Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-02-11
Provisions Of the Ordinances Granting Fran
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 tu> trust paiu H.IW,NNw 10 MEN,
bcr> of the Forticth General Assembly
Of Illinois for n law under which 1t
could rob the people to It's hearts con-
tent.
But Il overlooked few points that
oven bribery couldn't cover up.
Section l.: of Article 1 of the Constl-
tuition of Illinois declares that no sub
iect not embraced in the title of u bill
shall become law. There are some
subjects In the body of the infamous
REORGANIZATION and frontage bill not
cmbra rod In the title. Hence the law Is
void.
THIS LAW. known as the GAS
CONSOLIDATION ACT" empowered
all existing gas companies to CONSOLE
date with and merge into single cor
poration (which shall he one of said
merging and consolidation corpora
lions" ana ina>much as this ACT. con-
vcying purported authority. grants 10
all then existing gas companies In the
city of Chicago certain exclusive rights
AMI privileges. not contemplated by or
given them 10y any ordinance of the
Chicago City Council. AMI as the right
10 issue franchises ana prescribe terms
for privileges granted thereby Is en-
prcssly reserved la and held To he In
hercnt In the City Council by the State
Constitution of 1870. which provides
that the State Legislature shall not
grant AMI cannot convey rights ana
privileges In the streets of cities to cor.
pora,lons or individuals. except by ana
with the consent of the local authorl.
ties 'meaning the City Council, It is
unconstitutional on 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 un.
der and by virtue and existence Of
such ordinances, certain bonds, con-
tracts. privileges and obligations We're
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 we'll known, and in such Ordi-
uances it Is expressly stated. reserved
AMI provided. to wit:
I. CONSUMERS GAS. FUEL AND
LIGHT COMPANY.-A perpetual fran.
chise passed April %. 1sS2, 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, to lay all feeders ana service
pipes at the time of laying main pipes,
without subsequent disturbance of the
surface or pavcments; to extend lis
main pipes, when ordered by a major.
lty of the City Council, 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 to be 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.IJ prr 1000 cubic feet, giving con
Sumcrs of more than 100000 cubic feet
per year rebate of - cents per 900
cubic feet; that said company should
he subject To all existing general or
dinances concerning gas; that the city
should have the right 10 inspect meter
and that the gas supplied should be OF
the uniform average of III sperm can
dies. burning 100 grains per hour in 9
5-foot burner; that the company
rights and privileges Professionally
granted should be forfeited unless with
In three years from date OF acceptance
Of the ordinance II had erected ant
had in operation works and mains suf
hcient to distribute ten million cubic
feet of gas every thirty days, sai'
works 20 cost not less than 100000
that II saId company should directly o
indirectly SELL lease or transfer III
franchise and privileges To any othe
gas company or companies, or cease Il
manufacture and furnish gas for
period Of more than ton CONSECUTIVE
days; or IL IL should fail or refuse u
extend It's main pipes when requested
"a co 90 by o majority OF the Council