The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-16
THAT GAS ORDINANCE.
Only Change Asked is the Ex-
tension of Time.

William z. Faulkner. the dollar gas
man" who wants the city to grant an
extension for the Federal Light, Heat &
Power company franchise, is expecting
to come to Topeka SOON If the council
does not start a fight on the extension
of his franchise, he will probably not
come till after the franchise is extend
ed, but as soon as that action is taken
he will come at once to Topeka, and be-
gin preparations for the big enterprise
which he proposes to establish here.
Mr.. Faulkner's attorneys have sub
mitted the following proposed amend
ment to the franchise ordinance:
"Seetion 1. That section 3 of ordi-
nance No. Pas entitled An ordinance
authorizing the Topeka Federal Light,
Heat & Power company to construct.
acquire, operate and maintain gas and
electric works for the purpose of manu-
featuring and selling gas and electricity
to the city of Topeka and the inhabit-
ants thereof. and defining the rights.
privileges and powers of the city Of
Topeka and the said the Topeka Fed
eraI Light, Heat & Power company
hereunder be and the same is hereby
amended by striking out the word
three and inserting in lieu thereof the
word four and also by striking out the
words 'twenty-four' and inserting in
lieu thereof the words 'thirty-six' where
the same occur in said section
Section ?. That this amendment be
in force and take effect from and after
its passage, provided, however, that the
extension of time hereby granted shall
not interfere with the forfeiture already
declared of the 81 600 deposited by said
company or affect any right of said city
heretofore acquired to keep and retain
said $1,000 by virtue of said forfeiture"
That part of the proposed amendment
after the word provided IN section Z
has been added by City Attorney Spen-
Ger, and viii be submitted to the city
council in the above form.
Those portions of section 9 affected
by the proposed amendments are as
follows:
1.-The rights and privileges hereby
lgranted are upon the express conditions
that said The Topeka Federal Light,
Heat q Power company shall within
three years from the date of the ac-
ceptance of this ordinance build and
complete, or otherwise acquire, gas and
electric works within the corporate
limits of the city of Topeka = and
shall have expended on such works at
least 100000 within "A months from the
date of the acceptance of this ordi-
nance
The ordinance was accepted on De-
cember %, 1899, and while the city does
not claim that the money became for
feited until May. 1902 it is possible that
1t could have been taken by the city
last December.
According to the date of acceptance,
the company would have, under the ex-
tension desired, until next December
10 Spenu @IUU,OUO on It's plant in Topeka,
and until December, 1903, to have the
plant in operation.
The members of the city council seem
to be inclined to grant the desired ex-
tension of one year. but they want the
amendment. fixed so that the cOmpanv
can not cone back al the city with a
claim for its $1,000, and while there is a
very unanimous sentiment, apparently,
in favor of securing low rates for gas
and electricity there is no disposition to
loosen the city's grip on the forfeited
bond.
Vice president John Kleinhans says
that he is informed that the company
| has no disposition to ask for any
changes in the ordinance, aside from an
extension of time The ordinance as it
stands is very similar to the ordinances
granted to corporations in Chicago. It
was modelled on one of the Chicago or
| dinances, which probably accounts for
the severe requirements made on the
/ company.