The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-10
WaterWorks Election Will Be
Held April Z.
Mayor Parker Makes the An
nOuncement Today.
RATES TO GO DOWN.
Twenty Per Cent Slice Is to Be
Taken OFF.
This Was Promised as Soon as
Election Nas Assigned.

Mayor Parker has decided that the
waterworkS bond election snail pc neid
on Tuesday, April 7, the day of the reg
ular spring election, and ne will shortly
notify President Charles F. Street of the
Topeka Water company to come out
here and fix I'D the new schedule OK
rates which the company promised TO
put into effect as soon as the city was
ready to submit the question of city
ownership to a popular vote
The new schedule win show reduc-
ton Of about 20 per cent. from the pres
ent rates
1t is amusing to observe the magma
nimity with which the city and the
water company treat each other in re-
gard to this proposed reduction in
rates
You people, says the city to the
water company should make just as
large a reduction as possible in the
rates, because the larger the reduction
the stronger the argument against city
ownership, and the more likely the prop
osition is to be defeated"
On the contrary" says the water
company, lit is really unjust to the city
to make any reductions at all. The
bonds are certain to carry, and if we
put in any reduction in rates the city
can't raise those rates very convenient
ly after it gets the plant. If the city is
wise it won't ask us for a reduction in
rates Just now
Most people, however, would be will
ing Tor the company to carry out its
promise in regard to the reduction, and
trust to the future owners of the water
plant to continue that reduction
We are perfectly willing to make the
REDUCTION in rates., said Manager
O'Neill OF the water company today.
AS yet nothing has been done about it.
but whenever the time comes the re-
duetion will be made if the city wants
it
The officials of the water company
nave always asserted. and still assert,
that while the present company can
make 20 per cent reduction and con-
tlnue to operate the plant at a profit
the city would not be able to make such
a reduction and come out ahead on the
deal The theory is that as soon as the
water plant gets into politics. it VIII
not be run on a business basis There
is no more reason why it should be in
politics than the fire department, or that
its operation would be any more of a
Iallufe than that of the lighting plant
Mayor Parker says: We have been
promised by President Street that he
will put into effect at once a 20 per cent
reduction in rates, as provided for in the
ordinance which the city passed some
courts ever since, believe we are
ready to haNe the. reduction made. We
want to knoW exactly where we stand
before this question goes before the peo-
pie for vote. We want the people to
know exactly how much the company is
willing to do in the way of concessions.
They can then judge more fairly in re-
gard to the desiability of city owner
ship"
CITY OWNERSHIP COMES HIGH.
In the last issue of the Municipal
Journal is the following item:
Municipal ownership comes high in
Massachusetts cities. For instance. il
has taken four years and cost $3.50, 900
to value Holyoke's 100000 waterworks
1 system preparatory to its purchase by
/ the city In spite of the fancy price
the city is likely to buy as it believes
/ it good investment. AS an evidence
of the unlimited cheek and greed of cor
poratfons, the company, which had re-
ceived it's franchise for nothing, wished
reselling it to the city. No wonder the
private ownership of public utilities
grows more unpopular. The Massachus-
etts law is defective ana needs mend
| ing"
The situation at Holyoke seems to be
much it is in Topeka. Hoiyol1e has
/ about 10000 population. and its plant is
valued at 800. 600. The Topeka Water COM
pany has offered to sell out for s62O, 600
Holyoke evidently tried to do what many
wanted Topeka to do-fight the water
company to the death. and pay only what
it was obliged to pay. According to the
statement of the Municipal Journal, Holy
oke has spent S250.000 trying to find out
what the plant is worth and now will
have to add that much to the actual value
as determined upon by the appraisers.
AS it appears. Topeka has adopted a
very wise course in compromising with
terms possible. All that remains now for
the city to do is to vote the bonds and
take possession of the plant