Evening star., 1937-01-03
CIVIL SERVICE USE
f. OF PICTURES IS HIT

Held Discriminatory Against
CoIored Persons Civic
Federation Reviews 1886.
Use Of photographs for identification
of civil service applicants results in
discrimination against colored people,
the Federation Of Civic Associations
charges in a work program adopted
as a guide for other colored civic
groups.
The small percentage Of colored
citizens holding clerical positions and
almost negligible percentage Of techni-
cal positions held emphasizes this
discrimination. the program informed
member civic associations.
The adoption of the fingerprint
identifications system to replace the
present use of photographs is urged
as we'll as the appointment of one
colored person to serve as civil service
commissioner.
Past Year Reviewed.
The work of the federation for the
year 1886 has unearthed many needs,
many disappointments and upsets, but
some progress Woolsey w. Hall,
president. announced yesterday.
Many persons who had been on relief,
but whose allowance had been stopped
or reduced, and many whose services
had been discontinued, appealed to
the federation, which aided many
needy families by securing relief
agency funds after an examination Of
the worthiness of each case.
The federation co-operated with the
Metropolitan Police Department in
bringing to the attention of responsible
heads some Of the policemen who as.
sumed an attitude of too much power
and authority and disregard the
services and protection to the COM
munity for which they were paid,
Hall added as another highlight Of
the past years activities.
The organization was actively rep
resented in the Conference on Better
Housing Among Negroes held in April
at the Minor Teachers College Other
activities during the year in which
the colored people participated
through the federation include: The
Fourth of July Committee and in an
advisory way with the Citizens Com
mittee of the seventeenth annual en-
campment of the Grand Army of the
Republic. Letters directed 20 each
member civic association resulted in
participation in the Community Chest
campaign.
Appear Before Officials.
On legislative matters the fedora
tion was represented before subcom-
mittees en- District appropria tions for
funds for colored school building
projects and before the District Com
missioners, the Budget Bureau and
the Park and Planning Commission
in behalf of flood relief for the north.
east section, additional playground
areas and recreational activities.
The work program which the fed
Grafton sent to all member bodies for
Endorsement in order to give weight
and direction ito our crusade for eco
nomic and civic advancement" in
cludes five other projects other than
the civil service recommendations
They are:
Recreational proviSions-Tne crea-
ton of a board of recreational activi-
ties to administer such affairs and that
one colored citizen be placed thereon.
Representation on Public Library
Board-Proper colored representation
on Board of Trustees, Public Library
Medical examinations-Colo cit
izens be adequately represented on
Board of Medical Examiners for Police
Department.
Public works-The appointment Of
colored works progress administrator
for the District.
Flll-time secretary-The employ
ment of a full-time secretary to pro-
mote and protect the civic interests of
the colored citizens of the District. to
be paid by the member civic associa-
tions.
Federation Membership.
The Federation of Civic Associations
consists of "a colored civic associations
throughout the city-two of which were
admitted during the year 1886, These
two are the Lincoln Citizens Associs-
ton and the Brookland Community
Association.
Other groups holding membership in
the parent body and their meeting
schedules each month are: Bennins.
Glendale and Oakland, fourth Thurs
day: Bloomingdale. second Tuesday:
Capitol View, third Monday.
Central Northwest first Thursday;
Deanwood, on call East Central, sec.
ond Thursday; Eastland Gardens. sec.
ond Wednesday Garfield, second Wed.
nesday; Hillsdale, second Friday, Ivy
City. first Tuesday; Kingman Park.
second Tuesday: Howard Park. on call.
Northeast Boundary. second Tues
day; Northwest Brightwood, fourth
Monday; Pleasant Plains. second FRI
day; Public Interest. third Monday;
Rock Creek, fourth Wednesday; South
east Civic League. third Monday:
Southwest, fourth Monday; Marshall
Heights, on call.