The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-02
Judge j. Il. Clark Wants Gas
Case Compromised.
Thinks City and Company Could
Make Amicable Adj justment.
HE OWNS NO STOCK
Brands Official Statement OF
Company as False.
Asserts That He Has Sold His
Interest.

Judge J. T. Clark, who, according to
the last official report of the Excelsior
Coke s. Gas company is the owner OF
$50 out of 900 shares in that corporation,
states in an interview given this morn
ing that he believes the gas company
should reduce its rates.
''I believe the council should make an
effort to compromise the pending iti-
CATION with the gas company" said
Judge Clark. Il think the gas company
would be willing to deal fairly with the
council A committee should be ap-
pointed to represent the city, and con-
suit with the officials of the gas COM
pany I believe a compromise can be
effected. The company will not consent
to such a large reduction as the city
demands under the dollar gas ordinance.
1t cannot afford to. 1 think the COM
pany will be willing to compromise
and avoid a long and expensive htiga-
ton. I can not in fairness to the COM
pany give an estimate OF what l. would
consider fair compromise rate
Judge Clark is now independent OF the
Excelsior Coke & Gas company, or he
probably would not have said as much
as he did. For in spite of the official
report of the gas company. Judge Clark
does not own any shares of stock in the
concern. That part of the official state
ment Judge Clark branded as false
Il have not owned any shares in the
y
ago." said Judge Clark Il have no in
terest whatever in the company. I do
not know who owns the $50 shares
which are ascribed to me by the off,
cial report. 1 did not know there were
any shares standing in my name. 1
suppose that $50 shares are possibly still
standing in my name, but do not own
a single share
Evidently the s'official report of the
Excelsior Coke & Gas company has
been doctored up to suit the needs Of
the occasion. The attorneys for the city
believe that $50 shares were put in
Judge Clark'S name to cover up some
condition of affairs which the COM
pany does not desire to come out at the
trial of the case.
Although Judge Clark does not own
any shares, he is in position to know
exactly the condition of the Excelsior
Coke and Gas company. He was the
founder of the company in Topeka, and
for twenty years was actively connect
ed with the operation of it. Speaking
about the pending litigation. he said:
'I know it to be a fact that the COM
pany can not sell gas in Topeka for 81
thousand and make any msney.
can prove this to any fair-minded man
who cares to Investigate Many teen
nica1 details of manufacture have to
be taken into consideration, and these
things do not appeal to the man who
MAS not studied the question very care
fully. The council rushed into this case
blindly with only one distinct idea, and
that was that Topeka ought to have
dollar gas because some other towns
have it. The conditions in Topeka are
different and the company will be able
to prove it's position. l think the case
should be compromised, and save a long
litigation for both the company and
the city,
When the question of compromise
was suggested to some of the city off,
GERS, they all begged to be excused
from talking about it. They declared
that it was a matter for the council to
decide, and that if the gas company
had any propositions to make, the
council would likely be glad to listen
1t is difficult to understand why gas
can not be sold in Topeka for 81 when
in dozens of other cities no larger than
Topeka the rate is 81. Are all the rest
losing money?