The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-22
UNDER ONE HEAD.
Plan to Change Control of City
Light Company.
Council Would HaYeWaterBOard
Take 1t.
LITTLE MORE WORK.
Might Make Slight Addition to
Compensation.
Councilman Neil Talks of the
Project.
LITTLE MORE WORK.

If the plans fo the city council are
carried out the management of the wa
terworks plant and the electric light
plant will be vested with one board of
trustees. The city council has evident
ly feared that the board of trustees
would have too much idle time.
The committee on electric lights of the
city council will recommend at the next
meeting of that body on Thursday ev-
ening that the management of the city
electric light plant be placed under the
same board of trustees to be placed in
control of the waterworks property.
Under the law recently passed by the
legislature a provision is made not only
for the management of municipal water
works plants by a board of trustees but
also other plants of municipal char
acter such as electric light plants. In
accordance with this provision the rec
ommendation will be made that the
same board of trustees which shall be
appointed to take over the management
of the waterworks plant shall act as a
similar board of trustees for the city
electric light plant
Councilman George Neil of the cleo
trio light committee said today: I'VE
shall recommend the passage of an or
dinance calling for the appointment of
one board for both plants. The duties
tric light plant will be of a light nature.
Their instructions can be carried out by
the superintendent, as there is as a rule
but small business to attend to. At
the same time it takes the plant out
of politics and secures better service
and satisfaction. There should be re-
distribution of the lights over the city
In a great many places where lamps
are at present situated there is abSO-
Iutely no need for them While in other
places where people are clamoring for
them and they are actually needed,
none exist. AS soon as we try to make
the necessary change from one district
to another there is difficulty in the
council. The councilman who is going
to have lights in his ward removed OBJ
jects and we fall into a Wrangle and
nothing takes place Now if d board
had the matter in charge they would
be more free to act and have less re
straint from hampering influence. They
would issue their instructions to the
be made. Especially in the Second
ward, it is true that redistribution
should be made. There are other por-
tiOnS of the city as we'll. have talked
with the members of the council and I
am sure that the recommendation as
proposed will be passed by the council
by a majority vote. I think that there
will be no trouble at all in securing the
passage of the recommendation. City
Attorney Spencer will recommend to
the city council this character of ar
rangement. 1 don think IhaI II VIII
add very much to the duties of the
board"
..Win the recommendation embody an
increase in the remuneration to be paid
into the board for this extra addition
to their duties 2'' was asked.
Yes, we will probably recommend a |
small addition to increase in that par
ticular," was the response
Just what effect the passage of such
a recommendation would have |
upon the candidates for posi-
tions upon the board is to
be conjectured The payment of 5000 !
per year for each member of the board |
for the services rendered was the sug- |
gestiOn of the council at the time the /
matter came uD. Now the addition of |
other duties to a board which is to be |
of business men who have |
private interests to look after may have |
a serious effect in securing the right |
kind of men for a nominal sum.