The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-20
HE'S GOOD SPORT
DOherty, However, Don't Think
X. C.. Is Treating Him Right.
City Wants to PenaliZe Him for
Doing His Best.
GAS PROBLEM STILL UNS0LvED
New York Magnate Has Gone to
Toledo, Ohio, Now.
Attorney Left Behind With
Power to Act for Him.
GAS PROBLEM STILL UNSOLV we'd

Kansas City, Mo-, Marcn w
will go over to the hotel with Mr. H.
A. Brown and outline to him what sort
of a plan 1 consider essential If the
city is to have an increased gas sup
ply next winter" was the ultimatum
delivered by H. L. Doherty of the Kan
sas Natural Gas company at the con-
cIusion of a stormy session held at the
city hall to review the tentative agree
ment made on the previous day.
Mr.. Doherty charged that the agree
ment drawn by the city ana submitted
to him in typewriter form hao peer,
iuegled. He said new stipulatlons had
been added of which he had no knoWl-
edge and which he could not accept,
He asserted that it looked to MN as IL
the city were practically opening the
door to new negotiations
Now with only two hours left pc
fore 7 leave for Toledo to look after
the details of a street car franchlse
you hand me a plan which Is exactiy
opposite to my understanding OF the
case" said Mr.. Doherty.
Mayor Edwards and City counselor
Harzfeld called upon Doherty to point
ont the Objectionable features
IT understood that new rates agreed
to were to go into effect Immediately"
replied Mr.. Doherty.
you have said constantly that what
the city wanted was gas, and my reply
was that the rates should be in pro-
portion to restrict the use of the gas.
/ can't promise you service II the GATE
for the new rates does not become
operative until next September. L can
not approve of this plan
objects to Wording.
You said you did not approve of
the plan, but you finally gave your
consent to it, 1 inferred from what
you said" observed City Attorney
Smith of Kansas City, Kan
Mr.. Doherty next demonstrated TO
the wording of the agreement relat-
ing to the penalty of $4,000 a day he
must pay if tie gas fails to keep up a
pressure of tel. ounces at the receiv-
ing gates az Thirty-ninth and Twenty
fifth streets
I'VE agreed that the penalty was to
be taken from my share of impound-
ed money created by all revenues from
gas in excess of 80 cents. You say in
this agreement that the city may de-
duct the penalty from any money due
or becoming due to the Kansas Nat
ural Gas company"
Mr.. Edwards confessed to being re-
sponsible for the change, as he be-
lieved it to be entirely proper.
Il didn't know either that we had
discussed or agreed that the consum-
er would have a right to deduct from
his bill one-thirtieth part of his
monthly bill for each day that the
pressure at any measuring stations
established by the city is below two
inches continually for more than one
i hour in one day." added Mr.. Doherty
why, of course we did," shouted
some of the conferees-
Hold on" interrupted Mayor Ed
wards, "Mr. Doherty is absolutely
right in his contention. We started
to discuss the pressure. but before we
agreed to it we got off on to the
amount of penalty Mr.. Doherty should
pay if the pressure varied from ten
ounces at the receiving gates. How
ever, I feel that the small consumer
should have some protection accorded
him if he does not get the gas for
which he is charged
Doherty Good Sport.
Pm willing to be a good sport, and
go ahead and spend 100000 tc
bring gas to Kansas City, and 1 want
the city to deal with me in the same
spirit 1 have dealt with you. Instead
of helping me you undertake to penal.