The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-08

the Edison company does not care to
bother with the ordinary small 1ser
of electricity any further than neces-
sary- The Edison company is out at
ter big game, and it is not anxious
to serve the masses of the people. 1t
is, az Darently, corporation for the
big concerns and wealthy people
Councilman Ryder asked Mr.. Null
vane last night: rs this minimum rate
of $50 the very lowest you could make
it, If you can afford to reduce your
rates % per cent, why can't YOU re-
duce your minimum charge too p
There is a mistaken idea" replied
Mr.. Mulvane, about the aTnount of
money which the Edison company is
making If any of you think the Edi-
son company is a great moneymaker,
and would like to buy some stock,
come and see me. I will let you have
fully paid up stock at par. OF late
we have been selling power to many
concerns at a price which completes
with steam Our power business now
exceeds our light business by so per
cent.
Now we don't contend that we can
supply small consumers to compete
with gas, kerosene, gasoline or taIlow
candies There is sort of an antago-
nism between the small and large
consumer in handling our business.
Inc small consumers involve more ex-
pense than the large ones. If we take
Oh too many small consumers at too
low a rate our plant will be taken up
with small consumers, and will make
1t necessary to charge more to large
consumers. We want to try to go be-
tween and supply all the small con-
Sumers we can without injuring our
larger business
1t is a well known fact that the
Edison company refuses to supply
some small consumers with electricity,
presumably because it does not want
TO burden its plant. It's a queer
state of things when a supposed pub
lie" utility can refuse to supply citf-
zens of Topeka who have given it
the right to exist and do business in
the city.
Mr.. Mulvane explained that the
reason the Edison company wants a
franchise now, a year and a half be-
Tore the expiration of its franchise
is so that it can issue bonds to take
up its floating debt, and save money
on the interest charge. 1--WE owe 500
co.,, said Mr.. Mulvane, land have to
pay Z, or 10 per cent interest on it.
II we could issue bonds, we could car
ry our debt at a much lower rate
q The question of the right of the
Edison company on the Kansas ave
nue. bridge was raised. Some of the
councllmen thought the company
poles on the bridge. Mr.. Mulvane
said:
I have very strong ideas about this
question. I think that every public
nulty should have the use of the
street 1t is a mere matter of preiu-
1lce that they should not be allowed
to cross bridges"
Dr. Ryder announced that he would
make fight on behalf of the small
consumers He also suggested several
changes in the proposed franchise.
He said:
Il think the ordinance should spec
fy that the company shall furnish the
meters and service wires, and should
also provide for some sort of a system
IF municipal inspection. Mr.. Mulvane
ellis me he is willing to agree to this
over in my ward, we have wanted
current for small motors in daytime
md have been unable to get it If
We wanted to run an electric fan, or
f 1 wanted to put in an electric motor
or static electricity in my office, I
would be unable to do it. 1 think that
within reasonable distances the COM
'any should be required to supply |
such demands"
Mr.. NIulvane and Mr.. Maunsell
lgreed to this. and said that they
would be willing to have it in the
franchise.
The subcommittee will meet next
week to take up the detailed consid- /
.ration of the franchise.