The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-04
Topeka Edison Company Cap
lures Commercial Club.
Npt Compelled to Reduce Its
Offer.
S5 G. BELOW ESTIMATE
Twenty-Five Members Out of
SO
B5 C. BELOW ESTIMATE
Undertake to Voice Abandon
ment Light Plant.

grasp last evening through the Topeka
commercial club to seize the street
lighting of Topeka and wreck one OF
the city's profitable and tax saving in
dustries, the municipal lighting plant
which has saved the people thousands
of dollars in taxes, because it has pro-
duced light cheaper than corporations
would have furnished it.
The Commercial club has member
ship of $40, but there were only thirty
three members present. The meeting
was packed in the interest of the Edi-
son company. Members were drum
med up by Myers influence. The
friends of municipal lighting were not
In attendance at the special meeting,
doubtless not regarding the meeting of
suff1cient importance.
The feature of the meeting was
the overwhelming attendance of the
representatives of the Edison and
street Railway companies and allied
interests.
have its forces aligned that all but
three of those present and voting,
voted against the resolution which
urged the city to abandon it's plant and
pay the Edison company $50 per lamp
per year for light. These three were
w. w. Mills. Clarence Skinner and
Frank P. MacLennan.
The directory of the Commercial
club is dominated by the Edison and
hallway interests and the resolution
under which the committee was ap-
pointed was drawn at the instance of
the Edison company.
A very good committee however,
was appointed and it brought in a re-
port, that despite its extravagant
figures for electrical equipment, fur
nished by the company, of which Mr.
Myers partner is manager, said in its
findings that under such a plant the
light would cost the city per light per
year $50.35.
The committee then begged the
Edison company to bid again and its
new bid of last night cut under the
committees report just 55 cents per
light per year. provided the city must
contract for ten years and turn over
its poles and wires for the Edison's
usei
The Commercial club ought to be
ashamed of itself to desert the city's
industry and lend itself to promoting
contract with the Edison company.
As one man said to an opponent of
the Edison plan: you made a good
They had. Will the masses of the
voters stand for this next Tuesday?
Those present, with their callings
were:
M. A. Low, director Street Railway
company.
T. F. Doran, attorney for Edison Co.
l.. S. Ferry, attorney for Edison Co.
w. N. Hall, director Edison Co
L E. Myers, president Edison Co.
w. F. Jansen, creamery company, T..
F. Doran, attorney.
A. NJ. Patton, Supt. Street Railway Co.
J. 7. Huntington, manager Edison Co.
Geo. Moeser, engineer Creamery Co
H. Purdy, secretary Edison Co.
H. Lautz. assistant to J. E. Hurley,
a director in Street Railway company
Do Dot
company.
r. S. Brigham, manager advertising
railway company.
w. Edison, brick company.
A. A. Rogers, brick company fur
nishing railway company.
]. G. Waters, attorney, not a member
of club.
James Ramsey, brick contractor.
W. c. N. Garvey, Santa Fe Railway
company.
w. l. Taylor, Southwestern Ry. Co.
Clay Hamilton, Bell Telephone Co.
Fred Cole, bridge contractor.
w. C. Stephenson, insurance and
rentals.
n Robert Pierce, opposed to municipal
Ownership.
w. H. Davis. was opposed to water
works and light municipal ownership.
Charles Magaw, attorney not a MEM
ber.
i. +. Carver, attorney.
F. B. Simms, county commissioner.
l. w. Felix, merchant.
Fred w. Freeman of Merchants Ma
tional bank, whose president is direc-
tor Street Railway company.
F. s. Crane, printing
w. E. Connelley. not member.
w. F. Weber, grocer.
John Switzer, attorney, did not vote.
E. Arnold. merchant
w. w. Mills, merchant.
Clarence Skinner. transfer company.
Frank p. MacLennan, newspaper man.
c. w. Merriam. Merriam Mortgage Co.
G. H. Matthews, shoe merchant.
This report indicates that the Edi-
son company will furnish the city
with four hundred or more lights for
street Illuminating purposes for a
period of ten years at $50 lamp per
year for an all night service. This
nroposition was made to a committee
from the Commercial club consisting
of Robert Pierce, G.. H. Mathews and
q. E. Moeser by L. E. Myers, presi-
dent of the Topeka Edison company.
The report was adopted by the
Commercial club and vote of thanks
rendered the committee for the work
which they have accomplished. your
committee has had several meetings
with the officers OF the Topeka Edi-
son company" said. Mr. Pierce. "and
we feel that we have made an honest
attempt on behalf of the Commercial
cl,,h 70 get at the facts relative to
lighting the city of Topeka. We feel
that in submitting this report we have
secured the best possible rate for the
cifv and one which the city council
should accept"
Mr pierce then read the following
report:
The Edison Latest.
.sToueka. Kan, April g. 190s.-To the
topeka Commercial Club.-Gentlemen
Pursuant to your instructions,your com
rnittee has conferred with the officers of
the Topeka Edison company and is