Ordinance Making Red Light District Legal
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Regular Meeting of the City Council
Monday, Dec. 16th, 1889
Present: Hon. Bryan Callaghan, Mayor
Aldermen -- Bolten, Boelhauive, Conner, Fest, Guerguin, Lockwood, Reimann, Rogers, Weber & Wulff.
Absent: Alderman Kalteyer and Sartor.
Whereupon the following proceedings were had to wit:
The minutes of the proceeding meeting were read and approved.
Memorials & Petitions
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Communications from the Mayor and Reports from City Officers.
His Honor the mayor stated to the Council that he had a communication to make relative to the restraining of the gambling houses and houses of prostitution. It is evident, said the Mayor, that the efforts of the officers of the County have not succeeded in
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Carrying out the laws relative to such places. It has been proven to the world that legislative action will not control such places and that it can and must be done by Municipal Action. I do not believe that they can be abolished, but I do believe that they can be regulated by a heavy license and I have here two ordinances for that purpose, which I will now read to and submit to your Honorable Body for your consideration.
The Mayor then read the Ordinance to restrain and control gambling, within the limits of the City of San Antonio; first reading.
Alderman Lockwood made the Motion to Amend Sect. 1, by increasing the amount of annual license to $1500; Alderman Weber moved to substitute the words ($1000) One Thousand Dollars.
The substitute was adopted, and the license placed at ($1000) One Thousand Dollars annually.
The motion to suspend the rules and place the Ordinance upon its second reading, was adopted.
The Ordinance was read the second time.
The Motion to further suspend the rules and place the Ordinance upon its third reading was adopted. Alderman Bolton voting nay.
The Ordinance was read the third time. On Motion the Ordinance was adopted as Amended by unanimous vote.
JH-442 An Ordinance
To restrain and control gambling within the limits of the city of San Antonio.
Be it ordained by the City Council of the city of San Antonio:
Section1. That there shall be levied on, and collected from, every person, firm, company or association of persons keeping within this City any house for the
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Purpose of exhibiting or keeping therein, or permitting to be kept or exhibiting therein, any table or bank used for gaming, by whatsoever name called or known, or any such table or bank which has no name, an annual license of one thousand ($1000) dollars, which may be paid semi-annually in advance.
Section 2. If any person, firm, company, or corporation shall keep within this City any house for the purpose of exhibiting or keeping therein any table or bank, or permit to be kept or exhibited therein any table or bank used for gaming, by whatsoever name called or known, or any such table or bank which has no name, without first having obtained such license from the City Clerk, he or they may be deemed guilty of an offense, and , upon conviction thereof before the Recorder shall be fined not less than twenty five ($25) dollars nor more than two hundred ($200) dollars and imprisonment in the city jail not less than fifteen nor more sixty days, for each and every such offense; and provided further, that each and every day he, or they, shall continue to keep such house, without complying with the provisions of this ordinance shall be deemed a separate offense.
Section 3. Any keeper of such house as described in the foregoing sections who shall allow minors, under (21) twenty-one years of age to frequent, remain or abide upon such premises shall be fined upon conviction thereof before the Recorder in any sum not less than twenty-five ($25) nor more than two hundred ($200) dollars for each and every such offense, and in default of payment shall be committed to the city prison, or condemned to labor on the public works of the City as provided in general ordinance.
Section 4. In all prosecutions under this Ordinance, for keeping a gambling house within the City limits,
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Proof, of the general reputation, of the house in question in the community, or neighborhood in which the same is located, shall be admissible to establish its character.
Section 5. That Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, of Chapter XXIII, of the Revised Ordinances be and are hereby repealed.
The Ordinance to suppress and restrain bawdy houses within the limits of the City of San Antonio, was read the first time.
The Motion of alderman Rogers to Amend Section 2, by increasing the Annual license to five hundred ($500.00) dollars was adopted by the following vote.
Ayes: Bboelhauwe, Lockwood, Reimann, Rogers, Weber & Wulff-- 6. Nayes: Bolton, Conner, Fest, and Guerguin--4.
On motion the rules were suspended and the Ordinance placed upon its second reading, by unanimous vote.
The Ordinance was read the second time and adopted by unanimous vote.
On motion the rules were further suspended and the Ordinance placed upon its third reading, by unanimous vote.
The Ordinance was read the third time and final passage and adopted, as amended by unanimous vote.
A Copy from City Hall records Dec. 16, 1889 City council Sessions making red Light district Legal: p. 557-560
An Ordinance.
JH 443 To suppress and restrain bawdy houses within the limits of the city of San Antonio.
Be it ordained by the City Council of the city of San Antonio.
Section 1. It shall not be lawful for any person or persons to keep or cause to be kept within the limits of the city of San Antonio, a bawdy house or house of ill-fame, or any house which persons may frequent for the purpose of prostitution or assignation, unless the person or persons shall first, by written applica-
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tion, apply to the city of San Antonio, for a license to keep such house, said application shall be signed by the applicant.
Section 2. Upon the granting of any such license by the City Clerk as aforesaid, said applicant or applicants shall, before opening such a house as described in the preceeding section, pay to the City Collector an annual license, for the use and benefit of the City of san Antonio, of five hundred ($500.00) dollars, provided said City Clerk shall be authorized to issue license for six months to any applicant, upon said applicant paying one-half of the annual license provided for in this ordinance.
Section 3. It shall be unlawful for any female to pursue the occupation of the bawd, or to be the inmate of any house of prostitution or assignation which is kept by any other person for the purposes of prostitution, without first having applied to the City clerk for a license to pursue the occupation of a bawd, which application shall state the location of the building in which such bawd or applicant is to reside.
Section 4. In addition to the requirements laid down in the preceeding sections, it shall not be lawful for the keeper of any such house of prostitution, or assignation, or for any female inmate thereof, who does follow the occupation of a bawd, without such keeper or inmate such person be in sound, healthy condition, furnish to each person so inspected a certificate dating the date of such inspection, and that she is in sound & healthy condition, and that she is not infected with any disease. A duplicate of such certificate shall be furnished to the City Clerk; and for each and every inspection, made under this Ordinance, said City Physician, or his assistant, shall receive, for the use of the city of San Antonio, and shall collect from the person so inspected the sum of one dollar.
Section 6. The City Clerk shall grant to all persons applying therefore, a license for the purpose of keeping a bawdy house or house of prostitution or assignation, or to pursue the occupation of a bawd or prostitute.
Section 7. Any person violating anyone of the provisions of this Ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof before the Recorder shall be fined in any sum not less than twenty-five dollars and not more than one hundred dollars and imprisonment in the city jail not exceeding (20) twenty days; and each day any person shall continue to violate any of the provisions of this ordinance shall constitute a separate offense.
Section 8. In all prosecutions for keeping a bawdy house, house of ill-fame or house kept for the purpose of prostitution, contrary to Ordinance, within the City, proof of the general reputation of the house in question
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In the community or neighborhood in which the same is located, shall be admissible to establish its character.
The Mayor stated that under Section 5, Chapter XXXVI of the Revised Ordinances, it was in order to fix or establish the salary or compensation to be paid all officers appointed by the mayor or elected by the Council.
After discussing the salaries to be paid to several officers for the fiscal year the Mayor decided that under section 6, of Chapter XXXVI of the Revised Ordinances, the salaries of all officers, shall not be increased nor diminished during the term, for which said officers may be or have been appointed or elected.
On motion the salaries of such appointed officers for the year 1890-91 were ordered to remain as they were paid for the last fiscal year.
Attest:
E.P. Toudon Approved
City Clerk Bryan Callaghan
Mayor