Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1947-11-08
BY LOUIS LAUTIER

hensive report tailing a broad
program for q Ing and pro-
tecting SS.rldu civil rights.
RecomEf Vi of the commit
tee chiefly 1 the setting up of
machinery for the protection OF
civil rights, 2. legislation to plug
upholes in existing federal civil
rights laws and to define as fed
eral offenses crimes now covered
by state law only, and 8, legis-
lation to guarantee and protect
the franchise in both federal and
state elections.
To strengthen the machinery
for the protection of civil rights,
the committee recommended the
reorganization of the Civil Rights
Section of the Jutice Department
as a full division with nine re-
gional office, larger appropria-
tons to increase its staff and
allow more extensive research
and more effective action to pre-
vennt civil rights violations.
The committee apparently did
not look with favor upon the
suggestion of representatives of
the Justice Department that the
heads OF regional offices have
the status of assistant United
States attorneys. 1t said it was
fearful that under this plan the
goal of effective, courageous and
nonpolitical civil right protect
ion in the field will not be
reached unless satisfactory mea-
sure are taken to prevent these
assistants from becoming more
political ubordinates within the
offices of the United States At
torneys."
Authorization of the Civil
Rights Section to use civil SAN
ctions is also recommended. The
committee believes the section
should be authorized to sue for
damages, injunctive relief, or de-
claratory judgments, and to in
tervene as a friend of the court
in private litigation involving
important issues of civil rights
law.
Congressional action to give the
Civil Rights Section divisional
status is urged. 1.-THE report said
such action" would give the fed
eral civil rights enforcement pro-
gram prestige, power, and eff
cheney that it now lacks.'
The report also recommended
the establishment within the Fed
eral Bureau of Investigation of
unit assigned to the handling
of civil rights case only. This
unit would cooperate closely
with the Civil Rights Section of
the Justice Department and the
proposed regional offices.
Establihment of a permanent
commission civil rights in the
executive office of the President
and the creation of joint stand
ing committee on civil rights of
the House and Senate also is
recommended.
In making this recommends
ton the committee pointed out
that Nowhere in the federal gov
eminent is there an agency with
the continuous appraisal of the
status Of civil rights, and the eff
ficiency of the machinery with
in which We hope to improve
that status"
1t pointed out that a Presid-
entail commission could per
form an invaluable function by
collecting data and carry on
technical research to improve the
fact-gathering methods now in
ue," making possible a periodic
audit Of the extent to which our
civil rights are secure"
The committee added that Con-
gress would be aided in drafting
legislation for broadening civil
rights by a standing committee
established JOINTLY by the House
and Senate.
Alo recommended was the es-
tablishmnt by the states of per
manent commissions ito make
continuing tudies of prejudice,
group tenion, and other local civ
IL right problem
The committee also fovored no.
lice training programs, patterned
after the FBI's agents school and
the Chicago Park District pro-
gram, to bring about improve
want ~ civil rsoh+c rro41a&g~. -