Evening star., 1945-12-04
President 10 Accept
Houston Resignation
Over Transit Stand

Vver IIdnSHSIdnQ
Charles H. Houston, colored at
torney, has resigned from the Fai
IEmployment Practices Committee
and his resignation has been re
ceived by President Truman, Charlie
q. Ross, White House press secre
ttary, said today. S'
Z Mr.. Ross said the resignation vii
be accepted and the Presidents let
ter Of acceptance viii be made pub
lie when it is ready, later today O
tomorrow.
Asked If the Presidents lette
would 80 into the merits of tn,
Capital Transit Co. case, which MI
Houston said caused his resigna
ton, Mr.. Ross said he did not be,
lieve it would. ~, --..
Gives Only Lip Service.
Mr.. Houston, who is q formel
member of the District Board O
Education, gave a statement to tn,
press yesterday, saying that 9Th,
Presidents attitude in the Capita
Transit case reflects a persisten
course Of conduct on the part o.
the administration since VI da,
to give lip service to the mattel
Of eliminating discrimination in EN-.
ployment on account of race, creed
color or national origin. while do.
Ing nothing substantial to make
the policy effective"
Mr.. Houston said it was his in.
tention to address mass meetings
and tell people what happened
From copies OF two letters ad.
dressed to the President by Mr.. Hous-
ton and his answers to reporters
questions in his F street law office
this account emerged:
The committee met on November
% in the absence sof Its chairman
Malcolm Ross, who was in a hospital
The committee felt the Presidents
order of November 81 taking over
the strikebound Capital Transit Co.
removed all doubt as to the COM
mittee's jurisdiction. The commit
tees scope is limited, by the execu-
tive order creating it, to war indus
tries. Government contract opera
tons and Government service. The
Presidents order taking over the
company said that the war effort
will be unduly impeded" by the
strike then in progress. That. the
committee felt, made it clear that
the company was war industry.
Voted to Issue Decision.
The committee voted unanimously
to issue a final decision directing
"the Capital Transit Co. to cease
and desist from practices and
policies which have resulted in the
denial of employment to Negroes,
because of race, as conductors,
motormen, bus operators and trafnc
checkers" The decision was based
on hearings held in January and
proposed findings and directives
which were shown to the company
in April but held in allegiance.
The position of some OF the COM
mittee members was to issue the
decision unless the committee re-
ceived orders to the contrary from
the President. Mr.. Houston tele-
phoned Guy Richardson of the
Office of Defense Transportation
appointed by the President to op-
crate the company. Mr.. Richardson
opposed issuance of the FEPC, de-
cision, saying it would embarrass the
Government and be- inconsistesfi
with the Presidents order takinf
over the company. ~,
Mr.. Houston also telephonec
Philleo Nash in the office of Davie
Niles in the White House. The mex
morning, November "a, Mr.. Houston
received a call from John r. Steel.
man, the Presidents adviser or
labor affairs. Mr.. Steelman told Mr.
Houston the President had directed
him to notify Mr.. Houston not tc
issue the decision. Mr.. Houston
asked for such instructions in writ.
ing Mr.. Steelman said he woult
call him about that at 2 pm.
No Written Instructions.
At 2:30 pm. William Hassett
presidential secretary, telephonec
Mr.. Houston and said he was pres.
ent when the President told Mr.
Steelman to notify FEPC not te
issue the decision. Mr.. Houston still
asked for written instructions but
has not received any. This con.
cludes the account from Mr.. Hous.
tons letters and statements.
The members of the FEPC in ad.
dition to Mr.. Ross and Mr.. Houston
are Boris Shishken (AFL), Johr
Brophy (CIO), Milton P. Web.
ster. colored, Of the Brother.
hood Of Sleeping Car Porters; Sara
Southall Of the personnel depart.
ment of international Harvester ane
Tha rlAs 7, Horp prAs{d>nf ~ ~,