The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-26

Most prominently IN the public eye,
ana most nOisOme Of PhiladeIDhia's
graft at the present moment, is gas
just the ordinary Illuminating and fuel
gas Of commerce. the sort everybody
knows about in some ways, and Of
winch bat few men in Philadelphia, New
York or Chicago know about in other
ways. Applied in some ways it supplies
Hsnt ana heat; applied in other ways it
piouuces moral stra bisrnus in legisla tors
and nourishes the get-rich-qufek germ
In men who have the giving of fran
chises. In Philadelphia it is applied
both ways, and because of the applica-
ton under ideal conditions most of the
Fhiladelphians are grating
Trouble for the Ring.
OF course, even in Philadelphia there
are some people who are immune. and
these, not having been affected by the
gas fumes, are creating some trouble
for the great ring which rules the up-
to-date settlement of William Penn un-
der the almost absolute dictatorship of
Israel w. Durham. A real leader is Mr..
Durham, and, although some citizens.
aroused, have threatened vengeance he
IS quite confident that the politicians
- ANaoI1l ne owns viii pawn the city gas
works with a private corporation be
cause he wishes it to be done
Philadelphia owns its own gas works,
which are leased to an operating COM
pany- The city is deriving a handsome
annual revenue, based on a percentaee
of the gross receipts, a revenue which
Lor the last year amounted to about
100000 and which, under the terms of
the lease, with the natural increase nf
population and Of gas consumption,
would net a largely increasing sum
yearly. rom now on until the expira-
ton of the lease by limitation in some
tnlng more than a score of years. The
terms of the present lease are such that
the private consumers of gas in the
city would have had the benefit Of a
gradual and regular reduction of the
price Of gas, and at the expiration OF
the ieasehold the United Gas Improve
ment company was bound to return the
plant to the Municipality free OF
charge, together with all improvements
and extensions made during the period
Lease Is Worth $3.50, 100000.
The present lease-with all its advan-
tages, with an aggregate value at the
expiration of 20 years which has been
conservatively estimated at sometime
like $3.50, 600, with its privilege of re-
version to municipal ownership in q
years, and with its compulsory reduc-
ton OF the cost of gas to the people
the partisan bosses of PhiladeIpbia
have resolved to forfeit. They have
further undertaken to sell out the en-
tire concern, right and title. for a per.
iQd Of 70 years, to the United Gas I'm.
provement company for the lump sun
Of $25,000.O00, to be paid to the city in
stipulated instaliments covering a per.
iod of two and a half years after tht
ratification of the bargain.
This deal was made nearly two
months ago in the private offices O,
Israel w. Durham, the other party Il
% the agreement being Thomas DoIan
head of the United Gas Improvement
company. Stripped to the bone, tn,
proposition meant that to raise ready
money to the amount of $4,000, 600
with all the attendant prospect of con.
tracts, picktngs and mercenary advan
tages for the interruptions spOilsmer
of the present generation. these gentry
were content to mortgage the future
of Philadelphia by robbing it of one
Of it's most certain and lucrative
sources Of revenue for one-ffth or les,
of the real value Of the concession.
Talk of Violence.
When the iniquity of the transaction
became public. when the members OF
the councils brazenly voted as they
were hidden, then it was that some 81
the people of Philadelphia started {
movement to defeat the corruption
The gas operators and the political
machine appeared to have gone 7