The Topeka state journal., 1905-09-28
GOOD WAY no GIVE FRANCHISES.


It is a wonder that no American city
has heretofore stumbled upon the right
way to grant franchises It has remain
ed for Kansas City to invent what now
seems to be the natural and proper
way for such proceedings.
The usual method in which such
things are worked. is for the city to
wait until somebody comes along
who wishes franchise for some
purpose. He fixes up an ordinance Civ
ing him what he desires and presents
it to the city council. The council hag-
giles over it for a while and usually
gives the promoter what he asks with
some slight notifications. If there are
any corrupt members in the council it
gives them a chance to hold up the man
who wants the franchise, and many
honest men are persuaded to vote
against what they believe to be the
best interests of the city.
Kansas City has gone at the matter
the other end to. 1t wants natural gas
and has had numerous propositions for
franchises, but it has not gone at the
matter from the standpoint OF the pro-
moter. The common council regarded
the needs of the city rather than any
franchise that some promoter desired.
The result was that it passed what is
known as the BeardsIey franchise, en-
bodying what was believed to$be a
fair agreement for both the city and
the company that should furnish the
gas. Having done that it offers the
franchise to any company that will put
up cash deposit of $4,000 and a bond
of $250,O00 that it will carry out its pro-
visions. 1t is now open to any company
that desires to take advantage of it.
By this means the franchise is franz
ed with the needs of the city in view
rather than the wishes of any franchise
grabbers or promoters. Is not this the
natural way to grant franchises? The
temptation to hold up some corpora
ton that wants a franchise is thus re-
moved and the city gets what it wants.
The Beardsley franchise is for thirty
years, and it permits the sale of natural
and artificial gas which must be suit
able for heating and lighting purposes;
the rate for domestic purposes is fixed
at q cents per thousand cubic feet for
manufacturing purposes a sliding scale
is made-17 cents per thousand for the
first million cubic feet; 141s for the next
million or over, where the consumer
uses over liz million cubic feet; u cents
where the consumption has reached
three million cubic feet and on up to
five million; 10 cents per thousand Gu
bic feet where the consumption exceeds
five million. All above rates are based
on consumption per calendar month.
The above rates will be reduced at
least cents per thousand cubic feet
on all bills paid by the tenth day of
the month for gas consumed the month
previous. Provision is also made that
in event of any indication of the ex-
haustion of the gas supply the manufac-
turers are to be cut off from supply
before any action is taken on domestic
consumers. The company must pay to
the city per cent of it's receipts gross,
and is permitted to charge $f2 per
year for street lights.
The acceptance Qfthe franchise is also
conditioned upon so miles of main be-
ing laid in the first year and 200 miles
within two years. Should the company
be compelled to furnish artificial gas
through the loss of supply of natural
gas the rates are fixed at 80 cents per
thousand cubic feet for lighting and 55
cents for heating.