The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1913-04-11
FURTHER INQUIRY
into GAS QUESTION
Kansas Utilities Commission to Send
Man to Fields.
MUST KNOW ABOUT SUPPLY
Conflicting Testimony at the Hearing
to Be Strengthened Out to the
Satisfaction of the Com
mission.

Topeka.-The Kansas public utili-
ties commission is working out a plan
to continue its inquiry into the nat
ural gas situation.
Henderson Martin, chairman of the
commission, said that man thor
oughly familiar with the natural. gas
business will be employed by the COM
mission to spend the entire summer
in the Kansas and Oklahoma gas
fields to make study of the gas
supply to keep tab on the manner in
which the gas business is handled;
and in general, to make personal OBJ
servations of the whole industry with
a view to getting correct first-hand
information for the commission.
Another part of the plan of further
inquiry is that the commission will
ask the Kansas Natural Gas company
and all of the distributing companies
in the state to furnish II each month
with an abstract of the business done
during that month. These statements
are to contain the amount of money
received for gas the expenses to OPP
crate the amount of gas received, and
general recital of the current bust
ness affairs of the concerns.
In the decision of the Kansas COM
mission denying the applications for
increased rates for natural gas, the
commission declared: I'VE will re-
tain jurisdiction, and will continue the
investigation in an effort to get at
the truth of the matter"
When Mr.. Martin was asked as TO
the further inquiry he said:
1--WE are very DESTROYS of knowing
as definitely as possible the supply Of
gas still in the fields. That is a mat
ter of utmost Importance, and one of
the chief things that will be done by
the man whom we propose to send 70
the fields for the summer is to make
close study and get all information
possible for the commission on that
subject. We have taken much testi-
mony in the hearing and on various
matters there are conflicts. and mat
ters of this kind he will also inquire
into. We want to know just how the
gas business is handled in the fields
day after day, and, in general, get
first-hand information on the whole
subject. Financial and business state
ments monthly from the Kansas Nat
ural Gas company and all the distrib-
uting companies will be asked for. |
We also may work out some other
plans for making a further inquiry. |
We have not yet selected the man to |
make the field study, but we have |
one in mind who is thoroughly inform
ed in gas matters and who will get |
results"
The women of the different cities |
have had general cleanup days of
their own. Many of the clubs have
persuaded the mayors of the Kansas !,
towns to issue proclamations for
cleaning up the yards and alleys and
providing for the cities to haul the
rubbish away.
It is claimed that the new state law
to. censor moving pictures, is in VIC
lation of the interstate commerce
laws and illegally provides for state
revenue. A Topeka show house will
bring immediate action by displaying
uncensored films.
The irrigation board is making plans
for a visit to all of the 81 counties.
Governor Hodges will accompany the
board on this trip.
The contracts for the general books
used in the Kansas common schools
at the present time does not expire
for four years. But some of the books
in the list will be printed at once.
No state published books will be avail
able for use before the school year
in September, 1914.
Jay E. House, the Topeka newspa-
per man who refused to tell Cover
nor Stubs or the attorney general ,
where he had seen beer sold over a
counter in Kansas, and who was sent
to Jail for contempt as result, IS
out of jail "for keeps" The case
against him has been dismissed.
90
The state irrigation board has de- I
cided to establish at once five or six |
irrigation plants under the new law
10 cost from $4,000 to $4,000 each, and ]
get them into operation by June 1.
No locations for the plants were de-
cided upon.
q. The constitutionality Of the Kansas
moving picture censorship law will
De contested in the supreme court by
of eastern film houses. Q
film manufacturers. in a conference
lere, agreed to carry the case to the T
supreme court IL necessary.
The Crocker Land Expedition, I
which is to leave New York July 2 t