Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the City Council. Austin, Texas, Aug. 17th 1896. Hon. Lewis Hancock, Mayor, presiding. Roll called. Present Aldermen Glass, Haynes, Nitschke, Powell, Redd, Schneider, Shelley, Strunck, Saylor, Sobik, Townsend and Zilker 12. Absent Aldermen Dealy, Fischer, Peacock, Ford, Norton, Lawless, Linn, Platt, Roberdeau, and Rosengren 10 Alderman Redd moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes and that they be approved as printed. Carried Alderman Seyle entered the Council Chamber. Pet. of Jno. Crosby to refund him amt. paid out for Water pike laid. By Alderman Redd, Petition of John Crosby, asking the Council to refund him amount paid out for water pike, which was read, and on motion, referred to the Special Committee on Water and Light. Aldermen Dealy, Roberdeau, Platt and Fischer entered the Council Chamber. Pet. of J.R. Davis asking damages for injuries re- ceived. The Mayor laid before the Council a petition from C.R. Davis, asking damages for injuries received, which was read and referred to the Committee on Claims and Accounts. Alderman Townsend for the Finance Committee, to whom Bond of Fred. Skerzing as Ass'r & Col of School Fund. was referred the bond of Fred. Skerzing as Assessor and Collector of School Taxes, presented their report, stating that the bond was correct as to form and the sureties sufficient. On motion, the report of the Committee was adopted and the bond ordered filed. Police Comit. report on City Marshals reports for July. Alderman Powell for the Police Committee, to whom was referred the reports of the City Marshal for the month of July, presented their report, stating that they had been examined and found correct. Report adopted. Police Comit. report on charges preferred against Officers Platt & d. Wilson. Alderman Powell for the Police Committee, presented the following report, which was read and adopted: August 15, 1896. To the Hon. Mayor and City Council of the City of Austin: Gentlemen: We would respectfully report result of investigation made by your Police Committee, at request of Marshall Seney, in matter of arrest of one Jim Harvey, on July 11, 1896, by Officers Jane Platt and Scott Wilson, charges having been made as to apparent rough and brutal treatment of the prisoner by said Officers. Your Committee have thoroughly investigated the matter and examined several witnesses, and, while on the part of one witness, fails to find the charges substantiated, and finds the party arrested suffered no serious illness at the hands of the officers and make no charges of bad treatment. Investigation shows that the officers used necessary rough treatment in order to [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] --- Page break --- 438 Police Comr. report on charges sundry occasions. We find the party was a resident of the First Ward preferred against Officers and that he is now badly wanted for stealing. Platt & S. Wilson In view of the facts, your Committee do not feel that the officers, who are among the best on the force, deserve dismissal, though we have instructed the Marshal to reprimand Officer Wilson for his attempt to strike the prisoner with his pistol while the latter was attempting to run past him in his escape from Officer Platt. This public display of apparently unnecessary force in dealing with a hard case, having naturally shocked the sensibilities of citizens not aware of the conditions; emphasizes the importance of the City procuring a patrol or police van at the earliest day practicable. Respectfully submitted, J.W. Powell, T.L. Haynes, W.D. Shelley. Police Committee. Ord. Comr. report on Pet. Alderman Taylor, for the ordinance committee, to whom was reof C.B. Alley, Petition ferred the petition of C.B.B. Alley for rent of ground on which to bury dead animals, presented their report, submitting an ordinance appropriating the amount claimed. On motion, the report was laid over to come up with the ordinance under the head of new business. Aldermen Lawless and Rosengren entered the Council Chamber. Fire Commissioners The Mayor laid before the Council the report of the Fire Commisreport on Pet. N. Austin sioners, on the petition of North Austin Fire Company, No 6, which Fire Co. No. 6. was read, and on motion, the same was recommitted to the Board of Fire Commissioners. Ord. amending certain The Mayor laid before the Council an ordinance amending sections of an ordinance certain sections of an ordinance entitled "An ordinance prohibproviding for management iting for the management and operation of the Water Works, Electric & operation of W & L Plant Light and Power Plants of the City of Austin. on 2nd reading. The ordinance was read second time, and a motion made to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on its third reading was lost by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Fischer, Borth, Lawless, Nitschke, Platt, Robertdran, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Tobin and Zilker 11. Nays Aldermen Death, Glass, Haynes, Powell, Redd, Rosengren, Schneider and Townsend. 8. Ord. appropriating the By Alderman Tobin, An ordinance appropriating the sum of $500. sum of $3,500, to pay operating out of the Earnings Fund to pay operating expenses of the Water expenses of W & L Plant. and Light Plants and expense of placing the Plant in operation. The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Death, Fischer, Glass, Borth, Haynes, Lawless, Nitschke, Platt, Powell, Redd, Robertdran, Rosengren Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Tobin, Townsend and Zilker 18. Nays Aldermen [illegible] 1 By Ald. [illegible] An ordinance appropriating the sum of $[illegible] to pay water [illegible] [illegible]. [illegible] moved [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] --- Page break --- 459 Yeas Aldermen Beary, Fischer, Gorth Haynes, Lawless, Kitschner, Platt, Powell, Redd, Robertdeau, Rosengren, Schneider, Stilley, Stumpf, Taylor, Tobin, Townsend and Zilken 18 Nays Alderman Glass 1. On motion Alderman Rosengren was excused from further attendance at this session of the Council. Pet. of Mrs. Fannie Z. Huddle By Alderman Townsend, Petition of Mrs. Fannie Z. Huddle, asking damages &c [illegible] asking damages to land caused by the building of the dam. Alderman Stitschke moved that the claim be tabled. Alderman Schneider offered as a substitute that the claim be referred to the committee on Claims and Accounts, which motion prevailed. Pet. of E.S. Hughes asking Alderman Lawless, by request, asked permission to reintroduce damages to Stock & Sand re- the proposition of Mr. E.S. Hughes to compromise suit for damintroduced by permission ages caused by the Levee. on motion referred to Com. Alderman Stitschke moved that the proposition be referred on Claims & Accounts, City to the Committee on Claims and Accounts, the City Attorney and Attorney & Special Com. a special committee of three. Adopted. of 3. Supt. of W.L. Plant instructed Alderman Stitschke moved that the Superintendent of Water to exchange fans now in use, and Light Plant be instructed to exchange the fans now in for noiseless ceiling fans Council Chamber for noiseless ceiling fans. Adopted. On motion of Alderman Fischer the Council adjourned. Jno. B. Johnson City Clerk.