Evening star., 1943-05-29
Capital Transit Case
Delay Indicated by
New FEPC Setup
Mser: Hoos, Choirmon,
Says Full Power of
Order Will Be Used
By HAROLD r. ROGERS.


ing to reliable indications today.
The chairman of the reconstructed
committee, Msgr Francis j. Haas,
who Is on leave from Catholic Uni
versity, where he is dean of the
School of Social Science, probably
will be sworn in for his new post
Monday. The other six members of
the committee still are to be ap-
pointed by the President, under the
Executive order promulgated yester-
day to set up the committee on
new basis.
Msgr. Haas declined at press
conference yesterday afternoon to
make any definite predictions on the
transit company hearing, which the
former FEPC had scheduled for
next Wednesday at the Smithsonian
Institution. AS the new committee
has not yet been completely estab-
lished, however, observers were gen.
orally agreed that the hearing prob
ably would not be held Wednesday
Msgr. Haas admitted it was an
open question:
Called on for Answer.
The old FEPC. which was abol-
ished by the Presidential order,
had called on the Capital Transit
Co. to answer complaints that it
had allegedly Disseminated against
Negroes as "pla torn men on both
streetcars and buses.
The Capital Transit case definitely
has been inherited by the new COM
mittee. however, Msgr. Haas said
but he declined to comment on its
merits or as to how the new COM
mittee may handle the problem
Headquarters of the new commit
tee probably will continue at its
present location at Tenth and U
streets NV, it was indicated.
Lawrence w. Cramer. executive
secretary of the old FEPC. indicated
he intends to 60 into the Army,
"if they will have me- He said
this in answer to question at the
press conference about his personal
plans
Il believe Msgr. Haas will do a
hrst class, fortnight job, in his
new post" Mr.. Cramer said in reply
to another question.
To Use "AI Authority"
The new FEPC chairman was
questioned at length by the press
on the powers and jurisdiction of
the new committee as reconstructed
by the President. His replies were
mostly in generalities. but he
pledged application Of the terms of
the order to accomplish its pur-
pose.
What powers there are in that
executive ORDER he said, the new
committee will consider and use
We are going to use all the author
ity there Is in it,"
Referring to the manpower which
the President said in his executive
order should be used without dis
elimination as to race, creed
color or national origin" Msgr
Haas said, here we have a vital
manpower. Some of it is not being
used. This is not to be tolerated
This is not only a matter of prose-
cutting the war. but also a matter
OF fairness and decency and hu-
manity to all the American people -
Cases before the committee in
volving complaints of disclfmina
ton do not all involve Negroes, it
was pointed out. According to sta
tistics made public at the press
conference through George John
son, assistant executive secretary
of the old FEPC, the complaints
during the four months period from
January through April were as fol-
lows: 75.5 per cent because of race
165 per cent because of aliens:
6.3 per cent because of creed. and
IL per cent because of national
origin. Not all OF these cases have
been settled.
Avoids Commitments.
Urged to interpret certain phases
OF the new executive order, espe-
cially in places where it differed
from the original order setting up
the old FEPC in July, 1s41, before
Pearl Harbor, Msgr. Haas repeated
ly referred the press to the language
Of the new order itself, and indi-
Gated he did not wish to commit
himself specifically on what his new
committee may do, especially since
the other six members have not vet
been appointed.
Among the points called to his
attention were the fact that Presi-
dent Roosevelt signed the order
both as President and as Com
mander in Chief, and that the new
order included the word eliminate"
which was not in the old order. In
his new order the President de-
clared 1t was the duty of all en-
ployers, including the several Fed
eral departments and agencies. and
all labor organizations to
eliminate discrimination in regard
to hire, tenure, terms or conditions
OF employment or union member
ship because of race, creed, color
or national origin"
In regard to another parapra pF
OF the new order saying the com.
mlttee shall make recommenda.
tlons" to Federal departments ane
agencies and to the President, Msgr
Haas said this language was per.
mlssive, not mandatory" He also
characterized with the same phrase
another section of the order which
said the committee shall also rec.
ommend to the chairman of the
War Manpower Commission an.
proprlate measures for bringins
about the full utilization and train.
ing OF manpower in and for wa,
production without discrimina ton.
Msgr. Haas said obviously we will
use the War Manpower Commission
as much as we can."
May Conduct Hearings.
The order further sid the COM
mittee may" conduct hearings
make findings of fact and take ap-
propriate steps to obtain elimination
OF such discrimination. The COM
mittee was authorized to "promul-
oofa S1Yrh r,,1ae and 10 -,