The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-12
NEARLY SETTLED.
Amendment to Edison Co. Fran
chise Prevents Determination.
Glass on Same Basis.
HEAT RATE STANDS.
Mr.. MDIVane Declares That 1t
Can't Be Reduced.
Schedule of Light Prices Is
Agreed Upon.
HEAT RATE STANDS.

shall be made among consumers IN tht
same class as to quantity consumed OF
time of service"
An important amendment, as above
quoted. was made to the proposed Edl-
son franchise ordinance at Friday
nights meeting of the committee OF
the whole council
This amendment Will help out the
business men of the city. The impor-
tant feature is that the question OF IN
stallation is not considered 1t is likely
that this amendment would give the
man with large installation and small
consumption per light as good a rate
as the man with small installation and
large consumption per light. This diff
ference toward the man with large IN
Etallation has been one of the chief
grievances of some of the business men
of the city
amendment, from the standpoint of the
business men. They fear that II Is
xvorded too indefinitely: that 1t Is SO
vague in its literal meaning tnaI--he
S,dison conpany can elude its intention
An effort was made by some OF the
councilmen to have inserted a dlstlhct
provision that installation ShaIl not pe
considered" but Mr. Howe ana olheIe
thought it would not be necessary. II
seems that the amendment IS a AtIle
bit vague in it's terms; there IS noun
ing which defines what snail COIStAluAS
being in the same class" and II mlsht
be considered uncertain as TO WheIheI
the phrase las to quantity consumed or
time of service" refers to IN the same
class or to lin prices charged
eff there is any probability that the
amendment is not worded properly,
said ]. w. Robinson today, IT VIII De
fixed up when the matter comes Tor
maIly before the council. The purpose
of the amendment, as distinctly under-
stood by the council. is to prevent as
elimination, and if it is clearly stated
in the franchise, l belleNe tnat the
council will have the right, under the
general provisions of the ordinance, 10
secure its enforcement by all necessary
rules
rnuth, and other leading business men
were on hand at the meeting last
night prepared to make fight against
the rate provisions of the ordnance on
the ground that the present system Is
unfair to consumers. Among other
things it is claimed that Mr.. Payne
has the same installation OF lamps that
George Stansfield has; that Stansheld
uses his lights until IL O'CLOCK every
night while Payne's store closes most
of the time at o'clock; that the
actual amount which Stansfield pays
for his electric lights is about half
what Payne pays for his. Other SINH
lar instances had been found by the
business men interested, and they
were prepared to tell the council about
ton amendment was introduced by
Councilman Howe, and its effect dis
cussed, the business men held a little
caucus and decided that it would pro-
with the ordinance now, so far as rates
are concerned.
Heat Rate Stands.
Mr.. MuIvane announced to the
council as soon as the meeting con-
vened last night that he had studied
"a nv r
Naunsell to reduce heat rates from
TO SO cents and put everything on
meter basis, and had come to the con-
clusion that the company could not
consent to the amendment.
Mr.. Maunsell figured on the basis
of existing conditions" explained Mr.
AIulvane. He overlooked the fact
that this is a franchise which must
serve as a basis for issuing bonds. We
must have the as cent rate. not be-
cause we want to charge 1t, but so
that bond buyers will see that we have
a liberal franchise and can pay our
charge the IS cent rate
I'VE could go ahead under our pres |
ent franchise and make more money
than we would under this new one. !
It is really a voluntary offer on our
part to take this new franchise at
reduced profit. OF course, our pres |
ent franchise would run out in few
years but our property is here, and |
we have our legal rights The people |
of this city, who are our customers. I
would rise up in rebellion if you
should attempt to disturb u.s. There
fore I will state freely that we would !
not consent to accept any franchise
which made any reduction in this . !
cent rate for heat"
The councilmen evidently concluded |
that Mr.. Mulvane held the whip hand |
I'm the matter. and that he would go |
ahead and operate under his present I
franchise unless the council gave him |
IND of hl tod
They therefore voted to leave the heat |
rate at 10 cents
Schedule of Prices.
All efforts to make any change in |
the rate provisions of the proposed !
franchise failed last night The ma I
following schedule:
Incandescent lights, per kilowatt I
hour Is cents.
Power. per kilowatt hour, cents /
Arc lights. per kilowatt hour. ? |
cents
Steam heat. rs cents per 100 pounds
water condensed.
Minimum charge. 81 per month in /
summer and $3.50 in winter.
Councilman Ryder made a big fight |
on the minimum charge per month. |
mum, and this was beaten by vote
of to 4; then he fought for a 81 /
minimum, and it was beaten by the /
same vote The councilmen lined up
as follows on the proposition:
For the lower minimum-Ryder I
Green, Nellis. Hughes.
Against-Kutz. Griley, Holiday |
Neil, Rice, Howe, Sinner, Swend- |
sons
In opening the discussion on the |
minimum rate proposition, Mr.. Maun- |
sell, of the Edison company, made 1
the statement that the cost of meter |
ing the electric current for each con-
sumner amounts to SO year. with 9th
err fixed charges which bring the total /
cost up to about SIG for each custo- |
mer before the company can make |
anv profit.