The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-30
Mayors of 25 Kansas Cities
Pass Resolutions.
Would Buy Holdings of Kansas
Natural Gas Co.
SPECIAL SESSION LEGISLATURE
Favor That, Too, as Necessary
to Garry Out Plan.
The Utah Federal Judge Is
Not Popular Here.
BABB, MAYOR OF WICHITA
He Is Strong for Municipal
Ownership Plan.
Gov. Hodges Bastes Gas Co.
and Judge Marshall.
Favor That, Too, as Necessary
to Garry Out Plan.
The Utah Federal Judge IL
Not Popular Here.
BABB, MAYOR OF WICHITA
He Is Strong for Municipal
Ownership Plan.
Gov. Hodges BasteS Gas Co.
and Judge Marshall.

That officials of Kansas cities ap-
prove the plan for municipal ownership
of gas plants, even to the point Of
taking over the property of the Kansas
Natural Gas company at forced sale
and requiring a special session of the
legislature to permit the securing of
additional gas pressure, was indicated
late this afternoon when a special
committee on resolutions submitted to
the municipal officials a plan for re-
lief from the gas shortage.
In their resolutions, the committee
recommends that the larger towns re-
ceiving Il gas supply from the Kansas
Natural shall interplead in the gas con-
troversy now pending in the federal
courts.
The committee further urged that.
II possible, the cities of Kansas shall
take over the properties of the gas
company at a possible sheriff's or
'1aster's sale of the assets of the big
corporation, now in the hands of re-
c"iVers. That there may be no diff
ficuty surrounding the legality of the
action of Kansas towns in securing a
sufficient gas supply and operating
their own plants Governor Hodges is
urged If necessary to call the legisla-
ture together to provide ample laws
TO meet the situation which now con-
fronts the patrons of the Kansas
Natural Gas company.
At $3.50 the resolutions of the spe-
cfal committee were still under con-
sideratIOn. 1t is possible that some
amendments will be made to the orig
inal draft of the resolutions, but the
document as prepared by the commit
tee is as follows:
Whereas. The said gas company
has now become involved in litigation
in both our state and United States
courts and said company and its bus
mess and property are now laboring
under the difficulties resulting from
many masters and no responsible head
who is financially interested in its per-
manent and continued success, and
Whereas, No well defined effort is
now being made to increase or even
maintain the present or past supply
OF natural gas for consumption, and
Whereas So far as can be learned
no effort has been made to obtain an
order or sale from the courts having
jurisdiction of the property of said
gas company, or to effectually end the
litigation now pending,
Now, therefore, be it resolved, that
II is the sense of this body, composed
OF representative citizens and munich
pal officials of that portion of Kansas
served by said gas company. that the
consumers of the product furnished
by SAID gas company should be repre-
SCnted In the courts having jurisdic-
ton of the said Kansas Natural Gas
company and its business and proper
~, to the end that the parties and per
sons who are now furnishing the funds
70 pay costs, receivers expenses and
operating expenses NAV be nrOtected
ana their interests Safeguarded
BE 1t further resolved, that a commit
zee De appointed representing directly
served by said gas company who shall he
authorized and instructed to interplead in
affairs and property of said gas Commune
aIe noW IN htigaton with the view of
Speeding the public sale of all the assets
property and franchise of said gas com
pany ard thereby place the title to said
assets, property and franchises in the
HahuS ana under the control of legitimate
personal owners, whose personal business
interests therein will induce good service
and businesslike administration
BE 1t further resolved, that this body
mittee, when appointed shall and it is
hereby authorized and instructed to pro
vide ways and means for the municipal-
tiles now served by said gas company to
become bona fide bidder at the CON
templated sherifs or special masters sale |
OF the SAID assets, property and franchises
OF said gas company, with the view and
intention of said municipalities becoming
the owner OF said property, as public
utility, for the use and benefit of the in
habitants of said municipalities
BE 1t further resolver, that this body
does herewith recommend to the governor
of Kansas, if it becomes necessary TO CON
fer the powers herein recommended, that
a special session of the legislature of this
state be called to provide for such laws
may be requisite to carry out fully the
recommendations herein made
Representatives from 25 Kansas
towns which purchase gas from the
Kansas Natural Gas company are
this afternoon looking for a solution
of the gas shortage problem and are
discussing the plan advanced by
Governor Hodges and the public utii-
tiles commission for public owner
ship of the gas plants. All of the
towns represented at the hearing
want gas. But some of the public
officials attending today's meeting
are inclined to view with suspicion
and uncertainty the plan for munich
pal owned plants.
1t was noon today before the meet
ing was called to order in Represent
atiVe hall. After the formal organ
ization recess was taken until ,
O'Clock. Governor Hodges officially
opened the meeting and in a brief
speech lambasted the gas company
for its failure to supply natural gas
and spoke sarcastically of the action
of the federal court-sitting 1000
miles from the scene of distress
and refusing to relieve the situation.
Charles Kerr, mayor of Independ-
ence, was made permanent Chairman
of the meeting and Mayor ]. S. Pei
lett, of Olathe, was elected as secre-
tary. After naming w. T. Watson.