The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-17
Six Concerns File Application
for a Big Advance.
Claim Present Rates Do Not Al
low Profit.
REVENUES ARE INADEQUATE?
u. s. District Court Asked To
Sanction Increase.
State Officials Will Oppose New
sHike" Move.

Topeka faces dollar gas for next
winter.
Intervening petitions filed in st.
Paul, Mimi, today with Judge Wilbur
Booth of the United States district
court, ask flat dollar gas rates for
six distributing companies. The Con-
sumers' Light, Heat & Power COM
pany Of Topeka Joined in the petition.
Topeka, Lawrence, Leavenworth, KAN
sas City, Kan, st. Joseph and Kansas
City, Mo-, would be affected by the
order.
Complaint is made that under the
new rates allowed by Judge Booth a
year ago, the distributing companies
are unable to produce a reasonable
return On their investments. The in
| tervening petitions are in the case of
the Kansas Natural Gas company.
Under the petition today, the distrib-
uting companies ask that so per cent
of the revenues go to the local COM
panies and 40 per cent to the Kansas
Natural.
Revenues Inadequate?
1t is alleged in the intervening pc
tition that the distributing companies
are unable to produce adequate reve-
nueS under existing rates and agree
ments. Under the existing agreement,
the Kansas Natural receives 57h per
cent of the gross revenues from the
distributing companies. This rule ap-
, plies in the cases of all distributing
companies except the ST. Joseph Gas
| company, which receives so per cent
os the gross revenues.
The new application means an in
crease of Sc 2s per cent in existing gas
rates. 1t means an increase Of nearly
5OO per cent over rates in existence
before Judge Booths order of 1917.
Judge Booths rate order of last
year provided for an increase in rates
in all towns affected by the Kansas
Natural and its distributing COM
panies. Topeka's rate was increased
from 23 to so cents a thousand cubic
feet. The order followed an offer by
the Kansas Natural a few months
troversy by a 32 cent agreement
Joseph L. Bristow, then chairman of
the state public utilities commission,
opposed the agreement. In his ac-
ton he was said to have been strongly
supported by Governor Capper. They
contended, according to reports, for
28 cent gas or nothing. Because of
this controversy, the state lost juris-
diction over the gas squabble and the
case went into the federal courts
The result was greatly increased rates
, and little if any increase in gas.
so Cents Not Enough.
In the petition filed today it is as
produced the revenues anticipated at
the time the order was issued. Each
of the six distributing companies filed
tabulated estimates of consumption,
revenues and expenses for the current
year in support of their claims.
The Consumers Light, Heat &
Power company of Topeka, estimates
the use of gas in Topeka for the year
ending March 1, 1919, at 337, 500, ,00D
cubic feet. From this consumption it
anticipates an income of $4,000.
ar income of 1888 from each meter
in operation in the city.
Gross estimated expenses of the
company for the year are placed at
$15S,75O by the Topeka distributing
! company. It charges. $4,000 for
operation, $15,750 for depreciation on
meters and $4,000 interest on meter
investments, or a total of s15S,750. It
asks for not less than 53 per cent of
the gross revenues from the sale OF
gas, but joins in the general demand
for a 60-40 per cent distribution of re-
ceipts between the local company and
the Kansas Natural
Companies Asking Raise
Joining in the application for flat
dollar -ates for natural gas are:
Consumers Light, Heat & Power
Co., Topeka
citizens Light. Heat & Power Co..
Kansas City Gas Co. Kansas City,
Mo.
Leavenworth Light Co., Leaven-
worth.
! ST. Joseph Gas Co., st. Joseph, Mo.
Wyandotte County Gas Co., Kansas
City, Kan.
The state will oppose the granting
of the new rates, altho definite action
concerning the detailed policies of the
state may not be determined for sew
eral days. A conference of public util-
tiles mem bers and attorneys as well
as the members of the attorney gen.
erals staff and local attorneys in cities
affected, will probably be held in the
next week or ten days. Plans for
meeting the application for increased
rates will not be considered until after
notices have been served concerning
the filing of intervening petitions