The Phoenix index., 1940-08-17
Cases Of
Jim Grow
Revealed
Civil Service
Commission
Denies Charges

WASf11NSl0N-tS AS q
consequence of the exposure of re-
cent cases of discrimination against
Negro clerical workers in assign
ment Of Civil Service jobs under
the National Defense program in
the nations capital, a delegation,
called together by the National Ne
gro Congress, Washington Council.
and representing dozen local and
national organizations, Friday wait
ed upon Harry B. Mitchell, presi-
dent of the United States Civil
Service Commission "for the pur-
pose of securing guarantees OF
equal and just placement of Me-
groes as of other workers under
the. Civil Service"
The statement of the delegation
to the Commission, presented by
its spokesman, DR.. w. A. Hunton,
vice president of Washington Coun
eli, National Negro Congress, in
Guided the following:
1.-THE widely known fact that this
equal and just treatment Of Ne
groes has not existed and does not
exist has been source of growing
indignation and resentment among
both the Negro people and their
white fellowworkers who look to the
government to set the example for
private employers in their rela-
tions with their workers. All ex-
cept a small fraction Of all Negro
workers under the Civil Service in
federal agencies located in the Dist
rict are in the category Of custodial
workers-and they remain, in this
same category even though they
qualify for promotion In rank. At
the same time Negro clerical ard
professional workers IN the active
files of the Z G. Employment Gen.
ter remain without jobs"
COMES TO LIGHT
''On top OF this long-standing
grievance there has come to light
evidence of racial discrimination IN
the assignment of civil service JOBS
under the National Defense program
and this circumstance. which has
aroused widespread protests, is the
specific and immediate reason for
the presence OF TINS delegation here
today"
DR.. Hunton then pointed out
three recent cases of discrimination
under the National Defense Pro-
gram in the denial CT jobs to Ne
groes a. coolers and classifiers, as
card punch operators, and as blue
print operators. Information on
these cases, it was pointed out,
came from Mr.. Edwin Jones, Di-
rector of the D. G. Employment
Center, who insisted that the Civil
Service Commission denied these
groes from these jobs. The Civil
Service Comission denied these
charges.
The Statement of the delegation
declared, in this connection: This
delegation condemns the. refusal OF
either the D. c. Employment Cen
ter or the Civil Service Commits
sion to accept responsibility for the
discriminatory order for the 300
white workers as an act of nsin-
cerity and a violation OF public
trust. This case and the two 9TH
ers cited by Mr.. Jones represent,
apparently, an established policy
on the part of the Civil Service
Commission which is sharply at
variance with the ideals of democ-
racy and national unity SO fire.
uuently voiced in this period OF
crisis. The Negro people OF this
country cannot enter enthusiast
cally into any program OF national
defense based upon policy Of ra-
cial discrimination. The Negro peo-
ple cannot support an administra-
tion which permits the Civil Serv-
ice to continue pursuing such
policy.
CALLS OTHER MEMBERS
After lengthy discussion during
which President Mitchell found 1t
necessary to call in other members
of the Commission, Mr.. Mitchell
agreed to adopt the following pro-
cedrres which were proposed by
the delegation:
First, with respect to relations
between the Civil Service Com
! mission and State Employment
Centers:
i. All orders or acquisitions be-
tween the Civil Service Commits
sion should be made specifically
In writing;
2. No such order should contain
any reference to the race of the
applicants or should make any
distinction between Negro and