250. The Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the City Council Austin, Texas, March 19, 1888. Hon. Joseph Nalle, Mayor, presiding. Roll Call. Present Aldermen Assmann, Boland, Brush, Caldwell, Campbell, DeGress, Fisher, Graham, Haigler, Jones, Linn, Metta, O'Dell, Phillips, Piehl, Platt, Townsend, Wilson, Wortham. Total, 19. Absent - Alderman Schneider. The minutes of the meeting of the Council which was held on the 5th inst., were adopted as printed. J. Schutze. A communication from Mr. Julius Schutze, Proprietor of the Texas Vorwaerts, was presented, and gives the following reasons for not publishing the Mayor's message on the 5th inst., in accordance with the action of the Council: "I Consider it due to your honorable body to as sign the reasons why I failed to publish that able document in my paper. As a business man, I Could not afford to publish it at the Same price for which the English papers perform the work, because I have to make and furnish a Careful and Correct translation before I Could have it set in type. And, as a Citizen, I did not deem it expedient to ask a remuneration for the special work of translation, partly in View of the depleted Condition of the City treasury, and partly in apprehension that Such an amount for the translation of the message might impair the prompt payment of the Salary for the able Services rendered to the Citizens of Austin by the newly Created City officer, the City Secretary, and I feared that, perhaps, I might thereby deprive him of an opportunity to place it upon the green-covered alter of professional morality." V. Schmidt. A petition from V. Schmidt, asking to be --- Page break --- relieved from paying City taxes on personal property outside of the City limits, but which was erroneously rendered to the City for taxation, was read, and referred To the City Assessor and Collector. Dispatch Co. A petition was presented from the Dispatch Publishing Company, stating that, in the matter of awarding the Contract for the newspaper printing of the City, "your petitioners believe that They have been unjustly dealt with, and herewith respectfully submit the following statement: In compliance with an advertisement Signed C.E. Fisher, Chairman printing Committee, your petitioners, the Dispatch Publishing Company submit ted a bid in terms and substance as follows: To print ordinances, notices, proclamations, etc, at the rate of five Cents a line, nonpareil measurement for the first insertion, and Three Cents per line for each subsequent insertion, with no Charge whatever for a published Synopsis of the proceedings of the Council. Although This was the lowest and best bid submitted, upon some pretext it, as well as all Others, was rejected, and Advertisement for new bids published. Believing that the bid was the lowest and best offered, and deeming that any supplementary bid would be superfluous, your petitioners Submitted none. Inasmuch as your petitioners have no reason to believe that The honorable Council have other than an honest desire to award the Contract to the lowest and best bidder, they herewith submit a proposition in modified and more explicit form: "They will print in The Austin Evening Dispatch all ordinances, proclamations, notices, synopsis of proceedings of Council, and such other matter as may properly come under the head of newspaper Notices or advertisements, at a uniform rate of two Cents a line for each and every insertion, nonpareil measurement. "Very respectfully," (Signed) Dispatch Publishing Company. "Per S.J. Murchison, "M.C. Harris" --- Page break --- 253 The petition was laid on the table Subject to Call. City atty. The City Attorney Submitted an adverse Opinion on a petition from J. A. Carroll, requesting to be relieved from paying Certain Taxes. The opinion was adopted. Tr. The City Treasurer Submitted a report from March 5 To March 19. It shows: Balances on hand March 5 Receipts $11,152. 92 5,728. 32 $16,881. 24 Disbursements Balances on hand March 19 $9,810. 85 7,070. 39 $16,881. 24 Comal St. The Committee on Streets, &c., Submitted a report on a petition of Citizens, asking that Comal Street be opened up for travel between College and Magnolia Avenues, stating that the street named is outside of the City and recommended that the petition be referred to the County Commissioners. Adopted. J. W. Howard The Same Committee reported adversely on a petition from J. W. Howard, requesting permission to erect a platform over and across Tenth Street at its intersection with Congress Avenues. Alderman Linn moved to lay the report on the table. Motion was lost and the report was then adopted. C.+Fellman The Same Committee Submitted a favorable report on an Ordinance fixing and defining Certain streets in Christian and Fellman's addition to the City. The Ordinance was then read a Second time, after which Alderman Wortham offered the following amendment to the Ordinance, which was adopted: "Nothing Contained in this Ordinance shall be Construed as Conflicting with the Ordinance now in force, regulating and numbering the Streets of the City." The rules were then Suspended and the Ordinance passed to its third reading by a two-thirds vote of a full board, after which the Ordinance was read a third time and passed. Alderman Brush introduced the following --- Page break --- 255 resolution, which was adopted: Resolved, That a Committee Rename be appointed to renew the efforts of a former Sts; Committee of the City Council to name Such Streets that are not named and to Change Such names as are distasteful and unpleasant to the property owners on and near Such streets, and to report to this Council at its next regular meeting. Fire Dept. Alderman Jones, from the Committee on fire depSalaries. artment, Submitted a favorable report on an Ordinance to reduce the Salaries of the hostlers and tillerman of the fire department, and recommended the passage of the Same. On motion, the report was laid On the table by the following vote: Yeas- Alderman Assmann, Campbell, Fisher, Graham, Linn, Odell, Phillips, Pillow, Townsend, Wortham - 10. Nays- Alderman - Boland, Brush, Caldwell, de Gress, Haigler, Jones, Metz, Platt, Wilson - 9. The caption of the ordinance was then stricken out by the following vote; Yeas- Alderman Assmann, Campbell, Fisher, Graham, Linn, Odell, Phillips, Pillow, Townsend, Wortham - 10. Nays - Alderman Boland, Brush, Caldwell, de Gress, Haigler, Jones, Metz, Platt, Wilson - 9. Linn then moved to reconsider the Vote by which the Caption of the Ordinance was Stricken out and to lay that motion on the table. Carried. Stiles. The Committee on Cemetery, to whom was referred the proposal of Mrs Maggie Stiles and associates to establish and operate a Cemetery. Submitted an adverse report thereon for the reason that Other propositions more advantageous to the City may be made. Report adopted. Hides. The Committee on Sanitation and Sewerage Submitted a favorable report on "An" Ordinance prohibiting persons from Curing and poisoning hides, and providing a --- Page break --- Penalty therefor." Report adopted. The Ordinance was then read a Second time, after which the rules were suspended by a vote of two-thirds of a full board, and the Ordinance was read a third time and, on motion, passed. Mayor's The special committee, to whom was referred The msg-Comtee Message of the mayor, presented to the Council at its last meeting, reported on the same and recommended, first, that "but one of the fire engines belonging to the city be sold; Second, that "we approve of the mayor's recommendation, that no moneys of the City be spent by the Various Committees, except upon Order from the Council or upon the approval of the mayor, and we present an Ordinance Covering the present in question for your consideration;" third, that the Cemetery question be settled by accepting the offer of the holder of the Greenwood Cemetery notes, "which allows the ground to pay for itself". The Committee asked for further time in which to consider the Condition and necessities of the City's bridges. The report was adopted. Purchases. An Ordinance Amending Article VI, Chapter 2, title 1, of the Revised Civil Ordinances of the City of Austin, defining the manner of making purchases for the city, was read first time and referred to the City Attorney with instructions to examine same and report to the next meeting of the Council whether it is properly drawn. Ticket. Alderman Northam introduced an Ordinance requiring persons selling theatrical tickets to pay a license tax, and providing a punishment for the violation of the same. It excepts managers of Theaters. After being read first time, the rules were suspended by a two-thirds vote of a full board, and the Ordinance was placed on its second and third readings, and, on motion, passed. Hutchings. Alderman Odell presented a resolution rescinding the report of the printing Committee awarding the printing to the Hutchings Printing Company. A motion was made to lay the resolution on the table which was lost by the following vote: Nays - Alderman Campbell, Fisher, Graham, Linn, Pillow, Townsend, Northam - 7. --- Page break --- 259 Nays_ Aldermen Assmann Boland, Brush Caldwell, Degress Haigler Jones, Metz Odell Phillips, Platt, Wilson -12. The Resolution was then adopted. E. Von Boeckmann. A Resolution was then introduced awarding the job printing to Eugene Von Boeckmann, in accordance with his bid, and instructing the Mayor and the printing Committee to enter into a Contract with him. It was adopted by the following Vote: Yeas_ Aldermen Assmann, Boland, Brush, Caldwell, Degress, Haigler, Jones, Metz, Odell, Phillips, Platt, Wilson, Northam -13. Nays_ Aldermen, Campbell, Fisher, Graham, Linn, Pillow, Townsend -6. Bridge Alderman Haigler presented an Ordinance to Construct a wooden bridge across Waller Creek at the crossing of First Street. The Ordinance appropriates $1500 to carry its provisions into effect, and was read first time after which it was placed on its second and third reading by a vote of two-thirds of a full board and passed by the following Vote: Yeas_ Aldermen Assmann, Brush, Caldwell, Campbell, Degress Fisher, Graham, Haigler, Jones, Linn, Metz, Odell, Phillips, Pillow, Platt, Wilson -16. Nays_ Aldermen, Boland, Townsend, Northam. Pease Park Alderman Brush introduced an Ordinance appropriating the Sum of $300. for the purpose of fencing and putting in gates in Pease Park. The Ordinance was read first time after which a motion was made to suspend the rules and place it on its second reading. Motion lost. Yeas_ Aldermen, Boland, Brush, Caldwell, Campbell, Degress, Graham, Haigler, Jones, Metz, Odell, Phillips, Platt, Wilson -13. Nays_ Aldermen Assmann, Fisher, Linn, Pillow, Townsend, Northam -6. Statesman. A Resolution was introduced to rescind the printing Contract with "The Statesman." Motion to lay on the table lost. Alderman Degress moved to refer it to a Special Committee. Carried. The Mayor then appointed the Committee as follows: --- Page break --- 261 Railing. Aldermen DeGress, Boland and Wilson. A resolution was offered and adopted, instructing the street Commissioner to place wooden rails or guards at the approaches to the stone bridge over Waller Creek and East Second street. Pay rolls An Ordinance appropriating the sum of $5,900.90, for the + acts. purpose of paying officers and regular employes of the City and County Hospital each for the month of March, 1888, and balance of Salary due City Secretary. for the month of February, 1888, and also approved accounts. It was read first time, after which it was placed on its second and third readings, and passed by the following vote: Yeas - Aldermen Asymann, Boland, Brush, Campbell, DeGress, Fisher, Graham, Haigler, Jones, Linn, Metz, Odell, Phillips, Pillow, Platt, Townsend, Wilson, Northam - 18. Spl. Comtee. The mayor announced the special Committee on naming streets, as above provided for, as follows: Aldermen Brush, Odell and Caldwell, Election On motion, Three tellers were appointed to Canvass returns and declare the result of the election held for the purpose of electing a Chief, Assistant Chief and recorder of Austin Fire Department. The mayor appointed Aldermen Fisher, DeGress and Northam as tellers. The returns were then duly canvassed and the result announced by the tellers, as follows: For Chief, August Ziller, 91; Monroe Miller, 8. For Assistant Chief, R. D. Cunningham, 79; R. L. Haralson, 13. For recorder, L. Boemer, 94; Scattering, 7. Alderman Pillow then moved that August Ziller, R. D. Cunningham and L. Boemer be declared duly elected Chief, Assistant Chief and recorder, respectively, of Austin Fire Department for the ensuing term of one year. Carried. On motion, the Council then adjourned. Milton Morris, City Clerk.