The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-09
Let Another Company Try to
Make Money From Gas.
City Attorneys Meeting i'm To-
peka Have a Plan.
To HELP JOHN MARSHALL
Municipal COunselOrs Will Aid
i'm Investigation.
Six Cities Represented i'm the
Conference Today.

If the Kansas Natural Gas company
is not able to make money out of the
present gas rates charged the con-
SumerS and if the receivers have done
all in their power to keep the com
pany floating under existing sched-
ules, then why not sell the property to
some company that can declare divi-
dends2
This is the question asked unani-
mously by the city attorneys of six
cities meeting with John Marshall, at
torney for the state utilities commits
sion today.
The city counselors are here for the
purpose of selecting one of their num-
ber to confer at all times with the
utilities attorney and to assist in the
public investigation of the property,
business and proposed actions and
rates of the Kansas Natural company.
At late hour this afternoon the
lawyers were arguing on the attitude
that should be taken in representation
of the cities of this state and Missouri.
Let the State Fix the Rates.
The municipal attorneys today are
anxious to aid the Kansas utilities
commission in their efforts to fix the
rates charged by the Kansas Natural
company to the distributing company
and by the distributing companies to
the consumers. Although the direct
orders of the Kansas commission
would not affect legally the cities of
Kansas City and st. Joseph represent
ed in the meeting, it is the belief of
the representatives of these towns
that whatever action is taken on this
side of the state line will reflect in
their favor.
Another curiosity that the attorneys
were not able to refrain from men
tioning-who owns the fields in Kan
sas and Oklahoma? And what is the
relation between the Kansas Natural
and the distributing companies? And
what does it cost the receivers to de-
liver gas? And what would it cost
to tap new fields in the southern Kan
sas and Oklahoma territory?
In all of the gas cities the attor-
neyS promised support to John Mar
shall in the investigation that will be-
gin Immediately and in the hearing
before the commission January "a
The one attorney appointed to work
with the utility counsel will represent
the city governments and the public
from municipal point of view.
Make Gas Last Longer.
It avs agreed this morning that
1t was agreed this morning that
sumerS to perpetuate the life of gas.
1t was admitted that the supply un-
large consumers should be charged
more than the small consumers, thus
encouraging the use of gas for cook
ing and lighting only.
The conference today is attended by
City Attorney Norris of St Joseph,
Attorney Pike of the ST. Joseph utili-
ties commission, Attorney Evans of
Kansas City, Attorney Higgins of Kan
sas City, Kan, Attorney Brady of
Oswego, Attorney Walker of CoIum-
bus and Attorney Ralston of Topeka
City Attorney Higgins of Kansas City,
is the chairman of the COM
nittee which was appointed at a re-
cent meeting of Kansas municipal
executives in Kansas City. In all prob
ability Higgins will be appointed the
representative to work with Johnf
Marshall of the Kansas public utilities
commission.