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 Nome M
pliance with Contract Back
in 1892
Some Interesting Information Which the City
Council Should Gall For from Various
Officials.

The Gas Trust paid S250,OOO to men,
bers of the Fortieth General Assembly
of Illinois for a law under which II
could rob the people to its hearts con.
tent.
But It overlooked a few points that
even bribery couldn't cover up.
Section IL of Article 4 of the Consti-
tuition of Illinois declares that no sub.
ject not embraced in the title of q bill
shall become q law. There are some
subjects In the body of the infamous
consolidation and frontage bill not
embraced 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 II single cor
poration. (which shall be one of said
merging and consolidation corpora
tions." and irasmuch as this ACT. con-
veylng purporred 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 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.
poratlons or individuals, except by and
with the consent Of the local authorl.
ties lmean!ng 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 un.
der ana by virtue and existence Of
such ordinances. certain bonds, con-
tracts. privileges and obligations We're
assumed by certain gus 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.
nances 1t Is expressly stated, reserved
and provided. to wit:
I. CONSUMERS GAS. FUEL AND
LIGHT COMPANY,A perpetual fran.
chlse passed April 90. 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, TO 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 major
ity of the City Council. in any block,
one half of which shall be 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.
sumcrs 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
sI,IJ per I.p" CUBIC Ieei, slflUs COLI
sumers of more than 100000 cubic feet
per year rebate of % cents per 1000
cubic feet: that said company should
he subject 10 all existing general or.
dlnances concerning gas; that the city
should have the right to inspect meters
and that the gas supplied should be OF
the uniform average of 10 sperm can
dies, burning 100 grains per hour in a
5-foot burner; thar the cOmpany's
rights and privileges Professionally
granted should be forfeited unless with.
In three years from date Of acceptance
Of thc ordinance 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 500 900;
that IL said company should directly or
indirectly SELL lease or transfer It's
franchise and privileges TO any other
gas company or companies, or cease to
manufacture and furnish gas for a
period of more than ten consecutive
days; or II 1t should fail or refuse to
extend its main pipes when requested
10 90 30 by q majority Of the Council,