The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-11
SUE CASCOMP ANY
Topeka Plumbers Rebel at Ar.
bitrary Rules.
Will Not Put a Meter in Osborne
Home.
WANT LARGER PIPE.
Not Satisfied With One Inch
Leads Put In.
Even This Is Larger Than Used
i'm Gas Fields.

d. B. Johnson and F. C. Beck of the
plumbing firm of Johnson & Beck, have
filed a suit against the Consumers
Light, Heat & Power company, of this
city in which they ask the court Tor
an Injunction restraining the gas COM
pany from enforcing certain rules and
regulations regarding the gas connec-
lions for houses in this city. The
cause of action is unusual. The plain
tiffs allege that they have been in the
plumbing business here for number
of years and that their firm is reliable
and competent. They allege that the
gas company has pretended" to adopt
and enforce certain rules for laying
and connecting gas mains and pipes
to buildings; that these rules ana reg
ulations are unreasonable and do not
tend in any manner whatsoever to pre-
serve the public welfare, health OF
safety and are and have been arpl-
trarily adopted and attempted to be
enforced by the said defendant with,
out any regard for the convenience ana
economical construction of gas pipe ana
other equipment for the use OF gas.
That some time ago these plaintlns as
plumbers entered into contract with
w L. Osborne of 1905 Kansas avenue
to equip his premises with plumbing
and gas fitting and did the JOB III q
proper, sufficient, perfectly SAFE anu
workmanlike manner according TO the
best state of the art of plumbing ana
gasftting Yet now the gas company
refuses to install a meter in this mouse
or turn the gas into the mains, clam
ing that it's regulations have not peeh
observed by the plumbers, these PLAIN
tiffs in this case. The plaintiffs claim
further that there is neither reason nor
Justice in these demands and that they
tend to greatly injure and Will, II per
sisted in, ruin the business OF these
plaintiffs. They ask the court 10 Is
sue an order compelling the gas COM
pany to turn the gas into the malls
under the house of the said w l.. Us
borne and make void these OBNOXIOUS
and useless regulations in the future
F. 70. Beck, when seen this morning,
stated that the regulation that FORMED
the basis of the above suit was re-
garding the size of the pipes under
the house. The house in question is a
five room cottage and the gas COM
pany has an inch and a quarter main
leading to the edge OF the premises,
THE plumbers followed UP this lead
with inch and a quarter pipe and re-
duced it to one inch in size IN the
two leads running to either END OF
the house. These one inch leaos each
supply three stoves and the lights In
the house. The gas company demand
ed inch and quarter pipe all the way
To the actual leads for the stoves and
LIGHTS Mr.. Beck claims that II
inch and q quarter pipe was useu Aoi
the two leads that the inch and
quarter main of the gas company
would not supply two leads, each the
size of the main feeder. This appears
reasonable And it also appears that
the larger the pipe the less the gas
pressure and the more air the con-
sumers get mixed in with their gas.
In cities in the southern gas Held
three-auarter inch pipes are used un-
der the houses in order to get stronger
Gas pressure and pure gas. Only an
inch pipe is used generally for big
boilers in manufacturing plants and
brick kilns in order to keep the gas
pressure strong and the gas pure and
therefore secure a hot flame.
Matte Bray has filed suit for di-
vorce from her husband, James P.
BRAY alleging nonSupport, cruelty and
abuse. She states that ever since their
marriage here seven years ago she has
had to support herself and children,
that her husband has spent his earn
ings in other ways than for the sup
port of his family, and that he FREE
ouently called her vile names and
threatened her with personal violence.
Sheriff Wilkerson today went out to
Shorey and recovered the two riding
horses taken from the Perkins stable
and J. B. Love in this city by A. B.
and Edward Johnson. A. B. Johnson,
the elder of the brothers, came to this