The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-10-14


and the council adjourned until tonight at
4 o'clock. when another effort Will be
made to pass the quarantine ordnance
The Meeting.
The city council met yesterday morn
ing at 10 o'clock in special session for
the purpose of considering the matter OF
establishing quarantine against all yellow
fever infected districts.
There were only eleven aldermen an
swering to their names and Il recess was
had for five minutes in order that the
absentees mught come in. Upon recon-
yening with thirteen aldermen present,
Mayor Hancock laid the following mes
'"s' ''i'' Mayors Office.
Austin. Tex, October II, 1897.
To the Honorable City Council:
Gentlemen-Yellow fever having been
officially declared to exist in several
cities of Texas, / have deemed it my
duty to call you together in special session
to take such steps as You may see proper
to insure the health of the community.
The commissioners court of Travis coun-
ty have already authorized the county
physician to take such action as ne may
deem necessary in conjunction win the
city, each to bear half the expense.
do not think we are in the slightest
danger, under any circumstances, OF
yellow fever epidemic, but an entire
absence of quarantine would probably in
yite many refugees from injected points
whose presence in our midst would serve
TO terrify our people and those of the sur
rounding country. | therefore recon-
ment that quarantine be established IN
conjunction with the county authorities,
and herewith lay before you an ordinance
providing for such quarantine. Respect
fully. LEWIS HANSDoh'
An ordinance touching on the message
was laid before the council. and Alder
man Fisher moved to suspend the rules
and place the ordinance on its second
reading.
| the council ought to act hastily in this
| matter. and ought to consult with the
medical fraternity of the city before act
ing. He accordingly introduced resolu-
| ton to adjourn until 3 p. m, and then
meet with all the city physicians for the
| purpose of consulting.
City Physician Graves was called on
| for his views on the subject, and stated
| that while he did not believe that a quar-
antine was needed. that the establish
ment of one might be of benefit in that 1t
would satisfy the minds of uneasy. per-
sons that every precaution was being
taken TO protect them. he said that
| now Il few persons were coming in from
infected districts alarming the people,
| and quarantine might ease the public
mind, though as n safeguard he hardly
thought quarantine necessary.
Alderman Maddox said he didn't know
much about quarantine matters. and he
didn't think the other cOuncilmen did
either. and he was in favor of Mr.. Tay-
lOr's resolution. as after consultation
the councimen could act more intelligent
ly. He said that in consulting with
number of the business men of the city
before coming to the meeting. he had
found all of them unequivOcally opposed
to any quarantine, holding that il was
not only unnecessary, but would prove
detrimental to the city's interest. Speak
ing for himself he said that he could not
see the sense in locking the stable door
after the horse was gone. That for sew
eral weeks now yellow fever had been
announced at several points and no
quarantine had been established, that in
the matter of Galveston number OF peo-
pie had come to the city from there since
yellow fever had been announced, and it
was not too late to try on an unnecessary
quarantine. Climatically Austin was a
bitter foe of yellow fever. but If it was
, destined to come here. that it was here
already in the parsonage of refugees and
quarantines were too late. However, he
| Thought. quarantine unneceSshT! III any
| event.
Alderman Plat was opposed to quar-
antining and wanted the council to say
so Mt once, and end the matter. He op-
posed the taking of a recess to consider
| the matter for the reason that he did
not want any outside influences brought
TO bear on the councilmen IN their de-
| libcrations. He said that there were over
a hundred men in this city who wanted
| to get jobs of this kind. and that if q
recess was taken with the matter still
| in doubt. that they would try and lobby
| a quarantine in hopes of getting jobs. He
warned his hearers that most Of the yel-
low fever news that they read in the
paper was mere rot, and not to pay any
attention to it, He said that Austin was
not in any danger and in times past had
never suffered in any way from an in
vasion of the disease.
Alderman Nitschke was likewise most
bitterly opposed to any quarantining. He