Austin's 1897 Tax Ordinance Approved
• Tax ordinance passed: The city council voted 13-2 to approve Austin's tax levy for 1897, with only two aldermen voting against it.
• Enforcement needed: The mayor had to order the city marshal to physically bring absent aldermen to the meeting to establish a quorum, showing attendance challenges.
• Close vote required: Half the council (11 of 22 members) initially failed to show up, nearly preventing the vote on this important financial measure.
Full Transcript
709
Minutes of a Called Meeting of the City Council. Austin, Texas Nov. 6th 1897.
Hon. Lewis Hancock, Mayor, presiding. The following call of the Council was read. Mayor's Office, Austin, Texas Nov. 6th 189..
Call for Special meeting I hereby call a special meeting of the City Council, to meet this of Council. day at 5 o'clock p.m., in the Council Chamber, at the City Ha.., for the purpose of further considering and acting upon an ordinance introduced on the 4th day of October, 1897, levying Taxes for the year 1897. Lewis Hancock, Mayor. Austin, Texas November 6th 189..
Marshal's certificate A p.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, Belvin, Fischer, Haynes, Horton, Lawless, Maddox, Miller, Nitschke, Platt, Powell, Redd, Roberdeau, Rosengren, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Townsend and Zilker and that Alderman Kuhn has been served by leaving a true copy at his residence, he being out of the City, and Alderman Linn has been served by leaving a true copy, at his last known place of residence in the City. James E. Lucy, City Marshal. Mc
Roll called. Present Aldermen Haynes, Horton, Maddox, Miller, Platt, Powell, Roberdeau, Rosengren, Shelley, Stumpf and Townsend 11. Absent Aldermen Beaty, Belvin, Fischer, Kuhn, Lawless, Linn, Nitschke, Redd, Schneider, Taylor and Zilker 11. No quorum. Alderman Townsend moved a call of the Council. Alderman Maddox moved as a substitute that the Marshal be directed to bring in the absenters. The substitute prevailed, and the Marshal was directed to bring in the absenters. Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Redd and Zilker entered the Council Chamber. The Mayor laid before the Council, an ordinance levying taxes for the year 1897.
Final Passage of Ordinance The ordinance was read third time and passed by the following vote: levying taxes for 1897. Yeas, Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Haynes, Horton, Maddox, Miller, Powell, Redd, Rosengren, Shelley, Stumpf, Townsend and Zilker 13. Nays, Aldermen Platt and Roberdeau. 2. On motion the Council adjourned. Jno. C. Johnson City Clerk