The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-11

winter season.
The rate it charges for gas is its
only source of revenue, and must
be large enough to supply the
necessary running expenses of the
company and also to assure reason
able dividends on its stock and bonds
already outstanding, and such new
bonds as it may need to issue to pro-
vide the capital for increasing its gas
supply or obtaining a new one.
And with all due respect to the
judgment of the Kansas public utili-
ties commission, the Kansas Natural
Gas company has set up rather indis-
putable proof that 1t cannot acquire
the funds it needs for operating ex-
penses and interest charges on the Is
cent rate that the Kansas utilities
commission has deemed sufficient.
1t believes it can do this on a
higher rate and the one that has
finally been awarded it by the federal
courts.
And for any one to contend that
the federal courts had no facts and
fixing a higher rate, is merely to
beg the question; is merely to unearth
the flimsiest of excuses on which to
attack the federal courts in this par
ticular and to defend what seems to
be the inexcusable action in the
premises of the Kansas public utilities
commission.
The federal courts had the same
facts and figures that were available
for the Kansas public utilities COM
mission, and they were voluminous
and searching, and it is only fair and
just to assume that the federal courts
reached this gas rate judgment on
these facts and figures.
Certainly the experts of the gas
companies did not accept the ascent
rate decision of the public utilities
commission as being fair one on the
testimony that was presented to the
commission. OF course, it can be ar
gued that the gas experts are preju-
diced by selfishness, but when sli is
said and done, these experts probably
know what they are talking about,
and there is no likelihood thar the
Kansas Natural Gas company would
insist on or demand a rate that would
kill its golden-egg-laying goose.
And if the Kansas public utilities
commission proceeds to tie up this
decision of the federal courts by max
ing a move in some direction or the
prospects of a better gas supply for
this winter.
1t will be the same old story of a
meddlesome interference on the part
of this state commission that was con-
ceived for the purpose of serving the
public that has been told year after
year now for some time.
In it's efforts of the last two or thres
years to have the gas question settled
only as it would settle 1t, this commits
sion, instead of serving the gas con-
Stunning public. has prevented this
same public from having anything like
an adequate gas supply during the last
few winter seasons.
Governor Capper's position, as de-
clared editorially in yesterdays Cap
ital, is that ut is the belief of the pub
lie utilities commission, from testi-
mony and evidence it has obtained
that gas, at 2S cents (the old rate)
will be ordered by a fair-minded
court
The responsibility for the gasiess
winters belongs no place else, but
squarely on the shoulders of the public
utilities commission and its chairman
Mr.. Bristow, and primarily, of course
with Governor Capper, who appointed
Mr.. Bristow to this position, and who
is now defending the commission's
side in the gas controversy as vigor-
ously as possible in the columns of his
daily newspaper, declaring that ths
old rate of % cents is sufficient
{ Both Mr.. Bristow and Mr.. Cappel
! claim to have taken their stand in the
gas premises in the interests of tn,
people. and which, of course, can b,
} readily translated as indicating tina
! they are playing politics. Politics
5 seem to be the stock and trade of MIR
) Bristow and Mr.. Capper in their con
l tirued pursuit of political preferment
Y and their newspaper businesses seen
) to be sidelines, and most conven;en
ones, too.
E But it would appear that in thi
particular both Mr.. Bristow and Mr.
D Capper are playing rather poor poll
i tics, because they do not seem to b.
( in touch with the sentiments of tn
f people on this gas question.
r The number of people who are op
i posed to a higher rate for gas witt
e the understanding. of course, thar i
= means reasonably adequate ga