The northwestern bulletin., 1922-06-03
Subcommittee
FINDS BILL IS UN-
CONSTITUTIONAL
Judiciary Committee is Advised
That Federal Anti-Lynching
Law is Impossible.
ACTION SEEN AS
DEATH OF THE BILL
Rep. Dyer, However, Still Be-
lieves Congress Will Make
His Bill a Law.
(Associated Negro Press)

Washington, ID. c., June 2-The
Dyer AntiLynching Bill has struck
a snag. An opinion that the measure
is unconstitutional and should not be
enacted by Congress was submitted to
the Senate Judiciary committee by a
subcommittee headed by Senator
Borah. Its friends fear this action
will mean the death of the bill. Ger
tainly there is little hope for action
at this session of Congress.
Senator Borah, was joined in hold
ing the bill unconstitutional by Sen
ators Overman, Democrat. North Car
olina. and Shields. Democrat, Tenne-
ssee. The other subcommittee men,
bers, Senators Sterling, Republican,
South Dakota. and Dillingham;, Re-
publican, Vermont, were said not to
be in complete disagreement, but be-
lieved the bill might well be passed
and be submitted to test before the
Supreme court of the United States.
Senator Borah and his associates
contended that the Supreme Court of
the United States had decided square
ly in lynching case from Alabama,
that Federal anti-lynching law was
beyond the Federal powers. Therefore
it would be useless to present to the
court the question anew under the
pending.
Many experienced public men have
contended right along that this would
be the fate of the bill.
Fate of the Bill Forseen
When the bill was before the
House, its judiciary committee ex-
pressed its approval and the House
passed it with a substantial majority.
Those active in the fight for the law
which would spell the death of mob
law and lynching say that many con-
gressmen voted for the bill with the
assurance that way would be found
to kill ii before it became law. They
state that prominent newspapers
throughout the country such as the
New York World" and the Chicago
Tribune" have been contending edi-
torially that the law could not stand
the test and that ii would be pigeon
holded. At the same time congress
men with large colored constituencies
could save their faces. They also
called attention to the fact that the
subcommittee appointed in the SEN
ate with the exception of Southern
democrats, who, of course, were op-
posed, consisted of men who had lit
tie or no colored vote in their states.
thereby denying the race from
chance to strike back.
Borah Wires A. NJ.
In a telegram to the Associated
Negro Press, Senator Borah says:
Washington, d. c., THE majority
Of judiciary committee seem to feel
this proposed measure is clearly un-
constitutional. The decisions of the
Supreme Court seem to leave no es-
cape from that conclusion. It would
be wholly futile thing therefore to
pass it. 1t is the purpose of the
committee, however, to continue the
effort to frame a measure if possible
which will stand the test of the
courts and with that end in view, the
committee is now working. I think
l can say to you that the committee
is determined to exhaust every ounce
of Federal power dealing with this
situation. In other words, the sub
ject has not been abandoned and
there is no intention it shall be if
constitutional authority can be found
to deal with it."
Rep. Dyer Hopeful.
Representative Dyer, who has gain
ed national fame as the author of the
bill, does not seem to be discouraged.
in spite of the fact that the measure
Continued on page A.