Evening star., 1943-05-28
President Establishes
New Committee on
Fair Employment
Executive Order AboIishes
Old Group; OEM to
Supervise New One

To implement the Government S
policy of mo discrimination" in war
industry or in Government because
of race. creed. color or national
origin, President Roosevelt today
established a new" Committee on
Fair Employment Practice.
Chairman of the committee, re-
Gently disclosed. is Msgr. Francis j..
Haas, dean of the school of social
science OF Catholic University. Six
other members will be appointed by
the President.
The new committee inherits the
controversial Capital Transit Co.
case, which had been pending be-
fore the old Fair Employment Prac-
tice Committee. The transit COM
pany had been called to appear at
a hearing Wednesday to answer
complaints of the FEPC that 1t had
allegedly Disseminated against Ne
groes in hiring platform men" for
streetcar and buses.
Three Members Had Quit.
The old FEPC is abolished by the
new executive order. Three Of the
seven original members of FEPC
already had resigned. Whether any
of the four remaining members will
be reappointed could not be learned.
Msgr. Haas scheduled press con-
ference at his Office this afternoon
to interpret the authority of the new
committee and plans for administer
ing its work. The selection of Msgr.
Haas was disclosed about week ago
following a conference with Presi-
dent Roosevelt at the White House.
The old FEPC was under jurisdic-
ton OF the War Manpower Commis-
sion, but the new one has been taken
out of that agency and placed under
the Office for Emergency Manage
ment Of the Executive Office of the
President" The chairman will re-
ceive salary to be fixed by the
President not exceeding $4,000 a
year. Members of the old commit
tee served on voluntary basis. Other
members Of the new committee may
receive a per diem allowance not
exceeding s25 day and expenses.
increased Power Hinted.
The new executive order provides
that all war industries incorporate
in their contracts with the Govern
ment provisions obligating the con-
tractor not to discriminate because
of race creed, color or national
origin. The order. also provides all
departments of the Government en-
gagged in training programs for war
production shall take measures to
assure such programs are admin
istered without such discrimination
President Roosevelt issued the
new order not only as President.
but also as Commander in Chief.
This was interpreted by authorities
as giving the committee more power
than the original one.
Furthermore, the President not
only declared it to be the policy of
the United States that there should
be no discrimination because of the
declared reasons, but added:
TT is the duty OF all employees.
including the several Federal de-
partments and agencies, and all
labor organizations, to eliminate dis
elimination in regard to hire tenure,
terms or conditions of employment,
Or union membership because of
race, creed, color or national origin"
In the previous order the word
"eliminate' did not appear.
The committee shall also recon-
mend to the chairman of the War
Manpower Commission" the order
continued. appropriate measures for
bringing about the full utilization
and training OF manpower in and
for war production without discrimi-
nation. ="
May Use Other Agencies.
THE committee shall receive and
Investigate complaints of discrimina-
ton forbidden by this order the
executive order said 1T may con-
duct hearings. make findings of fact,
and take appropriate steps to obtain
elimination of such discrimination
The new organization was author
lzed to use the services and facilities
of other Federal departments and
agencies, and such voluntary and
services as may from
time to time be needed-even from
State and local authorities and off,
cials.
There is evidence the President
said. that available and needed
workers have been barred from en-
ployment in industries engaged in
war production solely by reason of
their race. creed, color. or national
origin, to the detriment of the prose-
eution OF the war, the workers
morale and national unity