The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-31
5O-Cent Gas Is Punishment to
Topeka Account of Capper.
CITY WILL NOT GET into FIGHT
Mayor Says He Was Advised by
Governors Attorney General.
Admits That Rate Is ExOrbitant
as 1t Stands.

Mayor House today absolutely re-
fused to permit the governor to give
him the hot end of the poker" whic1
the state grasped when it entered the
gas fight. The state, Mayor House
declares, is endeavoring frantically to
'let loose and pass the buck" 70 the
city commissioners.
Especially we'll does the mayor do a
little skin peeling when he states
that the refusal of the city to enter
into the gas fight was upon the adj
vice of Attorney General Brewster. tbs
states own attorney The mayor
states that the attorney general OF
Kansas advised him that there was
no method of procedure by which tho
city could secure relief"
II could see no reason for tearing
my linen over the matter. and still see
none" continued Mayor House The
mayor further charges that 5o-ceat
gas is the gas company's reply to the
states attack on it and is a part Of the
gas company's plan to punish Cover
nor Capper by Furnishing his home
town. 1T was decided said the
mayor, ito fix for Topeka higher
rate than that charged any other town
supplied by the Kansas Natural
If" concluded the mayor. Judge
Booth, now sitting in the case, up
! hold the Kansas Natural receivers To-
peka will have to pay fifty cents for
gas. If he doesn't the city will
enabled to go into the court and secure
fair and equitable rate"
Mayor House today was requested
| to prepare n statement in answer to
repeated attacks upon the city conn
missioners by the governor for not gu
tering into the gas fight
The statement follows.
Houses Statement.
I "As an interested spectator of the
gas controversy, it occurs to me that
the state, having got hold OF the hot
| end of the poker, wants to let loose
The plan seems to be to force the city
! mmission to pick it up The COM
mission respectfully refuses to permit
the buck to be passed to it. 1t has
| steadfastly declined to do any grand
| standing on the gas proposition, and
| still declines to do so.
| I'm the earlier stages of the gas con-
troversy l had two or three consulta-
tions with Attorney General Brewster
relative to the powers of the city in
the matter. He could suggest no ac-
ton which would bring relief or in
anyway improve its position. With
the attorney general of Kansas advis-
ing me that there was no method OF
procedure by which the city could Sc
cure relief, I could see no reason for
teiiTlnS MY linen over Itle anu
still see none And the city commits
, sion has all along been unanimous in
its opinion upon that point
Fifty cent gas is the gas company's =
reply TO the states attacks Upon it.
The rate is exorbitant. But il is a
part of the gas company's plan to
punish Governor Capper by punish ing
his home town. Originally the plan
was to cut off ToDeka's supply of gas
Later it was decided to fix for Topeka
a higher rate than that charged in
any other town supplied bv the Kansas
Natural. I doubt that the city corn
| mission should he held in any way
responsible for the quarrel between
the governor and the Kansas Natural.
"And this 10 all there is to the gas
controversy. If Judge Rooth. now sit
ting in the case. upholds the Kansas
Natural receivers Topeka Will have 10
pay so cents for gas. If he doesn't the
city will be ena abled to go into court
and secure a fair and equitable rate"