The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-15
Business Men Think Council
Should Reconsider Franchise.
Should Be Guarantee for Full
fillment of Promises.
IS NOT NEEDED NOW.
Present Franchise Does Not Elk
pire for Seven Years.
Mayor Bergundthal Indicates
That He Will Use Veto.
Does Not Favor Action That
Will Exclude 81 Rate.

The sentiment of the business and
professional men of Topeka is strongly
in favor of a reconsideration by the city
council of the granting of a thirty year
franchise to the present gas company.
But two dissenting opinions were heard
in all of the expressions which were
made when a State Journal reporter
asked the interviewed to express them
selves. The interviews were solicited
without any previous knowledge of the
character of the opinion which would
probably be expressed.
In the light of that fact and that but
two eVinced their preference for the
railrOaded franchise it strongly shows
that the people whose interests are at
stake desire that the council reconsider
the granting of the franchise and that
any other procedure is against the
wishes of the majority of Topeka citi-
zens. AS a matter of business policy
the act of the city council in so hastily
passing on concession so large and i'm
portant is vigorously condemned. 1t is
the opinion of the people that the grant
ing of a franchise is worthy of delib-
crate and well considered action on the
part of the councilmen of the city and
is not a matter to be hastily presented
and passed in the interim of a few
days.
Mayor BergundthaI is not ready to
make an announcement of what he in
tends to do in regard to vetoing the
railroaded gas franchise. He is not
backward, however, in voicing mis-
opinion of the franchise.
1T is wrong he said this morning.
The people of Topeka should have
dollar gas. There is no hurry about
giving the gas company this franchise
now. There is plenty of time. 1t is
seven years until the expiration of the
CiTQlIr1 a
tween now and that time will undoubt-
edly change. The people are entitled to
dollar gas. If the gas company cannot
make it for that price with the facili
ties they now have 1t is possible to set
modern equipment which will permit
them to manufacture and sell gas at IL
profit at a dollar.
II have until the next regular meeting
of the council in which to consider
vetoing the ordnance ne continued,
"and / intend to give the people time to
think it over and talk it over in order
that 1 can get the sentiment of the city
on the proposition. AS far as l can tell
now, though, nine people out of every
ten are opposed to the passage of the
ordina nee
J. D. Mcfarland, who was attorney
for the city in the dollar gas litigation,
is very much opposed to the granting
of the proposed franchise. He says:
81 think it is very unwise for the
city to grant a franchise giving the
company the right to charge $1.25 for
gas With all the improvements
which are being made and which will
be made in the future, the cost of
making gas may be very materially
reduced. I am opposed to granting
such a franchise for a term of thirty
years. 1t is too long for the city to
tie itself uD.'
P. L. Bonebrake, president of the
Central National bank said: 81 do not
see the necessity of granting a fran
chise to the gas company now, as its
present franchise is good for seven
years to come. Also we should have
a guarantee from the gas company as
to extensions. A large part of the
city is without gas. Especially mean
a guarantee that amounts to some
thing not merely promise but one
that shall render their franchise void
unless the provisions of the guarantee
are fully complied with
W. M. Welcome is in line with the
majority opinion and said: "I think
the action of the council too hasty.
improvements in the manufacture OF
gas are apt to take place in the next
ten years which will greatly reduce
the cost of gas. A thirty year fran
anything in the present franchise
which prohibits the company from
making improvements and extending
the mains. The company certainly
does not need a new franchise to do
that"
]. p. Davis said: ''I think the ac-
tiou of the council in this matter has
heen entirely too hurried. I think the
State Journel is doing just the thing in
awakening sentiment in the matter.
M Snattinger thinks that the action
of the council is precipitate in fasten-
ing a thirty-year- franchise upon the
city He said: ''I would not grant |
thirty-year franchise to any gas COM
pany, I don't care what its character.
Thirty years is entirely too long to
fasten present actions upon the future
generation and make them suffer for
a mistake made by us or by condi- |
tions which were in vogue with u.s. 1t
is entirely wrong and impractical. We
have found this out by experience our |
selves through the action of former
city councils during the earlier history
merely be following in the rut which |
has been formed. Thirty years is too
long a term for such a franchise"
E. H. Crosby said he was emphati- !
cally against granting franchise un- |
til the expiration of the present fran |
chise 'fI was not aware at first that
the present franchise had a term to
run but in the light of the information
I certainly would be against granting !
the expiration of the present fran
chise.'
c. o. Knowles said ''I have not paid
enough attention to the matter to
make public my opinion but I think
the council is on the right track when
it moves for reconsideration.
w. A. L. Thompson took a different
standpoint, saying: 'sI am against re- |
consideration. The matter has been
discussed enough and been before the |
people long enough. What's the use
1-l