The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-03
Meeting Is Held at the National
Hotel.
TALK is INFORMAL.
individuals Complain of Methods
of Discrimination.
Superintendent Maunsell Prom
Uses to Rectify These.

The meeting between the representa-
tives of the Edison company and the
business men in the parlors of the Ma
tional hotel last night failed of any
material clearing up Of the franchise
situation nor did it bespeak any early
date at which time such a condition
might be brought about.
The hope OF arbitration after having
been bunetted from pillar to post is
now in the hands of a committee. The
committee which was appointed last
night for that purpose consists Of G.
II. Matthews, W. S. Bergundthal and j.
w Robinson. These gentlemen will
meet with Superintendent MaunseH of
the electric light plant Mr.. MaunseH
viii endeavor to show them that the
present method of charges is fair and
equable These four gentlemen viii
also endeavor to fix upon a schedule of
rates.
Pending the report OF that committee,
the time for which is indefinite, further
meetings viii be postponed and it is
very probable that action on the part
of the city council viii also remain IN
allegiance. The business men did not
present any demand to the Edison com
pany.
Mar. T. r. Doran. attorney for the
Edison company, and Mr.. Maunsell,
representing the electric company at
whose request the meeting was held,
stated that they would prefer to have
the discussion remain informal and
that the grievances of individual bust
ness men be considered. In accord
ance with this, simply the matter of
individual charges was introduced.
Mr. Matthews arraigned Mr.. Maunsell.
He claimed that the latter had failed
to live I'D to his verbal agreements
and that he had broken them repeat
eddy. He also charged discrimination.
He claimed that the method which the
company had of penaIizing Matthew's
& Dreschel for the four months OF
November, December, January and
February when the plant was rushed
TO supply the demand was unfair. He
stated that he was allowed to use the
FULL installation during eight months,
but during the four months in the
winter he was compelled to pay an
over charge if he wanted to use it. He
claimed that such an over charge was
unfafr-that the rate should remain
constant the entire year around MI
Naunsen held that the over charge
was perfectly legitimate. That 1t was
required in order to keep down the
demand in the four busy months OF
the year for fear of overlooking the
capacity Of the plant.
other desCrimina tons were charged
with regard to letting certain favorites
secure current at a cheaper rates than
others when both were practically IN
the same class.
Mr.. Maunseu produced rate sheet
last night and stated that it gave the
latest rates as in adoption the past two
months. A number of the business men
inquired why such rate sheet mad not
been produced before. Mr.. Maunseli
said. you gentlemen never asked for
It, 1t took several years to work out
this system of rates"
After threshfng out considerable chan
Mr.. Maunsell acknowledged that there
were probably several instances where
the matter of rates was working some
thing of a hardship on the consumer but
stated that that system would be
changed and that it would no longer
continue in the future. At the last OF
the meeting the business men asked II
the company would not consider a pro-
position to revise its rates upon request
The answer was returned: Il can WORK
ylp a system Of new rates but can't
promise you that I can make any very
material reductions
Mr.. Overmyer stated both he and City
Attorney Dreaming were working upOT
an ordinance such as they wished tht
Edison company to work under, an6
that after the franchise had been rati-
fed by the business men at some future
meeting it would be presented to the
city council for action.
Fx-Mayor Bergundthal acted as
chairman Of the meeting which ad
journed without setting day.