Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-02-25
Is Well. Enough Remembered to Stir Up
the Legislative Records of
the Gas Trust.
The City Council Is Moving Against the Noto'
rious Gas Trust with Great:
Vigor
The Council Judiciary Committee Decides Upon
Red Hot and Very Inter-
esting Report.

The Gas Trust paid S2JO.OOO to men,
beers of the Fortieth General Assembly
of Illinois for law under which 1t
could rob the people to its hearts con-
tent.
But It overlooked few points that
even bribery couldn't cover up.
Section IL of Article 1 of the Consti-
tuition of Illinois declares that no sub.
ject not embraced in the title of bill
shall become a law. There are some
subjects In the body of the infamous
decentralization and frontage bill not
cmbra ccd in the title. Hence the law Is
void.
THIS LAW. known as 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
tions.'' and inasmuch MS this ACT, con-
veying purportcd 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
to issue franchises ana prescribe terms
for privileges granted thereby Is ex-
pressly reserved to and held to be In
heren, in the City Council by the State
Constitution of 1870. which provides
that the State Legislature shall not
gran, and cannot convey rights and
privileges In the streets Of cities to cor
porations or individuals, except by and
with the consent of the local authOrl-
ties (meaning the City Council. 1t Is
unconstitutional Oh that paint.
LET US LOOK AT SOME PERTI-
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 ana pro-
lection of the people comprising the
municipality Of Chicago. the intent and
object Of which provisions Is apparent
and well known. and In such Ordi.
nances II Is expressly stated, reserved
and provided, to wit:
l. CONSUMERS GAS. FUEL AND
LIGHT COMPANY.-A perpetual fran
chise passed April 90, 1882. 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.
alties, 10 lay all feeders ana 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 a major
lty of the City Council, in any block
one-half of which shall be improved b!
buildings; that the corporation should
not extend Its pipes beyond the city
or allow any connections 10 he made
with It's pipes to supply gas to any con
sumcrs outside OF the city: that II
should not charge more than % cents
per foot for service pipes, nor charge
general consumers OF gas more than
Sl.TJ per 1000 cubic feet, giving con
sumers of more than 100000 cubic fee
per year a rebate of - cents per 1905
cubic feet; that said company SHOULD
be subject 10 all existing general or
dlnances 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 1
J.fOOt burner; thar the company
rights ana privileges PROVISIONAL,
granted should be forfeited unless with
in three years from date Of acceptance
OF the ordinance II had erected AM
had In operation works ana mains SUI
licient 10 distribute ten million cubi
feet OF gas every thirty days, SAT-
works to cost not less than SJo,OuO
that II said company should directly o
Indirectly sell, lease or transfer II
franchise and privileges 10 any othe
gas company or companies, or cease Il
manufacture and furnish gas for
period OF more than ten CONSECUTIVE
days; or II II should fail or refuse L
extend its main pipes when requested
"a 10 80 by majority Of the Council
its rights and privileges should ccas
and be OF no more effect and that TIL
termination shall not he required tn
Judgment or decree of any COURT tina
the price charged for gas should neve
exceed the rate named In the ordlnanc
and that Il would neither sell no
lease It's franchise or privileges an