Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-05-27
chises to Various Consolidated Companies
in This City.
One of Them Was Forfeited for Non-Com-
pliance with Contract Back
in 1892.
Some Interesting Information Which the City
Council Should Call For from Various
Officials.

The Gas Trust paid S2JO,0O0 TO men, |
bcrs of the Fortieth General Assembly
Of Illinois for law under which Ii
could rob the people 10 its hearts con-
tent.
But IL overlooked few points that
even bribery couldn't cover up.
section IL of Article 4 Of the Consti
tuition OF Illinois declares that no sub.
Gee, not embraced in the title of bill
shall become law. There are some
subjects In the body of the Infamous
Recommendations and frontage bill not
embraced IN the title. Hence the law Is
rOll.
TiIIS LAW. known as the GAS
y CONSOLIDATION ACT" empowered
all existing gas companies to consoll.
date with and merge into single cor
uoraiion, (which shall he one of said
merging and consolidation corpora
tions.' ana !nasmuch as this ACT. con-
veyiDy 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 us the right
10 issue franchises and prescribe terms
for privileges granted thereby Is eX.
grossly 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.
poratlons or individuals, except by and
with the consent Of the local authori-
ties (meaning the City Council. It 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
rhe Gas Consolidation Act" ana 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.
hawever, TO the reservations held In
said ordinances for the benefit and pro.
tection Of the people comprising the
municipality Of Chicago, the intent and
object of which provisions Is apparent
and well known, and in such ordi-
uances It is expressly stated, reserved
and provided, to wit:
1. CONSUMERS GAS, FUEL AND
LIGHT COMPANY.-A perpetual fran.
chIse passed April %, 1852, granting
ha an thn vivhS ~ a 10
and occupancy of the streets, in return
for which the corporation agreed and
bound itself by bond and various pen
aities, to lay all feeders and service
pipes at the time Of laying main pipes.
without subsequent disturbance Of the
surface or payements: 10 extend It's
main pipes, when ordered by a major.
ity OF the City CounCll, In any block,
one-half OF which shall be improved by
buildings: that the corporation should
not extend It's pipes beyond the city,
or allow any connections 10 be made
with its pipes To supply gas 10 any con.
sumers outside of the city; that II
should not charge more than 81 cents
per foot for service pipes, nor charge
general consumers Of gas more than
si..5 per 1000 cubic feet, giving con
sumers OF more than 100000 cubic feet
per year a rebate of % cents per 1000
cubic feet; thar said company should
be subject 70 all existing general or
slinances concerning gas; that the city
should have the right 10 Inspect meters
and that the gas supplied should be Of
the uniform average Of III sperm can
dies, burning 100 grains per hour In a
I-foot 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 IL had erected and
mad In operation works and mains SUI
Ecient 10 distribute ten million cubic
feet OF gas every thirty days, said
works 20 cost not less than sJOo,OOO;
that II said company should directly or
indirectly SELL lease or transfer It's
FRANCHISE and privileges 20 any other
gas company or companies, or cease TO
psanufactnre and furnish gas for a
period OF more than ten consecutive
days; or II II should fail on refuse TO
extend its main pipes s'haI. requested
to 90 90 By majority az :-'s Council,