Austin City Council Meeting Archives

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Austin Investigates Jail Abuse, Approves New Taxis

Friday, July 9, 1920 special called

  • Public Inquiry into Prisoner Maltreatment:

    City leaders reopened a hearing into the alleged mistreatment of a city prisoner and later voted to publish the full investigative testimony in the *Austin American* newspaper.

  • New "Service Car" Operations Approved:

    Permits were granted for two individuals to operate "service cars," an early form of private hire or taxi service.

  • Citizen Concerns over Service Cars:

    A petition from property owners concerning these new "service cars" was referred for further review by a council member and the City Engineer.
Transcript

Full Transcript

The following members present: Mayor Yett, Councilmen Alford, Graham, Haynes and Ward, 5; absent, none. Mayor Yett stated the object of the meeting was to re-open the hearing on the alleged mistreatment of a city prisoner confined in the city jail. Councilman Ward moved that the Council adjourn and go into executive session. Motion carried by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Alford, Graham, Haynes and Ward, 5; nayes, none. The Council then adjourned. Jas. P. Garnett City Clerk REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Austin, Texas, July 8, 1920. The Council was called to order by the Mayor. Roll call showed the following members present: Mayor Yett, Councilmen Alford, Graham, Haynes and Ward, 5; absent, none. The Minutes of the last meeting were read and adopted by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Alford, Graham, Haynes and Ward, 5; nays, none. Petition K.C. Miller Service Cars Granted The petition of K. C. Miller and other property owners was read by Roy C. Archer, and Councilman Haynes moved that the petition be referred to Councilman Graham and City Engineer, C. E. Leonard, to be acted upon as early as possible. Motion carried by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Alford, Graham, Haynes and Ward, 5; nayes, none. The applications of H. Burdett and D. O. Patton to operate service cars were granted by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Alford, Graham, Haynes and Ward, 5; nayes, none. The Council then recessed. J. P. Garnett City Clerk SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Austin, Texas, July 9, 1920. The Council was called to order by the Mayor. Roll call showed the following members present: Mayor Yett, Councilmen Alford, Graham, Haynes and Ward, 5; absent, none. Councilman Graham moved that the complete stenographic report of the testimony taken at a public hearing before the City Council , held on July 2 and 3, 1920, as reported by I. G. Eisenlohr, in the investigation of the alleged maltreatment of a prisoner in the city jail be printed in the Austin American. Motion carried by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Alford, Graham, Haynes and Ward, 5; nayes, none. The Council then recessed until 10:00 A. M., Saturday, July 10, 1920.