Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-06-24
chises to Various Consolidated Companies
in This City.
One of Them Was Forfeited for Non Co m.
pliance with Contract Back
in 1892
Some Interesting Information Which the City
Council Should Gall For from Various
Officials.

The Gas Trust paid S2j0,0O0 to mem.
bers of the Fortieth General Assembly
OF Illinois for a law under which II
could rob the people TO Its hearts con-
cent.
But It overlooked few points that
even bribery couldn't cover up.
section Is of Article of the Constl.
sutton of Illinois declares that no sub
feet not embraced In the title of bill
shall become law. There are some
subjects In the body of the Infamous
gas.consoldat!on 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 a single cor
poration. which shall be one of said
merging and consolidation corpora.
lions" and inasmuch 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
given them by any ordinance of the
Chicago City Council, and as the right
20 issue franchises and prescribe terms
tor privileges granted thereby Is en-
pressly reserved TO and held To be In.
hercnt 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 lmeaisng the City CounciD, 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
rhe Gas Consolidation Act" and UNI
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-
paucy 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-
aances IL Is expressly stated, reserved
and provided, to wit:
]. CONSUMERS GAS, FUEL AND
4lGHT COMPANY.-A perpetual fran
chise passed April 2s, 1852, granting
the corporation the right 10 the use
and occupancy of the streets, in return
for which the corporation agreed and
bound itself by bond and various pen
a!ties, 10 lay all feeders ANA service
pipes at the time Of laying main pipes,
without subsequent disturbance Of the
surface or pavements; 10 extend It's
main pipes, when ordered by major.
ity II the City Council, in any block,
pnr-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 TO supply gas to any con
sgmers 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
glTj per 1000 cubic feet, giving con
yumcrs OF more than 100000 cubic feet
Ter year a rebate OF % cents per / ,OOo
cubic feet; that said company should
b. subject 70 all existing general or,
dlnances concerning gas; that the city
should have the right 10 inspect meter
ana that the gas supplied should be OF
che uniform average of IL sperm can
dies, burning 100 grains per hour In
5-foOt burner; that the company
rights and privileges professionally
granted should be forfeited unless with
ln three years from date Of acceptance
ol the ordinance II had erected ant
had In operation works and mains sui
acient % distribute ten million cubic
feet Of gas every thirty days, SAID
works 30 cost not less than SjOO,ODO
that II said company should directly Of
indirectly sell, lease or transfer ~
franchise and privileges 10 any othel
gas company or companies, or cease L
manufacture and furnish gas for {
period of more than ten consecutive
days or II II should fail or refuse t.
extend its main pipes YAea requested
% 10 50 by majority o. the Council