Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-01-06


nlshed previous to such purchase or
lease, and shall not increase the price
charged by 1t for gas of the quality
furnished to consumers during ANY
PART OF THE YEAR IMMEDIATE
LY PRECEDING such purchase or
lease, or such CONSOLIDATION" up.
der penalty (sectlon 12) of Liability IN
DAMAGES THEREFOR to the PER-
SON AGGR1EvED. and shall: for each
offense, forfeit two hundred dollars. in
an action for debt, In the name Of the
people of the State Of Illinois. or by
any person who may sue for the same,
and such company shall also he liable
to proceedings QUO WARRANTO for
violation Of either of said provisions,
and II adjudged guilty the court may
give judgment of custer from Its fran.
Lhlse. UNLESS THE COMPANY
SHALL CEASE AND DISCONTINUE
such violation, as and when determined
by the court" thereby attempting In
the last paragraph to destroy any re.
course by the city or by the people rs
to continuous intermittent violations of
franchise restrictions and requirements
as to price, quality and Inspection Of
gas.
~eA
The new city attorney should enforce
the following resolution passed by the
City Councils:
Resolved, That the City Attorney
be and he II hereby directed to In.
stitute proceedings to test the cOnstitu.
tionality Of the act Of the Legislature
permitting the consolidating Of gas
companies. and also annul the net of
consolidation Of the Consumers Gas
Company. the Peoples Gas Light and
Coke Company and the Equitable Gas
Company, for the reason that these
companies In consolidating under the
name Of the Peoples Gas Company
have violated the express conditions
against consolidation contained In the
ordinances granting them the privilege
to operate In the city Of Chicago.
"Bumps" Billings, the head of the
Gas Trust. should be called before the
Springfield grand jury.
He should be asked to tell, II he
knows. who the agents of the Trust
were mt Springfield.
He should he asked concerning the
session of 1897 as we'll as the session
of 1890.
There are numerous questions. over
800 In number. which he should be ask.
cd to answer and which viii he framed
up for the State in case It decides to
summon the Bi.City boulevard Won.
der.
Excepting China, II would be hard to
ind any country where the extortion
practiced by the Gas Trust on the PEG.
pie Of Chicago would long be tolerated.
The Gas Trust rObs the people in ev.
cry way.
1t rents gus ranges to poor people ut
outrageous prices. 1t then puts on ex.
ira pressure scientifically applied and
forces air through the pipes Mt great
rate. This pressure IL especially strong
evenings when supper Is being pre-
pared. The people pny for wind which
costs the Trust nothing.
Special assessments for gas lamps 20
right along, hut the poor people do not
get the gas on the streets utter they
pay their assessments. The Gas Trust
owns the streets. The city has moth.
Ing to do with them.
The Gas T-rst IL not furnishing one.
half the light \ .hould furnish. and for
years. according to published reports.
It did not furnish 22.candle power to
the city.
1t Is reported TINT the Gas Trust II
getting paid for thousands Of lamps
which IRE not In service, and this can
be easily verified.