Phoenix tribune., 1921-04-30
(sy The AssoeIated Nearo pressl

(5y The Associated Negro Press)
Washington. D. c., April 2S.-Presi
dent Harding's message to Congress
has spurred Senators and Representa-
tives to action. Bills and resolutions
are being introduced hither, thither
and yon, seeking to carry out his
laudable suggestions. By the same
token, members of the Democratic
minority are bestiring themselves with
sensational vigor and efforts to shine
for their constituents by introducing
measures ridiculous in their purport OF
prejudicial and antiquated demands.
On the subject of lynching there
have been at least four bills introduc-
ed The first by Senator Mccormick
calls for a commission on lynching.
Accompanying the bill, Sen: tor Nc
Cormick has sent communication to
Senator Nelson, chairman of the judi
ciary committee, to which the bill has
been referred. In 1t the Senator says:
"The appalling number of lynchings
since the New Year; the condition of
peonage and the horrible murders con-
sequent thereon, disclosed in the Will
Jams trial in Jasper county, Georgia,
cry out for immediate action by Con-
gress." After quoting that portion of
President Harding's message to Con-
gress on the Race Question, Senator
Mccormick continues:
IF there be doubt as to the Con-
stitutional powers of Congress to legis-
late for the punishment of lynch muir
ders, there can be none as to the Con-
stitutional powers to create such a
commission as my bill contemplates
If by inaction we continue to counten-
ance lynching we shall invite the re-
probation of the people of the United
States. and indeed, of the civilized
world"
Senator Mccormick seeks to have
it distinctly known that he prefers a
bill on lynching that will punish the
lynchers, if this can be worked out
He says: "If the lawyers of the Com
mittee on judiciary can draft a bill
to confer upon the national govern
ment, under the constitution, the pow
er to apprehend and punish inciters
to mob violence, and those who mur
der in the name of lynch law, hope
that they may do so, and with dis
patch-If the Committee deem it wise
to broaden the scope of the bill in the
sense suggested in the Presidents ad-
dress, well and good, but above all
] ask for action on the measure to the
end that the President may appoint
a commission which by public pre-
sentation of the uncontroverted facts,
may organize and mobilize public op-
inion to assure the support of the
people for the law officers of the
states and INDUS them with the cour-
age and the sense of duty necessary
to guard men and women from lynch
ing"
other Bills introduced
Other bills on lynching have been
introduced, as predicted ty The AS
sociated Negro Press, by Congressman
Dyer Of st. Louis. and Congressman
Dallinger. of Massachusetts. Their
bills are somewhat similar and seek
to hold the county responsible to the
extent of $4,000 to dependent families
where citizens have been put to death.
They also provide for fine and i'm
prisonment, Imprisonment not to ex-
coed five years, and fine not to exceed
$4,000 or both.
Senator Spencer, of Kansas, has in
troduced a bill calling for a commits
sion of nine persons to be known as
thes Commission on the Racial Ques-
.tion in the United States. This bill
provides that the commission shall be
divided into three groups of three men
each, two white and one Colored;
serving one, two and three years res
pectively, that the composition of the
commission shall be three white men
from the North, three white men from
the South, and three Colored men. An
appropriation Of $4,000 per year is
asked for. The Commission shall have
the authority to inquire into and thor
oughly investigate the conditions sur
rounding the Colored people Of the
United States, ascertain, il possible,
the cause Of the stand If there
be racial friction, the cause Of the
same. and to suggest such remedies as
they may deem lest calculated to re-
leive the situation. and to bring about
harmonious relations between white
and Colored Americans"
Representative Layton, Of Delaware,