Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-07-15

The Gas Trust paid S2JO.OOO to men,
bers of the Fortieth General Assembly
Of Illinois for law under which It
could rob the people to Its hearts con-
tent.
But 1t overlooked few points that
even bribery couldn't cover up.
Section 13 Of Article 4 Of the Constl-
tuition OF Illinois declares that no sub
ject not embraced In the title Of a bill
shall become law. There are some
subjects In the body of the infamous
decentralization 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 consoli-
date with and merge into a single cor.
poration, (which shall be one Of said
merging and consolidation corpora
TONS" and inasmuch us 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 rs 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
poratlons or individuals, except by and
with the consent Of the local authori.
ties ,(peanIng 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 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.
nances II Is expressly stated, reserved
and provided. TO wit:
/. CONSUMERS GAS, FUEL AND
LIGHT COMPANY.-A perpetual fran
chlse passed April %, 1889, 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
altles, 10 lay all feeders and service
pipes at the time Of laying main pipes
without subsequent disturbance Of the
main pipes, when ordered by a major
ity 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 to be made
with its pipes to supply gas to any con
sumers outside Of the city; that II
should not charge more than % cents
per foot for service pipes, nor charge
gtUtTiI tousuINcES VI sds iloEc l!iIH
$l.T5 per 1000 cubic feet, giving con
sumers Of more than 100000 cubic feet
per year a rebate OF % cents per loo
cubic feet; that said company should
be subject 10 all existing general or
dlnances concerning gas; that the city
should have the right TO Inspect meter,
and that the gas supplied should be OF
the uniform average of II 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
In three years from date OF acceptance
of the ordinance It had erected an(
had In operation works and mains suf
fclent 10 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 OF
Indirectly sell, lease or transfer III
franchise and privileges to any othel
gas company or companies. or Cease Il
manufacture and furnish gas for q
period OF more than ten CONSECUTIVE,
days; or II 1t should fail OF refuse Il
extend its main pipes whsI requested
- DO 20 by . majority e. 0s Council