The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-26
Kansas Natural Officials Dis
cussed Three Plans Here.
Consumers Company VIII Fight
Rate Hike "tO Last Ditch"
WOULD LET COURT DECIDE
Doran Urges Fixed Rate to
Company and Consumers.
Kick on Wichita's Getting
Gas at 1S Cents.

Unless the Kansas Natural increases
the rates to the distributing companies
in Wichita and southwestern Kansas,
Topeka may be without a sufficient
gas supply next winter.
This belief was expressed today by
L. c. Treleaven, receiver for the Con-
sumers Light, Heat & Power COM
pany. of Topeka, and T. F. Doran,
company attorney. Both declared
they would fight ito the last ditch"
the increase from 2S to 35 cents a
thousand cubic feet at the citys gates,
supposed to have become effective
here Thursday.
Cannot and Will Not Pay It."
Doran notified the Kansas Natural
by letter that the local company can
not and will not pay the advance
He made the suggestion that there is
only one solution to the problem
that of placing the case before the
Kansas industrial court.
Suggestions that certain districts be
cut off as a means of conserving the
gas supply for the balance of the state
were made at the conference before
the court of industrial relations Thurs
day, Doran said. These, he averred,
included three propositions-cutting
off Topeka. Atchison and Leaven-
worth, or Kansas City, or the Joplin
/ district.
Can't Cut Us Off, Says Doran.
But 1 know they can't cut us off,
Doran said, so long as Wichita is
getting gas for l 8 cents a thousand at
its gates and the Kansas Natural is
standing all the leakage.
! THE three-way-pla advocated by
the Kansas Natural is an impossible
ity," Doran declared. He said it was
impossible for the pipe line company
to supply sufficient gas under the
plan, as it would cause consumers tC
l rayprf n tho arN thing the lnRnI l.
lpany has been trying to get them
laWay from-the use of gas for heat
ing purposes.
The attorney intimated the case
would be filed with the industria
court for settlement.
Willing Court Should Settle 1t.
eve are more than willing that the
court settle the argument he de-
lclared.
In the event the local company loses
its case, it will mean 81 gas for To
lpeka.
This company has not had a penn!
return on a $1.600,000 investment fol
thirteen years" Doran asserted. II
is selling gas at a loss and can't do i
any longer. Furthermore, we can't in
crease our rates without the consen
of the industrial court. 1 am con
vfnced the court will have jurisdiction
over the case, in spite of contentious
to the contrary, by virtue of the cast
of the Pennsylvania Gas comp y
against the public service commission
of New York, recently decided in tht
United States supreme court"
Doran's Letter.
Doran's letter to the Kansas Nat
ural. addressed to John NJ. Landon
receiver, Independence, Kan, follows
This will advise you that after due an'
full consideration of the 35-cent city gat
by Judge Wilbur +. Booth, and made ef
fective March p. 1920, it has been foun'
that it will be impossible for The Con
sumers Light. Heat and Power company
or l.. c. Tr<asAven, its receiver. to pay thi
rate as operating cost, under presen
conditions, and survive; and you arc
therefore, notified that neither said com
pany nor its receiver can or VIII pay !
cents for gas delivered at the city gates o
the city of Topeka.
We regret exceedingly the necessit.
which compels the giving of this notice
As We view the situation. there is but on
solution. namely that application be mad
to the court of industrial relations of tn
State of Kansas, for an order fixing bot
the city gate rate and the rate to the con
Notwithstanding former contentious a
to the power and Jurisdiction of the eour
of industrial relations to pass upon thes
questions, we are convinced that it wi
now be conceded that such power exists
under the authority of Pennsylvania Ga
Company VS.. The Public Service Commits
sion. Second District of the State Of Nel
York the City of jamestown. New Yorl
ct al, recently decided by the Suprem
Court of the United States.
Therefore. until the court of industriE
relations shall have passed upon the pric
which shall be paid for gas at the cit
gates and the price which shall be col
lected from the consumer. settlement wi
be made upon the present basis of
cents for gas delivered to this compan
at the city gates.
Trusting that you will find 1T agreeabl
and proper to cooperate in the solution {
the question presented, in the manne
herein suggested. l am, yours very trul!
Il. G. TRELEAVEN.
Receiver.
The Consumers Light. Heat and Powe
company, of Topeka, Kan