531 Called meeting of the City Council Austin Tex May 28, 1884. How W. Asylow. Mayor Presiding Roll call present aldermen Cancock Campbell Schubar Maas Robertson J. W. Driskill Odell Cansing ton Hill Pratt Erwin & Brush 15. Absent Aldermen Schneider Denton Pillavw Walls Underhill Crooker Robertson G. S. and Brewerew. Alderman Hawcock moved a call of the Council motion adopted and the marshal sent after the absentees Alderman J. S. Robertson moved to suspend the call of the Council motion adopted A Petition signed by Cas J. Raymond Ed M. Berryman W M Sammel C. F. Cramer J. Baggie and I. W. Swinsow jurors in the case City of Austin V.S. J.W. Burns. asking the Council to remit a fine of $100 and costs assessed by the recordaw for contempt of court Alderman Schneider wells and Brewerew came in answered to their names Alderman Hill mooved that the Council proceed to investigate the facts in regard to the petition motion adopted On the statement made by C. J. Raymond. foreman and the jury that no contempt of court was intended. the mayor recommanded that the fine be remitted On motion the fine was remitted The finance committee introduced an ordinan ce intitled an ordianace appropriating the sum of Thirteen thousand & five hundred dollars for the purpose of paying a note of the City of Austin in favor of R. M. Swinson and Son & X. --- Page break --- 532 New York The ordinance was read second and third times under suspension of the rules and passed by the following vote. yeas aldermen Schneider Hancock Maas Wells Campbell Schuler Robertson J. W. Driskill Odell Carrington Hill Platt Ervin Brueh and Brennen. Total 18. Alderman Odell presented the following letter which was read Austin Tex May 10th 1884 To the Board of Aldermen. Austin Tex Gentlemen Ascertaining that several members of your honorable Board of Aldermen honestly think that if the City had a sufficient opportunity to dispose of its bonds it could realize a better figure than I can offer and learning that the City Council is called to meet this evening to consider the matter and desiring to impose no obstacle to the City's getting the best possible figures it can for its bonds. I hereby withdraw my proposition to take the City Bonds at 78 cents with accrued interest and release the City entirely from its contract to sell to me at the price offered. I further beg to submit that I think the Austin City bonds should bring a far more, and I trust it can be gotten for them. Certainly I shall do all I can if it be desired in aiding to get that price for them. Respectfully A. P. Wooldridge. The Mayor addressed the Council as follows To the Honorable City Council of the City of Austin. Gentlemen I have the honor to tender my resignation as Mayor of the City of Austin to take effect June 1st 1884 a position which through the suffrages of her people I have by their kind persuasion been twice chosen to fill. In discharging the duties of the office I have tried to the best of my ability to serve her interests honestly and faithfully. --- Page break --- 533 If I have committed errors they were of the head and not of the heart. The prosperity and material advancement of Austin has been my great aim and I congratulate her citizens upon the rapid strides she is making in that direction as is evidenced by magnificent residences that adorn her beautiful hills and massive blocks daily being erected on her business streets. The sound of the saw and hammer are heard throughout her limits. She is rapidly improving in moral and educational facilities as shown by her increasing churches and school houses and the location of the state university in her corporation, an institution in which I am proud to say every citizen takes great pride in its assured success I look forward to Austin’s future with great hopes and when she shall have awakened to the great importance of erecting upon the banks of her beautiful Colorado immense manufactories sufficient for home employment of the thousands of good citizens who would gladly avail themselves of the educational advantages and beautiful climate she will then assume her proper place among the vigorous cities of the great state of Texas. But until her energetic Business men awake to this fact the cities of Fort Worth, San Antonio Galveston and Houston will continue to lead her in wealth and prosperity as now. To you, Gentlemen of the City Council with whom my personal and business relations, I am proud to say. have been of the most pleasant and agreeable character as well as to every City official of the present city administration I must say in closing my official and social intercourse has without exception been of the most agreeable and pleasant nature and in taking leave of you I can assure you I shall carry with me to my new home the kindest feeling individually for all, wishing you every success in life and feeling that in the continued discharge of your official duties you will strive to build up and advance the material interests of Austin Very Respectfully W H Taylor --- Page break --- 536 Alderman Odell introduced the following resolution which was unanimously adopted Resolved By the City Council of the City of Austin That in accepting the Resignation of the Hon W.M Taylor as mayor of this City, we do so with feelings of deep regret and an desire to assure him that he carries with him to his new home the best wishes of this Council for his future prosperity and happiness, and we most cordially commend him to the people which whom he is about to make his home, as an honest upright gentleman deserving among them the highest confidence Resolved That this resolution be spread upon the Journals of the Council and that the City Clerk be instructed to furnish a copy to the Hon W.M Taylor. Alderman J.W. Robertson introduced an ordinance entitled an ordinance to provide for special elections of mayor in case of a vacancy The ordinance was read second and third times under suspension of the rules and passed by the following vote yeas Aldermen Schneiden Hancock Little Campbell Schubert Maas J.W. Robertson Dirkie Odell Carrington Hill Plath Ervin Brush and Brunner Alderman Plath moved that at the next meeting of the Council aldermen from each ward furnish names of persons to act judges of election and designate places to hold said election On motion the Council adjourned Read and approved June 16 1884 J.R. Whitsell City Clerk