Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the City Council. Austin, Texas Oct. 1st 1898. Hon. Jno. D. McCall, Mayor presiding. Roll Called. Present. Aldermen Artyz, Fischer, Haynes,Hotton, Kuhn, Maddox, McLemore, Morris, Titschner, Pratt, Powell, Rosingten, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Townsend and Zilker 18. Absent. Aldermen Beatty, Miller, Rudd and Roberteau. 4. Minutes approved The minutes of the last meeting were approved as recorded without reading. Petitions, Memorials, etc. Citizens pet to Alderman McLemore stated that a petition had been handed him requesting remove Stand Pipe the removal of the stand pipe at the corner of Trinity and 6th Street, but that he from Cor. 6th Trinity St had left said petition at his office. He moved that the City Engineer be directed to remove the stand pipe at corner of 6th and Trinity streets as requested by the petitioners, which motion prevailed. Aldermen Miller and Rudd entered the Council Chamber. Pet of Colorado Hose By Alderman Stumpf. Petition of Colorado Hose Co. asking permission to Co to Change their alter and change their Hose Carriage into a Hose Wagon; the expense of the Hose Cart to Hose Wagon change to be borne by the Company. On motion the petition was granted. Com from Geo Brush A communication from Geo. A. Brush asking the Council to appoint a Comasking for appointment mittee to test the pumps and filtering ditches at the new Tower Station was of Comtt to test Pumps read, and the Mayor was requested to appoint a Committee for that purpose. The following Comtt The Mayor appointed as such Committee, Aldermen Zilker, Maddox, McLemore Crocker and Fischer. Pet of H.M. Davis By Alderman Zilker. Petition of H. M. Davis for permission to erect an Iron to erect Iron Frame Bldg frame building on Lot 3 Block 45. Read, and on motion the petition was granted. Reports of Standing Committees. Street Comtt repts Alderman Titschner for the Street Committee, presented the following reports: on several petitions On the petition of Citizens to have State Street worked and repaired, the Committee report that owing to the depleted condition of the City finances the improvements cannot be made at present. On the petition of Mrs. Lucy L. Davis proposing to sell the City certain ground for Street purposes, the Committee report that they do not deem it advisable for the City to purchase said ground at the present time. On the petition of Citizens to have Ottayac Street opened, the Committee report that under an opinion of the City Attorney which they present, that they do not consider that they have any jurisdiction in the matter. On the petition of Citizens on East 4th Street, asking the opening of said 4th Street in OutLot 8 Div. O, report that said street cannot be opened without the purchase of a part of the ground; they therefore cannot recommend the granting of the petition at the present time. On motion the reports of the Committee were adopted. Fin Comtt repts on Alderman Morris for the Finance Committee to whom was referred the Tax Ordinance & message of the Mayor in regard to Tax levy for the year 1898, presented a report [illegible] submitting its evidence on the subject and recommending its adoption. On motion the whole was laid over to cover the with the ordinance under the head of new business. Alderman [illegible] for the Police Committee to whom was referred the report of the --- Page break --- 84 Police Court report of the City Marshal for the month of September 1898, presented a report stating of City Marshal's rpt that the reports had been examined and found correct. The report was adopted. for Sept. 1898 Unfinished Business. Alderman Beaty, entered the Council Chamber. Ord. to prevent the dis- The Mayor laid before the Council, an ordinance to prevent the disturbance turbance of Public Wor- of Public worship by the rapid driving of vehicles. ship 2nd time The ordinance was read the second time, and a motion made to suspend the rule and place the ordinance on its third reading, which was lost by the following vote: Yeas. Aldermen Beaty, Calvin Osbourn, Maddox, McLendon, Miller, Platt, Townsend and Zilner. 8. Nays Aldermen Fischer, Haynes, Horton, Kuhn, Morris, Nitschke, Powell, Rudd, Rosengarten, Shelley, Stubbs, and Taylor. 12. Consideration of rept. Alderman Platt moved that the Council take up and consider the report of Claims Accts Comtt of the Claims and Accounts Committee upon the petition of Mr. R.H. Yarrington on pet. of Alderman for asking a correction in his assessment for taxes for 1897, which report was correction of Asst. presented to the Council at the last meeting. The motion prevailed. of Taxes for 1897 The report and letters relating to the matter were read. Aldermen McLenmore and Zilner were excused from further attendance at this session of the Council. Alderman Horton moved that Assessor and Collector Skerzing be requested to make a statement regarding the petition of Mr. Yarrington which motion Assessor Collector prevailed. The City Attorney also made a statement in regard to the petition authorized & directed to after which, Alderman Osbourn moved that the Assessor and Collector be correct Asst. of R.H. authorized and directed, to correct the assessment of Mr. Yarrington for Yarrington for 1897, as requested in his petition, and that he be allowed credit for the Petition of A. Robinson amount on final settlement of his account for that year, which motion prevailed to compromise certain by Alderman Beaty. Communication from A. Robinson, proposing comproback taxes mise of certain back taxes on the property known as the Old Davis place. Read and referred to the Claims and Accounts Committee. New Business. Mayor's Veto Message The Mayor laid before the Council the following veto message: Pertaining items in the Mayor's Office, Approved Accts. Oct. Austin, Texas, October 13th 1898. Passed Oct. 3rd 1898 To the Hon. City Council, of the City of Austin. Gentlemen:- At the last regular meeting of your Honorable body, an ordinance appropriating the sum of $106.08 to pay approved accounts was passed, in which appeared the following items: Statesman Pub. Co. for Newspaper Printing $86.40 Tribune Pub. Co. " " " 19.68 I wish to inform your Honorable body, that I have not approved the above items, for the following reasons: I deem the above prices excessive, for the reason, that the City has a contract for City printing, with the Evening News, therefore it seems to me, that all printing done for the City, should be at the contract price. Respectfully, Jno. D. McCall, Mayor. --- Page break --- 75 Mayor's Veto sustained. The motion was then put, Shall the ordinance pass not withstanding the objections of the Mayor, and the motion took by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Crooner, Fischer, Haynes, Kuhn, Maddox, Miller, Morris, Platt, Powell, Redd, Rosengren, Shelley, Taylor and Townsend 14. Nays Aldermen Beaty, Delvin, Horton, Kitschke and Stumpf 5. Ord. Appt'g $681.48 to By Alderman Morris. An ordinance appropriating the sum of $681.48 to pay pay Approved Accts. approved accounts. Alderman Delvin was excused from further attendance at this session of the Council. The ordinance was passed, under suspension of the rules by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Beaty, Crooner, Fischer, Haynes, Horton, Kuhn, Maddox, Miller, Morris Kitschke, Platt, Powell, Redd, Rosengren, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor and Townsend 18. Nays Stone. Ord. Appt'g $78.81 to By Alderman Morris. An ordinance appropriating the sum of $78.81 to pay approved pay Approved Accts. accounts Street Department. Street Dept. The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules, by the following vote. Yeas Aldermen Beaty, Crooner Fischer, Haynes, Horton, Kuhn, Maddox, Miller, Morris, Kitschke, Platt, Powell, Redd, Rosengren, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor and Townsend 18. Nays Stone. Resolution in Alderman Haynes offered the following resolution, which was read and adopted: regard to having Resolved, by the City Council of the City of Austin, That the Mayor be requested the Streets sprinkled to appoint a Committee, consisting of the Water and Light Committee and the Mayor, by Electric Car to confer with the managers of the Rapid Transit Railway Co., and if possible, to Sprinklers. obtain some proposition from them looking to the operating of a modern Electric Street sprinkler over their line. Also as to the advisability of the City making a test of sprinkling streets by hose from the fire hydrants, as is now being done by San Antonio, and report to the Council. Ord. Appt'g $80.00 to By Alderman Powell. An ordinance appropriating the sum of $80.00 to pay pay Salary of Dog Catcher the Salary of one Dog Catcher, for the months of Sept. and Oct. 1898. The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Beaty, Crooner, Fischer, Haynes, Horton, Kuhn, Maddox, Miller, Morris, Kitschke, Platt, Powell, Redd, Rosengren, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor and Townsend 18. Nays Stone. Ord. Levying By Alderman Morris. An ordinance levying taxes for the year 1898. taxes for year 1898 The ordinance was read first time. Alderman Platt moved that further consideration be postponed until the next regular meeting, and that it be published in full in the minutes, which motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Beaty, Crooner, Fischer, Haynes, Horton, Kuhn, Maddox, Miller, Platt, Redd and Rosengren 11. Nays Aldermen Morris, Kitschke, Powell, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor & Townsend 7. The following is the ordinance: Tax Ord. 1898 An Ordinance Levying Taxes for the year 1898. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Austin: Section 1. That there is hereby levied, and shall be collected by the City of Austin, the following Taxes for the year 1898, to-wit: First. [illegible] Sixty-eight (68) cents on each one hundred dollars worth of property, situated within the corporate limits of said City and main- --- Page break --- 76 Tax Ordinance for Taxable by law for State and County purposes, said Tax to be used for the current 1893 expenses and general improvements of the City of Austin, and its property, and to pay one third of a Judgement and interest in favor of the Austin Water Light & Power Company. Second. A Tax of Sixty cents on each one hundred dollars worth of property situated within the Corporate limits of said City, and made taxable by law for State & County purposes for the purpose of paying interest & Sinking fund on the Water Works and Electric Light Bonds heretofore issued by the City of Austin. Third. A Tax of Seven cents on each one hundred dollars worth of property made taxable by law for State & County purposes situated within the Corporate limits of the City of Austin, as the same existed and were defined prior to the time An Act of the Legislature of the State of Texas entitled "An act to incorporate the City of Austin, to grant it a new Charter and extend its boundaries" passed in the House April 1st 1891, and in the Senate April 3rd 1891, Such Tax shall be used to pay Interest and Sinking Fund on the valid Bonds of the City of Austin issued prior to May 1st 1890, and refunding Bonds issued since that date, amounting in the aggregate to One hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. Fourth a Tax of Thirty-three and one third cents on each One hundred dollars worth of property situated within the Corporate limits of the City of Austin and made taxable by law for State and County purposes for the maintenance and support of the Public free Schools of the City of Austin. Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. On motion the Council adjourned Jno. S. Johnson City Clerk.