The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-27
ALL WANT
DOLLAR GAS.
City Council Will BE Satisfied
With Nothing Else.
Members Still Hope Promises
May Be Redeemed.
MAYOR is POSITIVE.
Says Topeka Should Pay No
More Than One Dollar.
FaVOrs Public Ownership of
All General Utilities.
TO BE URGED TO ACT.
City's Representatives Have
Waited Long Enough.
Opinions From Members of the
Council.

The Topeka city council is unani-
NOUS on the proposition of lower gas
rates for this city. AS low a rate as
possible with reasonable profit ac-
cruing to the gas company on its in
vestment is what is wanted, and the
members of the council feel that this
means dollar gas.
UNLESS the gas company shows some
sign of redeeming its promise" said
Mayor Charles Drew today, II am in
favor of the council taking the matter
up at once. The promise of lower gas
rates was made in open council, and
but years time was asked by the rep
resentatives of the company. More than
a year has now passed, and it is only
just to the city of Topeka for the gas
company to do something in reference
to it's promise. Personally, would
like to see dollar gas in Topeka. l
think the conditions here are such that
gas can be furnished at a dollar rate
and the company still make a reason
able profit on its investment. OF course
such a profit will have to be allowed
the company, as any action that would
deprive it of a reasonable return on the
money invested would undoubtedly be
unconstitutional.
In reference to the municipal owner
ship of the gas plant, am in favor of
municipal ownership of all public utili-
ties. However. L want to see the
question of the city owning the water
works settled first, and particularly for
this reason would like to see gas fur
nished at reduced rate by the present
corporation for few years at least
Councilman James Warner. who was
active in stirring up the gas company
at the time the promise of reduced rates
was made. said today that Mr.. Charles
K. Holiday, the Topeka attorney for
the company, stated to him a few days
ago that the company intended to vol
y-ilx he ha
next 80 days. While such statement
is at variance with the statement of
Colonel c. X Holiday and the direct
representatives of the company in this
city, it forms very welcome news. Colo
mel Holiday stated that because of the
great expenditure incident to the i'm
provements on the plant it would be
impossible for the company to reduce
the rates at this time, and the other
representatives of the company said
that they knew of no contemplated ac-
tiOn one way another.
Mr.. Holiday was positive in his
statement to me, - said Mr.. Warner. He
said the company intended to make it's
promise good within the next 80 days,
and for this reason I objected to any
action being taken in reference to the
gas question at the last meeting of the
city council. Mr.. Holiday did not say
to what extent a reduction might be
expected, but the idea that has been
held out to the council all along is that
this city would be given dollar gas as
were completed. Dollar gas is what is
wanted in Topeka, and the gas consum-
ers should not be compelled to pay
greater rate.
LAS I understand it the Gas company
will have modern plant in every way
when the improvements are entirely
completed, and there is no question that
gas can be furnished as cheaply in To-
peka in other cities where the rate is
now 81 and less. At the time the matter
was before the council over a year ago,
the company stated that the present
rate had to be maintained because of
the limited capacity of the holder and
the daily leakage because of the old
plant, but that conditions would be diff
ferent after improvements had been
made. To now say that because of
these very improvements it will be i'm
possible to reduce the price of gas is
altogether unreasonable. If the COM
pany doesn't make its promise good. I
am in favor of going into the matter in
earnest"
Everybody realizes that the price of
gas in Topeka is too high,' said Coun-
Gilman Nettels in discussing the matter.
Il want to see the rates reduced in ac-
cordance with the promise to the coun-
ell. Just how much of a reduction
should be made I am not prepared to
say, for the reason that I do not know
what constitutes a reasonable profit on
the investment here. But it is unrea-
sonable that Topeka consumers should
be compelled to pay a greater rate than
consumers in other cities where condi-
be justly made. A promise has been
made the council for a reduction in
rates, and 1 want to see the promise
made good"
"Of course I am in favor of reduc-
tion in gas rates. said Councilman J.
w. F. Hughes. Every citizen in To-
peka is in favor of that proposition. The
gas company has a promise record,
and it assuredly should be made to stick
| to it. If it shows a disposition to re-
| duce the rates as agreed I think the
| council should withhold action and al
| low a voluntary reduction. Otherwise
1 believe in the council taking the mat
ter up, and securing for Topeka cheaper
gas
Il know that the Gas company has
been spending large sums of money i'm
| proving its plant here" said Council
man F. G.. Willard. For this reason
| it might be a question if it would be
possible for the company to inaugurate
| a reduction just at this time. But
| there is no question that Topeka should
ultimately have lower gas rates. I am
willing to see the company make 10 per
cent on its investment, but anything