Evening star., 1948-07-27
Restoration Of Excess Profits Tax
Passage Of Housing Bill Urged;
Civil Rights Program Reiterated
Fight Touched Off
By Issuance of Two
Executive Orders
(Tert OF executive orders, pg. A-11)
By the Associofed Press

By the Assoeioted Press
President Truman tossed his
full civil rights program back to
Congress today without spe-
officially singing out the racial
against which South
ern Democrats have pledged a
"no-surrender" fight.
In a sternly-worded message to
assembled House and Senate men,
bers, the Chief Executive said en-
actment of the program he first out
lined last February "is necessary to
carry out our American ideals of
liberty and justice for all"
The White House, in advance of
Mr.. Trunian's personal address, had
listed anti-lynching and anti-poll
tax bills as among those he would
plug for because hearings on them
have been completed.
Two Critical Orders Issued.
And if his irate Southern foes
needed any fresh spur to anger, the
President supplied it last night by
ordering an "FEPC" for Federal
workers and an anti-discrimination
drive in the armed forces.
The two executive orders were an
nounced by the White House shortly
after 10 Senators from II Southern
States banded together for last
ditch stand against the Truman
program.
1--WE will never surrender" Sena-
tor Russell, Democrat of Georgia
said. The veteran Georgia law
maker who spoke for the group
had been the choice of the Southern
rebels for President at the recent
Democratic convention.
AS for Mr.. Truman's twin orders,
Senator Russell termed them an
unconditional surrender" tosthe
Henry A. Wallace Progressive Party
convention and to the threatened
civil disobedienee campaign against
the draft by some Negro leaders.
The President noted in his mes
sage today that congressional COM
mitees have considered legislation
to carry out some of his. proposals
but that only one had been approved.
That lone measure was for settling
the wartime evacuation claims of
Japanese-AmericanS.
, OF the others, he said: "I believe
that it is necessary to enact the laws
I have recommended in order to
make the guarantees of the Consti-
tuition real and VITAL
These are the others:
Lists Other Proposals.
Il. Establishing a permanent
commission on civil rights, joint
congressional committee on civil
rights and civil rights division in
the Department of Justice.
%. Strengthening existing civil
rights statutes.
%. Providing Federal protection
against lynching.
a. 1nsuring that the right to vote
in elections for Federal Offices shall
not be contingent upon the payment
of taxes.
IS. Establishing a Fair Employ
ment Practice Commission to pre-
vent unfair discrimination in en-
ployment.
"6. Prohibiting discrimination in
Interstate transportation facilities.
~. Providing home-rule and suf-
frage in presidential elections for
the residents of the District of
Columbia.
"8. Providing statehood for Ha-
waii and Alaska and greater meas
ure of self-government for our is
land possessions.
20. Equalizing the opportunities
for residents in the United States to
become naturalized citizens"
Seven-Man Board Set Up.
The first executive order issued
by the President last night directed
his cabinet officers to see that there
is no discrimination within the Fed
eral civil service because of race,
color. religion or national origin.
It also created seven-man Fair
Employment Board in the Civil
Service Commission, which already
is required by law to guard against
discrimination in Government en-
ployment.
The second order set up a COM
mittee on equality of treatment
and opportunity" in the armed serv-
ices-this policy to be put into ef-
feet as soon as possible without i'm
pairing efficiency Or morale"
Senator Russell said the order to
set up an FEPC in Government is
nothing but a political sop because
Negroes already have 10 per cent
Of the Federal jobs"
And as for the equality of treat
ment and opportunity" order, the
Senator said Mr.. Truman had
ignored statement by Gen. Eisen-
hover that separate units for the
races were better for the efficiency
Of the armed services as well as for
both races"
Senator Russell had told a news
conference that the Southern Dem
ocrats are ready In "fipht tn the