The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-30
new UTILITY PLAN
Indeterminate Franchise Law
Before Both Houses.
Legislative Bills Would Give
Cities Acquisition Rights.
SAFEGUARD INVESTORS, THO
Would Remove Concerns From
influence Local Politics.
Revoke Permits if Agreements
and Orders Violated.
SAFEGUARD INVESTORS, THO

An indeterminate franchise law for
Kansas was proposed in the house and
senate today in a bill by Piper of
Montgomery county and Satterthwaite
of Butler Under terms of the meas
ure Kansas cities would be permitted
to take over gas and electric compan-
les whenever the operations of the
utilities are in viola ton of franchise
agreements. Immediate right of ac-
QUESTION by cities is given under the
bill.
Kansas legislatures have on several
occasions beaten an indeterminate
franchise measure. But the bill now
in the hopper extends more power to
the cities than under former proposed
laws and at the same time provides
a reasonable safeguard for investors
in utility stock and bonds. The bill
applies to public utilities now serving
two or more cities and operating under,
the public utilities commission of the
state. 1t seeks to remove the present
rough edses from conditions and com
plications now confronted both by the
public utility and the cities.
Many Utilities Affected.
Many of the big public utilities in
Kansas would be affected by provi-
sions of the present bill. One of the
purposes of the proposed law is to re-
move the utilities from the influence
of local political disturbances without
impairing the right of the city to ac
quire the property under the munich
pal ownership law. Hundreds of large
industrial plants rely on power sup
piled by companies now supplying a
number of towns It is urged that the
passa ge of the bill will protect both
the public utility. as well as the indus
trial plants and leave to the cities the
rights to acquire and operate the ser
vice plants without waiting for the eX-
piration of a long term franchise.
Under the existing laws of the state,
the public utilities commission has
jurisdiction over all companies doing
business in more than one city The
commission is empowered to consider
and settle all controversies that devel-
Op except those over sthe renewal of
franchises. Where companies operate
in several cities. franchises expire at
different times and much trouble is
often encountered in the extension
of agreements. The proposed law
would give the state sort of inde-
terminate or revocable permit law as
a solution of the trouble. The meas
ure places with the state commission
full power to continue or revoke per-
! mits. Permits might be revoked
whenever orders of the commission
/ are violated. Cities would be permit
/ ted, without orders from the commits
! sion, to terminate permits and to ac-
! quire the property of the utility at its
; fair value.
i A bill similar to the Piper measure
! was offered in the upper house by
] Senator Satterthwaite of Butler
county.
Assess Hedge Fences.
/ Neiswender of Shawnee county
/ today offered a bill providing that
! hedge fences shall be assessed and
placed on the tax rolls of the counties
/ in which they are located. The bill
provides that such fences shall be list
! ed by the assessor and that the owner
| shall pay taxes on the property.
Representative Neiswender intro
/ duced the Kansas free fair appropria-
tion bill in the house. The measure is
similar to the one approved by the
| Legislature two years ago. 1t provide:
for an appropriation of $4,000 veal
! for two years, the money to be giveI
in payment of premiums, as provided
under the old law.
Passes for Preachers.
HegIer of Sedgwick county offered
a house bill today providing fol
! amendments to the present anti-pas:
law. The measure amends the ole
law by providing that ministers of th'
gospel who give their entire time t
the work, as we'll as charitable anC
benevolent workers, may receive fre'
ra ai1rOad transformation.