The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-03
He Predicts That Rate VIII
Soar to 81 or S1.5O.
Working Man Not the Small
User, He Asserts.
APPLIANCES HERE 'ATROCIOUS'
Rate Charged in Some Kansas
Towns Too Low.
Consumption Survey of Kansas
May Be Asked For.

Henry L. Doherty, head of the Do
herty Gas company interests, told the
Kansas public utilities commission
that Mister Downtrodden Working
Man is not the small gas consumer.
He knocked established theories in the
head when he told the commission
of the gas situation. He said the
small consumer was the flat or apart
ment dweller with a wife and a poodle
dog or canary.
Doherty also told the commission
that when natural gas went above so
cents. it would take real balloon as
cension. He said increased cost meant
curtailed consumption. Under such
conditions, he said, greater economy
would follow. He said rates would go
to 81 or even $3.50 n thousand cubic
feet. He denied, tho. that such raises
would mean greater community ex-
pense.
Appliances Out of Date.
The gas corporation head also took
shot at the ancient gas appliances
used in Kansas and a number of mid
west states. Some of the gas appli-
ances out here are simply atrocious"
! Doherty said in a statement before the
commission. Doherty came to Tope-
ka with gas company heads and rep
| resentatives of number OF towns
! served by the Wichita Natural. The
| heaRng before the commission today
!
consumers and possible adoption of
the three way" gae rate The new
= rate has its basis on a proposed S6 a
year customers charge.
| Interest in the early testimony in
| the gas hearing centered almost en-
tirely in the statement which Doherty
made to the state commission. His
| statement that the day laborer and
working man is not the average small
consumer clearly aroused the interest
OF commission members. They hinled
lnat . demand may be made for a
scientific survey of various Kansas
towns for an analysis of the latest Do
herty claim
Have Made Careful Survey.
The Doherty claim was made in
answer 10 demand by II. c. Bowman.
or Newton, for a removal of the ready
TO serve charge. He said the average
working man is a small consumer INA
would pay higher proportionate rafe
than the merchant, professional anf
large user of gas.
we have made a careful survey Of
gas users in eastern cities as well as
IN cues in this section of the Country,
IOoherty told the commission. The
person who really economies on t1e
use or gas is the apartment dwelie,-
with wife and a poodle dog or ca
nary. The average working man uses
gas much more freely than docs ara
W nat is your rate in Newton 7,s
asked w. l.. Huggins Of the commits
sion, as he questioned Bowman.
| Twenty-seven cents"
! Unusually low when considerod n,
connection with an so cent rate IN
Topeka and other cities, is II not %
| Yes; ] have told our people all
along we would have higher rates. +
believe the average working man IN
Newton pays about 54 cents a month
for gas"
Higgins indicated that the commits
sion was keenly Interested in the
Doherty statement as to the classifi-
cation of gas users. He fntimated a
Kansas consumption survey might be
| asked.
Doherty went into the probable rate
situation in a subsequent statement.
To Price of Artificial Gas.
Il have always said that IL natural
gas went above SO cents It must go.
to the price of artificial gas" said the
gas company head. I'VE are facing
not 80 cent gas, but $1.00 and $3.50
| ga:.
Every time the rate is. raised con-
sumption is curtailed. II is claimed
that the distributing companies must
receive S17 for each customer. On the
basis of 10000 cubic feet for the
| average economical consumer. the dis
tributing company must receive an
lraverage Of about S5 cents a thousand
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