The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-22
L. f. DOran, for Consumers
Company, Files Petition.
MAY HAVE TO QUIT BUSINESS
Topeka Concern Says 1t Is Los
ing Money Now.
Another Bad Tangle in Gas
Rate Case Controversy.

Thomas Doran of Topeka, as attor-
ney for the Consumers' Heat. Light
and Power company, today filed a Pc
tition with the public utilities commits
sion, which seeks to compel the Kan
sas Natural Gas company to furnish
an adequate supply of gas for general
use in Topeka and Oakland. 1t is the
first move to compel the Kansas Nat
ural to furnish gas to it's distributing
agents and may cause as much trou-
bic as the long drawn out rate cases.
Judge E. F. Foley of the commits
sion said the Doran petition would be
accepted, but doubted the advisabiIity
of mixing issues at this time. Imrne-
d1etely the petition aroused deep con-
Germ among the attorneys in the gas
case and raised issues as to the COM
missions power to compel the Kansas
Natural to act.
May Have to Quit.
Doran's petition recites that unless
adequate pressure and supply is fur
nished by the Kansas Natural, the
local gas company will be compelled
to quit business. Under present con-
dittons, he urges, the local company is
losing money. 1t urged its patrons to
buy coal for use during the winter
months and has sacrificed revenues
that would be secured through an ade-
quate gas supply
Unless sufficient supply for light,
heat and power is provided" says
DOAoh PCIAlAOIl, 1lO rate IIdI may De
fixed. less than the rate usually
charged for lighting and cooking only
will yield a profit and enable it to con-
tinue the distribution of gas
Losing Money Now.
In other words. Doran indicates, the
Consumers company. now in the
hands OF receivers, must have a SUD-
ply of gas sufficient to meet all de-
mands, must go to artificial rates or
must quit business. That was the
proposition checked up to the commas
sion right in the midst of the gas rate
fight.
Il doubt the expediency of compli-
eating matters before the commission
by this action at this time" said Judge
Foley. following the filing of the Dor
an petition. 1.-The petite n, however.
will be accepted"
Pipe Line Capacity, Too.
The matter of rates does not seem
to be the only issue before this com
mission" said Chairman Bristow,
commenting on the new issue in the
controversy 1T seems there is a
pipe line and pipe line capacity issue
as well as rates and supply"
1T is a question of getting the gas
and whether the lines can carry sup
ply adequate to meet the demands"
replied Robert Stone, attorney for
the Kansas Natural receivers.
Complicated 1t More
Fred . Jackson, representing the
dbAliliCS GOltiuis5SlOii, lDen TeNsdiitu
that the supreme court had held that
the commission could not compel the
gas company to go beyond the borders
of the state to get a supply All OF
which complicated the Doran de-
mand the more.
Chester I. Long, of Kansas Natural
receivers counsel, suggested, though,
that the gas company might under
certain conditions elect to go outside
the state to procure gas.
Doran's petition pointed out en-
phatically that the issue before the
gas company in Topeka was not one
of rates. 1t was one of supply. I'm
less, he urged, an adequate supply
could be had, the matter of rates was
a question of no concern to the Con-
sumers company and its patrons