The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-02-26
FUNCTIONS OF.
DEPART ENTS.
A R E DISCUSSED.

Specific functions of the Police
Department, Housing Commission
and the Board of Education and
their community responsibilities
were explained by authorities TO
about 1900 persons who attended a
meeting sponsored by the Detroit
branch, National Alliance OF Postal
Employees at Bethel AME. church,
Sunday afternoon.
Speakers included John F. Ballen-
ger, Police Commissioner. for the
police department; George Skinner.
administrative assistant for the
housing commission, and DR.. Paul
T. Rankin, assistant superintendent.
Detroit public schools. for the Board
of Education. The Rev. Charles c.
Hill, pastor Of Hartford Avenue
Baptist church. also appeared on the
program. Snow F. Grigsby, editor
the Postal Alliance, official organ
of the NAPE, was chairman Of the
meeting.
Public Housing
Public housing, Skinner said, Is
not accepted as a function OF city
government at present. and does
not have public acceptance. AS
matter Of fact, he declared, poll
on public housing would reveal that
the majority of people are against
any national or city government
sponsored public housing move
ment. He also pointed out that D
the housing commission only acts
as agent for the government hous-
ing authority: 90 the performance
OF the local housing commission in
regards to housing Negroes is some
thing that many members OF the
body are mot proud Of" 90 cham
Der OF commerce, real estate trusts,
churches and labor unions should
share the responsibility for decent
housing and "a public housing
must make relentless effort for
its very existence IL IL is to survive
the attacks Of real estate interests
Ballenger reiterated his stand on
fairness TO all applicants for the
police department and told the au-
dience that he is still new on the
job. that he expects TO make mis-
takes but that he also expects COM
plants OF unfair treatment OF in
dividuals and groups from rep
reSentative committees. In the
matter Of promotions. the commits
sioner promised that III any Negro
gets in line for promotion on the
promotion list he will be called in
his turn il il is the last thing ! do"
Negroes. he said. will be given
every consideration because he Is
convinced that there should be
more Negroes on the police force.
He deplored the fact that Detroit
has the lowest number OF Negroes
on its police force than any other
industrial city when rated accord
ing 10 population ratio. In the event
Of another race riot, the police will
be ready to deal with il and he
promised that no Discrimination
OF head whipping will be shown"
Better Understanding
Or. Rankin declared that the
Board of Education Is emphasizing
more complete study OF the dif-
ferent races in order that there can
be better understanding and
have some degree OF unity" An in
crease in the volume OF books by
and about Negroes in public and
school Libraries has been noticed in
recent months. he said. and facil-
tiles are equalized in all local
schools. regardless TO the FREEDOM
inant racial population OF the
school. Detroit. he said. has about
the highest csliber teachers that
can be found in any school system.
Rev. Hill aroused the audience
70 loud applause by pointing out 10
each preceding speaker injustices
suffered ~ Negroes in each OF the
departments represented on the
program Regardless 10 promises.
Rev. Hill declared. Negroes must
continue their protest 10 Unequal
tiles and demand not equal oppor-
tunities but the same opportunities
enjoyed by other groups
Grigsby, who was described BY
Ballenger as man w.lo does every
thing vigorously" announced the
coming publication OF a booklet en-
titled Now or Never with articles
by Mrs Eleanor Roosevelt. A. Philip
Randolph. Governor Thomas T.
Dewey. Harrison Spangler, Mrs
Frances Comfort. Paul Robson. DR..
Mordecai Johnson, Louis Z. Martin
and others.
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