turns
the money over to the school organiza-
ton, Friends of the measure maintain
that in some cities this system has
tended to hamper the development of
the schools.
The council maintains that divi-
sion of the taxing prerogative would
tend to increase the taxes as neither
body would be responsible for the total
burden which the taxpayer would be
called upon to pay
Vote to Oppose Measure.
There was concerted opinion on
the part of the council that the bill
was very Objectionable and for that
reason it was voted to send represen-
tatives to Madison to aid in opposing
the bill when it Is called before com
mittees.
At the legislature two years ago a
similar bill, known as the Patterson
bill, was introduced and almost pass
ed. This was recalled to emphasize the
need of concerted action on the part
of municipalities to prevent the meas
ure from becoming a law.
New Hotel Is Mentioned.
Attorney A. E. RucSmaster appear
ed before the council in regard to the
property owned by the Wisconsin
Theatre company on the northwest cor
ner of Park and Chicago streets. He
explained that q movement was under
way to erect a new hotel there and be-
ore definite steps in that direction
were taken, the company wished to
)ffer to sell the site to the city in the
went that it would be needed to car
v out the civic center plan by which
hat is a part of the site chosen for
he new postoffice. The company, he
declared, was willing to dispose Of the
lite inaany manner which would give
hem possibility of losing as little
money as could be expected.
President Afford explained that the
ity could not take any action because
was not authorized to buy property
or purposes other than those of the
ity and that the postoffice project was
much in a maze now that~no action
ould be expected. He stated, how
yer, that the proposal would be kept
mind and whatever steps seemed
,dvisable taken.
Want Pleasant Street Opened.
When the meeting opened the coun.
linen were much surprised to find that
hey had an audience of more than 80
ftizens. 1t soon developed that all
If these were present to seek the i'm
mediate opening of North Pleasant
street through to Division street. The
discussion showed that the project had
been under way for several years, the
old council having purchased some
land for this purpose.
The only barrier to the project is
that the opening of North Pleasant
street through the park is not in keep
ing with the major street plan of the
city planning commission, which sug-
gests that some way be found so that
residents on Racine avenue and Hast.
ings avenue also benefit from the op.
ening of a thoroughfare.
The petitioners admitted that they
did not favor the city planning com
missions plan.
~ don't think much of it and neither
does any man here in this audience,
said one of their spoksmen. you've
got the land to go ahead with this OPP
ening and it'll cost something to an
mex the other property"
It was finally agreed that the council
members would so out and look over
the ground and reserve final action un-
til that was done.
May Divide Wards.
City Manager Osborn brought up
he possibility of dividing the Second
ward into two precincts, mentioning
nat the office Of the cemetery might
je used as the new voting place. Prob
ems which arose over the drawing OF
he division line and also over the adj
disability Of dividing several other
wards into precincts, halted any def.
lite action.
A recommendation of the city mana
ser that sprinkler system to be used
It the municipal golf links be purchas,