Austin Hires Tax Collector for Back Taxes
• Special tax collection effort: City Council approved hiring C.H. Millen as special counsel to work with the City Attorney to collect unpaid taxes on intangible personal property (like stocks and bonds).
• Bond requirement: Council required Millen to post a surety company bond rather than a personal bond, ensuring financial protection for the city.
• Close vote: The ordinance passed 5-1, with only Alderman Glass voting against the measure.
• Quick approval process: Despite one alderman's attempt to delay the vote, the council suspended normal procedures and passed the ordinance on the same day it was introduced.
Full Transcript
Called meeting of the City Council Austin Texas July 14, 1899 6 Pm. Hon Jno D. McLeall Mayor presiding Role Called Present Aldermen Dunham Fischer Nolen &Trumph 4 Absent Alderman Glass Morris & Mortimer The following Call of the Council was read Austin Texas July 14th 1899 A Special Meeting of the City Council is hereby Called to meet in the Council Chamber City Hall at 6 oclock Pm this day to Consider a proposition made to Collect taxes due the City upon intangible property Jno D McLeall Joseph Trumph Mayor Milton Morris W A Glass.
I A F Sharp City Marshall do hereby Certify that the above Call has been served upon the following named Aldermen by being read to each of them in person towit Milton Morris Joseph Trumph P D Mortimer N. C. Nolen W.B. Dunham W A Glass a true Copy left at the residence of Francis Fischer being unable to find him. A F Sharp Marshall Jap Hurley Clerks Alderman Glass and Mortimer entered the Council Chamber. On Motion of Alderman Fischer Non C H Millen C H Millen of the firm of Fissh & Millen was permitted to address spo council the Council on the subject of the CallBy Alderman Fischer An ordinance employing C H. Millen as special Counsel to co-operate with the City Attorney in the Collection of back Taxes on intangible personal property The ordinance was read the first time & on motion the rule was suspended and the ordinance placed on its second reading by the following Vote Yeas Aldermen Dunham Fischer Mortimer Nolen & Trumph 5 Nays Alderman Glass — 1 The ordinance was read the second time Alderman Mortimer moved to refer to the ordinance Committee with instructions to report at the next Meeting of the Council to be held July 19th 1899, which Motion was lost. Alderman Glass moved that the bond provided for in the ordinance be made by a surety Company which Motion prevailedThe ordinance was then passed under a suspension of the rule by the following Vote. Yeas Aldermen Dunham Fischer Mortimer Nolen & Trumph 5. Nays Alderman Glass On motion the Council adjourned Jno D Johnson By Clerks