The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-01-29
AUSTIN'S CHARTER
Meeting Of the House Committee and the Able
Petition Present.


porations had the bill granting to
Austin the new charter asked for I'M
der consideration last night.
South Austin was represented in her
protest against being taken in by the
extension by Messrs. Ward and Faux.
while Hon. A. w. Terrell and Mr..
Frank Morris were present urging
favorable report upon the charter ne
whole.
The committee allowed each side
one hour for argument. Mr.. Ham
Ward presented the protest OF
the citizens OF the sOuthside
and was followed by Judge Terrell in
behalf of citizens owning property
across the river, no would rather
come into the corporation of Austin
and pay taxes than he subjected to
taxes assessed by the new town. Mr..
Frank Morris also spoke in behalf Of
Austin, claiming that the city should
not be hemmed in by few to its det-
riment.
Mr.. Ward presented Il petition from
citizens living east OF Comal street
Directing to the extension OF the
eastern boundaries, on the grounds
that most of the people who
were living in the suburbs were labor
ers and could not bear the expense OF
| the taxes.
The question was finally referred to
subcommittee, consisting of Messrs.
Swayne, Doggett and King of Bur
Lesson, alter which the committee adj
journed.
The following petition, asking to be
taken in, was handed the committee
in the interest Of the signers.
SOUTH AUSTIN, Jan. 8, 1891.
To the Senate and House of Representa-
lives of the Twenty-second Legislature OF
Texas:
We, the undersigned owners Of
property in South Austin, respectfully
petition your honorable body to pass
the proposed new charter for the city
of Austin so extending its boundaries
as to take within the limits of Austin
such territory of South Austin as pro-
posed in said new ch ,rter for Austin,
Tor the following reasons:
l. We believe the capitol city OF
Texas shdAld be allowed to grow and
reap the advantages of the prosperity
and enterprise which her citizens have
shown, and which has caused the
building up of additions around her,
should not be circumscribed, and
Is intention prevented by surround
ing additions becoming incorporated
and maintaining their interpretations.
Ii the additions that grow up around
Austin may thus prosper on the en-
terprise OF Austin and on the money
she spends to forward public enter
prises and deprive her OF her legiti-
mate growth, it is safe to say that
Austin Can never assume that i'm.
portance among the cities of Texas
which she will be entitled to
as a reward for her enterprise
and should be made as the capital OF
Texas.
2. II we have to incur the burden OF
sustaining city government we be-
lieve it to the best interests of our
selves and our property to become a
part of Austin rather than have our
property depreciatedin the public es-
timation by being in q suburban
town instead OF being city property
in the capital OF Texas.
3. The public school system OF Aus
tin, the advantages of which we
might share, is far better than any
system we can hope to establish in
South Austin for some time in the
future.
4. We understand it to be beyond
the power of Austin to tax her cIti-
zens to furnish water and light to
those outside OF the city, that its pow
ers are necessarily limited to supply
ing its inhabitants with these con-
veniences, and it cannot if it desired
tax its citizens or use their funds to
go into the business of selling water
and light to those outside the city
limits. Hence we will be deprived OF
the Sc valuable conveniences now
supplied by g private company in
Austin as soon as the city
puts into operation its own water and
light system, now in process OF con-
structiOn, unless we build our own
system to furnish water and light, and
to do this would involve us in a greater
amount OF tax in addition TO other
necessary taxes for support of our cor
porate government than we should be
| made TO bear.
5. Finally, we believe those of us
who live in South Austin will be act
ing in bad faith toward Austin's peo-
pie if we oppose coming into Austin
on the ground that a bonded indebt-
kedness has been incurred in Austin to
build dam across the Colorado river !;
for as business men, whose places of
business are in Austin, almost every
man in South Austin used his inhu-
ence in Austin to induce voters to in
cur said indebtedness, at time when
the necessity and justice of extending