The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-06
THAT LIGHT FRANCHISE
Consumers Company Copied Edison
Ordinance Leaving Out Parts.

Referring to the franchise asked by
the Consumers Light, Heat and Power
company, Mr.. G. r. Maunsell, manager
of the Edison company said today:
1.-THE Consumers - company is prop
erly named, It's sole object and purpose
is to consume the Edison company.
AS have heretofore stated the Con
sumers'" company is controlled by An
thony N. Brady of New York; he also
controls the gas company here, which
has franchise for thirty years., with
the right to supply natural gas. His
combination of capital has repeatedly
tried to buy the Topeka Edison Elec-
trio Light plant, which has been built
up by Topeka people and is now large
ly owned by local, capital Having
failed to secure a sale, he now under
takes to force one by taking advantage
of the Edison's franchise difficulties
and offering to accept an electric light
franchise with rates which, upon their
face, seem lower than those proposed
in the Edison franchise.
IAN examination of Mr.. Brady's Con
sumers' franchise discIoses that it is
an exact copy of the franchise asked
by the Edison company with the follow
ing exceptions and omissions,
1. The name of the Consumers company
is substituted for that of the Edison COM
2. The first clause of the Edison fran
3. The words. Its successors or as
signs,'' are inserted after the name of the
company in all granting clauses of the
ordinance. This, of course, is done to en-
able the Consumers company to sell its
franchise-to make 1t article of trade
and speculation, rather than one of use
and service.
4 The clause in the Edison franchise
providing for the removal of wires by the
company to accommodate house movers
is omitted from the Consumers franchise
~ a
prohibiting the exclusive occupancy of any
street by the company, is omitted from the
s. The forfeiture clause of the Edison
franchise is made less binding in the
Consumers franchise by inserting a clause
that any omission working FORFEITURE snaIi
be imperative IF such failure shall re-
main unnoticed for sixty days after writ
ten notice from the city Of such failure
sumers ordinance are reduced from 10
cents per kilowat, with discounts, as asked
kilowatt, net, for incandescent lighting;
and for power from Is cents to s. The
for power, and the insertion of ID cents in
the franchise was and is a typographical
mistake. For arc lighting the maximum
rate is reduced from II cents to cents.
The Edison company now has a. schedule
of rates as low as cents for arc lighting
The minimum charge is fixed at so cents
per month instead of 81 in summer and
S150 in winter, as asked by the Edison
company.
8.
controlling its steam heating are omitted
altogether from the Consumers franchise.
The reason for this is that the invest
ment in mains is too great and the sale
of heat is Improbable.
8. In order to secure a complete mo-
nopoly of all lighting in Topeka, a clause
is inserted in the Consumers franchise
proposing to light the streets and avenues
of the city at the present cost
s. The clauses of the Edison franchise
the investment. on which it is allowed 10
profits to the city, is omitted from the
Consumers franchise altogether.
II. The clause of the Edison franchise
requiring the company to improve its plant
and to enlarge and extend its service so
as to furnish current for light and power
to portions of the city not now supplied,
etc. is wholly omitted from the Consum-
ers' franchise
1t is apparent from the above omissions
and insertions that the new lighting COM
pany does not intend to do more than the
commercial lighting. 1t can therefore &C
cept any kind of a maximum rate or min
imurn charge for residence lighting. as it
expects to have nothing to do with either:
the Consumers company intends to supply
the large consumer only.
A statement has been made in the press
that the Consumers company offers to
give a "a hour service and that the Edi-
son company refused to do so. This is a
mistake. The clause of the Consumers
franchise covering this point is copied
from the Edison franchise and the lam
guage is identical.