Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-12-23

The Gas Trust paid $3.50. 900 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 It overlooked a few points that
even bribery couldn't cover up.
Section - Of Article 4 Of the Consti.
tuition Of Illinois declares that no sub.
feet not embraced in the title Of a bill
shall become a law. There are some
subjects in the body Of the Infamous
gas.consolidation and frontage bill not
embraced In the title. Hence the law Is
void.
THIS LAW. known as the "GAS
CONSOLIDATION ACT" empowered
oil existing gas companies to cous0ll.
date with ana merge into q single cor.
poration, (which shall be one Of said
merging and consolidation corpora.
TONS" 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
to issue franchises and prescribe terms
for privileges granted thereby Is ex-
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.
poratlous or individuals, except by and
with the consent of the local authori.
ties (meaning the City CounciD, 1t 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 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.
nances 1t Is expressly stated, reserved
aud provided, to wit:
I. CONSUMERS GAS, FUEL AND
LIGHT COMPANY.-A perpetual fran.
chise passed April %, 1852, granting
he To- lao ,;s~Lt 49,.
and occupancy OF the streets, in return
for which the corporation agreed and
bound itself by bond and various pen
alties, to lay all feeders and service
pipes at the time Of laying main pipes,
without subsequent disturbance of the
surface or pavements; 10 extend its
main pipes, when ordered by n 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.
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
S1.I5 per 1000 cubic feet, giving con-
sumers OF more than 100000 cubic feet
per year a rebate OF % cents per 1000
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 16 sperm can.
dies, burning 100 grains per hour In
S-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 sui.
hcient TO distribute ten million cubic
feet 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 TO
manufacture and furnish gas for
period OF more than ten consecutive
days; or II II should fail or refuse 70
extend its main plper vssn YequsIted
- do so by majority g SEE /. ,uncil,