Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-05-06
chises to Various Consolidated Companies
in This City.
One of Them Was Forfeited for Mont &c m.
plience with Contract Back
in 1892
Some Interesting information Which the Git,
Council Should Call For from Various
Officials

The Gas Trust paid S2jO.0OO to mem.
bers of the Fortieth General Assembly
of Illinois for law under which II
could rob the people TO its hearts con-
tent.
But II overlooked a few points that
even bribery couldn't cover up.
Section II of Article of the Consti-
tuition of Illinois declares that no sub
ject not embraced In the title OF a bill
shall become q law. There are some
subjects In the body of the infamous
gas.consolldatlon and frontage bill not
nmbrac ed In the title. Hence the law Is
void.
THIS LAW. known rs the GAS
CONSOLIDATION ACT" empowered
all 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" ana lnasmuch as this ACT. con-
vcying 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
wy >ouhNiis 'hN ssehe
70 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 (meanlng the City Council. 1t Is
unconstitutional on that paint.
LET Us LOOK AT SOME PERTl'
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 1t Is expressly stated, reserved
and provided. TO wit:
I. CONSUMERS GAS. FUEL AND
LIGHT COMPANY.-A perpetual fran
chse passed April rs, 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
altlcs, TO lay all feeders and service
pipes al the time of laying main pipes,
without subsequent disturbance Of the
surface or pavements; to extend It's
main pipes, when ordered by major
ity OF the City Council, In any block,
0nc-half of which shall be improved by
buildings; that the corporation should
not extend its pipes beyond the city,
or allow any connections 10 be made
with It's pipes 10 supply gas 10 any con.
sumers 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
Sl.iJ per lhp cuDlc 1ttl, giving con
Suners of more than 100000 cubic feet
per year Il rebate of - cents per 100
cubic feet; that said company should
he subject TO all existing general or
dinances concerning gas; that the city
should have the right to inspect meters
and that the gas supplied should be of
the uniform average Of ~ sperm can
dies, burning 12O 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 shr ordinance 1t had erected and
had In operation works and mains suf
iiclent 10 distribute ten million cubic
fee, of gas every thirty days, said
works 10 cost not less than 500 900:
that II said company should directly or
Indirectly sell, lease or transfer its
franchise and privileges 10 any other
gas company or companies, or cease 10
nanufacture and furnish gas for a
.,eriod OF more than ten consecutive
days: or II II should fail or refuse to
extend its main pipes when requested
IN lo 40 by a maiOrlty OF the Council,