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City Charter Vote & Segregated Charity Services

Thursday, June 26, 1919 regular
  • An election was ordered for voters to decide on a proposed amendment to the City Charter, signaling a significant governance decision.
  • Bids were accepted for essential services for charity patients, with distinct contracts for "colored" and "white" individuals, revealing racial segregation in public welfare at the time.
  • A utility company's request to install poles along 29th Street was introduced and referred for further investigation.
  • Numerous contracts were awarded for routine city supplies for the second half of the year, covering items like printing, hardware, lumber, food, and laundry services.

Full Transcript

234 Company, to erect poles along 29th Street, was introduced, and upon motion of Councilman Haynes, was referred to Councilman Ward for his investigation. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 5; nays none. The Council then adjourned. J. D. Hornsby City Clerk. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Austin, Texas, June 26th, 1919. The Council was called to order by the Mayor. Roll call showed the following members present: Mayor Yett, Councilmen Alford, Graham, Haynes and Ward. The Minutes of the last meeting were read and upon motion of Councilman Haynes, duly seconded by Councilman Ward, the Minutes were adopted by the following vote: Mayor Yett, Councilmen Alford, Graham, Haynes and Ward; 5 ayes, no nays. The bids for supplies, etc., for the period from July 1st to Bids for Supplies for Dec. 31st, 1919 approved & read. December 31st, 1919, were opened and read. The bid of Rhamho & Woodard for hauling and furnishing coffins, etc., for colored charity patients was accepted by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Alford, Graham, Haynes and Ward; nays none. Councilman Haynes moved that the bid of the Statesman for printing be accepted. Motion carried by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Alford, Graham, Haynes and Ward. All other bids were referred to the different councilmen for them to determine which is the best bid. The Council then recessed. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Austin, Texas, June 28th, 1919. The Council was called to order by the Mayor. Roll call showed the following members present: Mayor Yett, Councilmen Alford, Graham, Haynes and Ward. All present. Ordinance re Ordering Election on Charter Amendment Mayor Yett introduced the following ordinance: AN ORDINANCE ORDERING AN ELECTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN. The Ordinance was read first time. On motion, the rule was suspended and said ordinance was passed to its second reading, by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Alford, Graham, Haynes and Ward, 5; Nays, none. The Ordinance was read the second time, and on motion, the rule was suspended, and said ordinance was passed to its third reading and final passage by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Alford, Graham, Haynes and Ward, 5; Nays, none. The Council then recessed. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Austin, Texas, June 30th, 1919. The Council was called to order by the Mayor. Roll call showed --- Page break --- the following members present: Mayor Yett, Councilmen Alford, Graham, Haynes and Ward. All present. The following bids for supplies for city, for period of six months from July 1st, 1919, to December 31, 1919, were read: Bids Awarded. S. E. Rosengren, Undertaker's Supplies for white charity patients; Tips Foundry and Machine Company, Castings; Austin Builders and Supply Company, Cement; W. H. Richardson, Hardware; Kuntz-Sternenberg Lumber Company, Lumber; Robinson Bros., Feed (except corn) Spalding Bros., Drugs and Prescriptions; J. C. Bryant's Creamery, Sweet Milk, Buttermilk and Butter; Wm. Wellmer, Groceries; Wm. Ulit, Meat; Austin Laundry and Dry Cleaning Company, Laundry. The above bids were awarded by a vote of 5 ayes; no nays. The Council then adjourned. A. P. Hornsby, City Clerk. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Austin, Texas, July 3rd, 1919. The Council was called to order by the Mayor. Roll call showed the following members present: Mayor Yett, Councilmen Alford, Graham, Haynes and Ward. All present. The Minutes of the last regular meeting were read and adopted by a vote of 5 ayes, no nays. Councilman Alford introduced the following resolution: BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: That the license heretofore issued to S. W. Johnson to operate S. W. Johnson License Revoked an automobile for hire, as evidenced by City License #90, said automobile so authorized to be operated being one seven passenger Jeffrey Car, bearing State License #131985, be and the same is hereby revoked, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the sum of Six Dollars and Twenty-five Cents ($6.25) be and the same is hereby appropriated out of the General Contingent Fund of the City of Austin for the purpose of refunding to the said S. W. Johnson the unearned portion of the license fee that he has heretofore paid to the City for the operation of said car, and the City Clerk is authorized to issue a warrant to the said S. W. Johnson for said amount. The above resolution was adopted by a vote of 5 ayes, no nays. Councilman Alford introduced the following resolution: Whereas, on January 23, 1919, the City Council of the City of Austin adopted its General Budget for the current fiscal year, and in making the appropriations therein based same, in part, upon the estimated income to be derived from miscellaneous sources in the amount of $19,616.65; and Whereas , since the adoption of said Budget and the estimation of said income from said sources, it has become evident to the City