The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-19
N A VERY FEW YEARS
Proposition to Put the Matter
to Vote
Does Not Seem Timely Although
Eventually
The City Must and Will OWE
the WaterWOrkS.

d SGLLlGI4GnL now SGCLA1S AeAA AAACA away
than ever.
President Street appeared at the in
formal meeting of the council Friday
night and held out the olive branch of
peace. He agreed that the water com
pany would accept the ordinance max
ing a 20 per cent reduction in rates
which was the only difference between
the company and the council When an
effort was before made to settle.
But after Mr.. Street had explained
his position there was brief executive
session and the nine cOuncitmen pres
ent voted not to entertain the PROPOSE
ton of the water company but in
structed the city assessor to circulate
petitions requesting the council to call
a special election to submit the question
of the issuance of bonds to build new
water works or buy the one now used
President Street will leave today for
New York and there will probably be no
more talk of a settlement of the diff
culties between the city and water COM
pany.
The proposition in its amended form
provided that the company should build
six miles of mains the first year and
two miles every year thereafter, and
that the company was to be paid so
for each hydrant placed on the extern
siOns. The city claimed the company
should put in the extra hydrantS free,
and the company claims that by the
ordinance they are entitled to $50 for
each hydrant. The other items in the
proposition were the settlement of the
South Topeka claim of S., 900 for 81, 500
the paying of the water company taxes
in the city instead of Topeka township
and the reduction of the general rates
20 per cent.
It was plain to every one that Presi-
dent Street had a hopeless task before
him when he arose to address the mem
bers of the council He reiterated the
expressed desire of the company for
peace, and said that he understood that
the question of a reduction of the gen.
eral rates was the only thing that pre-
vented a settlement before, and he in
Quired whether the council would con-
sent to a settlement on the old basis
with the general reduction Of rates in
Guided in the proposition.
Il do not want you gentlemen to con-
slider the Injunction suit filed in the
United States court as an answer to
settlement said President Street.
That is not what it was inCended to be.
to protect our employees from arrest
under the penal section of the ordinance
passed by you reducing the rates.
when I was here before did not
think that our directors would entertain
a proposition to reduce the rates 20 per
cent, and for that reason We would not
consent to that, but I am now prepared
to say that if the council would agree
to settle all differences on the basis
originally proposed that the directors
will accept the reduction, though our
rates are already low in comparison
with those in other cities.
Il know that there is a strong Senti-
ment here in favor of the municipal
ownership of the waterworks, but I do
not see how we can sell before our
franchise expires in 1901. We would
have to get the consent of all our bond
holders, and there are 800 of them, so
that it would be impossible. OF course.
there is a way in which the city can ac-
quire the plant in 1901, but do not be-
lieve that we could sell before that
time"
Councilman Burgess-You understand
iT1cr 11el -iy11 r,1xr RI
hear what you had to say, and not to
take any definite action.
President Street, understand that,
but I want to assure you that we are
willing to make sacrifices in order to
secure a settlement of our difficulties
Councilman gess-Have you form
ed any statement of what you will do
to submit to the council?
President Street, do not know that
I am ready to do that. I understand
this is in the nature of a conference.
and would first like to know whether
a proposition would be accepted if we
agreed to the demands made by the
council when the proposition for a set
Element was first made?
Councilman Warner-We should prob
ably want time to consider just as you
did. The sentiment has changed some
what since you were here before.
President Street-If the sentiment has
changed l would like to know why it
has changed?
Councilman Elliott can speak for
myself, and would like to know why
you did not accept our proposition for a
20 per cent reduction when it was first
made? I said then that you would
come to US, and 1 was right. I was
willing then to settle the trouble if you
made 20 per cent reduction. but my
eyes have been opened since then. You
have been altogether too slow.
President Street, do not see how we
could have moved any faster. I had not
authority to agree to accept a 20 per
cent reduction, but had to consult our
board of directors.
Councilman E1liott-It may not have
been too slow for you, but it was too
slow for us WeSternerS. We have had
some experience with New Workers. be
fore, and it was in. the waterworks bust
ness, too. The trouble is that you take
the advice of lawyers too much.
President Street-We are not acting
on the advice Of lawyers now.
Councilman Roundtree-AFe you will
ing to accept ordinance 400 and extend
your mains in accordance with it?
President Street-We are willing to
accept ordinance 400 as it has been con
strued by the courts
The council then went into executive
session and the proposition for a settle
ment was rejected by a unanimous
vote.
It is doubtful if the people of Topeka
are ready to vote bonds for any purpose
whatever. 1t will not be known how
much it will be necessary to vote to
ably be not much less than $500, 600
There is no occasion for haste in the
matter. The proposition to vote $780,
600 bonds to build a new waterWorls
voters. While the people of the CITY
want municipal waterworks they see
no reason for rushing the matter until
the franchise of the company expires
a few years from now, when the city
viii be prepared to taeke the plant.