Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-07-01

The Gas Trust paid S2o0.0O0 TO mem.
bers of the Fortieth General Assembly
OF Illinois for a law under which II
could rob the people TO Its hearts con-
tent.
But 1t overlooked a few points that
even bribery couldn't cover mp.
Section IL Of Article Of the Const'.
tuition 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
decentralization and frontage bill not
embra ced In the title. Hence the law Is
void.
THIS LAW. known rs the "GAS
CONSOLIDATION ACT" empowered
oil existing gas companies to consoli.
date with and merge into single cor.
porntion. (which shall he one Of said
merging and consolidation corpora.
ti0ns," and inasmuch as this ACT. con-
veying purportcd authority. grants to
all then existing gas companies In the
city Of Chicago certain exclusive rights
aud privileges, not contemplated by or
given them by any ordinance OF the
Chicago City Council. and Us 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.
porat!ons or individuals, except by and
with the consent OF the local authorl-
ties (meaning the City COunciD, 1t IL
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 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 we'll known, and In such Ordl
nances II Is expressly stated, reserved
and provided. to wit:
I. CONSUMERS GAS, FUEL AMI
LIGHT COMPANY.-A perpetual fran
chise passed April %. 1852, granting
the corporation the right to the use
aud occupancy Of the streets, In return
for which the corporation agreed and
bound itself by bond and various pen
allies. to lay all feeders and service
pipes at the time Of laying main pipes
without subsequent disturbance Of the
surface or payements. 10 extend IT.
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 It's pipes beyond the city
or allow any connections 10 be made
with It's pipes 10 supply gas to any con
sumers outside of the city; that Il
should not charge more than % cent:
per foot for service pipes, nor charge
general consumers of gas more thar
Sl.75 per 1900 cubic feet, giving con
sumers Of more than 100000 cubic fee
per year rebate Of % cents per LOO
cubic feet; that said company SHOULD
be subject to all existing general or
dinances concerning gas; that the cit.
should have the right 10 Inspect meter
and that the gas supplied should be o
the uniform average Of III sperm can
dies. burning 800 grains per hour In !
5foot burner; that the company
rights and privileges PROVISIONAL.
granted should be forfeited unless with
In three years from date of acceptance
of the ordinance IL had erected AM
had In operation works and mains suf
iicIent to distribute ten million cubi'
feet OF gas every thirty days, sale
works 10 cost not less than $JOO.0OO
that II said company should directly o.
Indirectly sell, lease or transfer III
franchise and privileges TO any othe
gas company or companies, or cease t
manufacture and furnish gas for
period OF more than ten consecutive
days; or II Il should fail or refuse Il
extend Its main pipes whsh requested
. 60 80 by majority on t4s Council