The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-06
turn DOWN Cash
Union Officials Try and Fail to
Pay Gas Bill.
Offered Company Twenty-E1ght
Cent Rate.
INITIAL STEP IN GAS FIGHT
May Be Followed by Injunction
Z Against Firm.
Industrial Council Awaits Ac-
ton of DOherty Agents.

Five members of the executive COM
mittee If the Topeka Industrial coun-
eli called at the office of the Consum-
ers' Light, Heat & Power company, at
1890 o'clock today, and offered to pay
their october gas bills at the ascent
rate. The cashier refused to accept
the money or receipt the bills. This
is the first step of the Industrial coun-
ell in its fight to obtain a blanket in
junction against the collection of the
5O-cent gas rate.
''Nothin doing" said the cashier,
as he smiled and pushed the money
rendered him back to the trade union
n4en.
Frank B. Brown, president of the
council, had difficulty in discovering
the amount of his bill at the ascent
rate. He finally called bookkeeper
and had her figure up his bill at the
torney for the union men, pushed
Brown up to the window last.
May Shut Off Gas.
Now" began Brown, after the
cashier refused his money, under the
laws of Kansas you are overcharging
u.s.
keep still, Frank" someone said,
that's only the cashier
.'Well, let's go in and find the head
cheese" said Brown. 81 want to fine
out if they're going to cut off the gas
L. G. Treleaven, receiver for the
company, was not in the office. 1t
was determined to make another call
at his office some time during the day.
1T would be unfair to the union
men to state in advance what 1 will
tell them" said Mr. Treleaven when
asked if the gas company would shut
Off the supply of gas of the five mem
bers of the council. J. o. Stevic, Paul
Montgomery William Kerle, Fred
FELTON, and Frank B. Brown.
Follows Long Farley.
The initial step of the union men
was taken following a long parley in
front of the gas company office. Word
received from the utilities commission
by Frank B. -irown indicated that the
purchase of the Kansas Natural by the
Doherty interests bid fair to become
reality.
ut wouldn't pay us to go ahead with
this fight and spend $780, said
Brown, land then learn that the Do
herty people have purpchaSed the
company and that we are going TO get
the ascent rate. 1t would be cheaper
to pay the so cents"
Wait for a Week.
But upon being assured that the
taking of the initial step would not
plunge the council into the immediate
expenditure of the $300-not until the
lawyers begin drafting legal papers
it was decided to prOfter the payment
and be ready for fight should the big
deal fail to materialiZe. Legal pro-
ceedings will not be taken until the
latter part of the week when it is
hoped some definite action will be tax
en- in concentrating the sale of the
Kansas Natural holdings to the Do
herty interests
The Industrial Council, however, in
tends to hold a mass meeting at
o'clock at the city auditorium Wednes-
day evening. The plan to obtain an
Injunction, should the big deal fail,
will be discussed and an effort will be
made to raise sufficient funds to bear
the burden of expense if it be decided
to go on with the fight for an injunc-
ton.
The Consumers Light, Heat &
Power company contemplates taking
no action against the union men for
several days, if at all, according to
an announcement made late this after
noon by L. C. Treleaven, receiver.
sThere is no use crossing bridge
until We come to it," said Mr.. Ire
Ieaven mo one is forced to pay for
the first ten days and even after that
several days elapse before the con-
sumers receive the notice and the gas
is shut off So 1 can see no use in
making any definite announcement at
this time