Evening star., 1948-05-05
Covenant Backers
Study Ways TO Avert
Cut in Land Values

values unchanged mere in view OF
the Supreme Courts ruling that
courts cannot enforce racial restric-
tive covenants.
Some property owner groups
urged that covenants be continued
as voluntary arrangements in their
areas. Others urged that different
types of neighborhood or block-by-
block agreements be worked out.
The Supreme Courts opinion
meanwhile has received a consider
ably broader Interpretation. JUS
tice Department attorneys declared
it not only stops Federal and State
court enforcement of agreements
barring persons from neighborhoods
because Of race or color but also
bans enforcement of agreements
aimed at persons because Of creed.
FoOtnote In Opinion Cited
Calling attention to footnote
In the Supreme Court opinion that
restrictive property agreements
have been directed against Jews
as well as Negroes, the attorneys
said:
1T is the opinion Of the Justice
Department that the rulings of the
Supreme Court in the racial re-
Strictive covenant cases. although
the issues Immediately before the
court affected restrictions based on
race and color, are applicable with
equal force TO similar agreements
based on creed
This view was expressed in
formally last Monday. Some law
yers said they believed that if a
test case on a restrictive agree
ment against Jews or any other
group came before the Supreme
Court the final decision would be
the same.
Members of several white citizens
associations that met last night said
neighborhood property agreements
in one form or another should be
voluntarily maintained.
we can organize TO form as
sociationS of those who will not
sell to colored people" Mrs. Frank
lin G. Sartwell, president Of the
Metropolis View Citizens Associa-
ton, said If we carry on good
neighbor policy and people don't
get paniCky the situation can be
handled. BY getting together block
by block agreements we can have
the same peaceful situation in our
neighborhoodS as before
Martin A. De Broske, association
vice president, added that even If
we don't know what to do at this
time we can't let property values
drop"
100 Pct. Behind Covenants.
Declaring that his group stands
George H. Brown, of the Columbia
Heights Citizens Association, told
fellow members last night not to
become alarmed over the Supreme
Court decision. He noted that the
ruling did not abolish or outlaw
covenants as private agreements.
He urged members not to let "un-
scrupulous real estate men, panic
them into selling their property.
Linn C. Drake, acting president
Of the Macarthur Boulevard Citi-
zens' Association. said There's no
use discussing the covenant case
because It is over I'm sure people
will find a way to get around 1t"
At a meeting of the Southeast
Council of the Federation of Citi-
zens Associations, Alfred D, Calvert,
president of the Lincoln Park Citi-
zens Association. handed reporter
a signed card on which he said: 1T
is no exaggeration to say that in
volved is actually the continuation
or collapse of civilization"
Washington real estate men diff
fered as to the probable effect of
the decision on property values here.
F. Moran McConihe, president of
the Washington Real Estate Board,
said he doubted there would be a
great change in the picture.
Rufus Lusk, real estate analyst
and publisher. predicted that many
property values would be upset. He
said 1T is doubtful whether court
decision of real property ever was
fraught with as far-reaching i'm
plications.'
The question of possible damage
suits in connection with covenants
came up again today. An attorney
said he believed the way was left
open for covenant holders to bring
suit for breach of contract against
any member who sold contrary to
the agreement. But Justice De-
partment attorney commented that
such damage suits were ruled out
by the Supreme Courts stand
against judicial enforcement of COW
enantS.
In Congress the only speeches on
the court ruling we're those of Rep
resentatives Rankin and Williams,
Mississippi Democrats. They said
it would bring back the Ku Klux
Klan and was victory for the
Communists.
rI slI NlIsII