Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-04-29
Provisions Of the Ordinances Granting Fran
chises to Various Consolidated Companies
in This City,
One of Them Was Forfeited for Non-Co m.
pliance with Contract Back
in 1892.
Some Interesting Information Which the CITY
Council Should Gall For from Various
Officials.

The Gas Trust paid $3.50, 900 to men,
bers of the Fortieth General Assembly
Of Illinois for a law under which 1t
could rob the people to its hearts con-
tent
But 1t overlooked n few points that
even bribery couldn't cover up.
Section IL of Article 4 Of the Consti-
tuition of Illinois declares that 10 SUBJ
ject not embraced in the title of bill
shall become n law. There are some
subjects In the body of the Infamous
decentralization and frontage bill not
embraced in the title. Hence the law Is
void.
THIS LAW. known rs the "GAS
CONSOLIDATION ACT" empowered
all existing gas companies to consOli-
date with and merge into single cor.
poration. (which shall be one of said
merging and consolidation corpora.
tons" ana asmuch as this ACT. con-
veying purported authority. grants to
all then existing gas companies In the
city of Chicago certain exclusive rights
and privileges. not contemplated by or
given them by any ordinance OF the
Chicago City Council, and rs the right
10 issue franchises and prescribe terms
for privileges granted thereby Is OK.
pressly reserved to and held to be In
herent In the City Council by the State
Constitution of 1870. which provides
that the State Legislature shall not
grant and cannot convey rights and
privileges In the streets of cities to cor.
porat!ons or individuals. except by and
with the consent Of the local authori.
ties (neaning the City Council, 1t Is
unconstitutional on that paint.
LET Us LOOK At SOME PERT.
NENT FACTS relating to this point:
In ordinances passed by the Chicago
City Council. prior to the passage Of
the Gas Consolidation Act" and I'M
der and by virtue and existence Of
such ordinances, certain bonds, con.
tracts. privileges and obligations were
assumed by certain gas companies. In
return for franchises granting them
provisional rights In the use and Occu-
pancy of the streets, always subject,
however, to the reservations held In
said ordinances for the benefit and pro.
lection of the people comprising the
municipality Of Chicago the intent and
object of which provisions is apparent
and well known. ana in such ordi.
nances 1t Is expressly stated, reserved
and provided. to wit:
I. CONSUMERS GAS, FUEL AND
LIGHT COMPANY.-A perpetual fran
chise passed April %. 1889, granting
the corporation the right to the use
and occupancy Of the streets, In return
for which the corporation agreed and
bound itself by bond and various pen
altles. 10 lay all feeders and service
pipes at the time of laying main pipes,
without subsequent disturbance of the
surface or pavements; to extend its
main pipes, when ordered by n major
ity Of the City Council. in any block,
One-half of which shall he improved by
buildings; that the corporation should
not extend its pipes beyond the city,
or allow any connections to be made
with its pipes to supply gas TO any con.
sumers outside OF the city; that 1t
should not charge more than % cents
per foot for service pipes, nor charge
general consumers of gas more than
SlTJ per 1000 cubic feet. giving con.
sumers of more than 100000 cubic feet
per year a rebate of - cents per 1000
cubic feet that said company should
Ice subject 10 all existing general or
dinances concerning gas: that the city
should have the right To inspect meters
and that the gas supplied should be Of
the uniform average Of III sperm can
dies, burning 10 grains per hour in a
5fOOt burner; that the cOmpany's
rights and privileges professionally
granted should be forfeited unless with
In three years from date of acceptance
Of the ordnance II had erected and
had In operation works and mains suf-
ficient to distribute ten million cubic
feet OF gas every thirty days, said
works 90 cost not less than 100000;
that if said company should directly or
indirectly sell. lease or transfer Its
franchise and privileges 10 any other
gas company or companies, or cease 10
manufacture and furnish gas for
period OF more than ten consecutive
days; or II II should fail or refuse to
extend its main pipes when requested
to 90 20 by majority Of the Council,