The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-18
Big Consumers Not Shut Off
for Non.Payment.
But Little Consumers Have to
Pay Prompt.
THE CASE OF THE WOMAN
She Owed &4.5O-NO Water TIL
She Pays.
Hotel Owes $1,394 and Water
Pressure Is Strong.

ssT tell Won she can not nave any
ter until she pays up all she owes
will not turn the water on uh'n .
$3.50 is paid. We have expialneo Ills
to you before and that is all there
to It," This is part OF cohVers" '.o"
which took place in the once OF 'no
c,tv water department this mornns'
rrrarL Stevens. cashier, was speaking
and the person he was addressing was
. man who had rented house 10 d
woman and wanted the city water turAIo
on. but the water department omclaie
refused to do this because, wheh tne
woman was living in another houee
she moved out without paying Wna'
she owed the city for water. Ihere
was a balance Of about $3.50 remain
ing unpaid after her deposit had been
fofeited. The landlord offered to guar
antee the payment OF all water pliis
the woman might incur while tenant
in his house, but was told tnat .nc
water would not be turned on IN MS
house until the water used by ms ten
ant while she lived in another mousse
had been paid.
Frank M. Newland, commissioner at
the head of the water department. was
present and heard the conversation.
He also talked with the man. When
he was through talking with the man.
q State Journal reporter told Mr. new
land he would like to talk with him as
soon as a meeting Of the city commls-
sion. then about to be held, was over.
Nothing easier than that" replied Mr..
Newland.
II have been told that one OF To-
peka's large business institutions is
way behind in it's water rentals. In fact
$21OO behind, and has been for years.
what are the facts in the case?' asked
the reporter of Mr.. Newland, after the
meeting of the commission was over.
Mr.. Newland appeared embarrassed.
Burden on His Predecessor.
'T do not want to say anything.
do not want to throw any mud at my
predecessor" he said. Il
The reporter replied that he did not
want to throw any mud, but wanted
the facts and that the facts could be
revealed without any comment on the
part of Mr.. Newland by merely allow
ing the reporter to look over the rec
ords in the water office. But Mr..
Newland was not satisfied with that.
1--WE will see what Mr.. Ralston
eeys," he replied, and started for the
office Of the city attorney. The re-
stated to Mr.. Ralston that he wanted
to know whether the reporter had the
right to look over the records in the
water department.
sure, tAoy are puUllC IcCOIuS, hAu
any taxpayer has the right to see
them," replied the city attorney.
The reporter started for the water
department, asking Mr. Newland to go
with him and help him find what he
wanted.
Wanted to See Mayor First.
"Wait a minute" replied Mr.. New
land. II want to talk with the mayor
first. and I don't want you to hear
what I say to him."
When Mr.. Newland returned from
the mayors office. he told the repor-
ter the mayor had the information he
sought.
You will not need to go into the
records in my department at all. not
at all. The mayor has everything you
want" he explained.
The reporter saw the mayor and
was handed list Of delinquent water
patrons, which had been presented to
the commission September %. and
had been referred to Commissioner of
Finance Roy L. Bone and Mayor
Cofran.
That was on September %. Mayor
Cofran explained that as yet he and
Mr.. Bone had not made report on
the matter.
The biggest item in the list is:
National Hotel company, May 26,
1909. to March 15. 1912. s1,394.60.''
This Is the bill which started" with
Mr.. Newland's predecessor in the office
Of commissioner of water and lighting.
Both Mayor Cofran and Mr.. Newland
explained that there was a dispute in
the beginning and that the National
hotel refused to pay its bills from
month to month, pending settlement.
until the bill aggregated $1,394.6O.
But the water was never shut of!
The bill had reached this sum before
Peter Miller, commissioner Of the water
department. left office.
But Mr.. Miller did not order the
water shut off.
The bill was just as big, when Mr..
Newland took Objective months ago.
But Mr.. Newland did not order the
water shut OF.
The bill is s1.3e4.so against the Ma
tional Hotel company.
The bill against the woman who
wanted the water turned ON this morn
ing is $3.50.
Woman Must Pay Back Bill $3.50,
But the woman can not get any
water until this $3.50 is paid
Mr.. Newland says that since he has
taken Office the National Hotel COM
pany has paid it's monthly water bills
every month. but has not paid up th<
old bill. and is still getting the water
service.
The man who wanted the water turn.
ed into his house for the use of hi,
woman tenant this morning, offered t.
guarantee the payment of the watel
bill for each month, but refused to pay
the old bill.
The woman il deniei the water ser
vice.
See the similarity in the two cases
And the contrast in treatment.
Many Have Been Cut On.
Mr.. Newland was asked by the re-
porter for q list OF the number o,
water patrons who during the las
month had had their water servics