256 Alderman Cook asked to be excused from the meeting. Excused There being no business before the Court Alderman Robinson moved to adjourn subject to the call of the President. Carried John S. Herbert. City Clerk Called Meeting of City Council May 30 1877. Council called to order at 3:30 P.M. Mayor Wheeler in the chair. Roll called and the following members answered Aldermen. Diffenbaugh James and Maas Absent Aldermen Bremond Cook. Larimore Robinson and Taylor On Motion of Alderman James the Marshal was directed to bring in the absentees Robinson and Cook Alderman Bremond Larimore Taylor and Maas came in and answered Quorum present Petition of J J Meadors Manager of the Raymond House. Asking that the City adopt some plans whereby the waste water can be carried from the Raymond House On Motion of Alderman Maas the petition was referred to Committee on Streets Petition of Joseph Clay stating that on the first day of March 1877 he took out license #1894 for carrying on the butchers business and paid Twenty five --- Page break --- 257 dollars for said license. That he is unable to continue the business and asks that authority be granted him to transfer said license to Ed Deolergett On Motion of Alderman Bremond the petition was laid on the table Petition of Thomas Patton stating that on the first day of March 1877. he took out license # 1441 also at the same time he as member of the firm of Patton & Wrights took license # 1392 since which time the firm of Patton & Wright has dissolved and it being impracticable for him to carry on both stands he asks the authority to transfer the license of Patton & Wrights to E Camilleu On Motion of Alderman Ward the petition was laid on the table Petition of Dalvit Roberts asking the lease of a portion of the River front below the Bridge for Twenty five years for the purpose of establishing a Tannery and Shoe, Saddle and Harness Manufactory and that the same be released from Taxation On Motion of Alderman Bremond the petition was referred to Committee on Street Reports of Finance Committee Austin Texas May 12 1877 Hon T.B. Wheeler. Mayor Sir Your Committee on Finance to whom was referred the matter of off establishing the rate of Taxation for the year 1877. have the honor to report. that they have carefully examined the account of expenditures for the year last past. together with the amount of Taxes levied and find that while in some cases the expenses will not be so great this year. we may be compelled to expend the difference in other departments. and from information received from the Assessor & Collector. the amount of appraised on the valuation of property this year will be less than in 1876. and with the reductions in the license fees as passed by the State laws the revenue of the City will be less than last year. Your Committee would be pleased to see the taxes reduced. but in view of all the facts Your Commitee would respectfully recommend that the tax for the year 1877 be fixed at 1% Respectfully E Bremond Louis Maco Finance Com --- Page break --- 258 Estimate of Expenses enclosed, to wit Water 4,000.00 Lamps 5000.00 Police & Marshal 9000.00 Mayor 2000.00 Clerk 1500.00 Treasurer 600.00 Sexton 500.00 Engineer 600.00 Physician 300.00 City Atty 600.00 Feeding Prisoners 1500.00 Posts & Lamp Lights 400.00 Fire Dept 5000.00 Office Expenses 500.00 Charity 2400.00 Repairing Market House 200.00 Cemetery 500.00 Tools Blankets &c for Prisoners 300.00 Sanitary 1200.00 Interest 10,000.00 Sinking Fund 5,000.00 Commissions of Assessors & Collector 3,000.00 Expenses for City Courts 200.00 $56,650.00 On motion of Alderman Robinson the report of the Committee was received Alderman Taylor member of the Finance Committee submitted the following minority report To the Mayor & City Council Your Committee to whom was referred the arrangment of an ad valorem tax sufficient to meet the current Expenses of the City for twelve months, have the honor to make the following report. First what is the amount necessary to carry on the city government. He will begin by enumerating the Officers and their salaries 200.00 the Mayor 1500.00 " City Clerk 1800.00 " Marshal 600.00 " Treasurer 600.00 " Surveyor 600.00 " Physician 300.10 --- Page break --- 259 City Atty 600.00 6 Police at 80° 2600.00 2 " Extra at 75° 1,800.00 Interest and Exchange on Bonded debt 10,000.00 Sontaing Fund 800.00 Water Company 5000.00 Gas + Oil + Repairs 1,200.00 Feeding Mules 700.00 Tools and Blacksmithing 200.00 Street Repairs Extra work 1500.00 Hire of Cart Hands 1600.00 $14,700.00 Fire Department To 2 City Fire Engines 1200 2,400.00 Rent for Fire Dept 1,400.00 Material for same 200.00 For a General Fund 1000.00 5000.00 Market Department In amount for Repairs 100.00 City Cemetery Salary of Sexton 500.00 Secretary 500.00 Miscellaneous 1000.00 2,100.00 Making in the aggregate the sum of $44,600 dollars as a liberal estimate of the amount necessary to meet the current expenses of the city for the year. The Revenue from which we can meet the above is from the taxable property of the City and from the tax rolls we have $88,000.00 and an ad valorem tax of 3/4 of One per cent on the above amount will amount to $43,000.00 Add the License Let 3,500.00 The Fines of the City 200.00 Sundries 1,000.00 $44 9,000.00 [illegible] We find by deducting the forty five thousand dollars we have an excess to more than meet the ordinary sums not to be estimated in the usual expenses of the Machinery of a City government. The Treasurer will have left in his hands about $3,4oo dollars not appropriated and to meet the various small sums not to be calculated for We find --- Page break --- 260 that the good peace of this council will so decree M. A. Taylor on motion of Alderman Ward the minutes report was received By Committee on Finance An Ordinance # 163 Authorizing and directing the Mayor of the City of Austin to exchange Austin City Bonds for City Warrants held by the Eureka Fire Hose Company The Ordinance was read and passed to its second reading Alderman Robinson moved to suspend the rules and put the ordinance on its second reading The Yeas and Nays ordered and the motion to suspend the rules passed by the following vote Yeas Aldermen Bremond. Cook. Doffenbaugh James. Darmour. Maas Robinson. Taylor & Ward Nays None The Ordinance was read the second time and passed to its third reading Alderman Robinson moved to further suspend the rules and put the ordinance on its third reading The Motion to further suspend the rules passed unanimously The ordinance was read the third time Alderman Robinson moved that the Ordinance do pass The Yeas and Nays ordered and the ordi- nance passed by the following vote Yeas Aldermen Bremond. Cook Doffenbaugh James Darmour. Maas Robinson Taylor and Ward Nays None By Alderman Maas Austin 1st May 15th 1871 Whereas the Officers of the Fire Dept have expended out of their own funds the sum of Sixty dollars for Stationery and other articles necessary for their Office. Therefore Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, that the sum Sixty dollars be appropriated to re-imburse said officers and the Mayor be authorized to draw his warrant on the City Treasurer in favor of the chief of the Dept for said sum of Sixty dollars Alderman Taylor moved that the resolution be adopted --- Page break --- 261 the Yeas & Nays ordered and the resolution passed by the following vote Yeas Aldermen Bremond Cook Deffenbaug! James Darmour, Moses, Robinson, Taylor and Ward Nays None The Ordinance Committee submitted the following report Austin Texas May 15th 1877 Hon Mayor and City Council City of Austin Texas Your Committee to whom was referred the petition of Henry Naw and Charles Martins asking the council to refund to them the amount of $1.25 paid by them as a license tax to sell liquors, by leave to report. That they have examined the said petition and find from it that on the 1st day of April 1877 they took out a license from the city to sell liquors in quantities less than one quart for the quarter commencing on the 1st day of April and ending 3 months thereafter, for which they paid the sum of 62½. The city in consideration of this money received gave petitioners the right to engage in the said business for the period mentioned This was a contract, and when petitioners paid the said money and the city issued to them the said license, it became a completed and executed contract between the parties The City Ordinances prohibited and made it a misdemeanor for any person to sell liquors without first having obtained a license. On the 17th day April A.D 1877, the new Constitution went into operation, one clause of which reduced the tax in question 50%. Your Committee are of the opinion that said clause can only apply to licenses becoming due and issued subsequently to the 17th day of April 1877. Petitioners obtained their license under the Ordinances and Laws as they existed prior to the adoption of the present Constitution, which required petitioners to pay 62½. Your Committee therefore recommend that the petition be not granted, 1st because the tax was legally collected and cannot therefore be legally refunded and 2nd Because if granted it would set an example which if followed by others and it would be that would cause the city to pay out large sums of money We are very respectfully Robert Le Ward J Darmour Committee --- Page break --- 262 On Motion the report of the Committee was received Alderman Bremond Moved that the report of the Committee be adopted The Yeas and Nays ordered and the report was adopted by the following vote Yeas Aldermen Bremond Cook, Deffenbaugh James Darmour. Maas. Robinson, Taylor and Ward Nays None By City Attorney Austin Texas May 30th 1877 To his Hon the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Austin Gentlemen I desire to visit the north on account of my health and respectfully ask for a leave of absence for sixty days from date hereof Respectfully F. L. Brittons. City Atty On Motion of Alderman Ward leave of absence was granted to City atty By Finance Committee An Ordinance levying an advalorum Tax upon all property in the City of Austin liable to Taxation for the year A D 1877. The Ordinance was read Alderman Taylor moved that the [illegible] [illegible] in [illegible] be filled by inserting the words three fourths of one per cent Alderman Bremond Moved to amend by inserting One percent instead of three fourths of one percent and that the advalorum tax be one per cent The Yeas and Nays ordered and the motion to amend by twenty one per cent carried by the following Vote Yeas Aldermen Bremond, Cook, James Darmour Maas. Robinson and Ward Nays Aldermen Deffenbaugh and Taylor --- Page break --- 263 the Ordinance as amended was read and passed to its second reading Alderman Bremond moved to suspend the rules and put the ordinance on its second reading The Yeas and nays ordered and the rules was suspended by the following vote Yeas Aldermen Bremond, Cook, Janes, Larmour Nays Robinson and Ward Nays Alderman Diffenbaugh and Taylor The Ordinance was read the second time and passed to its third reading Alderman Robinson moved to further suspend the rules and put the ordinance on its third reading The Yeas and Nays ordered and the rules was suspended by the following vote Yeas Aldermen Bremond, Cook Jones, Larmour, Evans Robinson and Ward Nays Alderman Diffenbaugh and Taylor The Ordinance was read the third time and passed by the following vote Yeas Aldermen Bremond Cook Janes Larmour Naas Robinson and Ward Nays Alderman Diffenbaugh Taylor & By Alderman Cook, BE it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin that the City Assessor and Collector be allowed the same fees for assessing & Collecting in 1877 as was allowed him in 1876 The Yeas and Nays ordered and the resolution carried by the following vote Yeas Alderman Bremond Cook Diffenbaugh James Larmour Haas, Robinson Taylor and Ward Nays None The City Assessor and Collector presented 28 Jury certificates that he had received for taxes and by mistake had cancelled them, and that the City Treasurer had refused to give him credit for or receive the certificates. He asked Council to order a warrant issued on the Treasurer for the sum of $[illegible] it being the amount he had taken the certificates for On motion of Alderman James the Mayor was authorized to issue to the assessor the warrant applied for The City Assessor & Collector presented the following account and asked that the same be allowed him City of Austin Dr. To Fred Storing Assessor & Collector --- Page break --- 264 To Amt on Branch & White Suf entered and Accounted for twice. Cash Book Folio 75 and 78 $21.84 Correct Fred Storzing City Assessor On motion of Alderman James the Account was allowed and the Mayor was authorized to draw his warrant on the City Treasurer in favor of Fred Storzing for the sum $21.84 On Motion of Alderman Cook the Council adjourned Approved June 8 1897 John F. Harland. City Clerk. Meeting of Court of Appeals May 30 1897 The Court met at 5:30 PM Alderman Taylor President of the Board of Aldermen in the Chair Roll called and the following members answered Aldermen Bremond Cook Deffenbaugh James Barnum Maco Robinson Taylor and Stame Absent None Quorum present Petition of Charles Klein stating that he had been assessed for the year 1897 as follows Block 174 Lots 1, 2, 3 & 4 2800.00 Improvements 5800.00 Block 57 Div E Lots 33 & 34 400.00 Improvements 600.00 $9600.00 He thinks the assessment is too high and believes it to be more than he could get for the property and asks that it be reduced as follows Block 174 Lots 1, 2, 3 & 4 2000.00 Improvements 4500.00 Block 57 Div E Lots 33 & 34 300.00 --- Page break --- 265 Improvements 2.00 Lot &c $700.00 On Motion of Alderman Bremond the the assessment on Block #174 Lots 1.2. 3 & 4 remains as fixed by the Assessor and Collector #2800 On Motion of Alderman Dremond the assessment on the Improvements on Block #174 Lots 1.2.3.4 was reduced to $5.00 & Petition of H.G. Harris stating that he is the agent for C.N. Craft who owns Lot # - Block # 21 in Div O and that the City Assessor had assessed the Lot at $200 and the Improvements at $400 - making a total of $650.00 he asks the assessment be reduced to $500 - as he is willing to sell the property for that sum On Motion of Alderman Robinson the petition was granted and the assessment fixed at $500# On motion of Alderman Robinson the assessment on Block # 57 Div E Lots 33 & 34 with Improvements remains as fixed by the Assessor $1000.- On Motion the Council adjourned John F. Hubert City Clerk Regular Meeting of City Council June 9th 1877 Council called to order at 12:30 P.M. Mayor Wheeler in the chair. Roll called and the following members answered. Aldermen Dremond, Cook, Diffenbaighter, James Haas, and Robinson Absent Aldermen. Barnouw, Taylor & Hamel Quorum present Alderman Cook moved a call of the Council Call sustained and the Marshall was directed to bring in the absentees the Election Returns for Alderman in Ward No 7 was opened and read as follows. Election Set as June 4th 1877 To the Mayor of the City of Austin and the Board of Aldermen thereof