306 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Austin, Texas, November 10, 1943 The City Council convened in Regular Session, at the regular meeting place in the Council Chamber at the Municipal Building, on Wednesday, November 10, 1943, at 10:40 A. M., Thursday being a legal holiday, with Mayor Tom Miller presiding. Roll call showed the following members present: Councilmen Alford, Bartholomew, Gillis, and Mayor Miller; absent, Councilman Wolf. There were present also: J. M. Patterson, Jr., Acting City Attorney, and Roy J. Smith, Head of the Traffic Bureau; absent, Walter E. Seaholm, Acting City Manager; and J. E. Motheral, City Engineer; and R. D. Thorp, Chief of Police. The reading of the minutes was dispensed with. Raymond Canion appeared to find out what the decision of the City Council was in regard to the turning on of the Christmas lights for the holiday season, stating that the School Board had given its approval to same. Action on the matter was again deferred to further ascertain the sentiment of the public regarding same. J. G. Vasquez, Manager of the Lightsey Cab Company, and Jesse Bartlett, Attorney, appeared in behalf of Lloyd Gerald Davis, the revocation of whose taxicab driver's permit was under consideration. After some discussion, it was moved by Councilman Alford that, upon the recommendation of the Lightsey Cab Company that the taxicab driver's permit of the said Lloyd Gerald Davis be not revoked as he was needed in the operation of their business and they would be responsible for him, the said Lloyd Gerald Davis be granted a 90-day probationary taxicab driver's permit, with the provision that if at the expiration of that period his record is satisfactory the permit will be made permanent, subject, of course, to revocation for future cause. The motion carried by the following vote: "Ayes," Councilmen Alford, Bartholomew, Gillis, and Mayor Miller; "Naya," none; Councilman Wolf absent. The public hearing on the question of the metering of taxicaba as a means of preventing overcharges to patrons, called for this day, was opened, there being approximately forty taxicab owners and operators present. The Mayor then ennounced that those favoring the meters would be heard first, and the following then appeared and were heardı W. D. HART, who urged that the meters be installed, declaring that same could be purchased for two hundred dollers, with a down payment of twenty dollars and the balance in installments. PATTONS, who favored the installation of the meters as the only fair way to mensure cab fore. LIGHTSEY CAB COMPANY, who fevored the installation of the meters, but qualified its approval with the statement that, on account of abnormal conditions due to the war, it would be difficult to keep the meters in repair at this time, and therefore their successful operation was questionable. Those opposing the instelletion of the metere were then heerd as follows: JESSE BARTLETT, a spokesman for a number of owners and operator present, opposed the intolletion of the meters on the rounds that their maintenance and repair at this time would be impossible owing to the shortage of material and monpower, and that due to the remulotion of the Office of Defence Ireneportation recuiring the taking on of pescencere et more then one stop, it would be difficult to determine on equitarle charge per poscenzer. HORACE SHELTON, representin certain independent toxiorb ourers, oppored the meter on the grounds that their purchaset this time would be too prest financial burden, in view of present difficulties in obtaining tires, moline, and repairs, and that there was no pomarance either that the meters could be repaired promptly; und propored in lieu thereof that zones be created, with a maximum charge for different zones. Following the lengthy discussion, it was the conve of the Council that the metere be not insched- strlled at this time, it not having been shown that פתוח wנור! remedy the aftution; and it wo further the sense of the Council that all taxicch operatore and owners to required to file a ule of their rates with the City, and that the provision of the Tuxicob Ordinance requiring that ruch miten be displayed in the toxienb be rigidly enforced. The Acting City Attorney was instructed to min a legal advertisement in the newspaper, for the length of time he deems necessary, stating that all violations of overcharges by taxicabs will be prosecuted if reported to the Chief of Police. There being no further business, upon motion seconded and carried, the meeting was recessed at 12:10 Ρ. Μ., subject to call of the Mayor. ATTEST: CITY CLERK REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: APPROVED: Jom Milla. MAYOR Austin, Texas, November 18, 1943 The City Council convened in Regular Session, at the regular meeting place in the Council Chamber at the Municipal Building, on Thursday, November 18, 1943, at 10:45 A. M., with Mayor Tom Miller presiding. Roll call showed the following members present: Councilmen Alford, Bartholomew, Gillis, and Mayor Miller; absent, Councilman Wolf. There were present also: Walter E. Seaholm, Acting City Manager; J. E. Motheral, City Engineer; and J. M. Patterson, Jr., Acting City Attorney. The minutes of the Regular Meeting of November 4, 1943, were read, and upon motion of Councilman Alford, were adopted as read by the following vote: "Ayes," Councilmen Alford, Bartholomew, Gillis, and Mayor Miller; "Ways," none; Councilman Wolf absent. Committees from the Optimist Club, with W. W. Shropshire as spokesman; the School Board and the children of the City represented by Mrs. A. P. Robinson; Joe Dacy and Raymond Canion, individually, were herrd favorably on the question of Christmas lights for the holidays, declaring that same would contribute greatly to the morale of the visiting soldiers and of the children of the City. Following the discussion, it was the sense of the Council that the Acting City Manager be instructed to have the Christmas lights turned on on the Saturday preceding Christmas Day and left on through : 307