Evening star., 1949-09-24
A-24 - THE EVENING STAR Washington D. c.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER
Nicely 10 Speed
Human Rights
Commission Bill
Measure Proposes
D. c. Agency to
Promote Harmony
BY Don S. Warren

BY Don S. Warren
Chairman Neely of the Senate
District Committee is hoping for
early action by his committee on
a bill he offered late yesterday
to create a Commission on Human
Rights as an independent agency
OF the city government.
He plans to issue call soon for
. meeting of the District Com
mittee, to which the measure was
referred.
The measure would clothe a
commission of IS members with
broad powers of persuasion, in
vestigation and recommendation,
but not with any direct enforce
ment authority. in promoting
amicable relations among racial,
religious and cultural groups.
One of the stated purposes of
the agency would be to work to
establish and maintain "a meticu-
lous observance of the Golden
Rule" (do unto others as you
would have them do to yoU in all
matters pertaining to inter-racial
relations here.
Would Probe Complaints.
As. to investigations, the bill
provides that the commission
shall receive and investigate all
complaints alleging discrimina-
ton in employment, education or
places of public accommodation,
resort and amusement because of
race, creed, color or national
origin and, in any appropriate
case, may make recommendations
to eliminate the cause Of any such
complaint"
Introduction of the bill was the
first action resulting from the
citizens legislative clinics con-
Quoted by Senator Nicely after he
succeeded to the chairmanship of
the District Committee. The HUI
man Rights Commission idea was
proposed during the round tables
and at the time Senator Nicely an
nounced he would sponsor such
q bill.
Senator Humphrey, Democrat,
Of Minnesota collaborated with
Senator Neely in the final draft
Of the District measure. After it
was introduced, Senator Hum
phrey called it "a good bill" He
said he is prepared to testify for
1t at any hearings the District
Committee might call.
Presidential Appointees.
All Of the commission members
would be appointed by the Presi-
dent and would be subject to con-
f1rmation by the Senate. Each
would serve for four-year terms or
until his successor was named and
qualified, but in the beginning
nine would be appointed for two
years, eight for three years and
eight for four years. .iE
Members would receive no salary,
but each would be eligible for "ac-
tual, necessary travelling and sub
sistence expenses" incurred while
engaged in commission work or,
in lieu of this, an allowance of not
over $50 a day for commission
business.
Within the limitations of ap-
preparations granted for its oper-
ations, the commission would be
authorized to appoint full-time
staff director and "such other per-
sonnel as it may deem necessary"
1t also would be authorized to in
cur expenses for printing and
binding and, subject to approria-
ton limits, to make other ex-
penditures it deemed proper.
AS to an outline of the COM
missions powers and duties, the
bill states:
ut shall be the duty of the COM
mission to promote amicable re-
lations among racial, religious and
cultural groups and to endeavor
to establish and maintain metic-
ulous observance Of the golden
rule in all matters pertaining to
interracial relations in the Dis
trict.
Would Collect Data.
"The commission shall collect
timely and relevant information
concerning social and legal de-
velopments affecting civil rights
in the District and shall do every
thing in its power to protect
them.
The commission shall issue
such publications and report such
results Of its investigations and
research as, in its judgment, would
tend to promote good will and
eliminate or minimize discrimina-
ton because of race, creed, color
or national origin"
The agency also would be direct
ed to make recommendations to
the President, the head of the
District government and to Con-
gress for legislation it deemed
advisable for adequate protection
of the civil rights of District peo-
pie. It would be authorized to sub
NIT other recommendations and
findings to the President and the
city government.
Io,,ye A.rk uoI,, N.,,