Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-07-21
GAS THE ONLY topic
City Hall Disturbed by
the New Ordinance.

OF tine UNIVERSAL ordinance Monday
night -Rumors that There Are Some
Ground. for suspicions-The Matter to
Ne Closely Investigated.
There was something suspicious
about the manner in which the Uni.
versal Gas Companys ordinance was
introduced and rushed through the
City Council Monday evening. and
there was pretty general impression
in municipal circles that the measure.
though fair enough on the face OF 1t,
is not honestly intended, and Is un.
worthy the support of the public or
its representatives in the City Coun-
Gil
All sorts OF stories were floating
around the city hall Tuesday con.
corning the ordinance. but nothing
tangible or capable Of proof could be
obtained. For instance, the state
ment was made that the ordinance
was the old Mutual Gas ordinance
revised, while another story had 1t
that it was the notorious Watson
Gas ordinance revamped. Another
report was that fabulous sum Of
money had been put up to be divided
among the aldermen for the passage
OF the ordinance. Outside the gen.
eral suspicion which gave rise to
these rumors, there was no proof OBJ
tainable.
Alderman Ryan, who was father
of the ordinance and the man who
engineered 1t through the Council,
refused absolutely to discuss either
the merits Of the ordinance or the
manner Of its passage.
no FATHER FOR TT.
Alderman Madden, who presided
ut the meeting Of the Council mt
which the ordinance was passed, and
who voted against IL, said that he
knew nothing whatever about 1t, nor
did he have the smallest idea as to
who the men were who are back of 1t.
On this point Alderman Ryan said
a reference to the records at Spring.
field would show who the men back
OF the ordinance are, as the company
has but recently obtained its charter.
Beyond this, the Fifteenth Ward
statesman would not go.
In connection with the passage Of
the Universal Gas ordinance. the In.
teresting Information was given out
that after the midsummer vacation
this new gas ordinance would be fol.
lowed up by the passage OF another
measure, apparently framed for the
purpose of competing with the Uni.
versal. and which, 1t is said, will
offer still lower rates to the public.
This ordinance is known as the City
and County Gas ordinance, and offers
the city 33A per cent. Of its stock as
compensation.
With regard to the ordinance
passed, the most suspicious feature In
connection with It was the manner
OF its passage.
by u neat trick Alderman Ryan
managed to have the new measure
substituted for the West Division Gas
ordinance, which came up before the
Council on report Of the Committee
on Gas, OIL and Electric Lights, by
whom its passage was recommended.
HOW THE THING WAS DONE.
Alderman Ryan suddenly moved
that the Universal Gas ordinance be
substituted for the West Division
ordinance, and his motion was
adopted. When the new ordinance
was offered, the charter motion re.
ferring 1t to the committee was
made. and Alderman Madden ruled
that under the charter the ordinance
must take that course unless the
rules of the Council we're suspended
by a two-thirds vote, In which case
only could it be pvt upon its passage.
The rules were thereupon promptly
suspended, and after innumerable
amendments had been offered and
voted down, the measure was passed
by vote Of so to II.
The ordinance makes sweeping
grants, including the right to use the
streets and alleyways for the pipes
OF the company, and in return pre-.
tends to offer gas to the public at
the reduced rate OF 81 per 1000 cubic
feet There Is also clause giving
the city the right to purchase the
plant after term OF years. A close
investigation OF the ordinance shows
that the section governing the price
OF gas provides that unless In case of
pro&pt cash payment the price shall
be sl.lO per 1000 feet, and that the
reduction In price below that OF the
Gas Trust Is merely In the nature OF
q rebate.
All attempts at amendment were
defeated by an overwhelming ma.