The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-18
WORK ON GASCASE
Reports of Termination of Re-
ceivership Untrue.
Attorneys Declare Judge Booth
Order Not Issued, 5

1t is probable that the kansas Ma
tural Gas company properties will be
restored t6 their owners and the re-
ceivership finally dissolved sometime
before the first of the year. At
torneys in the case today declared that
reports to the effect that the re-
eeivership had been terminated Hnde
an order by Judge Wilbur N. Booth
were untrue.
Suit against thirteen distributing
companies have been filed by the re-
ceiver in an effort to collect gas
revenues in excess of those provided
under contracts and by the public
utilities commissions of Kansas and
Missouri These suits are for judg-
ments on the basis of Judge Booths S
gas rate orders. Under this computa-
ton of charges, the Consumers Light,
Heat & Power company of Topeka
may be asked to pay some $4,000 in
principal and interest.
Attorneys in the case are confident
they will secure a final order an
nulIing old contracts between the pro-
ducing and distributing companies.
Efforts will also be made to set aside
claims against the Kansas Natural
by distributing companies.
John Landon. receiver for the com
pany, will continue to represent the
interests of the corporation in pending
litigation after the receivership closes.
/
been before the courts ten years.
Trclcaven Denies 1t.
! L. G. Treleaven, of the Consumers
Heat. Light and Power company of
Topeka, denied this morning that the
suit which has been brought against
/ the company by the Kansas Natural
Gas company. was for the difference
between the rates which were allowed
| by the Interstate Commerce Commis-
4 ~
the receiver of the Kansas Natural. as
reported this morning.
The suit which was brought against
| the Topeka company, Mr. Treleaver
said this morning. was the result OF
| a disagreement over the terms of 6
contract made ten years or more age
| between the two gas companies.
| Under the contract, the Consum-
| ers' Heat, Light, and Power company
| was furnishing gas to its customers
| at a rate of ten cents, for industria
and manufacturing purposes. The
Kansas Natural issued an order to the
| Consumers company, to raise theil
rate for Industrial gas from ten cents
to twelve and one-haf cents. The
rights of the Kansas Natural to issue
the order. in the face of contract:
which had been made, was denied by
the Topeka company, which continued
| to furnish gas to their customers Al
the old rate of ten cents"
Since that time the difference be
tween the amount which the Kansa:
Natural received as a result of tht
ten-cent rate. and what they woult
have received if the rate had beer
hiked to twelve and one-half cents
has been carried as a balance agains
the Topeka company. by the Kansas
Natural. Outside of the fact that th'
balance has appeared on the MONTH!
invoices of the Consumers company
4 Treleaven says there has never been
demand or even a request for its pay
ment.
TT is this balance of s25,4S162. will
interest to the amount of S665.1s
which is the subject of the suit whicl
has been brought against the Topek;
company" Treleaven says.
THE impression secured from tn
report printed this morning to the eff
fleet that the suit was to collect tn
difference between these latter tw
irates. puts US in a bad light. We didn'
make anything by holding the rat
down ten years ago. it was the Gus
ltomer who benefited