The monitor., 1928-05-04
FEDERAL RIGHTS OF
AMERICAN CITIZENS
ARE ENDANGERED
Senator Norris Has Introduced Bill
Which Practically Destroys
Usefulness of District
Courts
SCOTT POINTS OUT DANGER
National Legislation Should Be Care
fully Checked, Advises How
ard University
Official

Washington, d. C-Dr. Emmett ].
Scott, member of the advisory COM
mittee of the republican national
committee, calls attention to the need
of bureau or organization of some
character here in Washington to
point out, when necessity arises, the
character of proposed legislation af-
fecting the interest of the twelve mil
lion colored people of the United
States.
Many an innocent appearing bill,
he says, is introduced from time to
time, in the house of representatives
and in the senate of the United
States, having as legal possibility
the setting aside of some basic priv
ileges or immunity designed for the
benefit of particular group or elias,
Of people. 1t is said that there are
nearly 300 national organizations
maintained at Washington for the
purpose of detecting the introduction
of such legislation affecting such
groups.
Recently a bill was introduced in
congress which would have removed
practically every colored employee
from the office of the recorder of
deeds if DR.. Scott had not aroused
fha coIorad y,a,vrnapa,~ - 6 H. a~...
try and influential individuals and or
CARNATIONS, pointing out to them the
result of such legislation, if passed.
1t was only because of the fact that
prompt word was sent to the colored
newspapers of the country and to the
officers of the leading organizations
of one kind and another that the eff
fort was thwarted.
1t now happens that there was in
troduced in the senate of the United
States on February 13, bill, S. 1851
(Report No. 626), ito limit the juris-
diction of district courts of the
United States" While the bill pri-
marily appears to be designed to re-
lieve the heavy dockets of federal
courts, it is true, nevertheless, as has
been pointed out, that this bill would
seriously affect the rights of the col
ored people of the United tSates. If
such rights should be in any way in
fringed and colored Americans should
bring suit to enjoin action against
city or state legislation or against in
dividuals enforcing such legislation
when such legislation violates the
federal constitution as it affects col.
ored people, jurisdiction will be linn
tied under the terms of this bill and
such cases will be referred to state
courts for adjudication.
If right under the federal consti-
tuition should be lost or violated in
any of the states after this legislation
has been passed, colored Americans
will have to go into the state courts
for the adjudication of such rights.
Peonage, for instance, could not be
interfered with at all by the federal
courts if this legislation should pass.
the litigant being forced to seek re-
dress before tribunal and in a com
munity where the offense was actual
ly condoned. The passage of this bill
would mean the breaking down of the
present legal bulwark of the colored
American.
Every step possible should be taken
at once to prevent such legislation.
Recent supreme court decisions, such
as the Louisville segregation case,
the Oklahoma Grandfather Clause
case, the Texas primary litigation
and the Alabama peonage decisions,
would all have been decided by state
courts If this bill had been in effect.
AS similar legislation arises in the
future it would be limited by the
Norris bill to decision by state courts.
The bill has already been reported
by the judiciary committee Of the
United States senate. The republi-
can members of this committee are
as follows: George w. Norris of Me-