241 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Recessed Meeting March 06, 1944 3:15 P. M. Council Chamber, City Hall 241 The meeting was called, to order, with Mayor Miller presiding. Roll call Present: Councilmen Alford, Bartholomew, Gillis, Mayor Miller Absent : Councilman Wolf 1 - 4 Present also: Walter E. Seaholm, Acting City Manager; J.M.Patterson, Jr. Acting City Attorney; Lt. Colonel Parke Houston, Major Irving Rush, Major William A. Johnson, Lt. Raymond D. Wier of Camp Swift and Bergstrom Field; and a large delegation of citizens. The Mayor announced that the meeting was called for a public discussion on the venereal disease problem in the City of Austin, and to refute the recent charge by the 53rd Grand Jury of Travis County that the VD incidence in Austin, based on population, was the highest in the Eighth Service Command. The Mayor then gave a review of what the City had done in the matter with reference to the nearby Army camps, and declared further that the City had complied with the recommendations of the Travis County Grand Jury for deferment of police for military service, and application to the Federal Government for a detention center. The Mayor then called for a report on the situation from Dr. J. N. Coleman, Director of Public Health, who submitted a chart showing that Austin's rate of VD incidence among the white population was lower than eight out of ten cities in the State; and gave a summary of the work accomplished by his Department in the matter. Dr. LEE EDENS, in charge of the VD clinic at Brackenridge Hospital, also submitted facts and figures showing the progress that has been made in the matter. The meeting was then opened to general discussion, which was participated in by the military and civilian representatives present; the military representatives expressing their thanks to the City Council and the Acting City Manager for the splendid cooperation given them in dealing with the problem here. CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS 242 The question of a detention center was discussed at length, particularly as to the need and desirability of the City's building it, or leaving the matter to the Federal Government, but no further action was taken. In this connection, the possibility of using vacant wards in the State prisons was suggested by a citizen present. Honorable Louis Duplan, Mexican Consul, declared that the report of the medical authorities showed a decline in the number of DV cases among the Latin-American population in Austin. Dr. E. H. Givens, colored, gave a report on the progress that has been made in the moral and educational campaign being carried on for the benefit of the Negro population here; and thanked the City Council on behalf of the Negroes, for the recreational facilities provided for them at Rosewood Park; and further asked that the new recreation center there be named DORIE MILLER. The meeting thereupon recessed at 5:45 P. M., subject to call of the Mayor. ATTEST: CITY CLERK APPROVE Jom milla MAYOR