The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-03

franchise. The reduction is now in ef-
feet. The reduction would represent
the following-for residence lighting,
from u cents to 10 cents: commercial
lighting from 10 cents TO 8 cents. For
power from cents to cents. The
rates for steam heating purposes re-
two thirds OF the cost of the viaduct
Extension of the street railway to
Shorey postofice and the construction
OF a double track OF the street railwar
the entire distance cut West Tenth ave,
II the council refuses to make the de-
sired changes, the company SAYS none
of the above improvements will be
made BY the Edison company, the
whole franchise is termed unreasonable
The new franchise OF the Topeka Edi-
son company went into effect July 19,
1905. after a fight in the council. which
extended outside among the business
men and which lasted over six months
Finally after fighting practically all
of the concessions asked for by the bus
mess men and consumers who believed
they had grievance, many points
We're conceded and the franchise draft
ed.
Il don't want to open up a quarrel
again. said Mr.. Myers today IF it is
going to lead to that I swear 1 will
never spend another cent in Topeka.
We have done a lot for this town. We
have given whenever We we're asked to
ways been give, give and nothing back
until we are getting a little tired
There are some things in this fran
chise, too, which we can't live up to and
we won't. So that's all there is to it.
The city can't force us either and make
US go bankrupt We can't do business
unless we can discriminate as to vary
ing service to different consumers. It
isn't right to force US not to. Here is a
man who comes to US from o'clock to
O'Clock in the day time and wants
current. We give 1t to him at. say
cents. Here is another party who
wants to use from dusk until o'clock,
just at the time when the load is heavi-
est. We would rather have the first
man when the load is ligntest at cents
than this other chap who comes in when
the load is heaviest at 511 cents or even
6 cents.
Il don't think that it is unfair of US
to ask that we be allowed a repre-
sentative to be present when the city
makes its inspection of meters. Do
you? We ask for reasonable notice in
and that's all.
I'VE will waive the Wright maxi
mum demand system of charging. In
fact we are waving 1t now The peo-
pie didn't want it themselves after
they found out what it was. There
was a howl came up when it first was
put in at the increase in the bills
I'VE are not particular about TAX
ing this section out but it is only on
what may be asked from us.
1--WE are willing to make the annual
report to the city. In fact there isn't
much change to the franchise. There
is a tone throughout the entire fran
chise though that we don't like and we
ask that the wording be changed
Natural gas has cut heavily into
our business here and we are contin-
ually putting money into our plant
here and taking nothing out We
have to borrow money and when we
spread out this franchise before them
on which to borrow money they COM
pare it with the former franchise, no.
tice its terms and remark that there
must be- considerable bitter feeling
stirred up here. We tell them no. But
they show US our franchise and COM
pare it unfavorably with the old and
they say there must be some and tell
US they don't believe they care to in
vest"
II don't know what will be DONE"
said the mayor. ''It will be presented
to the council this evening and 1 don't
know what the council may think
about it. 1 haven't got anything to
say about it personally"