The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-14
BIRD AND WATERWORKS.
Tells the Taxpayers League That the
City Should Own Them.

City Attorney w. A. S. Bird declared
unquahhedly in favor of the city of To-
peka purchasing and controlling the
waterworl0s plant, and in the mean
time pending such an action, to fight
Tor every foot of ground which it was
r1ghtfully entitled to. He had been
invited to address the Taxpayers league
OF Shawnee county at their meeting
tuesday evening at Hamilton hall.
When NJ. Heery called the meeting
to order Mr.. Bird was asked to make
his remarks on the subject of the wa
ter rate ordinance and the water COM
pany situation. He said: when this
ordinance was brought up I was in
formed that the Topeka Water compa-
ny did not expect to comply with the
new rates am satisfied that the
mayor and council have the right,
not only by ordinance, but by common
law to regulate the water rates Sew
eraI have asked me what they should
90 about paying the water bills. have
told them to tender to the collector the
amount due under the new rate If
the company will not take it and they
smut OH the water, then any citizen has
the right to make complaint. If any
one comes to me I will issue a com
plant and have the collector arrested.
That will bring things to a focus
and that is Just what we want.
should the company turn off the wa
ter at any place because the new rate
was offered, then the people would re-
sort to some drastic method to make
them comply with the ordinance. 7
ana make complaint to me that the
hlgher rate has been charged. I will
give them a complaint in five minutes
aIter they get in my office
Ultimately there is but one solution
OF TINS question. The city should own
ana operate It's own waterwOrks plant
Ine city has been paying for water
rent since 1885 the sum of Sl4 500 a wear
The report of the receiver of the Tone
ka Water company showed that the
Oot(e ~ expenses for year were but
Sd9'00o- The income OF the company is
SoO,UeO. If the city owned the water
WORKS plant 1T could reduce the rates
one-third and in addition create a
sinking fund which in twenty years
would pay for the plant. The Origi-
mai cost Of the plant was $24O, 900. It
was sold to the Topeka Water com
pany Tor $3.50. 900. Immediately after
ward they took a mortgage on the
plant ana gave a negotiable bond for
81, OS0,00O. In changing the plant to
It's new location and making some i'm
prOVements about 5000 900 was spent
Then the stock was watered, and prob
ably 81 0O0, 900 was taken out Of the
company. 1t has been stated that the
plant could be duplicated for $500 OOO
1here are three ways in which the
city might obtain possession of the wa
terWarks plant: % By negotiating
and purchasing the plant; (2) by con-
gen, denning , the property. securing it by
law; and 90 by constructing a new plant
and issuing bonds.
The company is now in the hands of
a receiver. The company will try to
keep it that way. I shall file nv brief
in the quo warranto proceedings in the
court by Saturday evening.
There is no doubt in my mind but that
the supreme court will forfeit the
franchise of the old company The
company, I understand, expects to
night every move of the city in the case" /
The league appointed a committee
consisting of Messrs. S. Snattinger, b
r Golden and A. Burghart to cooper
ate with the city attorney in the case
me city council was commended by the |
league for its present aggressive ac- |
tons in forcing the water case to a |
show down.
County Attorney A. P Jetmore was
cale0 upon Tor remarks, and he said:
Judge Foster, in a case which was be
Iofe MN some time ago, ruled that the |
water company had no right to charge
water rent for a room in which there
was no sink You know the company
charges for the number of rooms in
a house. think to have the collector
arrested would be a good. thing, but I
also think 1t would be we'll for some of
you 10 tender the company payment for |
the number of rooms in which you use
water Then If they refuse to accept |
1t in full OF account, you have criminal
action against them The Taxpayers
league IS potent element in municipal
reform. Public officers will not care
to incur the criticisms of the league for |
extravaganza in the use of public
funds. Keep up the good work.