345 The minutes of a regular meeting of the City Council Austin, Texas, May 21, 1888. Hon. Joseph Nalle, Mayor, presiding. Roll Call. Present Aldermen Assmann, Boland, Campbell, DeGress, Fisher, Haigler, Jones, Metz, Odell, Pillow, Platt - 11. Absent Aldermen Brush, Caldwell, Graham, Linn, Phillips, Schneider, Townsend, Wilson, Wortham - 9. Minutes. The minutes of the last meeting of the Council were adopted as printed. Recess. Alderman Pillow moved that the Council take a recess of fifteen minutes. Adopted. Roll Call. The Council was again Called to order after the expiration of the time of recess, and the roll was called which resulted as follows: Present - Aldermen Assmann, Boland, Brush, Campbell, DeGress, Fisher, Haigler, Jones, Linn, Metz, Odell, Pillow, Platt, Townsend, Wilson - 15 Absent - Aldermen Caldwell, Graham, Phillips, Schneider, Wortham - 5 Treasur's. Report. The report of the City Treasurer from May 7 to 21, 1888, was presented, read and referred to the Finance Committee. It shows: Balances on hand May 7, $10,964.11 Receipts 2,977.53 Total $13,941.64 Disbursements $2,161.16 Balances May 21, 11,780.48-13,941.64 Culvert, The City Engineer submitted a report, directing attention to Culvert on Red River Street at to the Crossing of the Central railroad, which appears to be too small to Carry off the W. Pecan Bridge Water intended to pass through it; also, to the Condition of the guttering of the South west approach of the West Pecan Street bridge. Referred to Street Committee. E. 6th St. The Street Committee submitted a favorable report on an ordinance appropriating the --- Page break --- Sum of $300 for the construction of a bridge across Waller Creek on East Eighteenth Street, but no action was taken thereon. The following Communication was read: Office of Texas Vorwaerts} Austin, Texas, May 10, 1888.} To His Honor the Mayor and the Honorable Board of Aldermen of the City of Austin: Gentlemen- Notwithstanding my last communication to your honorable body, you have again honored me by a resolution requesting me officially through the City Clerk, to publish in the German language the Mayor's message of May 7, 1888, at two cents per line, without allowing any compensation for translating said document from the English into the German; which I had most respectfully declined on a former occasion. Considering it my duty to explain to your honorable body why I failed to comply with your resolution, I most respectfully reiterate, that I could not furnish the translation and publication of a message at two Cents per line, a decision which could not be changed, even by a repeated request, as easily as a first refusal to accept a nomination to a high municipal office. And as a further explanation I most respectfully submit to your honorable body, that even in case you should allow a sufficient compensation for the translation of said message, wherein a number of reasons are assigned by his Honor the Mayor, why the so-called Arsenal lot should not be accepted by the city authorities as a gift for educational purposes, it would be extremely difficult to translate it understandably into the German, a language founded upon true Philosophy and sound logic. Expressing again my most sincere thanks to your honorable body for the kind consideration bestowed upon me, I remain, your obedient servant Julius Schutze, Pub. & Ed. Texas Vorwaerts. --- Page break --- 349 When called to Alderman Schneider attended, and answered to his names. A report from the Chief of the fire department, of property in possession of that department, which is of no use to said department, is now read, and referred to the committee on fire department. The mayor submitted to the Council the following message: To the Honorable Board of Aldermen: Gentlemen - In View of the tardiness with which the general revenues are coming in, and the probability that we will be called upon to face a deficit at the end of the present fiscal year, unless some check is placed upon present expenditures, I deem it my duty to submit to you a few recommendations wherein the city can be relieved of a portion of her burden. As is Known, in addition to the necessary expenditures for the efficient administration of the government for the present year, we were called upon to meet and provide for a deficit of over $16,000, brought over from the last fiscal year, which has been and is being paid off as rapidly as it matures, out of the revenues of the present year. The matter of maintaining the City Hospital is a heavy tax on the revenues, and that some steps should be taken to reduce the expense of its management, there can be no question. Whilst I am not prepared to suggest at what special point to commence the curtailment of the expenses of conducting the institution, I am yet satisfied that the cost of maintenance is excessive. I believe that some few of the patients at least could without injurious results, be transferred to the County poor farm, and upon the whole, I am satisfied that more than one of them would be benefitted by the ch. --- Page break --- 351 3) I suggest that the matter be made the subject of inquiry by a special committee of your honorable body, instructed to thoroughly investigate and make such report and recommendations as, in their judgment, the facts warrant. Now that the drill is over, and no unusual gatherings are likely to assemble in our city, at least during the coming summer, which promises to be exceptionally dull and uneventful, I think the police force can be safely reduced from twenty men to fifteen, thus effecting an annual saving to the city of $3,600. I recommend that the office of sanitary inspector be abolished, and that the duties of that office in future be placed upon the police, under the supervision of the marshal. This would effect an annual saving to the city of $720. I recommend that the office of assist- ant assessor and collector be abolished. The duties of this office can easily be discharged by the assessor and collector. He can establish office hours, say five hours, each day, for the purpose of meeting those who may have business to transact with his office, and in the remainder of a fair day's service he can easily discharge his out-door duties of assessing such property as is to be listed under the law. The office was created upon the assumption that one man's time was necessary in the office for the entire day. This I hold is not so. Five hours a day in his office is ample time to meet all calls that may be made upon him by the public, and the remain- der of the day will be ample to take the assessments and do the out-door work of the office. This would make a further saving to the City of $900 annually. In a former communication to your honorable body, I recommended a [illegible] --- Page break --- 353 to the Salaries of drivers of the hose Carts to the Sum Originally paid them, $40 per month. I again renew the recommendation on this subject, and ask that the reduction of $10 per month be made. The adoption of this recommendation would add an additional $720 to the treasury annually. I recommend that the Office of city Secretary be abolished - a further saving of $900 annually or be recapitulate - Salaries five policemen $3,600.00 Salary Sanitary Inspector 720.00 Salary assistant assessor and Collector 900.00 Saving in Salaries of Six drivers 720.00 Salary City Secretary 900.00 Making a total reduction of $6,100.00 Which I believe can be safely covered back into the treasury without impairment of the public service. This sum is exclusive of what may be saved at the hospital, and I believe that upon investigation the expenses of operating the institution can be materially reduced. On a former Communication to your honorable body, I stated that I would make no recommendation for a curtailment or reduction of the present very efficient force of city officials unless absolutely required by impending danger of a deficit at the close of the present year. I now deem that such an exigency has arrived, and I have therefore thought it proper to call your attention to such offices as I deem can best be abolished without too serious impairment to the public service. Respectfully, Joseph Nalle, Mayor. Austin, May 21, 1888. Ald. Wortham. Alderman Wortham entered and answered to his name. Mayor [illegible] Alderman Deedress, moved to refer this --- Page break --- 354 [illegible] --- Page break --- 355 message of the mayor to a special Committee of five. The Chair then appointed the Committee, as follows: Aldermen DeGress, Fisher, Brush, Wartham and Wilson. Alderman Caldwell entered and answered to his name. An Ordinance establishing Hamilton Square in the City of Austin, was taken up on its third reading. Alderman DeGress moved to amend the Caption by striking out "establishing Hamilton Square" and inserting in lieu thereof, "Naming the Public Squares". Adopted. He also moved to change the Ordinance, by striking out the words, "Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Austin," where they appear a second time, and dividing the Ordinance into two Sections - Section One to contain the names of Hamilton Square, and Section two to contain the names of Bell Square, Hemphill Square and Brush Square. Adopted. The Ordinance was then read a third time, and on motion passed. Cem Comtee. Aldermen Caldwell and Schneider of the Blocker & Cemetery Committee reported on the propositions Love. from Col. A. P. Blocker and Mrs Leila Love to sell land to the city for a Cemetery. The report states that the lands are suitable for the purposes named, "but as there is no money to buy Cemeteries with, we cannot recommend any proposition". Report ordered filed. Bridge E 8th An Ordinance appropriating the sum of $300 for the construction of a bridge across Waller Creek, on East 18th Street, was taken up on its second reading and read. Alderman Phillips entered and answered to his name. --- Page break --- 357 Alderman Linn moved to indefinitely postpone the Ordinance. Alderman Odell moved to lay the motion on the table, which was carried by the following vote: Yeas - Aldermen Assmann, Boland, Brush, DeGress, Haigler, Jones, Metz, Odell, Pillow, Wilson, Northam - 12. Nays - Aldermen Caldwell, Campbell, Fisher, Linn, Phillips, Schneider, Townsend - 7. Alderman Boland moved to refer it to a special Committee of three, who shall ascertain at which of three places, East 18th street, East Magnolia Avenue, or the First Ward - the improvement should be made, and to report at the next regular meeting. Adopted, and the Chair appointed Aldermen Boland, Campbell and Fisher as such Committee. S.M. Caven. The fine assessed in the recorders Court against I M Caven was remitted, on the recommendation of the mayor. Jan. 2d? Alderman DeGress introduced an Ordinance levying an ad Valorem tax of one per Centum for the year 1888. It was read the first time, after which the rules were suspended and it was placed on its second and third readings, and passed by the following Vote: Yeas - Aldermen Assmann, Boland, Brush, Caldwell, Campbell, De Gress, Fisher, Haigler, Jones, Linn, metz, Odell, Phillips, Pillow, Platt, Schneider, Townsend, Wilson, Northam - 19. Alderman De Gress offered an Ordinance appropriating the sum of $3,565.55 for the purpose of paying officers and regular employs of the City and City and County Hospital, for the month of may, 1888, and a fireman for a part of the month of April, 1888. It was read first time, after which the rules were suspended and it was placed on its --- Page break --- 359 and third readings and passed by the following vote: Yeas- Assmann, Boland, Brush, Caldwell, Campbell, DeGress, Fisher, Haygler, Jones, Linn, Metz, Odell, Phillips, Pillour, Platt, Schneider, Townsend, Wilson, Northam – 19. The fine and Costs assessed against P. H. Tansey, in the recorders Court, was remitted, on the recommendation of the mayor. Alderman Linn moved a reconsideration of the Vote by which the resolution refeling the deed to the Arsenal block was adopted. Alderman DeGress moved to lay the motion on the table, which carried by the following Vote: Yeas Aldermen Assmann, Boland, Brush, Caldwell, DeGress, Haygler, Jones, Metz, Odell, Phillips, Platt, Wilson – 12. Nays Alderman Campbell, Fisher, Linn, Pillour, Schneider, Townsend, Northam-7. Aldermen Caldwell and Odell filed their reasons for Voting yea, which are as follows. Alderman Caldwell's: In Casting this Vote, I do so knowing that the Seventh and Tenth Wards do not want this property, and I do not want my Vote to Compell them to locate a school where it is not wanted. Other Wards have the priviledge of locating their school houses, and so should these Wards. E G Caldwell Alderman Odell's: Gentlemen of the Council: On the 11th instant a meeting was Called in the Seventh Ward, to Consider the action the City Council had taken in refusing the donation of the arsenal block to the City of Austin by the United States government, for educational purposes. --- Page break --- 361 At that meeting, by actual Count, forty-two Voters attended, thirty five of whom were citizens of the Seventh Ward. Certain resolutions were presented and voted upon, condemning the action of this Council, about twenty-five voting in the affirmative, and ten in the negative, making the net affirmative vote about twenty five. The full vote of the Seventh Ward is about five hundred, showing the attendance at said meeting was less than one in fourteen of the voters. Now I have a desire, and think it my duty, to represent the sentiment of not only my Ward, but of the whole city. I do not feel that a sufficient number attended the meeting mentioned to give any idea of the sentiment of the people. If I should attempt to obey the wishes of the gentlemen composing the meeting, and change my vote, how do I know but that another meeting may be held in the near future, which would give entirely different instructions. my previous vote on this subject has the approval of my judgment and my conscience, and I shall continue to vote in the same way until I can learn the wishes of my constituents. Odell. Phillips A resolution offered by Alderman Fisher was adopted, extending the congratulations of the Council to Alderman Phillips on his approaching marriage. Council adjourned. Milton Morris City Clerk.