The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-19
Want IT CHANGED
Business Men Discuss the New
Edison Franchise.
Many Amendments to 1t viii Be
Recommended.
CONSIDER PROVISIONS.
Ask That Maximum Rate Be 10
Instead of Is.
Would Have Life Of Franchise
But 10 Years.

Demands for changes IN the proposed
franchise which the Edison Electric
Illuminating company is asking from
the city council were formulated last
evening in secret meeting of the bust
ness men OF the city at the parIors OF
the National hotel.
As the result of the meeting the fol-
lowing changes, specified in a general
way, will be asked for:
That the maximum rate per kilowat
shall not exceed 10 cents. The ordinance
provides for Is cents.
Ihat the maximum charge for install
Iation shall not exceed 90 cents.
That there shall be no discrimination
between users in the same class as re-
CARDS consumption of current.
That classifications be established
based on the amount Of current utilized
class.
That the city shall create the office oe
meter inspector to inspect the electric
meters. and that the meters of the COM
pany be subject to inspection at any
and all times.
That the cost of inspection be met by
fees which viii be charged to the COM
pany.
That the company shall be compelled
to pay for the privilege of using the
AIelan Arch bridge in carrying its con-
duits across the river.
That the right to lay mains be de-
MED. the company it is stated viii
lay a main to the river and then be IN
a position to furnish its own water sup
ply while the city will be out of the
revenue which it has secured from fur
nishing city water to the plant.
That the rate to the city for furnish
ing illumination be cents per kiloWat.
That the franchise which is to be
granted shall not exceed in duration 10
years The company is now asking for
the limit allowed by law, 80 years.
That forfeiture clauses be inserted in
the franchise making the franchise void
in case of failure on the part of the
company to comply with any or all
terms of the franchise.
That the present franchise as it is
now presented should be entirely re-
drawn and the offensive measures be
stricken out.
Five hundred written personal invita-
tions will be sent out by a committee
appointed, to the business men of the
city to attend the council meeting Tues
day evening at which time the fran
chise will probably come up for con-
sideration. The committee will urge
them to be present and lend the in
fiuence of their presence as against the
franchise as now drawn.
A small fund will be raised to carry
on the agitation and it is even possible
that an expert electrical engineer will
be engaged to advise with the commit
tee and the business men relative to Sc
curing and drawing up the right kind Of
franchise based on rates.
City Attorney Drenning and David
Oyermyer were appointed to look after
the legal interests involved and to keep
the remainder of the members of the
league posted upon developments.
For a while the question was consid-
cred Of carving out the provision Of
the public utilities act which makes
possible a charge by the city of
per cent upon the gross receipts Of any
corporation possessing public utility
and appointing an auditor to inspect
the books of the corporation but later
it was deemed advisable to give up this
feature.