The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-06
, AN 0LD TIMER.
Edison Company Resurrects an
Old Alleged Petition.
Tries to Palm 1t Off as Present
Sentiment.
1T is REPUDIATED.
Angry People Telephone and
Call on State Journal.
Many Say: eve Never Signed
IT,:
REPUDIATED.
And Are Emphatically Opposed
to Edison Proposition.

A page advertisement of the Topeka
Edison company appeared in the To-
peka Capital Sunday morning. This
appeared to be a recent petition pre-
sented to the mayor and councilmen OF
the city of Topeka.
The announcement stated that il
was
"A copy of petition filed with the
city council a few months ago when
the Edison company's offer for street
lighting was $500 per lamp per year,
now $4,000 per light, lower price
tnan has been estimated by any of the
experts employed by the city. the city
relieved of all responsibility, risk and
futher investment, the very low price,
the lowest in the United States for like
service
of a fake in that it is misleading In
many respects and the voters of the
city should not be Influenced by it. 1t
does not represent present sentiment.
The signers were not procured "a few
months ago." but nearly year ago
when the subject was up, and was
filed with the city council, not few
months ago, but on June 20.
This was merely one of two petI-
tions that were presented to the coun-
looked up both petitions today. There
are said to be 3O2 names on the Edi-
son company's petition. There are 290
names on the petition protesting
ceptance of the Edison company's
proposition. So far as numbers are
concerned, the petitions about offset
each other. The petition of protest
asks for further time and investiga-
ton. The Edison companys petition
as advertised says: I'VE protest
against the issuance of any further
bonds for the reconstruction of a
lighting plant, and urge upon you the
advisability of accepting one of the
propositions submitted by the Edison
company. We favor the contracting
for. the lights at a specific sum and
trust your honorable body may find IL
wise to close a contract with the Edi-
son company This was signed last
year before the light commission was
appointed or the recent Investigations
made.
The mayor and council at that time,
last June, decided to follow the other
petition; that is. the one favoring the
municipal plant, and asking for fur
ther time and investigation.
Tale of Two Petitions.
The other petition, which was not
printed in the Sunday Morning Capt.
tai, was signed by 29O tax payers.
citizens and business men" who said
in their petition. I'VE do hereby con-
test against abolishing the city elec-
trio light plant and letting out the
lighting of Topeka by contract or
otherwise to any company, concern
or corporation on any terms what
ever We believe that by spending a.
comparatively small amount of mon
ey on repairs that the present plant
can be made to run until sufficient
funds can be raised to rebuild or en-
large the plant to meet the increased
demands of the city and respectfully
ask your honorable body to at least
nj nf
least thoroughly Investigating the
whole matter before deciding to do
away with the city's ownership of it's
own electric plant
So impressed were the mayor and
council with this other petition lust
referred to. that it decided to hold off
and make further investigation
Had the council followed the petit
tion printed in the Capital the city
would have lost $2,5OO.00 annually
on 500 lights: for within the last three
days the Edison company has cut it's
old offer of $500 to $4,000 and
wrecked a plant doing good service
today in its limited capacity This
advertisement as quoted above of
$4,000 says the rate is 1.-The lowest Of
fer in the United States for like SER
vice.
Toledo is offered the service for
s47.00. Lockport, New York for $50
for a three-year franchise and Utica
New York for s45.00 and we do not
hear that those cities are compelled
to give the corporation the use of it's
poles or wires either.
But let US analyze the petition
printed in Sundays Capital Some
of the men are dead; some have NOV
ed away; scores did not understand
the situation in June as they do now.
The electric commission had not been
appointed. Other signers are person.
ally interested in the contract be-
cause they are stockholders of the
way company.
Offers a Page.
A page advertisement was offered
to the State Journal in this way by
the Edison company: I'VE may want
a page in the State Journal Monday
evening. but if we give it to you, you
must not comment on it,
The reply was: 1--WE will have to
see the copy first before deciding. If
the advertisement presents the Edison
company's side and we think it should
be commented on to present the light
question properly before our read
ers, we shall certainly comment on
it."
The Edison company did not wish its
advertisement shot full of holes.
The State Journal was anxious to
know just what the Edison company
had up its sleeve and was afraid it
might wait until the morning of cleo
ton. so 1t was suggested the Sunday
Capital might be used. The Edison
fell into that trap all right and used
It and exposed its hand in time for
comment
There are a lot of angry people to-
day who are wrongfuIly put in the
position of favoring the Edison com
nany's plan and repudiate the old