696 Minutes of a Called Meeting of the City Council. Austin, Texas Oct. 12th 1897 10 a.m Hon. Lewis Hancock, Mayor, Presiding. The following call was read: Mayor's Office. Austin, Texas, October 12th 1897. Call for Special Meeting I hereby call a special meeting of the City Council, to meet in the Council Chamber this day, at 10 o'clock a.m. for the purpose of considering the establishment of quarantine against places infected with yellow fever. Lewis Hancock, Mayor. Austin, Texas/ Oct. 12th 1897. 9:10 a.m. I hereby certify, that the following named Aldermen have been served with the above call by having it read to each of them in person, viz: Beaty, Delvin, Fischer, Haynes, Horton, Kuhn, Lawless, Maddon, Miller, Nitschke, Platt, Redd, Robertdrau, Rosengten, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Townsend and Zilver; and that Alderman Linn has been served by having a true copy left at his last known place of business, and Alderman Powell has been served by having a true copy left at his place of business, the two latter named being out of the City. James E. Lucy, City Marshal [per. M?] Roll called Present, Aldermen Beaty, Horton, Kuhn, Lawless, Maddon, Platt, Robertdran, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor and Townsend, 11. Absent, Aldermen Delvin, Fischer, Haynes, Linn, Miller, Nitschke, Powell, Redd, Rosengren, Schneider and Zilver 11. On motion, the Council took a recess of 15 minutes. At the expiration of the recess the Council was called to order. Roll called: Present, Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Horton, Kuhn, Lawless, Maddon, Nitschke, Platt, Robertdrau, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor and Townsend 13. Absent, Aldermen Delvin, Haynes, Linn, Miller, Powell, Redd, Rosengren, Schneider and Zilver 9. On motion, Alderman Haynes, was excused from attendance at this session of the Council on account of sickness. Mayor's Special Message The Mayor then laid before the Council the following message: Mayor's Office. Austin, Texas, October 12th 1897. To the Honorable City Council: Gentlemen:- Yellow fever having been officially declared to exist in several cities of Texas, I have deemed it my duty to call you together in special session to take such steps as you may see proper to lessen the health of the community. The Commissioners Court of Travis County has already authorized the County Physician, to take such action as he may deem necessary for co-operation with the City, with to [illegible] the entrance. I do not think we are in the highest danger, and in any circumstances, it is not our own epidemic, but a sudden absence of quarantine would certainly mean we [illegible] from infected points --- Page break --- 697 whose presence in our midst would serve to terrify our People, and those of the surrounding country. I therefore recommend that quarantine be established in conjunction with the County authorities, and herewith lay before you an Ordinance providing for such quarantine. Respectfully, Lewis Hancock, Mayor. The Mayor then laid before the Council, an ordinance declaring quarantine against Galveston, Houston and all other places infected with yellow fever, etc. The Ordinance was read first time. Alderman Fischer moved to suspend the rule and place the ordinance on the second reading. As a substitute for the motion of Alderman Fischer, Alderman Taylor offered the following resolution: Resolution inviting the "Resolved, That the Practicing Physicians of the City are hereby Physicians of the City to respectfully invited to meet in conference with the City Council meet in conference with the this (Tuesday) evening at 5 o'clock to consider the establishment of City Council. quarantine against localities infected with yellow fever." Alderman Schneider entered the Council Chamber. Alderman Platt moved to lay the resolution on the table. Lost. The resolution was then adopted, by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Norton, Smith, Lawless, Maddox, Stumpf, Taylor Townsend and the Mayor 8. Nays Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Nitschke, Platt, Roberdeau, Schneider and Shelley 7. Alderman Taylor moved that the Council adjourn until 5 o'clock p.m. today, and that the Physicians of the City be notified of the request contained in the resolution just adopted by the Council, which motion prevailed, by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Norton, Kuhn, Lawless, Maddox, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor and Townsend 9. Nays, Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Nitschke, Platt and Roberdeau 5 Jno. O. Johnson City Clerk. --- Page break --- 698 Minutes of an adjourned called Meeting of the City Council. Austin Texas, Oct. 12th 1897, 5 p.m. The Council was called to order by His Honor, Mayor Hancock, [illegible] called. Present, Aldermen Horton, Kuhn, Lawless, Maddox, Platt, Roberdeau, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor and Townsend 10 Absent Aldermen Cleaty, Delvin, Fischer, Haynes, Linn, Miller, Nitschne, Powell, Redd, Rosengren, Schneider and Zilker 12. On motion the Council took a recess of 15 minutes. Aldermen Nitschke Redd and Rosengren entered the Council Chamber. At the expiration of the recess the Council was called to order, and the Mayor directed the Clerk to read the resolution adopted at the morning session, requesting the Physicians of the City to meet the Council in consultation on the subject of quarantining against yellow fever, and suggested that the Council would be glad to hear from Physicians present on the subject. Alderman Maddox suggested that perhaps the Physicians would prefer to consult among themselves before addressing the Council, and moved that the Council have a recess of ten minutes to allow them to consult, which motion prevailed. After consultation the Physicians again entered the hall, and the Council was called to order. Aldermen Cleaty and Schneider entered the Council Chamber. Dr. T. Connell for the Physicians, handed in the following, which was read: In view of the assurances of the State Health Officer that yellow fever exists in Galveston and Houston, and he has accordingly put these places in quarantine, Resolved, That it is the part of wisdom to institute a strict quarantine against those Cities and against all other places that may become infected. Resolved, That a proclamation be issued warning all persons coming from either of the places to not attempt to come to Austin. Alderman Maddox, for the Council, thanked the Physicians for their attendance at the consultation, and the Mayor also thanked them personally. After some discussion of the matter, Alderman Roberdeau moved to suspend the rules and place the ordinance introduced at the morning session on its second reading, which motion was lost by the following vote: Yeas, Aldermen Cleaty, Kuhn, Lawless, Maddox, Redd, Roberdeau, Rosengren, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor and Townsend 11. Nays Aldermen Horton, Nitschke, Platt and Schneider 4. Alderman Nitschke moved to adjourn. Alderman Shelley moved as a substitute that the Council adjourn until 8 o'clock p.m. Wednesday, October 13th [illegible]. The substitute was adopted by the following vote: Yeas, Aldermen Delvin, Lawless, Maddox, Redd, Roberdeau, Rosengren, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor and Townsend 10 Nays Aldermen Cleaty, Horton, Nitschke, Platt, and Schneider 5. --- Page break --- The motion to adjourn until 8 o'clock p.m, October 13th 1897 was then adopted. Jno. O. Johnson City Clerk. --- Page break --- 700 Adjourned Called Meeting of the City Council. Austin Texas Oct. 13th 1897. Hon. Lewis Hancock Mayor presiding. Roll called. Present Aldermen Deaty, Lawless Maddox, Platt, Robertson, Rosengren, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf and Taylor. 10. Absent Aldermen Delony, Fischer, Haynes, Horton, Kuhn, Linn, Miller, Nitschke, Powell, Redd, Townsend and [illegible] 12. Alderman Robertson moved that the Marshal be directed to bring in the absentees. Carried. Aldermen Fischer Kuhn Miller and Redd entered the Council Chamber Alderman Taylor suggested that there were present some of the Physicians of the City who desired to address the Council, and moved that they be given an opportunity to do so, which motion prevailed. Drs. Ale. Smith, Watt and City Physician Graves then addressed the Council, and a communication from Dr. J. M. Litten was read. The Mayor then laid before the Council an ordinance establishing quarantine &c. The ordinance was read the second time. Alderman Platt presented a protest against the passage of the ordinance signed by a number of Citizens. Alderman Taylor offered the following as a substitute for the ordinance: Resolved, That full and complete authority is hereby vested in the Mayor of the City of Austin to declare quarantine against any locality infected with yellow fever, at any time in his judgement he may deem it advisable. The substitute was lost by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Rosengren and Taylor 2. Nays Aldermen Deaty, Fischer, Kuhn, Lawless, Maddox, Miller, Platt, Redd, Robertson, Schneider, Shelley and Stumpf 12. The Mayor then laid before the Council the following amendment: Section 4. The provisions of this ordinance shall be enforced when and so long as in the judgement of the Board of health, it may be deemed necessary. The amendment was adopted by the following vote: Yeas, Aldermen Deaty, Kuhn, Lawless, Maddox, Miller, Platt, Redd, Robertson, Rosengren, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, and Taylor 13. Nays Alderman Fischer 1. Alderman Maddox moved to amend by inserting after the word Houston, the words San Antonio. Carried. Alderman Maddox moved to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on its third reading. Alderman Robertson moved a rise of the Council, which was seconded. Roll called. Present Aldermen Delony, Haynes, Horton, Linn, Nitschke, Powell, Townsend and [illegible] 8. Alderman Fischer moved to business the rise, which motion prevailed. Alderman Maddox moved a call of the Council, which was seconded. Roll called. Present Aldermen Delony, Haynes, Horton, Linn [illegible] and Powell, --- Page break --- Townsend and Zilner 8. Alderman Schneider moved that the absentees be excused, which motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Deuty, Fischer, Lawless, Miller, Platt, Redd, Rosengren, Schneider, Shelley and Taylor 10. Nays Aldermen Kuhn, Maddox, Roberdeau and Stumpf 4. Alderman Maddox moved that the Council adjourn until 8 o'clock p.m., October 14, 1897, which motion was lost by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Kuhn, Maddox, Roberdeau, Rosengren, Shelley & Stumpf 6. Nays Aldermen Deuty, Fischer, Lawless, Miller, Platt, Redd, Schneider and Taylor 8. Alderman Schneider moved that the ordinance be laid on the table, which motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Deuty, Fischer, Lawless, Miller, Platt, Redd, Schneider and Taylor 8. Nays Aldermen Kuhn, Maddox, Roberdeau, Rosengren, Shelley and Stumpf 6. On motion the Council adjourned. Jno. O. Johnson City Clerk.