The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-12
The Big Corporation Charged by the
AttOrney-General of Illinois with
Far Exceeding It's Privileges.
TERMS OF THE CHARTER
No Provision for Exercising the
Powers Of a Municipality,
Or for Renting Houses and Furnishing
Power to Other Nanufacturers-
The COmpany's statement.

CHICAGO, Aug. 1.-THE Pullman palace
car charter expires in April. The AttoT-
ney-general to-day filed a petition asking
that the charter be declared void on the
grounds that its provisions had been vio-
lated. The provisions set forth that tie
charter as granted allowed the company
to purchase. controI and convey suca
property as was necessary to the sue
cessful prosecution Of its business TAe
corporation has far exceeded its privilege,
the document declares owning a vast
amount of real estate In the town OF Pull
man and vicinity which is no wise neces-
sary 10 the business The petition de-
clares that the company has practically
usurped the powers OF a municipality,
owning numerous business blocks, resi-
dences and factory sites. controlling stock
in other corporations and furnishing power
to other manufacturers.
The Attorney general, in his petition and
information sets forth that the Pullman
Palace Car Company organized under
a special act Of the Legislature OF Illinois.
approved Feb. % 1867. with capital stock
of 10000, with power TO increase IL at
will. The act grants the corporation power
Ito manufacture, construct and purchase
railway cars with all convenient az
pendages and supplies. for persons travel
ing therein, and the same may sell or use,
or permit to be used, in such manner and
upon such terms the said company may
think tit and proper" and Ito purchase.
acquire ard hold such real estate as shall
be deemed necessary for the successful
prosecution OF their business, ana nay
nave power to sell and convey the same.
The information quotes these provisions
and continues: THAT, under and 10y virtue
of the power conferred by Section or
said act, the capital So * OF said company
it mas 4. capital stocx of millions OF dollars,
the exact amount OF which is TO your pc
titioner nnknown" The petition further
gives the court 10 understand and be IN
formed that Notwithstanding the fact that
said act Of the legislature limits the power
OF said company. II has not regarded
said Limitation, but has, without au-
thorlty of warrant o. law, usurped
and exercised, and still usurps and eNer-
cises, the rigAI Il bay and own large tracts
Of real estate within ana adjacent 10 me
city of Chicago, IN said county ana 10
erect thereon churches, schoolhouses, the
| ater or theaters, hotel or hotels, apart
ment and dwelling houses ana a large ana
valuable business blo~k in the city of Chi
| cago; that said co.. any rents the SAID
| building which Il owns. as aforesaid Tor
| Of which is 10 your petitioner unknown'
| that the erection OF said churches school,
aoaStment aoaSe; rae and dwelling houses and said
| large and valuable business block In the
| city of Chicago are not incident 70 or nee
essary TO the manufacture, construction
| and purchasing Of railway .cars with all
Convenient appendages and supplies for
persons traVenng tnerein, or 70 tne ~ 49,
real estate and the erection OF said buh4l-
| ings and houses thereon by said company
| is wholly without and foreign TO the pur-
pose for which said company was organ
Ized by the act of the Legislature, and is
an assumption of right by said company
| to exercise privileges not conferred upon
| ii by said act OF the Legislature, and that
| said company, in exercising such powers
and privileges, has willfully and persist
fO1a +aH fhA 0f
| poration. and has been and is guilty OF
usurping such powers without any warrant
or authority of law"
| The petition then proceeds TO set out In
| detail the character and values OF the
| company's property, including an office
| building in Chicago worth 2,0OO,OOO. three
fourths Of which it has no use for as
corporation, and rents to other persons
without right or authority OF law; that IT
cred with dwellings and apartment houses
| which IL rents without authority OF law, re-
ings OF twelve thousand people; that, in
| the town OF Pullman IL owns the streets
and alleys and ornamental grounds. nifty
| law, together with fifteen acres on which
stand the Arcade building. the Hotel Flor
none Of which is necessary for the con-
| duct Of its business and use therefor IL
legally held. Various other tracts OF land.
held, not being needed for the transaction
| of the company,,s business. All OF this is
4
| Pullman which the company uses for
shops storage yards. etc.
Besides this the petition Ion alleges of the
not granted IT, owns and controls the
Union foundry ian and Pullman g car ibe Wheel ahsa
Paper Car Wheel Company; that II owns
water heating and gas plants from which It
The petition continues: Petitioner
and of the 1es cSsqred Sss5ass by
| has become immensely rich, and that by
i. reason OF the premises IL owns millions
acquired az % uniawfully. and that the said
! real estate so held by 1t and which it owns
and rents was, was ACQUIRED 81 In open ,,S den1nSe ns
State State Of illinois Wherefore. the said at
tSe Same and iSy by Re the % autSoy q the
fss$ss q the a. court an hfsf Information fSs
i the 'ns said. Pullman. Palace Car SON; Com;
| to appear at a day to be named
| by the court and required 70 show
by what warrant II has SO misnsed ana
| by what warrant IL has assumed and stu
| assumes to exercise the aforesaid assumed
| and 10 show cause why it's charter shall
| not be revoked, and that such further pro-
ceedings may be had in the premises as
The petition, while virtually asking that
| the charter be revoked. Is legally a peti-
ton for leave to file quo,warranto proeeea-
4 ings This is a proceeding TO compel the
| company to show cause why its charter
| should not be revoked. The petition viii
be taken up on Aug. Y. IL Is not known
| what Judge OF the Circuit Court win hear
/ the matter, but IL viii come up before the
| Judge sitting for emergency business An
| Moloney to-day In regard TO the case. but
he was out Of the city.