The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-01
GAS PLANS MADE
Effort to Be Made to Railroad
80 Year Franchise.
Want 1t Rushed Through COun.
ell Tonight.
MAYOR ON NO SIDE.
Calls Attention to Provisions
Which Are UnWise.
Drawn to Give the People Little
Protection.

Everything seems to indicate that the
rails have been creased, and that the
new franchise for the Excelsior Coke &
Gas company, running for 80 years, will
be railroaded through the council this
evening. 1t was introduced two weeks
ago, and has so far not even been con-
sidered at a formal meeting of any COM
mittee of the council. 1t is one of the
most bald attempts to shove a new
franchise past the city council that has
occurred in city affairs for many years.
1t is hard to find any excuse which
the members of the city council can Of
fer for such precipitate action. There
has been a meeting of the streets and
walks committee called for this evening
at o'clock, and this will be the first
time that the franchise has ever come
before a formal meeting of any COM
mittee. That is a record for super
fetal, ,sleight-of- hand performance which
would do credit to the notorious city
council of Chicago, which has a repu-
tation for passing franchise ordinances.
City Attorney Spencer has given the
streets and walks committee to under
stand that he will not pass upon the
legality of the proposed gas franchise
He declares that not sufficient time has
been given for a careful study of the
ordinance.
Il am very much surprised that so
many members of the council seem to
be in favor of this ordinance. 1 can not
see that it has any redeeming features.
To pass it is a most haSty, unwiSe and
improper thing to do. The council
seems to be bent upon tieing this city
down to a 30year franchise. / am Op
posed to giving the gas company a 30
year franchise in exchange for 'conces-
sions' which are absolutely trivial. We
can get this $1.25 rate any time we care
to pass an ordinance demanding it. OF
the $175,000 the company offers to spend
purchased away from Topeka. The pro-
vision regarding the laying of mains is
such that the company can practically
lay mains just when it pleaSeS and the
city has nothing to say about it,
Most of the members of the council
are reluctant to express their opinion
concerning the franchise. 1t is stated,
however, on pretty good authority,
that six members of the council are
certain to vote for the franchise. Three
are opposed to it, except on much more
favorable terms to the city. Three 9TH
erS are uncertain in their attitude, but
two of them are known to be friendly
to the plan of granting the franchise,
but want some further minor conceS-
sions for the city, which may perhaps
be given by the gas company if it is
found necessary to do so in order to
swing the deal.
On Monday, August 25, the streets
and walks committee was called to-
gether to consider the proposed Ordin-
ance. Only three members of the COM
mittee were present, so nothing could
be done except to listen to informal re-
marks by some of the councilmen- An
other meeting was partially arranged
for last Saturday evening, and then
switched to Saturday afternoon. There
were four counctlmen present at the
Saturday afternoon meeting, but no &C
ton was taken, except to talk over the
franchise informally In the course OF
these informal talks, a few minor
changes in the ordinance were suggest
ed, and Chairman Swendson requested
City Attorney Spencer to draw up the
ordinance with these changes included.
1t was at that time that Mr.. Spencer
refused to vouch for the legality of an
ordinance passed in such a slipshod
manner, and Mr.. Swendson said the
committee did not ask Mr.. Spencer to
vouch for it.
Perhaps the most important thing
which the committee wants inserted in
the franchise is a clause making it a
artificial gas franchise. 1t will
be drawn so that even if natural gas
is discovered, the company can not sell
it under their existing franchise. This
protects the city for a holdup in case
natural gas is found here, nor is piped
in.
The only other changes of any i'm
portance which the committee seems to
want in the franchise ordinance as first
drafted by the gas company officials is
one requiring the company to file plats
of all its mains, and another specifying
a little more in detail what the COM
pany shall tell in it's reports to the
city.
Some of the remaining Objectionable
features of the franchise are as follows:
The charge of $1.35, with a 10 cent re-
bate, is too high for a 30-year franchise.
The provision that no bill shall be for
less than so cents a month is a fiat con-
tradictiOn of the meter rate system, |
which assumes that a customer snail
pay for what he uses. There is no pro-
vision to assure the city that the COM
pany actually expends the amount Of
money which it promises to expend. |
The city can not compel the company |
to extend its mains. No arrangements |
made for a. compromise of the pending |
litigation with the gas company.
1t would certainly be a great joke on |
me city if 1t should go ahead and grant |
L franchise allowing the company to |
charge $1.35, and then find out later on |
hat if it had waited for the result of |
he dollar gas suit it would have OBJ |
aimed a fiat dollar rate
The gas company can certainly make |
L lower rate than $1.35. or even SIPS,
md it can be required to give the city
better terms throughout on this fran
.hise proposition. The gas company mas |
,nly a few more years to live under it's
present franchise, and then the city will |
De in a position to negotiate for gas
liant with anybody who desires to sup
1ly the town.
Ultimatum Story Denied.
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