The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-30
THE COMMISSION PLAN.
A Citizen Argues Against 1t for Alleged
Reason 1t Would Raise Water Rates.
Tt the Editor. of the state Journal:

AtSetcOAA ~ " OuAl 1lalcC w dkCE hdlcSs
Tt the Editor of the State Journal:
I know that the State. Journal is a
champion of the commission form of
government for cities, but, believing it
attempts to fairly represent the inter-
csts of its clientage, 1 submit the fol-
lowing:
am not opposed to the commission
form of government as an abstract
under the present charter for such
government and under conditions ex-
isting in Topeka. The charter, being
chapter Ia of the laws of 1907, re-
rains all the machinery of city govern
ment we now have except it substi-
tLtes five scouncilmen for twelve and
gives us five mayors instead of one, and
adds city auditor to our present sup
lily of officers
We are told that other cities have
benefited by the change, but that has
Deen under conditions of affairs where
any change would have been for the
better. Again We must remember that
where it has been tried it has been I'M
der the most favorable circumstances,
what the system would do when ad-
nln1stered by ordinary ofhceholders is
unknown. Why not let other cities
Try out the experiment?
But for Topeka, 1 think that the
charter would be most unfair to our
water users. They have been told that
in process of time their present rates
are to be lowered, but under a COM
mission form of government the rates
would have to be increased about 70
Fer cent. The provisions relating to
water rates in cities may be found in
sections 103. 104. los and LOG of the
Charter, and they are mandatory. They
command the commissioners in cities
owning their own waterwOrks to fix
such rates for water furnished to con-
sumers as to secure an income suffi-
vient:
1. To pay all salaries and wages of
all officers and employees in such de-
partment.;
2. To cover all miscellaneous ex-
penSes;
8. To pay all interest charges upon
All Indebtedness of the city created for
The purpose of purchasing, improving
or extending the waterworks and to
provide sinking fund of not less than
Z per cent per annum upon the gross
Indebtedness for the purpose of paying
eff such Indebtedness at maturity;
4. To cover the cost of all repairs,
renewals. betterments and extensions
of the waterworks and material used;
5. To cover the depreciation of the
plant by use and by Improvements in
the arts;
6. To repair losses of the water
works caused by accident of every
kind;
z. To. -recoup the city for loss of
taxes caused by city ownership;
g.. To give the city a fair margin of
profit upon the capital invested.
The specific objection to the charter
is found in the last two items above.
ne present rates are supposed to cover
all items from 1 to inclusive, and the
water users Of the city now pay in round
numbers $e1, 900 per year. The water
plant cost 100000, which sum is to be
paid in fact, by the water. users. There
has been invested of the money paid
by water users the sum of $132, 900 as
additional capital making the capital
invested at this time s752.0O0. The taxes
on this sum at one and a half per cent
would be 81, $50 and the margin of profit
at per cent would require $45.l20 more,
or total increase to be borne by the
water users of 400. making the re-
quired increase equal 20 per cent, within
a small fraction. Is the commission
form of government worth the price?
One of the objects Of municipal owner
ship is to 90 away with the element of
profit. That was an object urged for
buying the plant. The unfairness of
the charter is more apparent when it
is noted that the city does not have
a dollar of its money invested in the
plant and does not propose to invest.
The money of the water users pay for
the plant, the charter under the com
MISSION form of government would step
in and compel them to pay the city a
profit upon the money the water user
has put into the plant.
And these taxes to recoup the city for |
taxes lost and for profit can not be used
by the city for city purposes. By the |
provisions Of section los this money can
rot be used to reduce the general taxes
Or to meet the city's expenses. It is |
simply tied I'D.
I believe that these provisions of the |
charter are unknown to many who be-
lieve they are in favor of the change
to commission form: of government
and that they. ought to be understood
before the people are asked to endorse
it. D. C. TILLOTSON.
1t will be seen by reference to the
above communication from Mr.. Til
lotson that there is no necessity of
arguing with him the question as to
whether the commission form of gov
eminent as a general proposition is
good one. In the second paragraph
of his letter he admits that it is. He
says that he is mot opposed to the
commission form of government as an
abstract proposition" His opposition
is based upon the application of this
plan to Topeka.
In the next paragraph he states two
facts which seem to be at absolute