The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-04
A LAST EFFORT.
Ex-Mayor Davis Talks.

y
fer of the Edison company for con-
slider that it is cheaper than the city
can manufacture it's own light. / had
no idea that the Edison company
hope that they will make something
out of the contract at that for I want
! to see all of our city institutions do
well and make money.
''If the city accepts this offer and
think that it should the Edison COM
pany will be compelled to make many
| Improvements in their plant which
will increase it's value and add to the
| income of the city from taxes recetv-
| ed for do not believe that the pres
emit tax commission will overlook any
thing in this line. am in favor OF
| the new offer made by the Edison
company and offer the following
| resolution and move its adoption:
Whereas, the Edison company has
submitted an especially favorable rate
for lighting the streets of the city to
the special committee appointed by
this club, figure lower than the city
can hope to produce lights; now there
| fore be it
Resolved, that it is the sense OF
this club that the best interests of the
city will be served by accepting the
bid of the company and that we rec
ommend to the voters of the city that
the bonds be not carried and request
the mayor and council to enter into a
contract with the company Ior tno
lighting of our streets"
The motion was seconded by w. Z.
Stephenson and was adopted by the
vote of 20 to g..
]. G. Waters, an attorney, not
member of the club made long talk
declaring the appointment OF the cleo
trio light commission was Illegal; that
the appointment of the water COM
mission was illegal and that there
ought to be an injunction-the ever
lasting injunction which always hobs
UP to block our progress.
This is critical period for To-
peka." said A. A. Rogers. I'VE have
a beautiful city and many strangers
are locating within its boundaries but
the question Of taxes is the first thing
that confronts them. They come to
Topeka and locate on account OF the
when they are confronted with high
taxes they complain.
"It seems to me that the city should
accept this offer of the Edison COM
pany to furnish street lights for a
period. of ten years at $50 per light
for this is certainly a cheaper rate
than they can be manufactured for by
the city. They offer to take the
city plant and return 1t to the city at
the end of this term of years at It's
value at that time and in the mean
time we will be furnished lights at
cheaper rate than the city can manu-
facture them. I think that we should
work with the city council and try to
get the members to accept the propo...
sition made by the Edison company.
Upon the request of w. c. Stephen
SON Judge T. F. Carver spoke on the
legal question which was sprung ear
lier in the meeting by ]. g. Waters.
"This is not the time to consider the
legality of the action of the city coun-
Gil in appointing these commissions,
said Mr.. Carver. Il have not made
thorough investigation of this point,
though I did have a short talk about
it with Captain Waters this morning.
eff the action which has been taken
| is not legal it can be remedied very
easily at any time. The question now
is how can the city lighting PROPOSE
ton be met the most satisfactorily
and the cheapest. It seems to me
that the city was authorized to ap-
point the waterworks commission but
I may be mistaken in this matter for
I was out of the city great deal OF
the time about the time the appoint
| ments were made. Though 1t does
appear as though the city had acted
| in advance of it's authority in relation
to the appointments of this light
commission.
There is one thing that I have
discovered in my capacity as mem
Der of the school board and that is
that the school board is compelled to
pay for the water used since the
waterworks commission has had
| charge of the matter. while before
| that time we were furnished with
water free of charge. If the light
commission is to be handled in this
way I am opposed to it."
M. A. Low Talks.
"I have had a varied experience
with the light question ever since the
| city has had charge of the plant"
said M. A. Low, "and It has been my
observation that the light GIBBS and
| flows like the tides Of the sea. I'M
derstand that the plant is being
| operated on the moonlight schedule
and no matter how dark the night is
! if the moon is supposed to be shining
| there lights are not burning.
"I don't think that the city has ever
| furnished light at the price which
| the Edison company offers to fur
| nish it and I don't think that 1t ever
will be by the city plant. think that
| the Edison company can and will
| furnish better and cheaper lights than
| the first outlay for a new plant will
be $4,000 and the members of the
| commission say that the cost will not
exceed $4,000. The price at which
| the Edison company has offered to
light the city is cheaper than any
city in the country now has and I
| think that we should close a contract
with the company"
A Lonesome Opposition.
Mr.. MacLennan said in part:
ct am somewhat abashed at the ar
ray of legal talent and at the number
OF the representatives Of the Edison
and other corporations present, but
| wish to say something In opposition to
the proposition to abandon the NUM-
cipal light plant. turn the poles and
the wire over to the Edison company,
| and make a contract with it for 400
lights at the rate Of $50 per light per
year.
ST am not here to discuss the legal
phase. The mayor and council have
an attorney to advise them as to the
| legality of the methods and manner
they have taken to handle the street
| lights. It strikes me as rather late In