The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-17
IT A BUNCO?
Gas Company Officials Weaken
on Prices Promised.
People We're Told 1t Would Be
Twenty-Five Cents.
NOW "UNDER FORTY. .
No Contracts Are BEING Made
Says Mr.. Diehlman.
Mr. Holiday, Who Made Prom
ises, Now in New York.


The Is cent rate for natural gas for
domestic use which has been promised
to airily and apparently gone by the
board,
The Office force at the gas company's
Office now tell the inquiring customer
that they know that the rate will not
be more than 40 cents and it may per-
haps be less.
No two year contracts for % cents
gas are being made or offered. This
was the promise which was handed
out in wholesale fashion by the gas
company representatives when their
franchise was pending befOre@the city
council and when the struggle for a
reduction in the rates was made on
the part of the council in half heart
ed manner. The assurance though,
that the maximum rates of IS cents
per thousand for domestic purposes
and 80 for manufacturing made by
Councilman c. K. Holiday, would not
be enforced by the gas company had
considerable weight with the members
Of the council. Then several weeks af-
forwards came J. c. Mcdowell OF the
Kansas Natural Gas company who III
a very patronizing manner told the
members of the Commercial club that
Notwithstanding what rates were spec
flied in the franchise the gas company
would make important concessions by
consumption a % cents and for manu-
featuring purposes 121s. This state
ment was backed up by the announce
ment from c. K. Holiday that the
company had been authorized to make
contracts covering a period of two
years for % cents.
Now the gas company management
in Topeka doesn't know what the
the gas Office what the probable cost
VIII be he is told, 1T viii not be above
40 cents. 1t may be Is cents but we
don't know" Several parties have had
gas quoted to them at 80 and 50 cents.
All this talk Of a two year contract
for "a cents per thousand seems to
have taken a sudden relapse.
1--WE are not making any contract
at all for two years for 25 cents said
?. J. Diehlman, manager. We
have not made any contracts of any
kind VIVA tsoever. We can't until it is
settled what sort of rates we are to
charge. That is d matter which will
be decided at a meeting of the direc-
tors of the company to be held within
the next few days.
THAT talk of anyone quoting any
prices from this Office is all poppy
cock. 20 We can't quote anything. when
we don't know what to quote 1t may
be rs cents for all I know
c. K. Holiday is now in New York
city and is not expected to return for
several days. One prominent city Off
cial said when he heard of this SEEM
ing change of heart: THAT promise had
better be made good or Holiday will
have to take to Europe; New York
won't be far enough. The people trust
ed Holiday when he made that state
ment of % cents and it is up TO him
to see that it is fulfilled. If it isn't it
is going to hurt him badly. 1t viii just
about kill any political aspirations he
may have. People when they secure
better have a contract made
Il presume c. K. Holiday knew
what he was talking about if he made
such a statement said Diehlman.
1.-The price for Topeka will not be
higher than that for surrounding
towns"