The Topeka state journal., 1922-08-07
CITY HITS BACK
Winfield Takes Issue With Reed
in His Gas Cost Charge.
Commissioners Say City Didn't
Cost Gas Consumers 100000.

Winfield. Kan, Aug. IA state
nent taking issue with Clyde NJ. Reed,
chairman of the state public utilities
commission, who declared here re-
Gently that it has cost Kansas gas con-
sumers 100000 in fighting the install
lation of pressure gauging devices IN
Winfield, has been made by the mayor
and city commissioners Of this CITY.
The last legislature enacted law per
mitting the utilities commission TO IN
stall these devices in Kansas cites.
Winfield has contested the law and
has served notice that It Will appeal
the case TO the United States supreme
court.
Following is the statement, in part:
drawn by a committee composed OF
City Commissioners H. L. Snyder and
Josh Wallace, Mayor W. T. Irwin, city
Attorney S. c. Bloss and City Man
ager Jack welfelt:
The statement recently made by
Clyde NJ. Reed. that there is a little
group of lawyers in Winfield who
make II their business to oppose eN-
erything the state does, and have fat
tened on litigation over the gas ques-
tion is absolutely false. The gas rate
litigation has been at the instance OF
tho city government and all steps
taken by any of the lawyers connected
with the case have been by direction
of the city and have had the support
of the Chamber of Commerce and
practically all the people of Winfield
twenty years with the gas company
in which for the use of the streets OF
the city of Winfield, the gas company
agreed to supply US for such period
of twenty years at a pressure OF not
less than four ounces and not more
than eight ounces, and at rate OF
not exceeding 80 cents per thousand
cubic feet. and at such price and pres
sure to supply all the gas necessary
for domestic consumption.
This contract is in the form OF an
ordinance of the city and was accepted
in writing by the gas company: II Is
one of the laws of Winfield which the
mayor and members of the former
council and the present commission
ers have deemed it their duty to SOL
emnly enforce by all lawful means
available. With this view. when IN
March. 1919. the gas company an
nounced that from and after the first
day of April. 1919. the rate for gas for
domestic purposes in Winfield would
be o. y cents per 1000 cubic feet, ana
that~if such price were not paid the
gas would be cut off from the city,
the then mayor and the city counclI
at the request OF the Commercial CLUB
and the citizens generally resolved 10
go into court to enjoin the gas COM
pany from increasing its rate and 10
obtain an order of the court requiring
II to carry out the aforesaid ordinance
q I contract.
After an injunction was obtained
against this increase from so cents to
G7Iz cents the public utilities COM
mission upon its own motion made an
order on August II. 1920, putting into
effect in cities supplied by the Wichita
Natural Gas Co. what is known as the
,thrce-way rate, and provided pend
ing the installation of the 'three-way
rate system the rate that is now be-
ing paid by the city. Winfield brought
its action in the district court OF
Shawnee county to set aside this or
der but the then mayor and council
decided not to give supersedeas bond.
Consequently. altho the action was
pending. the people of Winfield were
compelled to pay the additional rates
that we are now paying.
The City OF Winfield has claimed
and yet claims that the only authority
Of the public utilities commission is
one of regulation. Firmly
believing this, the city has directed its
attorneys to appeal this case to the
supreme court of the United States
and has put up a supersedeas bond so
that during the tendency of this ap-
peal these pressure reduction devices
may not be installed in Winfield"