The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-10
HAS A BAD LOOK.
Electric Light Proposition Is
Not Yet Ready.
Delayed So Can't Be Submitted
at Regular Election.
WILL HAVE TO WAIT.
just What the Edison Light
Company Wants.
Special Election Could Be Much
Easier Controlled.
WILL HAVE TO WAIT.

A well defined movement appears to
be on foot to hamper and impede as
much as possible the attempt to recon
struct the Topeka municiual electric
light plant.
The movement springs seemingly
from the city administration which has
expressed itself all along as more ia
vorably disposed towards making a
contract with the Edison company for
street lighting rather than to remodel
and equip the city plant for larger
service.
Last evening at a session of the coun-
ell Mayor William Green stated that
the time for the municipal election on
April was so close that sufficient time
did not exist before that date to secure
proper estimates of the cost Of rebuild
ing the electric light plant. That the
matter of bond issue should not be
laid before the people until these esti-
mates had been secured in full detail.
He suggested that a special election
might be held later at which the bond
issue could be submitted.
The Topeka Edison company has been
fighting for a delay all along and had
hoped that the bond issue might be left
to special election, knowing that it is
a difficult matter to get out a represen-
tative vote at a special election and they
would stand a better chance of controll-
was made in a committee meeting of
the council to this effect came from
representatives of the Edison company.
The State Journal pointed out the need
of securing expert counsel as soon as
possible in order that the actual work
Of preparing estimates of the cost of
reconstruction might be advanced
enough so that the bond proposition
could be submitted for the regular cleo
ton. Is the city administration trying
70 an fpa 6Oxxrv 11a
threats of the people despite their pro-
tests?
W. c. Stewart, city electrician of ST.
Joseph, whom the mayor favored as the
expert to be engaged by the city to
prepare plans was corresponded with
but the correspondence was handled in
a semi languid way without a response
being ELECTED for two weeks and more.
Yesterday Mr.. Stewart in a letter to
the mayor agreed to take up with the
work and last evening the mayor sta
ted that he would arrange today for a
conference with Mr.. Stewart. Mr.. Stew
art is without question the man needed
by the city to furnish it with the esti-
mates and plans for the improvements
at the city electric light plant. The
criticism comes from the lack of dis
patch which characterized the negotia-
tons which were carried on for his en-
ployment.
1T think that the mayor does not want
to have any bond issues during his
term of office. I believe that he wants
to go out Of office with the boast that
no bond issues were authorized while
he was mayor" said one Of the coun-
cilmen. It think that is possibly the
explanation for the way that he has
handled this matter
IT don't think that it. is possible to
get the plans by the time of the cleo
ton" said Mayor William Green when
the subject came up. Il don't believe
any engineer could get plans ready by
that time"
IT am in favor of getting estimates
getting them LATER said Councilman
Hughes. IF this man can give us his
estimates somewhere near the actual
cost believe we should go ahead"
would the council be willing to
adopt some estimate without plans?"
inquired the mayor.
well we will have to vote on ap-
proximate estimates anyhow" said
Councilman Horn. II am in favor of
providing for a bond issue of a stated
sum or as much thereof as may be nee
essary that will cover it,
ST don't think an estimate of a weeks
time would be worth anything said
Councilman Blakley. Il don't think
any engineer would wish to prepare an
estimate in such short length of
time"
ct don't think we should attempt to
place this before the people at this cleo
IL,
mayor. cit might be submitted at
special election"
There is no harm in letting him
come over here and trying 1t. The first
thing we know we will be horsing
around and find winter here before us
and with no new lights said Hughes.
THE people want to know exactly
what they are voting bonds for. Then
the people can vote intelligently,'' con-
tended Councilman Montgomery.
with
The present low prices which prevail
in the manufacturing world for all
kinds of machinery, including electrical
supplies, is one of the inducements
which should prevail in making haste.
Taking advantage of the big slump in
the market will make a big difference
to the city in the cost of remodeling.
The franchise of the Bell Telephone
company expires on April II. The coun-
ell is contemplating taking hand in
the telephone rates and regulating
hem. At least this was limited at by
Councilman Stanley when he asked the
city attorney be instructed to draw up
| a new ordinance-franchisew which should
| eTnbody the ideas of the council and be
submitted to the company when 1t ap-
| piled for a new franchise This passed
| by vote of the council but later was
| reconsidered. The Bell company claims
| hat under an old Kansas law it is priv
| LEGGED to operate without having
| franchise from the city and a second
| motion was made and carried calling
| on the city attorney to give the city
some legal counsel on the claims made
| by the telephone company with refer
ence to the position that they have as
sumed.
The ordinance reducing the natural
gas rates from As cents as maximum
| to 30 cents, making the schedule of
rates % cents for first five years 81 cents
| for the second five years and thirty
cents for the balance of time that ma
| tural gas is furnished was introduced
into the council last evening and refer