The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-03
Judge Booth Puts Final Quietus
on Controversy Today.
He Leaves No Chance for
Squabble in Future.
!; RATE WILL Be 60 CENTS
State Politicians Must Keep
Fingers OFF Now.
Final Decision Today Leaves
No Chance for Argument.


That news will probably bring a
sigh of relief to the gas consumer and
the tax payer. 1t is sad. sad news.
tho, to a little army of Kansas law
years and a group of politicians who
have waxed eloquent and fat and won
votes as a result of the gas contro-
versy. In just few weeks Judge
Wilbur F. Booth of the federal court
has put an end to five years of ex-
pensive litigation that produced no
gas, piled up thousan ds of dollsr in
public expense and resulted in a LOO
per cent increase in rates.
Thru five hot summers Kansans
sweltered as they read flaring head
lines of gas controversy. Thru five
cold, gasless winters Kansans shiv-
cred and swore and wondered about
the gas which the politicians had
promised, but which either didn't ar
rive or wouldn't burn. For five years
kansans went to the gas office with a
curse on their lips and paid bills for
the clicking sound in the gas meters
It's All Over Now
Now it is all over There may not
| be more gas. The rates for snch gas
| as is consumed will be much higher
nearly 100 per cent higher than the
gas company once offered in a COM
| promise conference with J. l.. Rris-
| tow and the state utilities Commission.
But next winter there will be no gas
controversy in the steam heated util-
tues nearing rooms. Next summer the
politicians must look for other issues
1 thah the gas bugaboo and the Mont
gomery county court over which
Judge Flannelly once presided.
Judge Booth has not only decided
| the gas case, but he seems to have
put a plock under the campaign ora
tors and politically ambitious state
commission members forever and a
gay. reporters and news editors who
| Iolowed 469 gas controversies before
/ ninety-six boards, commissioners and
| tribunals, can now give a Thought to
nature and the song birds and the
babbling brooks and the ways of 4
more or less wicked world Judge
Booth today ended it attended the
arguments with an abrupt thud that
who had studied British Thermal
4 Units and the science of delivering a
gas thicker from an Oklahoma well to
WIDOWS cook stove in Kansas CITY.
i Judge Uses Plain Words.
/ When Judge Booth put his two feet
on the neck of the gas argument to-
day, he didn't leave an issue to whine
about. He set the entire natter down
nat. He gave an order that is in one
and two syllable words and SO under
standable that even a layrnan NAV
know as to what 1t all means He said
eheS lAIC NdHSdS uIlnIleS commission
and other politicians had been NAV
ing with an issue which didn't con-
Germ them in the least and which was
not their business to discuss. Then he
added that the state Commission
should keep its hands off in the fu-
ture. Otherwise the commission NAV
| meet lot of sorrow and distress.
To this Judge Booth set forth a
schedule of rates-60 cents north of
! Thayer and so cents south of Thaxer
and reserved to himself alone the
power and right and authority ITO
make such changes, amendments and
alterations as he deems necessary
Nor does Judge Booth indicate in the
least that he will call Mr.. Bristow and
other politicians into conference as to
the proper course to pursue. An an
cient clause in the agreement with
Kansas City for free gas is wiped out
The new rates are put in effect and
the consumer may take a good nights
rest without the fear that he will be
bothered by the meddling CT ambitious
! nnlificianQ