Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-04-22
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 Gall For from Various
Officials.

The Gas Trust paid $3.50 600 to mem.
bers OF the Fortieth General Assembly
Of Illinois for law under which It
could rob the people TO It's hearts con-
tent.
But 1t overlooked a few points that
even bribery couldn't cover up.
Section 13 of Article 1 Of the Consti-
tuition Of Illinois declares that no sub.
tect not embraced in the title of q bill
shall become law. There are some
subjects In the body of the infamous
gas-consolidatlon and frontage bill not
embra ced IN the title. Hence the law Is
void.
THIS LAW. known as the "GAS
CONSOLIDATION ACT" empowered
Nil existing gas companies to consoli-
date with and merge into a single cor.
poration, which shall be one OF said
merging and consolidation corpora.
TONS" and iIasmuch 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
gwen them by any ordinance Of the
Chicago City Council. aud as the right
70 Issue franchises and prescribe terms
for privileges granted thereby Is ex.
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 authorl-
ties lmeaning the City CounciD. 1t Is
unconstitutional on that paint.
LET Us LOOK AT SOME PERTI.
NENT FACTS relating 10 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, and in such ordi-
Iances 1t is expressly stated, reserved
and provided, TO wit:
!. CONSUMERS GAS, FUEL AND
LIGHT COMPANY.-A perpetual fran
chlse passed April IS. 1850, 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 q major
Ivy 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 10 be made
with its pipes 10 supply gas TO any con-
sumers outside Of the city; that it
should not charge more than % cents
per foot for service pipes, nor charge
general consumers of gas more than
$l.15 per 1000 cubic feet, giving con.
sumers OF more than 100000 cubic feet
Der year rebate of % cents per loo
cubic feet; that said company should
be subject 10 all existing general Or
dinances 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
5-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 ordinance II had erected and
had In operation works and mains suf-
fcient 10 distribute ten million cubic
feet OF gas every thirty days, said
works 10 cost not less than 100000;
thar IL said company should directly or
indirectly sell. lease or transfer It's
franchise and privileges 10 any other
gas company or con- panies, or cease to
manufacture and furnish gas for q
period OF more than ten consecutive
days; or II II should fail or refuse 10
extend It's main pipes when requested
IN IN ~. hv n m a fnritv NJ tho rnuncfl