31 Called a meeting of the City Council of Austin January 07, 1882 W A Dayton Presiding Roll call of the Council Present: Aldermen Bruggershoff. Pratt and Hoover absent Aldermen Hetz Heuiney Scheiber Rodkry Kuppartz Wilson Cook Alderman Bruggershoff moved. In an case of the Council the Marshall was dispatched after absentees. Aldermen Cook Hetz Wilson Heuiney Kuppartz came in and answered to their names in the above order Minutes of the regular meeting of Decr 1881 read and adopted also minutes of called meeting of December 19th 1881 were also read and adopted. Alderman Pratt rose to a point of order stating that he wished to know the Mayor’s ruling on veto messages that the order once specified a time to return vetors to the Council His honor the Mayor stated that heretofore it had been the custom to return to the Council all veto messages at the next regular session meeting of the Council but that hereafter he would return his vetos to the Council by and in the way that was provided in article 7 Sec 1 of the revised City Ordinance of the City of Austin. Alderman Kuppartz asked to be excused. excused. By the Council Petition signed by Citizens of Robinson hill was presented and read requesting that Patrick Mc Annarry be appointed a regular Policeman of this City. Petition refused to their committee. His honor the mayor ruled that all petitions to be presented to the City Council would not be received unless presented to the Council by one of its members Petition of John W Glenn Supt of repairs of U S Building Benj C. Gooch Custodian US C H and P.O. Austin, Calling attention to the condition of the streets and gutters on Bacon and Colorado streets in front of the unbuilt US building asking that the streets be graded and the gutters formed. Petition was read and referred to street Committee Alderman Cook presented a petition from Citizens of Austin for G W Edwin asking that he be allowed to carry out his contract to sprinkle the streets of Austin for year of 1882 referred to street committee. Mayor Stewart requested permission to address the council in behalf of her interest. was granted whereupon Mayor Stewart did address the council on the above named subject. --- Page break --- 32 Alderman Cook offered the petition of Cora B. Glass asking that she be allowed to receive five acres of land out of Block 33 division B in the City of Austin sold for taxes July 8th 1879. Petition was granted by the City council on condition that the said Cora B. Glass pay all taxes and costs now due upon said land A Petition signed by Citizens of the fifth ward was offered and read asking that Chestnut street be cut through Block 17 and 18, On motion petition was refused to street committee Alderman Cook presented a petition from Board of Trustees of Austin City schools, asking that they be allowed the use of the City park in the first ward for school purpose for one year. Alderman Brueggers moved that petition be referred to street Committee. Motion Carried By permission of the council Alderman Hale council in behalf of Capt Ed. Creary and requested that a committee be appointed to granted to adjust his accounts, refered to finance committee Petition of E C Connell asking that pay be allowed from Nov 10 to Nov 21 1881. Petition refered to finance committee Petition of Officer C.H. Randolph asking that he be allowed to draw pay for the time he lost by sickness in the months of October and Nov 1881 was received and read. Petition was referred the Police Committee Petition of John Sheahan, for settlement of his account against the City for work and of sewer was received and read on Motion of Alderman Mueller the petition was laid on the table. Report of the City Marshal for the month of December 1881, was received and accepted. Fines $510.⁰⁰ five hundred and ten dollars. Fines collected $352.⁰⁰ Three hundred and fifty two dollars. Fines worked out on the street $158.⁰⁰ One hundred and fifty eight dollars --- Page break --- 33 Report of City Marshal as Poundmaster for the month of December 1881 was read and received. Receipts twenty five dollars ($25.00) disbursed twenty five dollars ($25.00) Report of the City Physician was read and accepted the following is the report submitted by the City Physician Hon. Mayor and City Council of the City of Austin, Texas. As the lease of the City with the Manning Infirmary has expired I think it best to enter into a new contract and am authorized by the proprietors to state that twenty five ($25.00) dollars per bed per month will be charged. The City furnishing necessary medicines and treatment, the City having the right to ably pay for those actually in hospital according to number and time of caring for them. I would further suggest that the City advertise for bids to fill prescriptions Respectfully Submitted J Cummings M. D. City Physician Hon Mayor and City Council of the City of Austin, Texas Gentlemen My last report shows your cases remaining in Hospital since which time I made in four and discharged three leaving now under treatment in Hospital five no deaths in hospital. In same report, six out cases remained, under treatment since twenty six out cases. Have received necessary medical treatment making twenty six cases attended to two of which have died. Number of written prescriptions six addition to medicines furnished at hospital forty four number of visits beside those at hospital which were every day except two were forty five total visits, twenty three. Respectfully Submitted J. Cummings M. D. City Physician Austin, Texas January 9, 1882 Hon Mayor and board of Aldermen of the City of Austin Gentlemen Under the present pressure and at this of endeavoring to eradicate Smallpox from the City it is impossible for me to enter into details regarding all that has been done. I have now erected over the river thirteen tents most of which are of the largest size that could be procured from our City dealers. Bedding, medicines, provisions, wagons Telepone and every necessity have been furnished under my orders --- Page break --- 34 The businesses men of our City have evinced us of very and I have show every disposition to encourage and render their aid so that there has been but little trouble in procuring what is demanded. The number of families that it has been necessary to move out of the city and furnish necessary supplies will demand a much larger appropriation to meet the expenses attached thereto. In addition to the rules published in last sundays Platts I have given orders to prohibit the families guards nurses or patients from sending written messages to the City or elsewhere and it is now required that all communications of this character be telephoned to the Mayor's office where the Clerk on duty will if necessary reduce to writing and send to place of destination whether for the mails or to be delivered in the City the object of this being to protect the mails and Citizens from this possible source of infection. Without a disposition to compliment the board of health or my self, but as a question of fact I will state that as it has been used heretofore. That the telephone has been used for this purpose is due to its recent introduction and as its advantage are so great, this in connection with other arrangements to protect the City and I may say gives us so far as I know the best system of insolation that can be provided for such a purpose. Respectfully submitted T. Cummings H.C. City Physician and President of the Board of Health Report of City Sexton for the months of December 1881 read and received. Alderman Platt moved that a vote of thanks be tendered by the council to T. Cummings City Physician for the earnest and faithful manner in which he has discharged the duties of his office to prevent the spreading of smallpox in the City. Motion carried. Moved and seconded that so much of the City Physicians report as pertained to an appropriating money for the expenses of the smallpox Patients be refered to finance committee Refered to Finance committee Alderman Kueppers offered the following report of the Printing committee which was read and accepted Austin Sep Jan 1882 To the Hon the mayor and board of Alderman --- Page break --- 35 of the City of Austin, We the undersigned Your committee appointed by Your to report that they have awarded the contract for the printing of the city of Austin and find that W.Y. Leacy is the lowest and best bidder for printing the city Ordinances in a daily paper Class 1. That Mr. E.B. Berckman is the lowest and best bidder for the job work of the city enumerated as class 2, and respectfully recommend that the contract be so awarded and the Mayor and your committee authorized to enter into contract with them Respectfully E. Kupperty H.B. Riem H. W. Shorter Alderman Shorter moved that the mayor be authorized to enter in contract with W.Y. Leacy for printing of the city ordinances and that the mayor be authorized to enter into contract with E.B. Berckman for the job work of the city. Motion carried. An Ordinance was introduced by the finance committee authorizing the Mayor to order an election on the question of extending the limit of the debt of the city which was read first time. Alderman Bruggerhoff moved that the rule be suspended and that the ordinance be placed on its second reading, which was lost by the following vote. Aldermen Riem, Cook, Bruggerhoff, Radley, Shorter, Mayor, Reitz, Platt, Wilson, Absent Alderman Schuhr. Excused Alderman Kupperty. On motion the Mayor was authorized to lease Insure Croughans Docks on the river walk for the period of twenty five years (25) at the spill of twenty (20) dollars per annum lease read and approved. Alderman Platt moved that the City attorney draw up an agreement between the City of Austin and the Houston and Texas Central Railway in accordance with the Ordinance granting the Houston and Texas Central Railway the right of way through the city of Austin. Motion Carried. His honor the Mayor offered the resignation of S.W. Patterson. --- Page break --- as City Clerk which was accepted and and offered. the name the name of J L Burns as City Clerk Alderman Platt moved that he be elected by acclamation on motion alderman Moeller second the motion the acclamation. Alderman Bruggeshoff moved that the City Clerk give a bond of one thousand dollars to the Mayor of Austin for the faithful discharge of his duties motion carried. Alderman Bruggeshoff offered the following ordinance which was read first time and passed by the City Council. * Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Austin That the sum of Two thousand and seven dollars and ninety eight cents (2007 ⁹⁸/₁₀₀) or so much as is hereby appropriated to pay the employees of the City of Austin for the month of December 1881 That this Ordinance be in force from and after its passage. Passed by the following vote yeas alderman Cook Bruggeshoff. Rodkey. Metz. Finney. nays. Moeller. Platt. absent. Schubert, and Huppertz. Alderman Moeller moved that the rules be suspended and the ordinance placed on its second reading carried by the following vote. yeas alderman Spitz Finney Cook Bruggeshoff. Rodkey Moeller Wilson nays alderman Platt. absent Alderman Schubert and Huppertz. Alderman Cook moved that the rules be further suspended and the ordinance be placed on its third reading and final passage which passed by the following vote. yeas Alderman Spitz, Finney, Cook Bruggeshoff. Rodkey, Moeller, Wilson. nays Alderman Platt. absent Alderman Schubert, and Huppertz. Alderman Brueggerhoff offered the following resolution resolution which was passed. That J W Howard has. failed to file his official bond as City Treasurer That he be called upon to file the same with the Mayor before the meeting of the next meeting, and that if He failed to file his bond by the time of the next meeting that the office be declared vacant. That the City Clerk notify J W Howard of the action of the Council in regard to his bond. --- Page break --- 37 The following report was received and read or the undersigned Ordinance committee being unable to agree upon the salaries of appointed city officers recommend an executive session for the discussion of this matter W H Morlen. N B Metz R Pratt. Alderman Pratt submitted the following resolution and asked its adoption in lieu of resolutions adopted by the late City Council or Nov 12th 1881 These foregoing resolutions are not in any respects. reflective of the prevailing sentiment the following are submitted in their stead First. That the principal extravagant City admin istration known to us was the City of Austin which’s show of virtuous indignation the foregoing preamble and resolution Second. That the City That municipal government were created to protect property alone has its origin in ignorance of selfish interest unworthy the Spirit of Americans. Third. That the municipal government of the City of Austin is not supported by tax on the really alone as less than half of her revenue is derived for that source Fourth. That the cry of no ballot without taxation is derived from juducistic ignorance is unjust in these days of progress is vicious for does not labor of the country for or everything without labor would it really have the values it now boast of. So not labor entitled to the highest consideration and does it not. receive the highest consideration from far seeing Statesmen does not the constitution of the United States declare that all men are free and equal being the very foundation is not labor more interested in the welfare of the country than any other interest Or has the Sun’s time come when the reality of the country has snatched the crown of sovereignty from the people. Fifth. A proper regard for their own course in such matters should have caused caused our predecessors to omit any reference to an alarming growth of municipal indebtedness reference suggest to the financial condition of the City made by this report We the City Council of the city of Austin do therefore respectfully represent to his excellency O W Roberts Governor of Texas, that these resolutions are unjust to the prevailing sentiment of the people of Austin and the offspring of a dead-pie movement at the defeat of the movers in the last City Election. --- Page break --- We also respectfully represent that the manifest desire of the people of Austin is to be found in full accord with the spirit of progress of the day which demands a moral and physical development. that they do not desire now any further legislation that they do desire to remain undisturbed by any interference until the extravagance of the past can be corrected with out injustice to any, and we do respectfully recommend to the consideration of your Excellency the grand axiom That in a republican form of government, the right of suffrage should not rest upon the accidents of humanity but humanity its self. Alderman Kenney offered the following Ordinance Be it ordered by the City Council of the City of Austin: That one hundred dollars or so much thereof as may be necessary for the purchase of wood for the use of the City Co and the same is hereby appropriated and the Mayor is hereby authorized to issue warrants against the same Ordinance passed by the following vote Yeas Metz Kenney Cook Brugggerhoff. Radkey. Prouse Wilson Nays Platt absent Schubn On motion the rules were suspended and the Ordinance passed on its second reading and by the following vote Yeas. Metz Kenney Cook Bruggerhoff. Radkey Prouse and Wilson Nays Alderman Platt absent. Huppertz Schubn On motion the rules were further suspended and the Ordinance placed in its third reading and final passage and passed by the following vote Yeas. Alderman Metz Kenney Cook Bruggerhoff. Radkey Prouse and Wilson Nays. Alderman Platt. Absent Alderman Huppertz Schubn. Petition of John Bremond Chief of the fire dept. asking that the sum of four thousand five hundred and twenty four dollars be appropriated to pay the expenses of the fire department of the city of Austin from November 1st 1881 to October 31st 1882 On motion the petition was laid over. --- Page break --- Alderman Cook offered the following Ordinance which was read and Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Austin That the sum of Fifty dollars, E V be and the same is hereby appropriated to f build two Carriage bridges on the City Cemetery. Alderman Horlen moved that the rules be suspended and the Ordinance placed on its second reading. Carried by the following vote. Yeas Metz Cook Kinney Bruggeshof. Radkey and Wilson Nay Ald Platt. Absent Ruppertz, Schuber. On Motion the rules were further suspended and the Ordinance placed on its third reading by the following vote. Yeas Metz Cook Kinney Bruggeshof. Radkey Wilson Nay Platt Absent Ruppertz. Schuber. On Motion of Ald Wilson the Ordinance passed by the following vote yeas. Metz Cook Kinney Bruggeshof. Horlen. Wilson Radkey. Nays. Platt Absent Ruppertz & Schuber. On motion the Council adjourned J S Purnell City Clerk