The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-04
OPPOSED TO PLAN
Gas Distributing Companies
Fight DOherty's Proposal.
Witnesses introduced at the p.
U. c. Hearing Today.
HAGENAH GIVES HIS OPINION
Says New Plan Would Freeze
Out Small Users.
Meal Served at Rooms of the
Commission Today.

The row of gas distributing COM
panies and the Kansas Natural took
the center of the stage today in the
hearing before the public utilities
commission Trouble started when w.
J. Hagenah, of Chicago, was called to
the witness stand for the Consumers
Light Heat & Power company of To-
peka and told the commission of def
cts in the three way" gas charge
plan. Hasenah declared the system
meant increased charges to small con-
sumers
With the calling of Hagenah to the
stand today, the way was paved for
the big dispute between the producing
and distributing companies. The state
public utilities commission is taking
testimony with a view of fixing rates
to consumers. The distributing COM
panies are directing their fight on the
Doherty three way" plan as a re-
suit Of the federal court order compel
ilng the distributors to stand all Leak
age charges.
Rate Not Justified.
NO accounting system justifies so
high rate for small consumers as
would be charged under the three way
plan" Hagenah told the commission
He supplemented the statement with
a declaration that the big consumers
would use the gas and would receive
the benefits of the plan
Under cross examination. tho, both
by Henry M. Doherty and his many
attorneys, Hagenah admitted he could
not recall a city where as high a rate
as IS cents was paid for industrial
gas He was asked for relative costs
as to gas under the three way pro-
posal and the cost of furnace coal.
He said he had not compiled figures
on this question:. not expecting to meet
the issue in the present case.
Doherty and his attorneys then told
q 7SeyaSr
had refused to buy gas at 20 cents.
They urged that this situation made
impossible the Hagenah conclusion
that manufacturers would seek gas
under the new proposal. Previous
testimony by Doherty was to the eff
feet that the small consumer would
benefit by the three way system.
THE point system" contended Ha-
genah, would make use of gas by
small consumers very high. Many
would discontinue the service. This
takes the gas from your small con-
sumers to give it to the big ones"
Witness said he was CONDUCTING. an
investigation as to consumption and
demand in the Topeka gas situation
He said his investigation had not pro-
crossed to the point where he could
make, a. positive statement. He was
given. a rough half hour by Doherty
attorneys and frequently questioned
by members of the commission.
Thomas F. Doran. attorney for the To-
cal distributing company, conducted
the direct examination. Several times
during the hearing Doran clashed with
Doherty counsel regarding issues in
the case.
While the hearing was in progress,
woman prepared a meal for eight
people on a range which had been in
stalled in the hearing room. Themes
was prepared to test gas consumption
required in home where modern gas
appliances are used. 1t was declared
that the meal was sufficient to feed
ten or twelve persons.
Had Roast Beef.
Included in the MONDAY meal were
roast beef sufficient for at least ten
people, mashed potatoes. green peas,
cream of tomato soup. salad. hot bis
cults, coffee and peach pie. 1t was
declared by Doherty representatives
that the entire meal was cooked \by
the use of thirty cubic feet of gas an
hour.
All of the distributing companies
protesting against the establishment
of the three way gas plan. will intro
duce witnesses during the present
hearing