The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-23
Bill Before the Legislature Pro-
yided for Small Levy.
BITTER OPPOSITION.
Senator Belts Prevented 1ts
Passage i'm Senate.
Amended and Then Killed III
the House.


urged by the officials of the city Of To-
peka-and this favorable action would
have been taken had it not been for the
lack of activity, or something worse,
on the part of Topeka's own represent
tatives in the legislature, the city would
now be in a position to provide funds
for the immediate repair of its own
lighting plant which is so sorely need
ed to place it on a basis where 1t would
be free from any possible competition
from the Edison people or any other
concern With the city light plant IN
good condition. and it could be placed
so at an expenditure estimated at from
$4,000 to S600o0 there is no doubt but
the city could furnish light for Its
streets and public buildings cheaper
than any corporation could do it.
During the early days of the last ses-
sion of the legislature a bill was draft
ed by F. G.. Drenning, the city attor-
ney, authorizing the city of Topeka to
levy a special tax of two mills and to
raise an amount not to exceed 100000
by means of this tax for the purpose of
repairing the city lighting plant.
J. B. Belts, the senator from this dis
trict, looked on this simple but busi-
nesslike proposition with such disdain,
and for reasons best known to himself
but which a few other people are also
cognizant Of, refused TO even introduce
the measure in the senate
J. H. Stewart. the senator from
Wichita, came to the help of Topeka
and introduced the measure and event
ually steered it through the senate but
not until Mr. Belts had put in a little
fine work on it.
Belts, it will be remembered, was 'one
of the sturdy members of the famous
senate railroad club" which was or
ganized primarily by Senator Fftzpat-
rick for the purpose of handling the
railroad legislation as it should be
handled in the interests of the rail-
TQTTf T1I1 hney TO mi
and finally got so autocratic that its
members controlled the situation on ev-
cry conceivable sort of legislation. 1t
was only necessary for member of
this rather remarkable organization to
give the high sign" on anything he
wished accomplished and the other
members f1ocked to his aid regardless
of public interests. 1t was in this way
that the organizers of the club were
able to hold its members in line for
the railroad legislation.
Now Senator Belts was unalterably |
opposed to this bill giving his home
town the relief it demanded for the
repair OF its light plant. He held it
up in the cities committee as long as
he possibly could but it was finally |
brought before the senate apd passed
by that body but not until Mr.. Belts
had put an amendment into it to the
effect that this special tax could not
be levied until a majority of the vot-
ers of the city had acted favorably on |
This amendment to the bill practically
nullified its purposes and the measure |
was allowed to die in the house of rep
presentatfves as the representatives /
from this district were unwilling to /
make a fight to have the bill passed in |
the original manner in which it was
introduced.
The defeat of the purposes of this |
measure by Belts left the situation re- |
garding the raising of money to re- |
pair the light plant just where it was /
before and in order to get money for /
the purpose now a special election will |
nave to be held to vote on the ques-
tion of issuing bonds to repair the
plant.
1t Will take a lot of time. which is |
valuable just now during the present |
agitation over the lighting question /
to get ready for and hold this spec-
fal election. In the meantime the ar
gument of the Edison people that it |
will be cheaper for the CITY to con-
tract for its light from them has some |
force because the city lighting plant is |
so sadly in need of repair. But with |
the city plant in first class condition. |
ana It would be a paying investment /
Tor the city to place it in that condi-
ton. there is no doubt but that the
city can furnish its own light for tba
streets good deal cheaper and much /
more satisfactorily than the Edison |
people or any other concern can pos
sibly do.
hacS ADOut city Lighting.
Many sets of figures have been gotten |
out showing that the city has been |
spending outrageous price for light |
ing and no two sets of these figures gree
Dlferent figures for depreciation are |
given and these are all very liberal. |
Ihese figures can be juggled until near !
" any desired result can be obtained |
and the tax payer can be easily con- |
Vlhcec that the city bought a gold brick |
When IL took control of thep liant; but |
probably no one has set out the actual |
~asn cost of running the plant
A careful study of the reports of the |
superintendent of the light plant run
ming back to April. 1898. shows some in |
teresting facts. These reDorts contain |
ance and operation of the city plant. /
When the experts come into the dis |
cusslon showing large figures for deprec-
1ation it should be remembered tha.
that depreciation is figured very large-
~ Tor things that are kept up by ex- |
pendltureS from month to month For
example very large item in the deprec- |
1atlon figures is the deprecia ton of the |
llnes and poles and yet this same item
Is round in the expenses of the plant un- |
Ger the head of repairs. That is to saw.
tne ngures Tor depreciation are largely |
un- because the parts of the system /
which are counted as deprecated have |
been repaired and the costs of repairs |
nave been charged up to the regular ac- |
counts So that when the large figures |
Ior depreciation are counted 1t amounts |
10 counting the same item twice.
According to the reports of the SUPER |
mtendent the plan has required in cash
an average of $1.02S.97 per month for the |
last ten years. The aVera ge number Of |
lamps has been sos so that the avera ge |
cost Of each lamp per month has been