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Austin: Prohibition Refunds and Barton Springs Fight

Monday, March 11, 1918 special called
  • Austin approved over $2,200 in refunds for liquor dealers and an additional $435 for malt liquor dealers, compensating them for unearned license fees after a local prohibition election forced them out of business.
  • A committee representing local labor organizations vocally protested the proposed private leasing of Barton Springs, asserting that the publicly owned bathing resort should be operated for the benefit of all citizens.
  • The city began addressing the financial impacts of its newly enacted prohibition, ensuring businesses affected by the ban received compensation for unused licenses.

Full Transcript

198 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Austin, Texas, March 11, 1918. The Council was called to order by the Mayor: Present, Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony and Powell, 3; absent, Councilmen Bartholomew and Haynes, 2. The Mayor offered the following Resolution: RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS: That the sum of Two Thousand Two Hundred and Twelve Dollars Refund of Liquor Dealers License and Eighty-eight Cents ($2,212.88) be and the same is hereby appropriated out of the General Contingent Fund of the City of Austin, Texas, to be applied to the payment of the unearned part of the liquor dealers' licenses of liquor dealers doing business in the City of Austin, Texas, who have been put out of business by reason of the recent prohibition election voted in this city. A detailed statement of the names of the parties entitled to these refunds, the dates of the expiration of their licenses, the number of days that said licenses were unused and the amounts due to each is attached hereto and made the basis of this appropriation. This Resolution was adopted by the following vote: YeasMayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony and Powell, 3; Councilmen Bartholomew and Haynes being absent. APPROVED, March 9, 1918: A. P. Wooldridge, Mayor. The Mayor offered the following Resolution: RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS: That the sum of Four Hundred Thirty-five Dollars and FortyRefund of Malt Liquor dealers licenses four Cents ($435.44) be and the same is hereby appropriated out of the General Contingent Fund of the City of Austin, Texas, as a refund to the dealers in malt liquors who have been put out of business by reason of the prohibition election recently held in this community. The names of the parties to whom these refunds are due, the dates of the expiration of their licenses, the number of days the several licenses were unused, and the amounts of the refunds going to each is attached hereto and made the basis of this resolution. This Resolution was adopted by the same vote of 3 yeas. APPROVED, March 9, 1918: A. P. Wooldridge, Mayor. The Council then adjourned. V.S. Martin City Clerk SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Austin, Texas, March 11, 1918. The Council met with all members present except Councilman Haynes. Protest Lease of Barton Springs A committee composed of Tom Bell, Martin Broderick, Sam Hill and T. C. Jennings, representing local labor bodies, appeared before the Council to protest against the leasing of Barton Springs as a bathing resort to a private party. They held that a place publicly owned should be publicly operated for the benefit of all the people. Mr. Bartholomew explained that, in general outline, --- Page break --- Automatic Stream Gaging Station University Baptist Church – Taxes V. E. Matin C. J. Clerc