The Topeka state journal., 1904-10-12
GIVE ANEW ONE.
Is City Council Arranging to
Extend Water Franchise?
Reputation ofAgreement Is the
First Step.
MR.. STREET NOT HERE.
No Conference Yet Held With
President Of Company.
A Meeting May Be Held on
Thursday.

According to statements made by
members of the city council today, the
object of the movement against city
ownership which has arisen in the
council is TO give the Topeka Water
company a new franchise on prac-
tically their own terms.
There is only one logical thing for
the council to do if it refuses to buy
the water plant" said Samuel T.
Howe, councilman from the Fifth
ward, and member of the waterworks
committee, today. "That is to give
the company franchise. 1t is true,
as stated in the State Journal, that a
majority of the council are now OPP
posed to the purchase of the plant"
Mr.. Howe has always been in favor
of a new franchise for the company,
though he says he will obey his pledge
and vote to buy the plant.
Here is the programme which this
organization against city ownership
has mapped out for itself:
First, the reputation of the agree
ment to buy the plant for 100000.
This very act will, in the opinion of
many able lawyers, give the water
company the indisputable right to do
business in Topeka for twenty years
longer under its old franchise.
Second, the granting of new
franchise to the water company, Whlch
the water company can accept II It
franchise, the one under which it is
now doing business.
J. w. f. Hughes, one of the leaders
in the fight on city ownership, says
bonds and build a plant of its own.
1t is extremely doubtful whether this
could be done. The laws do not per
init it. The city must first get the
If the city should go into a fight in
the courts to drive the company out
of town, a lawsuit would enSue which
would last for probably a decade. City
Spencer was asked Monday
night during the 'secret meeting how
long it would take to fight such a suit
the courts.
"a great many years. was his re-
ply.
Councilman Howe, who is opposed
to city ownership, frankly admits that
in case the city refuses to buy the
plant for $620,00O, the only thing left
to do is to give the company a fran
chise.
1t is an absolute fact that under
such circumstances, the council would |
have to grant just exactly the kind of
dictate. If it did not do this the COM |
pany would simply do as it is doing |
now, and carry on its business under |
Its old franchise. The city would be !
as powerless as it is today.
Councilman Howe says: "I think |
that the majority of the business in |
Ierests of the city want to see new
with proper restrictions and |
proper reductions in rates. granted to |
this company. I believe that a great |
majority of the people also favor such |
l franchise ,ist
There is nothing in the expressed
will of the people at two city elections |
hat indicate this to be a fact. The /
,ity could compel the company to take
such a new franchise. The water |
would do just as it is doing |
low-claim that it's old franchise was
good enough for it, and calmly ignore
he city's interests The only relief
rom the present condition is to buy
'ut the company, and the city can do
t for 100000.
Councilman Swendson. who seems
o be one of the few members of the
with a desire to do exactly
what the people of Topeka voted to
10, said today:
1T may seem as though the city was
al<ing on a very heavy burden to buy
his plant for $620,000. But want to
ay that if the water company can
make money out of that plant, and can
Lfford to offer us reduced rates and ex-
ensionS of mains, we as a, city can af-
ord to buy it. do not have a bit of
loubt that the plant will be a most
profitable investment. 1t will pay for
tself. besides giving the city absolute