Evening star., 1948-05-07
Covenant Substitute
Needing No Court Aid.
Planned Newell Saws.

"A plan mat would replace re-
strictive property covenants and re-
quire no enforcement in court will
be announced soon by an informal
group Of citizens, Clifford H. New
ell, former president of the Fedora
ton OF Citizens Associations. said
today.
Mr.. Newell said the plan was now
In the hands of outstanding attor-
neyS to determine whether it COM
plies fully with the recent Supreme
Court opinion that restrictive cove
nantS are not enforceable in the
courts.
Il feel confident that the plan
will be set up and that it will serve
as effectively as the covenants"
Mr.. Newell said.
First announcement of the pro-
poSal was made by Mr.. Newell last
night in a talk before the Arkansas
Avenue Community Citizens Asso-
clatlon at Burdick Vocational High
School, Thirteenth and Allison
streets NV
Details Are withheld.
Later he refused to reveal the
substitute plan in detail, believing
an early revelation might defeat it's
purpose, but he told The Star today
that it would call for a grouping
of residents in different blocks to-
keep their homes just as they are
and their environment just as it is.
Mr.. Newell hinted he might en-
large on the plan in a panel dis
cussion at pm. today over WMAL-
TV. In addition to Mr.. Newell, the
participants will be James A. Crooks
and Charles H. Houston, rival at
torneys in the recent Supreme
Court case; Rufus Lusk, real estate
analyst, and Ernest F. Harper, presi-
dent of the Federation of Civic
Associations.
Mr. Newell said he felt certain the
new type agreement for homeowners
would prove to be legal in every re-
spect and would in no way void
titles or cloud deeds to property.
Since the Supreme Courts deci-
lenders have been running their
business on a precarious basis" Mr..
Newell said. But we are not so
interested in that as in the social
aspects of the matter"
Disappointed in Decision.
He told the citizens association
last night he was very disap-
pointed" in the high courts deci-
sion. He called it possibly one of
the most unique decisions ever made
by the Supreme Court"
The court has said we may
make any agreement whatsoever
among ourselves as long as it is
legal, but we may not go into court
to protect its legality" Mr.. Newell
said.
1t may be necessary to "go back
to the way Of our forefathers" to
protect homes if the court interprets
the Constitution and Bill of Rights
as applicable only to one class of
person" he added.
He advised the audience not to
get panicky, but to await the report
on the new plan for protecting their
homes.
George Mcneil Speaks.
Mr.. Newell said he wished to
make 1t clear the supporters of that
proposal were not aiming it at any
class or race, or with ANY idea of
defeating advancement of the COL
ored people" He said that less than
SO per cent of the District was cove
nanted before the Supreme Court
ruling, and open to whomever wish
ed to buy. ~ 31F
George E. Mcneil, president of the
District Bar Association, also spoke
last night, comparing the work of
his group with that of the citizens
association.
He said the bar association in
many cases was working for the
community while the citizens asso-
citation was constantly seeking to
improve the laws.