Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-05-08
The Ab'est Men in the Legislature Favor
Business Men Running Their
Own Affairs.
Messrs. Collins and Meagher Make Able
Speeches in Favor of the Pro.
posed New Law,
After Which the Bill Is Reported Favorably
for Passage to the State
Senate

price In Boston. ana fare rs well ~ the
companies of that city. He then pre-.
scented statistics showing the amount
If taxes paid by Chicago gas compan-
les.
''rllese gas companies" he said.
could be thrown into the hands Of u
receiver tomorrow and we are not go.
Ing to give away blessings without re-
ceivlng something In return. II II the
business Of the public to strike a bar.
gain II they can. The Ogden Gas Com.
pany II selling II at % cents. while the
Cicero Company lns had nm ordinance
In the City Council for a number Of
years Offering to sell gus for ~ cents,
nnd also making other concessions"
Mr.. Be1nls then stated that the gas
trust Of Chicago had fled bonds on the
New York Exchange which were still
on slle. He declared that these bonds
were Illegal. anu that the gas compan.
les now wished to make them more sal.
able without giving anything In 70.
turn.
James Meaglier. representing tn.
chicago gas companies. said IN part:
"The first gentleman who spoke
thought that " cents was the pro,cr
price AMI the second gentleman deemed
IN cents u proper price. The gentle.
men who have preceded me on the o,,.
position side Of this question have pre-.
scented statements that I know to bc
without foundation"
Mr.. Meagller then referred TO tho sult
brought by II. &. Rev against tho gns
trust. which resulted IN the abolish.
ment of the trust.
THAT same gentleman" he c0ntin-
rod. us In this room hacking up these
men who ARE selling gas at $50 n thou.
sand In the Town of Cicero. which IN
Just across the street from us. Now,
VIII leave II to you. gentlemen. to de-
eide who IL here with honest motives.
II Is these rcfOrmrrs who come here To
tell yOu what to do!
| I'm lS'D? the present contract was
made with the city Council. 1t was
only made for one year. ~ that was
the limit. 1t was agreed then In 1901
TINT Sl.25 would he the rate. AMI that
gas should be reduced each year until
II was brought down to ~. On top of
this agreement the gas cOmpa niles were
to pay ~ per cent. Oh their gross earn
lngs Into the City Treasury. Since this
contract was entered into the gas com.
pnnles have paid into the City Treas.
ury Of Chicago over Sl.NOO.OOW. This
hill provides that this 3la per cent. OH
the gross earnings shall be u pprpct,inl
asset on the city OF Chicago. which will
never be less than xI75.OON per an
mum.
"rhe old gus trust IL absolutely dis
solved. The srurity-l,Ol,lers of thes,
cOmlnl MES have been subJec, to attack
Of some kind everywhere. AMI now W,
ask for relief"
Senator MahOney asked Mr.. Rev
what he considered u fair price fOl
gas.
lie replied that Il depended ON tn,
territory and said that from 80 cent,
To NJ should be the price.
senator Ora wfOrd then moved thai
the consolidation bill be reported on
favOnlly. He said IN part:
This bill II simply to enable con
solidation. The impression that It pro
vldes for the consolidation of com
pnnies In tho same territories II fnle
The Peoples Gas ana Coke Compan,
are the sole occupants on the Yves
Side. !, would not cut off competition
but would enable the companies to d,
. legally what they are now doing undr
u han. II was carefully drawn an,
submitted to eminent lawyers. who 10
lieve that everything necessary to tn,
protection OF the people has been p,l
into the bill ana that the Interests %
the people would not he hurt. Let tn,
members of the Civic Federation go I,
the Common Council II they wish Il
fix the price of gas. This Is absolutel!
IN unwarranted and unjust attack. !
this bill becomes u law no one vii
know It by the addition of any bur
dens."
Senator era wfOrh's motion was car
ried by u vice vOce vote.
Senator Crawford then called up tin
gas frontage I'LL and 1t was Orhere,
favOrHbly reported by u vive vOce vote
Representative Wcidmaiers I'LL, NJ
212. for AN act To establish a reason
able maximum rate of charges for til
transportation of passengers and bag
gage on railroads In this State" shOul,
become u law. This bill was Introduce,
Feb. o and still slumbers In the Rail
road Committed. The members of tn
Railroad Committee who are respOns
BILE for this outrage on the public are a
follows:
i. 4. Busse. chairman; Bryan, Pow
ell OF IrOquOis, KilcOurse, Sherman
, Weldmaier, Booth, Cavanagh, NOlina
Revell, NOhe, Thomas, Murray o
Stark, HOughtOn, Glade. Free L. MOI
rls. StOskopf. Farrell. Barricklaw
Stewart, Blood, Hall of Pike, Sterchie
NOvak and Mitchell.
!, The people demand u 2-cent fare