The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-28
TALK, THAT'S ALL.
No Action on the New Electric
Franchise.
Promoters Object to Size Of
Guarantee.
HAVE SHARPEXCHANGE
Councilman Horn and David
Oyermyer Clash.
Attorney Asks That Maunsell Be
Left Out.

Iopeka Eieclr1eaI company, the meet
ing Of the streets and walks committee
of the council before which the fran
chise of the company is pending passed
quietly off. The committee did not
come to any decision last evening taking
a postponement until Friday
In little sparring which took place
between Horn and Overmyer, Horn said:
Didn't Mr.. Maunsell come here to this
council and tell US when we were trying
to get change in rates that it would
be impossible to lower them; that it
couldn't be uone?"
wei, wasn't he talking for his en-
plOyer2" asked Overmyer
Just as am talking now for my en-
ployer and as you are talking now for
your employer. Mr.. Horn. l think it is
time that we were leaving Mr.. Maunsell
out of this. He is just as honorable
citizen as you or I, Mr.. Horn
This was the practical extent of the
round of personalities which was in
dulged in during the evenings program
The extent of the guarantee which the
new company is to put up to insure
speedy erection and completion of
plant is the parting of the ways, for the
present, between the representatives of
the new company and the members of
the streets and walks committee. The
latter suggest a guarantee varying from
S., 900 to $4,000. The former protested
vigorously at the size Of the last named
sum and seemingly would prefer to not
advance any guaranty at all beyond
their word. After those who were in
terested in the franchise had stated
their side of the case and T. F. Doran,
attorney for the Edison company had
replied, the committee excused those
present and went over the matter in
formally.
George H. Whitcomb, one of the di-
rectors Of the company, addressed the
council. He denied the claim that the
new company was attempting to sell
out and that 1t meant anything but real
business. AT the request of Mr.. Maun-
sell and some of the Others" remarked
Whitcomb, interested in the company l
have had something to do with the
company and the drawing up Of the
charter The whole purpose of the par
ties interested is,s that all Of the stock
is to be held ana owned here. I never
heard any intimation to the contrary
except from an outside source. Mr..
Maunsell asked me If 1t wasn't possible
to draw up the, franchise so that it
would be impossible to transfer it. I
told him that I doubted If it could be
done legally. Mr.. o. J. Wood, myself
and Maunsell were the committee chosen
to draw up the charter We named as
the stockholders those only who had
actually subscribed for stock. Mr..
Wood made the suggestion that Mr.
Maunsell be named as trustee for 1,970
shares, since all of the stock has not
been subscribed, and we wanted to have
the stock fully represented in taking
out the charter. There was ne intention
that Mr.. Maunsell should own that
much stock. AS far as / have any in
forma ton from anybody connected with
the company there has been nothing
said except that it was to be organized
as regular bonafide company. There
was no stock issued yet so that Maun-
sell could not transfer me 1870 shares
and it could not be done except with the
consent of the directors"
II would like to say little something
about the organization of this COM
pany," said MaunseH. Along in March
It developed that I couldn't stay with
the old company and the result was
that resigned. I know that there was
a lot of dissatisfaction among the light
and power users. I had a talk with Mr.:
Hall. I told Mr.. Hall that / would
prepare plans and estimates for a new
plant which would produce power at
great deal less than the present COM
pany could produce it. I never had
anything to do directly or indirectly
with Anthony n. Brady of the gas com
pany. I don't know the man and 1
never saw him.
David Overmyer, who seemed to be
master Of ceremonies and introduced
the speakers to the council committee
called on T. F. Doran. attorney for the
Edison company next. ut seems to
me-" said Doran. that the question
for you to consider and decide is wheth-
er there is enough room for another
plant in this city, whether the company
is a bonafide company and whether
they can get. the necessary money to
erect such a plant. Because the gen
tlemen who put in their money in this
present plant did it in good faith. II
our suggestions are correct that there
Is not going to be another company you
should not allow another franchise for
the purpose of beating US about the
head. I can't find where the money for
this new company is going to come
from though I have asked a number of
merchants.
Mr.. Overmyer addressed the commit
tee in the following terms; you are
here to do the best for the whole peo-
pie and above all don't have any chOk-
ing or closing in policy. But when you
have got such men as are interested
ask for a franchise why should you
withhold it? Why should you ask for
a guarantee of good faith2 Isn't the
word of honest men sufficient guaran-
tee? Competition is everything. This
whole talk here is because the Edison
| company was threatened with competi-
ton
There hasn't been a company that I
know of in the past three years which
has not put up guarantee, said
Doran. I'VE are afraid that this fran
chise is going to be carted around.
Mr.. Overmyer: I'VE don't object to
giving you a reasonable guaranty but
We can't put up a prohibitive guaranty.
| we are yet IN the formative period.
How about SO, 0002" asked Council
man Nipps, chairman Of the commit
tee
That's a sum out of all proportion
to the amount of money we expect to
/ invest, said MaunseI. Il think that
2 per cent on what we expect to invest,
about s150,o00. would be more within
reason
The car tracks on the streets not be
ing used by the Street Railway COM
pany will have to be taken up. A Pc
| tition which was fled some time ago
with the council asking for this was
tfavorabIy acted upon by the committed