The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-02-21
THE CITY COUNCIL.
A Bluff Game and a Dlsgraceful
Scene.
A Stormy Time Which is Gained
Down by an Emphatic
Apology.

The city council held called meetin
last night to consider and pass the ordi
nance which was on its third reading,
turning over the school money to the
board of school trustees elected by the
people almost unanimously.
Mayor Male had put in the call some
other business affecting the property
decided to the city by the late Colonel
Allan for an industrial school.
Roll call showed the following aldermen
absent: Haigler, Newton, Schneider and
Metz.
The two first were excused and the two
others were brought in under call of the
council.
Mayor Male then laid before the coun-
oil a communication from the executors
of the late Colonel Allen, calling attention
to the fact that letter addressed to the
council nearly year ago, asking that
body to take control of the property, had
not been officially noticed. The commu-
MICA ton also stated that the executors
have on hand $7,0S7 in money.
Alderman Morris moved that the letter
be referred to the special committee which
now has the matter in hand, looking to
the city taking control of the property.
Alderman DeGress offered substitute
that the council receive the money and
property and relieve the executors.
Alderman Morris was not certain
that under the law the council
had any thing to do with it as the property
had been donated for school purposes.
He contended that the board of city school
trustees were the proper ones to receive
and control the money and property.
There was lengthy debate and finally
the motion by Mr.. Morris prevailed.
Then the ordinance directing the city
treasurer to turn over the school money
to the board of school trustees, where it
legally and justly belongs, was laid be-
fore the council on it's third reading and
final passage,
This was signal for bull-dozing aud
bluff by the opponents to the measure.
Alderman DeGress, a remnant of the
Davis regime, strongly opposed the
passage and resorted to skiliful tactics to
prevent it.
! Alderman Platt, also a warm supporter
of the Davis administration, and like
: Alderman DeGress, an out and out radical,
made a vehement speech against the
measure, in which he broadly insinuated
I that the board of school trustees was not
altogether honest.
Alderman Linn, in reply, made a very
able argument in favor of the ordinance,
and referring to Alderman Platt's insinu-
/ alton, said the members of the school
board were gentlemen of undoubted
honesty and business integrity, and were
the peers of any man, not even excepting
his friend, Alderman Platt.
| Alderman Platt jumped up and called
Mr.. Linn to order, and asked what he had
said.
Alderman Linn repeated his remarks,
saying that the members of the school
board were the peers of any man in the
council, not excepting Alderman Platt,
who was still standing, with Mr.. Linn off
ABOUT five feet facing him.
Just as the last word fell from Mr..
Linn, Platt exclaimed, "You are a Cd
d--n liar" and sprang toward
Mr.. Linn and let fly blow from the
shoulder which barely touched Mr.. Linn's
face. Had he been nearer, Mr.. Linn,
taken wholly by surprise, would have been
knocked down. Members of the city
council quickly interposed and prevented
a collision.
1t was explained that Platt didn't know
the meaning of the word "peer," and he
offered to apologize to Alderman Linn
and the council.
Alderman Workman wanted the apology
put down in writing, and in emphatic
forcible, positive and unmistakable
language, and spread on the minutes
which was done.
The ordinance then passed by the fol-
lowing vote:
Yeas-Graham, Lawrence, Linn, Morris
Nitschke, North, Pillow, Schneider, Town,
send, Workman, Ziller. Total, IL.
Nays-Assmann, Boland, DeGress, Jones
Metz, Platt, Wilson. Total,7.
Absent-Haigler, Newton.
The council then adjourned.