The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-30
FAVOR PUBLIC OWNERSHIP

burg, and F. S. Slathiel, Independence,
| as a committee on resolutions, the
Kansas city officials went to lunch.
That there is uncertainty in the
minds of the municipal officials as
to the proper manner to proceed in
increasing the gas supply, was evi-
dent during the morning, when the
visitors refused to go on record as to
their plans for relieving the situation.
They knew only that their towns
wanted gas. They realized that in
view of the present receivership trou-
bles and the recent ruling of Judge
Marshall in Salt Lake City, Utah,
when he refused to order an extension
of the Kansas Natural pipe lines. that
there is but a slim outlook for an in
creased fuel and light supply for next
winter. But the question of voting
bonds to take over the holdings of
the gas companies was big, serious
proposition and most of the officials
candidly admitted that they didn't
know whether it was good thing or
a step in the wrong direction.
81 am mighty free to say that I
don't know" said Mayor Green of
Kansas City. Kan. '"The gas company's s
property in Wyandotte county is worth
something like two million dollars, ac-
cording to the report on its physical
valuation. Reports also show that its
business in Kansas City, Kan, is about
a half million dollars a year. But
whether it is a wise plan to own the
plant or not, is something on which l
want more information. l am here
to listen and admit that l don't know
what is the best thing to do.
''AIl I know is that we are not get
ting enough gas" declared Mayor c.
H Morrow of Fort Scott. eve want
could get the gas company to furnish
it. But if they won't do it, then the
plan for municipal ownership may be
the next best thing"
Babb Is for Public Ownership.
One of the big boosts for municipal
ownership, though, came from May
or w J. Babb of Wichita. The Wich-
ita mayor is unable to attend the gas
conference, but he wired Governor
Hodges that he is strongly in favor of
the plan advanced by the Kansas ex-
ecutive in a letter to the city officials
of the state.
Sorry 1 can't be with you today
for speech to convention wired
Mayor Babb. beg leave to state that
public ownership is the only sure way
to have cheaper gas and better SER
vice.
Yet even Governor Hodges, at the
close of his speech to the city officials,
stated that he was not ready to urge
a definite program. Concluding his
previously prepared remarks, Cover
nor Hodges declared:
1T is up to you. l do not care to
urge a definite program. But we ought
to talk this thing over and 1 believe
that We can do something to relieve
the situation"
Charles Kerr former member of the
legislature from Montgomery county
and mayor of Independence. declares
that Independence does not propose to
suffer from a gas shortage if she can
help herself.
We have three gas companies in our
town" said Kerr. land have plenty Of
ont fS,,1
to do something then 1 am in favor
of taing over one of these three plants
but we won't buy the one owned ] Y
the Kansas Natural"
Among the men who came to the To-
peka meeting. though there was one
ting enough gas they all declared.
But the remedy was decidedly unce--
tain
1t Would Cost Eight Millions.
To take over the property of the
Kansas Natural Gas company would
cost seven or eight million dollars
That is a great deal of money, the
officers pointed out during
their noon luncheon hour.
And suppose we buy the gas plants?''
said one official. I'VE really won't have
any more gas than we have now. It
costs a lot of money to drill new wells
and run the plant and 1 am not so sure
about the program
At the meeting are a number of he
state house officials, including Attorney
General Dawson, Judge Helm of the
public utilities commission and Gov
ernor Hodges. All of them will prob
ably discuss the gas controversy at
the afternoon session.
One of the plans which it seems prob
able will be advanced at the afternoon
session is the question of submitting to
an agreement with the gas company
for moderate increase in rates to in
sure an increased supply from the new
fields in Oklahoma and an extension
of the gas cOmpany'S pipe lines.
Another question before the city Of
fcials interested in gas, is the propo-
SitiOn for purchasing the natural <aS
plants and converting them into manu-
factured gas plants.
There was no discussion of the gas
controversy at the noon conference.
Preceding the formal organization,
Governor Hodges called the meeting
together and in a brief speech pald
his respects to the Kansas Natural
Gas company and the federal courts
for their interference in the enforce
ment of the order of the public utlil-
ties commission for more gas
Hodges to Kansas Mayors.
Discussing the gas situation in KAN
sas, Governor Hodges declared:
Governor Hodges outlined the bus1-
ness of the conference as follows, in
opening the meeting of the mayors:
Briefly summarized-this is the
you have been called together
today to discuss.
AT one end of the pipe lines owned
by the Kansas Natural Gas company Is
an abundance of gas. At the other
end there are approximately 15O,OOO
households who want this gas and who
are willing to pay reasonable price
for II. The Kansas Natural Gas COM
pany has the money on hand with
which to secure this gas. The public
utilities commission of Kansas says to
the Kansas Natural Gas company
furnish the people with the gas they
need a federal judge, who sits
thousand miles away says-You do not