620 Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the City Council Austin Texas May 03, 1897. Hon. Lewis Hancock, Mayor, presiding. Roll called. Present, Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Haynes, Huhn, Lawless, Lynn, Maddox, Miller, Schneider, Platt, Powell, Redd, Rosenbaum, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, and Taylor. 17. Absent, Aldermen Belvin, Horton, Roberdeau, Townsend and Zilker. 5. Minutes adopted as recorded without reading. On motion of Alderman Maddox the minutes of the previous meeting were approved as recorded without reading. Petitions – Pet. of Mrs. Julia McMallay for certain Street work to be done. By the Mayor. Petition of Mrs. Julia McMallay, asking that certain work be done on Street near her residence. Read and referred to the Street Committee. Aldermen Townsend, Belvin and Roberdeau entered the Council Chamber. Pet. of E. F. B. Alley asking for allowance on taxes for 1896 for Ground Rent. Petition of E. F. B. Alley asking that the Council allow him credit on taxes for 1896 to the amount of $13.00, as rent of ground on which to bury dead Animals. On motion the petition was granted. Pet. of Citizens & tax payers of 11th Ward asking that D. Cargill be appointed an Police Force. By Alderman Redd. Petition of Citizens and Tax Payers of the 11th Ward, asking that D. Cargill, by appointed as a Policeman, and that he be assigned to duty in the 11th Ward. Read and referred to the Police Committee. Aldermen Horton and Zilker entered the Council Chamber. Pet. of Citizens of 11th Ward asking that a certain Street be opened. By Alderman Miller, Petition of Citizens of the 11th Ward asking that a certain Street be opened. Read and referred to the Street Committee. City Officers Reports. City Officers reports. The Mayor laid before the Council the monthly reports of City Officers. On motion, the reports were referred to their appropriate Committees except the report of the Treasurer, which was ordered read, and referred to the Finance Committee. The following is a synopsis of the reports: City Treasurer. By the City Treasurer. Balance on hand April 5th 1897 to the credit of General Fund $ 2937.75 Received during the month 2750.66 Total 5688.41 Disbursed 4418.42 Bal. on hand May 3rd 1897. 1269.99 Bal. on hand April 5th 1897 to the Credit of Int. Fund on Bonds issued prior to May 1st 1890. $ 2058.06 Received during the month 356.84 Total 2414.90 Bal. on hand May 3rd 1897 to the Credit of Int. Fund on Bonds issued Bal. on hand April 5th 1897 to the Credit of Entertainment Fund (Hot Bonds). $ 35.00 Received during the month 702.66 Total $ 737.73 --- Page break --- 62 F Total Int & Sinking Fund H & S Bonds forward 39757.73 " Disbursed during the month 22072.88 Bal. on hand May 3rd 1894 to credit of Int. Sinking Fund H & S Bonds $ 17684.85 Referred to the Finance Committee. By the Assessor and Collector. Assessor + Collector. " To Collections as follows: From General Revenue $ 4639.96 " Int & Sinking Fund H & S Bonds. 7938.66 " " on old Bonds. 756.84 " School Tax 2803.29 " Total. $ 16,138.75 City Clerk. Referred to the Finance Committee. By the City Clerk. Total amount of Warrants drawn against the General Fund $ 5416.60 " " " " " " Earnings " 2131.60 " " " " " " Int & Sink. Fund H & S Bonds 22,072.88 City Physician Referred to the Finance Committee. By the City Physician. Number of Patients in City Hospital April 1st 1894. 8 " " admitted to " during " 9. " " dismissed from " " 3. " " remaining in " May 1st " 14. " Visits to Paupers during April " 69. " Prescriptions " " " " 194. City Sexton Referred to Hospital Committee. By the City Sexton. Number of deaths during April 1894. 9. White 7. Colored 1. Mexican 1. Male 6. Female 3. City Marshal Referred to the Cemetery Committee. By the City Marshal. Total amount of fines assessed in the Recorder's Court $ 330.00 Paid in cash $99.00 Worked out 138.00 Carried over 93.00 Collected on back fines 13.00 Bond Fees 98.60 Total number of arrests made. 45 Referred to the Police Committee. Finance Com. report on Alderman Townsend for the Finance Committee presented, the purchase of new H.K. & S. Bonds for Sinking, report which was read and adopted: for Sinking Funds. Austin, Texas May 3rd 1894. So D. Conger & J.M. Hancock, Com., and Board of Aldermen. City of Austin. [illegible] / Finance Committee on Finance / --- Page break --- 622 that in accordance with your instructions, Mr. Mayor, we have purchased, for the Sinking Fund, for Water Works and Electric Light 5% Gold Bonds of the City of Austin, numbered as follows, viz: 357, 358, 656, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, paying therefor the sum of 2207.88, and said Bonds, are herewith presented, and we recommend that a Committee of three be appointed to examine and destroy the same in the presence of the Council. A. W. Townsend H. D. Shelley Thos. F. Taylor, Committee on Finance. Com. of 3 appointed to examine the Mayor appointed Aldermen Sinn, Fischer and Belvin, a Committee + destroy Bonds purchased for to examine and destroy bonds as provided for in the report of the Sinking Fund. Finance Committee. On motion the Council took a recess of 10 minutes. At the expiration of the recess the Council was called to order. The Special Committee appointed to examine and destroy the bonds, presented the following report which was read and ordered filed: Hon. Lewis Hancock, Mayor of the City of Austin: Sir: Your Special Committee appointed to count the twenty-two City of Austin Water Works & Electric Light 5% Gold Bonds, beg to report, that we have received and counted twenty-two bonds as above described, numbered as follows, to wit: 357, 358, 359, 658, 654, 655, 656, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673. bonds to which are attached coupons due July 1st 1897, and we have burned the same in the presence of the Council. Respectfully submitted, Aldermen Sinn, Francis Fischer, A. M. Belvin 654, 655, 656, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673. have burned the same in the presence of the Council. The Mayor laid before the Council, the monthly report of the Supt. of Streets, which was read and ordered filed. Com. on Claims & Accts report Aldermen Platt, for the Committee on Claims and Accounts, on fact of O.K. Jobe. to whom was referred the petition of O.K. Jobe, presented the following report which was read and adopted: Hon. the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen: Gentlemen: Your Committee to whom was referred the petition of O.K. Jobe, asking that the item of $10,000.00 for notes and credits be stricken from his assessment, or remit to him the assessed tax thereon; after carefully considering the same beg, leave to report, that we find the City Council, has no authority, or reason for granting the petition, we therefore recommend that the petition be not granted. Respectfully, G. P. Platt H. [illegible] E. C. [illegible] --- Page break --- Mayor’s Message The Mayor then laid before the Council the following message: Mayor’s Office, Austin, Texas May 3, 1897. To the Hon. City Council, Gentlemen: I have the honor to call your attention to the propriety of making some provision for the care of the City teams while they are idle. At present they have to be fed at considerable expense to the City, though they are doing nothing. This is a useless expense. I recommend that by resolution you authorize the Superintendent of Streets to furlough all of the teams, or at least all except one or two, when not in use. I further recommend that you make it the duty of the Superintendent of Streets to take charge of the City Prisoners and to work them on the Streets, in conjunction with the one or two City teams above referred to. I would further call your attention to the dangerous condition of the river bridge at the foot of the Avenue, and remind you that nothing has been done toward determining the respective duties of the City and County, and that meanwhile the City’s interests are endangered. The City Engineer constantly examines it and makes such repairs as seem of immediate necessity, but such piecemeal work is far from meeting the requirements of the case. I would further call your attention to the accompanying letter from the Attorneys of O. L. Bartholomew, Receiver. Respectfully, Lewis Hancock, Mayor. Austin Texas Apr. 19, 1897. Letter from Attorneys for E. L. Bartholomew, Receiver to Mayor Hancock Hon. Lewis Hancock, Mayor, of the City of Austin, Austin, Texas. Dear Sir: As Attys for E. L. Bartholomew, Receiver &c. against Jno. McDonald, Mayor &c., he being drs 7780 in the Circuit Ct. of the U.S. Western District of Texas, at Austin, for mandamus &c., we respectfully call your attention to the judgment rendered in said case, on the 10th day of March, 1896. We further call your attention to the fact that the mandate of the Court in said case, has not been complied with. The Court convenes on the 1st Monday in July coming. While we wish to make no application for orders in said case, against the defendants therein, yet, if said writ of mandamus has not been obeyed, in its plain spirit, intent and purpose, by the time court convenes, there will be nothing left for us to do except to appeal to the Court, to enforce its plain and strict judgment in the premises. By such means as we may now have, and hereafter acquire, We give you and all other defendants, due and formal notice that, we shall upon said 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, inst. of this new notice, or --- Page break --- 624 Very respectfully, McCormick & Spence, and Hatton, Hill Act of for E.L. Bartholomew, Receiver &c Nonfinished Business Ord. Amending Art. 327 of Revised The Mayor Civil Ord. read 2d time. 327 of the The ordinance amending Article of the City of Austin. Alderman Fischer moved to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on its third reading. Laid over till next regular Alderman Maddox moved as a substitute that the ordinance lie meeting over until the next regular meeting which motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas, Aldermen Beaty, Kuhn, Maddox, Miller, Platt, Redd, Roberdeau, Schneider, Shelley, Saylor, Townsend and Zilker 12. Nays, Aldermen Belvin, Fischer, Haynes, Horton, Lawless, Linn, Nitschke, Powell, Rosengren and Stumpf. 10. Ord. appropriating the $100.00 to pay The Mayor and Aldermen laid before the Council an ordinance appropriating Drivers & labor, read 2d time. $100.00 to pay Drivers and Labor for the Month of May 1897. The ordinance was read a second time. Alderman Belvin offered the following: an amendment which was adopted: "Provided this appropriation or so much thereof as may be necessary shall be used to place Congress Avenue in a first class condition." Alderman Linn moved to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on its third reading, which motion was lost by the following vote: Yeas, Aldermen Beaty, Belvin, Kuhn, Linn, Maddox, Miller, Powell, Redd, Schneider, Stumpf, and Townsend 9. Nays, Aldermen Fischer, Haynes, Horton, Lawless, Nitschke, Platt, Roberdeau, Rosengren, Shelley, Saylor and Zilker. 11. New Business. Resolution to amend rule 8 of the By Alderman Linn A resolution to amend rule 8 of the rules rules of the City Council. of the City Council. Read, and laid over for a month. Ord. appropriating $20.75 to pay By Alderman Zilker. An ordinance appropriating $20.75 to pay Extra Extra Street Labor. Street Labor. The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following vote: Yeas, Aldermen Beaty, Belvin, Fischer, Haynes, Horton, Kuhn, Lawless, Miller, Nitschke, Powell, Redd, Roberdeau, Rosengren, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Saylor, Townsend and Zilker 19. Nays, Aldermen Linn, Maddox and Platt 3. By Alderman Townsend. An ordinance appropriating the sum of $10.00 to pay salaries of Aldermen for the month of April 1897. The ordinance was read first time, and the rules suspended and the ordinance placed upon its second reading by the following vote: Yeas, Aldermen Beaty, Belvin, Fischer, Haynes, Horton, Kuhn, Linn, Miller, Nitschke, Powell, Roberdeau, Rosengren, Schneider, Stumpf Saylor and Townsend 16. --- Page break --- 625 Nays Aldermen Lawless, Maddox, Platt, Redd, Shelley and Zilker 6. The ordinance was then read a second time. Ord appropriating $1760.⁰⁰ pay Salaries of Aldermen from April 1st to Nov. 30 1897 Alderman Linn, offered as a substitute, an ordinance appropriating the sum of $1760.⁰⁰ to pay Salaries of Aldermen from April 1st 1897 to Nov. 30th 1897. The substitute was adopted and the ordinance passed under suspension of the rule by the following vote: Yeas, Aldermen Beaty, Belvin, Fischer, Haynes, Horton, Kuhn, Linn, Miller, Nitschke, Cowell, Roberdreau, Rosengren, Schneider, Stumpf, Taylor and Townsend. 16. Nays Aldermen Lawless, Maddox, Platt, Redd, Shelley and Zilker 6. By Alderman Townsend An ordinance appropriating the sum of $3065.56 to pay Salaries of Officers and employees for the month of May. The ordinance was read first time, and on motion the rule was suspended and the ordinance placed on its second reading by the following vote: Yeas, Aldermen Beaty, Belvin, Fischer, Haynes, Horton, Kuhn, Lawless, Linn, Miller, Nitschke, Cowell, Roberdreau, Rosengren, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Townsend and Zilker 20. Nays Aldermen Maddox and Platt 2. The ordinance was read second time. Ord. Appropriating $20,838.⁰⁰ to pay Salaries of Officers & employees from May 1st to Nov. 30th 1897. Alderman Linn offered as a substitute, an ordinance appropriating the sum of $20,838.⁰⁰ to pay Salaries of Officers and employees from May 1st 1897 to Nov. 30th 1897. The substitute was adopted by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Beaty, Belvin, Fischer, Haynes, Horton, Linn, Maddox, Miller, Nitschke, Platt, Cowell, Roberdreau, Rosengren, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor and Townsend. 18. Nays Aldermen Kuhn, Lawless, Redd and Zilker 4. Alderman Belvin was excused from further attendance at this session of the Council. The ordinance was then passed under suspension of the rule by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Haynes, Horton, Kuhn, Linn, Miller, Nitschke, Cowell, Roberdreau, Rosengren, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor and Townsend. 16. Nays Aldermen Lawless, Maddox, Platt, Redd and Zilker 5. Alderman Taylor offered the following resolution, which was read and adopted. Resolution directing Supt. of Streets to work City Prisoners. Be it resolved, by the City Council of the City of Austin, that the Superintendent of Streets be, and he is hereby authorized and directed to have in his charge daily all able bodied male prisoners, and work them on the Streets and Alleys of the City. Alderman Horton offered the following resolution. Resolution directing Supt. of Streets to allow tax-payers to use City Teams. Be it resolved, that the Street Superintendent be, and is instructed to allow any tax payer, to use the City teams on the Streets & Alleys. Provided, said tax payers to pay for the drivers of said teams. All work to be done under the supervision of the Street Superintendent. --- Page break --- 626 A motion to lay the resolution on the table, was made and lost. Alderman Maddox moved to refer the resolution to the Street Committee and the City Attorney, which motion prevailed. Ord. appropriating $40°° to build By Alderman Linn, An ordinance appropriating the sum of $40°° to build Culvert Cor. 17th & San Antonio Sts. a culvert on W. 17th and San Antonio Streets Read and on motion referred to the Street Committee. Ord. appropriating $200°° to pay By Alderman Schneider, An ordinance appropriating the sum of $200.00 Extra Street work. Read 1st time for extra street work. The ordinance was read first time. Alderman Towell offered the following resolution: Resolution directing that all City Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Rams except &c by placing in pasture, that That all City Rams except &, shall be placed in pasture, until at an expense of not more than needed by the City. $1.00 per head. Alderman Zilker moved to amend the resolution by adding "that not more than $1.00 per month per head, be paid for pasturage!" The amendment was adopted, and the resolution as amended was then adopted by the following vote: Yeas, Aldermen Beaty, Haynes, Kuhn, Lawless, Miller, Towell, Redd, Rosengrant, Shelley and Zilker 11. Nays, Aldermen Fischer, Horton, Linn, Maddox, Nitschke, Cloth, Schneider, Stumph & Townsend 10. On motion of Alderman Lawless, the Council adjourned. Geo. O. Johnson City Clerk.