The Omaha guide., 1935-06-29
Governor Signed
Civil Rights Bill

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A campaign launched siz
months ago to enact the passage
of Civil Rights Bill with teeth
came to a successful end here
last Friday when Governor Har
old G. Hoffman, signed Assembly
Bill 326, in the presence of As.
Semblyman j. Mercer Burrell
who introduced the measure.
Assemblyman Burrell introduc.
ed the bill at the beginning Of the
session in January, and continued
a strenuous campaign throughout
the state ~enlisting support for the
measure. Many strong organiza-
lions including the state Associa-
ton of n A. A. G. p, both Demo
cratic and Republican Branches
political organizations, fraternal
orders and hundreds of prominent
individuals kept the members of
the Assembly and Senate flooded
with postcards, letters, and tele-
grams urging support Of the bill.
The bill passed the lower house
by unanimous vote on March 18th,
after some difficulty had been ex-
perienced In having it released
from the Judiciary committee for
a vote.
The greatest difficulty was en-
countered In getting the bill out
OF the Senate Judiciary Com
mittee. Some members Of this
committee had first insisted on
drastic amendments which would
have greatly limited the benefits
under Assemblyman Burrell's or
iginal measure. Finally a com
promise was brought about
whereby a slight reduction was
made In the amount Of minimum
attorney fee requested in the Bur
rel bill, and it was mutually
agreed to place jurisdiction in the
Court of Common pleas in COUNT
es where there was no District
Court. The sponsor Of the bill
then introduced two further
amendments making the features
of the bill absolutely mandatory
by the elimination of the phrase,
shall be entitled to receive and
substituting the word bringing
in the part Of the act referring to
the payment Of costs Of court to
the aggrieved party.
By reason Of these amend
ments payment of full taxed
costs to the aggrieved party and
also OF a minimum attorney fee
of $4,000 and a maximum at
Itorney fee Of $4,000 was made
absolutely mandatory on the
court in the case Of judgement.
The amended bill passed the
Senate without a dissenting vote,
but encountered a last minute at
tack in the House, which was
overcome by a legislative counter
attack which secured the full
support of the speaker Of the
House and the majority and
minority leaders.
Through the cooperation of
speaker Lester H. Glee and
Clerk Frederick Brodesser, the
bill was given a favorable spot
on the calendar and the house
concurred in the senate amend
ments with no discussion and not
a vote in opposition.
Assemblyman Burrell in a
statement to the press, said, eve
do not claim to have plugged all
Of the loop-holeS in the civil
rights law, but the act signed
by Governor Hoffman will alb
solutely insure the prosecution of
a meritorious action without the
a%ggrieved party being saddled
with the burden Of expenses Of
trial, including payment Of his
attorney. Many points Of legal
obscurity in relation to .iurisdic-
ton IN courts, the amout Of costs
and attorney fee to be paid, and
the method of determining the
amount Of these payments are no
longer questions Of debate. as
they are clearly set forth il this
new act.
"The aggrieved party viii be
able to obtain an estimated maxi
mum of both attorney fees and
taxed costs of about $125.OO when
as a practical proposition there
are few cases on record under
the 1921 law where courts have
allowed the aggrieved party any
more than an average Of SIS. to
Sc. Much remains to be done to
bring the New Jersey law up to
the standards of the Levy law of
New York, but public sentiment
must be aroused by campaigns Of
education before any such legisla-
ton will stand a possible chance
of passage.
Those who so ably assisted in
larOuciOr tho cOIorod oi+izo1c o1J