The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-03
READY To QUIT.
Gas Company Anxious to Com
promise With City.
Possible That a Rate of S1.2 5
May Be Made.
NO PULLING BACK.
Topeka Disposed to Treat the
Company Fairly.
City Appears Unprepared For
the Contest.
Company Armed With a Great
Many Affldavits.

A man who is closely in touch with
the city administration, and with the
opinions of the mayor and council said
this morning:
ct believe that the mayor and the
council would be willing to compromise
the gas case with the company on a
basis of SLIPS a thousand. also believe
that within a few days negotiations will
be in progress between the city and the
gas company looking toward such a. So
luton of the pending litigation
There are many indications that the
city and the gas company are trying
| to get together on a mutually satisfac-
| tory basis. The city on it's part would
repeal the dollar gas ordinance, and
pass one fixing a slips maxim UNI. The
I gas company would withdraw its pend
| ing injunction suit
Just at present, both the city and the
company are figuring on how to APP
proaeh each other with a compromise
proposition. 1t is likely that at the
meeting of the council next Monday e.
ening, a conference committee will be
appointed, to meet with the officials of
the gas company. and try to agree on a
compromise rate.
Charles Blood Smith, of the firm of
Rossington, Smith & Histed, counsel
for the gas company, is in favor of a
compromise, but he believes that the
city will not consent to any recession
from its original demand. He said this
morning:
"A compromise is always a good
thing. But the council won't compro-
mise. I believe that the gas company
will be willing to compromise the case
on fair basis. The council rushed into
this case without knowing anything
about it I understand that there was
a race between two counciln en- to see
who could introduce the dollar gas or
dinance first. City Attorney Spencer
admitted at the hearing before Judge
Hook that the city did not know any
thing about the justice of the dollar
rate. The fact is that the gas company
and the water company are being used
as political footballs"
Mayor Hughes also expressed him
self as being in favor of a compromise.
Would 81. Is be satisfactory basis to
the city?" was asked him. The mayor
replied:
1T might be that the council would
see fit to accept a $1-25 rate. But /
think that the gas company would like
ly demand about $40. That would be
a cut of only about 10 cents. I do not
believe that 1t is the part of the city to
make compromised If the gas company
has any proposition to make, I am sure
the council would give them courte
GUS and careful consideration. We don't
like expensive litigation any more than
the gas CON pany does. Before 1 signed
the dollar gas ordinance / had a con-
ference with Mr.. H. 8. Morgan, and
asked him If the company could not
make some sort of concession in rate.
and he refused to consider the sugges-
ton. I believe the city has a good case.
and stands a good show of winning,
even on the dollar basis. But we want
to give the company fair treatment. and
I will be in favor of an equitable COM
promise.
H. S. Morgan, secretary and manager
of the gas company, has collected large
amount of information in support of the
gas company's side of the case This
information was filed by the attorneys
for the gas company as an exhibit at
tached to one of Mr.. Morgan's afidavits
in support of the application for tenn
porary injunction.
The information given in the table,
together with many other points of in
terest was secured by means of q let
ter written by Mr.. Morgan to the Off
GERS in charge of some of the gas COM
panies in this part of the United States
This letter said that the city council of
Topeka has arbitrarily passed an or
dinance cutting the price of gas to 81
a thousand, and 90 cents on 10000 feet
consumption. 1t then asked for an
swers to the following questions:
Population, kind of gas made, process,
are electric lights ALSO furnished, illum-
mating rates, gross and net, fuel rates,
gross and net, output, price Of lump coke
works, kind of coal used. and where
from, amount of coal earbonized yield
per pound of COAL freight rate on GOAL,
cost of coal at works, number of miles
Of street mains, consumption per mile