The union times. (New Haven, Conn.) 1941-1948, 1944-01-08
On TheScene
In
Washington
By Virginia Gardner


Practice, which has weathered more
attacks than almost any other gov
eminent agency, is sailing into the
worst storm of its life.
PolItaxer Howard Smiths 3D..
Va.) long promised investigation
of FEPC got off to a well-publi-
cized start with seizure by Smith
committee lawyers of FEPC files
on the southeastern railroad and
west coast shipyard discrimination
cases. CrandiOsely known as the
Smith committee of the house in
vestigating the acts of executive
agencies, the committee has been
used by the wing-collared reaction
airy from the south in endless fish
ing expeditions against OPA, Natl.
War Labor Board and other kew
war agencies.
Hearings will begin Immediately
after the congressional recess, saws
chief counsel Aaron Ford. Alleged
purpose will be to determine whether
FEPC is assuming powers which can
only be conferred by special act of
congress, but observers, well-acquaint-
ed with the circus ring atmosphere Of
Smith committee hearings, expect a
vicious assault on FEPC, with $780,
OOO Negro workers as the main vic
Tins in the end.
Smiths witchhunt came as FEPC.
through its chairman Malcolm
Ross, called on President Roose-
welt 10 enforce its orders for l6
southeastern railroads and z unions
to halt discrimination i'm the en-
ployment and promotion of Ne
grOes. ALI of the railroads and three
of the unions have CHALLENGED
FEPC's authority to issue such di-
receives.
With the railroads now under
government operation, Roosevelt
can enforce any decision he may
make in the railroad discrimination
case. However, this purely accident
al circumstance does not change
the essentially toothless position of
FEPC.
Executive order 9346, issued by
the President May %, 1913,
created FEPC to carry out the ''poI-
icy of the United States to encour-
age full participation in the war
effort by all persons i'm the United
States regardless of race, creed.
color or national origin, in the firm
belief that the democratic way of
life within the nation can be de-
tended successfully only with the
help and support of all groups
within its borders.
Such discrimination, the President
said, was obviously ito the detriment
OF the prosecution of the war, the
workers morale, and national unity
Under the scope of the order, FEPC
can hold hearings and issue direc-
tlveS, but it has no effective com
pliance machinery. When its author
ity is challenged, as in the railroad
case, it can only make recommends
tons to the various federal depart
ments and agencies involved, or to
the President
The means for Transforming FEPC
from well-intentioned but helpless
committee into an effective agncy ex-
lists in HR 1882, a bill which is gain
ing fresh support daily among unions
and Negro organizations, and which
would do three things:
Make FEPC a permanent or
ganizatiOn with full statutory pow
ers, such as are held by NLRB:
power to subpoena witnesses, etc.
2-Arm FEPC chairman with au-
thOrity to fix penalties for those
who fail to comply with FEPC di-
receives.
3-Provide criminal penalties
for anyone who interferes with the
work of FEPC. Offenders would be
subject to $4,000 fine, a year in
prison, or both.
At present, the bill is buried in
the judiciary committee, but a cam
paign has been launched to get 218
signatures on house discharge petit
ton No. l8, forcing consideration
of the measure.
In the brief months of its exist
ence, FEPC has incurred the bitter
hatred of the white supremacy forces
in congress. Negro-baiting John Ran
kin, who owes his seat in the House
to the Stringent Mississippi poll tax
law, has already sounded off with
denunciation of FEPC as a trump"
organization which is trying to i'm
pose racial equality on the south.
While until now FEPC has been
financed by the Presidents execu-
tive fund, next year it will require
special appropriation from con-
gress. FEPC will be fighting for
its life then, and at stake with it
will be the urgent question of
whether One-tenth of Americas
manpOwer = the Negro working
populations to be excluded
from effective participation in the
war.