The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-05
TRUST WEAKENS.
People May Buy Five Cent Chunk
of Ice From Wagons.
Manager Diekey Issues Orders
to Drivers.
STORM OF PROTESTS.
Combine Officers Decide It Is
Wise to Make Concessions.
Still Too Early to Give Up the
Fight.
Arrogant Attitude of Trust
Has Changed.

The ice trust is weakening The storm
of protest which has followed the dis
closures made by the State Journal has
brought concessions from Manager W.
L Dickey.
Poor people can now buy ice in as
small quantities as five cent lots, direct
from the ice wagons.
The company also promises to not
raise the price during the summer
months. No concession has yet been
made concerning the advance payment
Of ice bills by forcing customers to take
coupon books paying for them in ad-
vance.
The arrogant attitude assumed by the
officers of the ice trust has been chang
ed They no longer threaten to leave
the people of Topeka without ice.
The order has been issued to the dri-
vers of ice wagons to sell ice in five cent
lots. A proposition has also been made
to sell ice to the city for 50 Der ton.
provided the city wishes to enter the
ice business and sell ice to those who
cannot afford to pay the prices exacted
by the ice octopus.
II have given on order" said W. L.
Dickey, manager OF the Peoples COM
pany. that all drivers should sell ice to
those who wanted it in five cent lots
Manager Dickey explained to a re-
porter for the State Journal today why
the company had ruled against the
small sales for cash to occasional users
from the wagon, for the reason that
each driver took out ice enough each
morning to supply the customers on
his route, and should he take out an
additional amount there would be
margin of waste.
TT seems" said one large customer,
that a company which can come in
and collect for all the ice it will de-
liver during the month to come in ad-
vance, can afford to stand a little loss
in this respect, rather than shut off
altogether the use Of ice by some peo-
pie. If they did not control the whole
ice business, and the small and occa-
sional buyers could make their pur-
chases from other wagons, then the
situation would present a different
aspect But as it is the company is in
a position to dictate Come to our
terms or go without ice.' Not only can
they say that to small consum ers but
to the large consumers. And no one
has redress from short weights. The
more kicking one does on this score
has only resulted in the kicker getting
shorter weights"
The concession of the ice company
in offering to sell ice to the city for 81
per ton and allow the city to furnish
Ice to the poorer classes upon the con-
ditiOn that the city not enter into COM
petition with the regular patrons OF
the ice company is looked upon gen.
orally as a bluff.
In ESmporia the ice trust has been
brought to time. and it is argued that
other good results may be brought about
here in that manner. The fight at EN-
pOria has run through course of nearly
two months The suit was brought to
have receiver appointed for the com
receiver placed the prices of ice at rea-
sOnable rates. The people who formed the
trust were then forced to dissolve part
nership and the citizens are now being
served 5 before
It is argued that some such action as
that could be taken here with good ef-
feet
Let the consumer watch his cakes of
ice and demand that full weights be re-
cefved. The council can compel the COM
pany to carry scales on the wagons, IL
deemed advisabl
Honest weights. reasonable prices and
plans to serve the whole people. the poor
as well as the rich, with this necessary
article is what Is demandeo-
FARNSWORTH SAYS IT'S A FAKE.
1.-THE proposition which the Ice company
has made is a bluff said Food Inspector
J. P. Farnsworth today 'The company
realizes that it must do something to
ouiet the popular Indignation, and it is
irving this plan of fake concessions
There is nothing in this scheme to sell
ice to the city at 3 a ton. The company
has taken care to tie string to It so that
n oh worthless prODOSitiOD.'