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Min 12/20/1948 573 Wichita Falls, Texas Memorial Auditorium Building 1 December 201, 1948 I I 1 The Board of Aldermen of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas, met in called session on the above date at 7-30 o'clock P. M. in the Council Room in the Memorial Auditorium Building, with the following members present: Harold Jones Mayor C. A. Spragins Edward G. Kadane E. J. Wininger J. R. Ray Aldermen John C. Coffey 13. C. Hunt car G. D. Fairtrace City Manager Kearby Peery City Attorney Geo. T. Henderson City Clerk Mayor Harold Jones stated this meeting had been called for the purpose of considering various matters of importance to the City. The 11inutes of the regular meeting held December 13, 1948, were read and approved as read. PETITION Wichita Falls, Texas December 16, 1948 TO THE HONORABLE HAROLD JONES, MAYOi1, WI CHI TA FALLS AND Mi!1IBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL ^dICHI TA FALLS, TEXAS TO BE TAKEN UP AT THE NEXT hEGULAR COUNCIL MEETING: Now comes Russell Jack Ballard, a qualified voter of this City, hereafter called PLAINTIFF complaining of the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, Texas Electric Service Company, and the Lore Star Gas Company, all doing business in the City of Wichita Falls, selling their services to the citizens of this City. Said above named utilities hereafter called DEFENDANTS, and for cause of action states, to-wit: PLAINTIFF believes that the above named DEF}l1DAITTS are making excess profits in violation of Article 1119 of Vernon Sales Statutes wherein it states, "All utilities shall have their properties appraised at a fair value and their profits shall not exceed g% per annum". PLAINTIFF states that the records of the DEFENDANTS are not accessible to him, not being a stockholder, nor are they a matter of public record in the City of Wichita Falls, Texas. PLAINTIFF asks this Council to set a hearing on the above complaint and that said hearing be set for each DEFENDANT. PLAI14TIFF asks this Council that at a Board of Appraisers be appointed to determine the fair value of said DEF.L-IdDANT'S properties. PLAINTIFF also asks this Council for them to set without delay a preliminary hearing so that this petition may come before them and produce what evidence is available. This being the only course that PLAINTIFF has relief from, he hereby comes before this Council at the advice of the Attorney General's Uffice of the State of Texas, that this is. his only recourse. /s/ Russell Jack Ballard hussell Jack Ballard PLAINTIFF 574 The above and foregoing petition was read to the Council, and after a lengthy discussion by the petitioner, the following motion was had: Moved by Alderman Spragins that the petition of Jack Ballard be referred to the City Attorney for an opinion and report on same back to the Council. Motion seconded by Alderman Kadarie and carried. Sam Francis came before the Council requesting the revocation of a building permit previously issued to L. C. Taylor for an apartment house at 1004 Austin Street, upon the grounds that, in his opinion, the proposed construction was contrary to the building code. Much aiscussion was had upon the matter, whereupon the following motion was had: Moved by Alderman Kadane that the matter of the building permit at 1004 Austin be referred to the City Engineer for investigation before further work is done, and report the same to the City Manager. Motion seconded by Alderman Ray and carried. Moved by Alderman Wininger that the Board of Aldermen authorize payment to the Wichita General Hospital the sum of 0405.03 for charity patients for the month of November and to direct the City Clerk to draw a warrant for the same upon like payment by Wichita County. Motion seconded by Alderman Kadane and carried. Moved by Alderman Ray that the ruling of the Appeals Review Board in declining to approve the application of the Grace Mission Church, Inc. for a permit to solicit used clothing, etc. in the City, be sustained and no per- mit be granted. Motion seconded by Alderman Kadane and carried. A petition of the Wichita Falls Transit Co. for a raise in bus fares in the City of Wichita Falls was read to the Council, thereupon by common consent of the Council, Mayor Harold Jones appointed Aldermen Coffey and Hurter as a committee of two to serve with the City Manager for the purpose of investigating and determining the advisability of granting the raise in bus fares, and report the same back to the Council. Moved by Alderman Coffey that the Board of Aldermen approve and authorize the execution of a Lease Agreement by and between the City and Reed & Brumley House Moving & Construction Co. whereby �y agrees to &lease to said Reed & Brumley House Moving Construction o� Lots 1 to 7, inclusive, Block 33, Original, for a period of one year beginning January 1, 1949, and ending January 1, 1950, for consideration of W0.00 per year, payable semi-ar_nually in advance, together with other terms and conditions as set forth in the Lease Agreement read to the Council; and further to authorize and empower Mayor Harold Jones to execute the said Lease Agreement for and on behalf of the City of Wichita Falls. Motion seconded by Alderman Kadane and carried. s � 575 Moved by Alderman Coffey that the Board of Aldermen approve and authorize the execution of an Agreement by and between the City of Wichita Falls and the Wichita Falls Baseball Club, Inc. upon the terms and conditions as recited in the Agreement as read to the Council, a copy of which is filed in the office of the City Clerk, and further to authorize and empower Mayor Harold Jones to execute the said Agreement for and on behalf of the City of Wichita Falls. Motion seconded by Alderman Wininger and carried. Moved by Alderman Ray that the Board of Aldermen authorize payment of the sum of $50.00 to J. 0. Ayers for alleged claim for damages to his horse reported to have fallen into a hole adjacent to the water conduit, and further to direct the City Clerk to draw a warrant for the same payable out of the Water Fund Cash upon the execution of a proper Release to the City. Motion seconded by Alderman Coffey and carried. PETITION NEGRO CH&IBER OF COh KiIiCE Wichita Falls, Texas December 18, 1948 The Honorable Mayor and City Council Wichita Falls, Texas Dear Sir3: THro weeks ago there appeared in the report of the Grand Jury which was published in the daily papers a recor_mmendation that Negro policemen be secured to work in the Negro area as a means of decreasing the high incidence of crime in this segment of the population. The members of the Negro Chamber of Commerce took cognizance of this progressive proposal and discussed the matter in their regular monthly meeting }Held the following week. It was unanimously agreed that a committee be appointed to contact you and petition you to use your influence with the Civil Service Board to the end that competent Negroes may be allowed to take the examinations Liven prospective policemen, and if they meet the requirements, be given training on the same basis as that given others, and added to the staff. We look with grave misgivings upon the continually rising incidence of crime among our people. We believe that the low percentage of convictions along with the exceedingly light sentences which are meted out to Negroes who commit crimes against Negroes are major factors in the persistence of this untoward situation. We further believe that lack of adequate police protection in our sections of the city contributes to the gravity of the problem. We are conscious of the difficulty which white policemen have in apprehending guilty parties or of getting testimonies from witnesses among our people. It is our considered judgment that policemen of our own race could reduce these cau3es to a minimum. We therefore petition you, the Honorable Mayor and Aembers of the City Council of Wichita Fells, that steps be taken to add Negroes to the police staff of the City. We believe that the social maturity of the masses as well 2s the leaders of both groups in the city make the time ripe for such a progressive step. The precedent has already been set in numerous Texas cities as Dallas, Galveston, Houston and Waco. In each of them considerable success in reducing crime among Negroes has been reported. The Negro Chamber of Commerce would respectfully insist that Negroes who offer for positions on the police force be given no special treatment for exemptions from qualifications required of any persons who seek the same positions. We should expect them to meet and maintain the sane high standards of performance as are required of the other policemen on the force. Respectfully yours, The Committee: Dr. F. D. Leffall, Chr. P. Emerson Jackson A. E. Holland M. K. Curry Jr. • s 576 The above and foregoing petiticn was read and discussed by the Council with favor, whereupon the City Clerk was directed to write a letter to the petitioners advising them that certain colored applicants were scheduled to soon take the civil service examination for policemen, and further that considera- tion would be given the request outlined in the above petition insofar as it comes within their jurisdiction. I - - - - - - - - - - Moved by Aldermen Spragins that the meeting be adjourned. Motion seconded by Alderman Coffey and carried. The Board of Aldermen then adjourned. hhAD 94D APPhOVED this the loth day of January 1949. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk o O CH lvazov o zao � W a w r; �+ o � W � .. H � � w s o � � � � •m x W Pa W d ea o .�