Evening star., 1945-12-20
Truman Orders
Agencies 10 End
Discrimination
President Gives FEPc
Right to investigate
Privote Industry

Private Industry
President Truman charged to-
day that Government agencies
are practicing racial and re-
ligious discrimination in the re-
hiring OF personnel displaced
by postwar retrenchment. He
served notice on the heads of all
establishments to clear up this
situation.
This condition is violation Of
civil service rules which have been
issued by the President and is in
violation of existing law the Presi-
dent asserted in a directive to
agency heads.
Mr.. Truman made the charges as
he issued an executive order estab-
fishing the right of the Fair EN-
ployment Practice Committee to in
vestigate and report on employment
practices in private industry.
FEPC ofhcials explained that since
the war their Jurisdiction in this
respect had been questioned.
They added that the committee
still will be without power to issue
directives where discrimination Is
established, except In the Govern
ment.
Reports Of Discrimination.
In wartime, the committee had
the power to order the abolition OF
discrimination against minority
groups In industries linked to the
war effort.
The Presidents directive today
was prompted by reports of dis
elimination in Government, laid
before him by members of the FEPC
during a White House call several
days ago.
FEPC Chairman Malcolm Ross
told newsmen that the committee
had not followed through at that
time to determine If the reports had
substance.
The Presidents statement said:
"Cutbacks in Government en-
ployment have resulted in q con-
siderable displacement of wartime
workers in Washington and the
field. The Civil Service Commis-
sion, in the interest of retaining
capable and efficient employees
wherever possible, has established q
|set Of principles governing reduc-
ton in force and transfer Of em-
tployes to peacetime activity.
| TT has come to my attention
| that q considerable number Of loyal
and qualified employees have beer
refused transfer and re-empioy-
ment by employing agencies solely
because Of race and creed. This
condition is . violation of civil
service rules which have been issued
by the President and is In violation
of existing law.
Wants Careful Analysis.
'I am writing to request that
you make careful analysis of your
personnel policies. procedures and
practices in order that you can
assure me that they are In accord
with national law and policy and
in order that all qualified workers
In existing temporary war jobs viii
be considered fairly for appoint
ments without distinction because
Of race, creed, color or national
origin.
I'm addition your full co-opera-
tion with FEPC in all matters af-
fecting the employment of minori-
ties In Government Is requested" !"
The executive order, in clearing
up the question Of the committees
jurisdiction, will pave the way for
o hearing planned in Chicago in
February in which it is intended
to get q line on industrial employ
ment practices, according to Mr..
Ross. Committee members are rep
resented as believing that discrimi-
nation is being practiced.
While Congress has refused to
accede to the Presidents request to
set UP the FEPC as permanent
agency, it appropriated $3.50, 900 to
permit the agency to function to
a limited extent until July /. Mr..
Ross said at the time of his White
House visit the FEPC had only
$63, 900 left. Several field Offices, in
cluding one in washington, have
been discontinued.
The Senate Labor Committee has
approved bill giving the FEPC
permanent status but companion
measure has been stymied in the
House Rules Committee. An at
tempt has been made to discharge
the committee from consideration OF
the bill but only about $50 Of the
2l8 necessary signatures have been
obtained for the discharge petition.