The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-26
A sERIous NfATTER.

Inc GOOD people Oh IOpchd, Win
reason. are now beginning to get
angry over the waterworks situation.
They denounce the members of the
council in unusual terms for refusing
to carry out wishes twice expressed at
the polls.
the waterworks question was not an
issue. The people regarded that as
settled and were just waiting for the
perfection of the title. some repairs to
the plant and the turning over of the
property.
Many in the present council have
not thoroughly Investigated the situa-
ton. They had no particular reason
for doing so. The matter had all been
thrashed out, discussed and settled by
former mayors and councilmen and
their decision approved by the people
at a duly called election.
All the papers in the city agreed
on the matter. the business men In
general agreed on it. Several of the
councilnen recently stated that their
constituents were opposed to complet-
ing the arrangement. Notably was
this the case of Councilman Ryder
who said the people of the north side
endorsed his views. He was mis-
taken. The State Journal and others
have secured expressions on this sub
ject from such well known North To-
peka people as Thomas Page of the
Mid-Continent Mills. NJ. c. Holman OF
the Western Wooden Mills, Otto
Kuehne of the Preserving Works,
Jonathan Thomas of the big lumber
yard, Jerome Curry of the planning
mill, and many other active business
men and people prominent In the
First ward. On the south side scores
of citizens have been interviewed and
are emphatic in their views.
If the councilmen could hear some or
the expressions, their ears would sure
" burn The council was in great
hurry to give away valuable thirty
year gas franchise. but it is exceedingly
slow to recover for the city what will
prove in the future to be its most valu-
able asset, the control and distribution
of it's water supply.
Nothing is SO important as water.
Gas is in the nature of luxury. Elec-
trio light is a luxury. Power is only
used by comparatively few of the great
masses. The same is true of the supply
of heat For that reason the pending
discussion Of the franchise to the Edi-
son company is not so vital to the well
In the Edison proposition the main
thing is for the city to be well protect
ed; to guard its interests and do that
which will secure the most favorable
rates to consumers of electric light,
power and heat. No one expects the
city to furnish power; none expects the
city TO furnish heat.
The water question overshadows them
all.
1t is essential to life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness.
We can burn candles or coal oil for
light, but we must have water for sus-
tenance, cleanliness and sanitation.
The councilmen, although they may
not look at it in just this serious man
ner, are placing themselves before this
community in almost the attitude of
criminals.
If any one of the eight councilmen
who are opposing this matter so vital
to Topeka's welfare cannot conscien-
tiously reconsider his vote, he should
resign and let the mayor appoint a
councilman who can follow the instruc-
lions of the people as expressed almost
Overwhelmingly by the newspapers, in
the newspapers, on the streets, in the
homes, and at the polls.
The lawyers who are thriving on liti-
CATION, who are endeavoring to secure
the franchise for private control, and
all who are opposed from principle to
municipal ownership of waterworks,
should be left out of this discussion.
The city has decided some of these
things, and one of them is that it
means to have municipal control of the
waterworks and have it promptly if it
can get the council to do its plain duty
Mandamus proceedings to compel
the council to carry out the voters in
structions are discussed today, but
lawyers differ on the authority. They
agree that Street could take such
action.
IIMl0M HEARD ER0M