St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-02-23
Favorable Report
Made on FEPC
By Committee
HOUSE GETS FAVORABLE
REPORT ON FEPC

of Sen. K. A. Taft, who opposes a
Permanent FEPC with "teeth," the
House Labor Committee has favor
ably reported an FEPC bill which
contains enforcement powers. The
vote of the committee was II to 2,
Reps. Hoffman (R) of Michigan
and Fisher (D) of Texas were the
only two to vote against the
measure.
The bill reported is composite of
one introduced by Rep. Mary Nor
ton CD of New Jersey, chairman
of the House Labor Committee, and
ten identical bills introduced by
Reps. Dawson (D). of Illinois,
Powell (D) of New York, Hook (D)
of Michigan, Douglas CD of Cali
fornia, Doyle CD of California, La
Toilette (R) of Indiana, Baldwin
(R) of New York, Dirksen (R) of
Illinois, Clason (R) of Massachu-
sets, and Bender (R) of Ohio.
Under provisions of the measure,
companies found guilty of job dis
elimination would be penalized by
being denied government contracts
for a year. This is a reduction
from the 3-year penalty provided
in the earlier bills. Enforcement of
the directives of the agency
through the courts is provided.
Commenting on the House Com
mittee action, the National Council
for Permanent FEPC said it was
encouraging evidence of the grow
ing realization that economic dis
elimination has no place in a
healthy democracy"
eve are most grateful to the
bills sponsors and supporters of
both parties in the House who have
joined forces in advancing legisla-
ton so deeply desired by church,
civic and labor organizations" the
Council declared.
Mrs. Norton stated that the &C
complishments of the Presidents
Committee on Fair Employment
Practice had established the fact
that this legislation is necessary
and will be even more necessary
when the war ends"
"Since both presidential candi-
dates specifically endorsed the set
ting up of this agency, it is ex-
pected that there will be strong BIZ
partisan support" she said.
Early consideration of the
measure by the House is expected
by the Labor Committee. The
measure will have to be given a
rule for consideration by the House
through the House Rules Commit
tee, however. This is expected to
be the next high hurdle for the
measure to get over. If the Rules
Committee does not act within 80
days a petition may be circulated
to discharge it from further con-
sideration of the measure and to
bring the bill to a vote. Such a
petition will require 218 signatures
of Members of the House in order
to be effective.
FULL EMPLOYMENT
BILL OMITS NON
DISCRIMINATION CLAUSE
WASHINGTON, D. C. (NNPA)
"A "full employment" bill, in keep
ing with the Presidents 100000
jobs program for the postwar was
dropped into the Senate hopper this
week. In its original draft, the bill
is known to have contained a nom
discrimination clause. The pro-
posal submitted to the Senate, how
ever, was minus such a clause.
The bill is sponsored by four
Democratic Senators - Murray of
Montana, Wagner of New York,
Thomas of Utah and O'Mahoney of
Wyoming. On reliable information,
the NNPA has learned that Senator
O'Mahoney insisted on deletion of
the non-discrimination clause.
The bill would establish the right
to job, as federal policy, for all
Americans able and looking fol-
work who have finished their
schooling and who do not have full
time household responsibilities.
1t states that if full employment
cannot be achieved otherwise, it is
the federal governments response
bility "to provide such volume OF
federal investment and expenditure
as may be needed" to produce the
jobs.
Senator Robert Taft (R. of Ohio
condemned the proposal last week
in a speech, asserting it eventually
would lead to the assignment by the
government of every man anC
woman to a job selected by the
government. That, he added, "is
in contradiction to the whole Ameri,
can tradition" and is Exactly the
same system pursued in Russia to,
day."
Negroes are fearful that such ar
all-inclusive bill will operate tc
their detriment if no safeguards
are provided to prevent prejudiceC
administrators and industrialists
assigning Negroes to the least de,
sirable and lowest-paying jobs de,
spite their qualifications and expert,
ence.