Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1950-07-14


anIlsocial? An antiSOcial atLi-
tude, when translated into overt,
specific acts, IL less, euphemisu-
caIIy characterized a crime and
delinquency. Ironically enough,
many Of those who decry the So
called crime wave among Negro
youth are probably among the
foremost IN opposition to this
very bill"
The existence of discrimination
In America In therefore unmlstak-
able. The evil effects of employ
ment discrimination In America
~ unmlstakabIe. The need for
r EL'C legislation Is unmistak-
able.
Those OF US who support S.I72S
are under no illusions tnat the en-
actment OF our bill viii bring q
RAPID solution To the problem.
k'kt'C Will, however, minimize
the problem OF economic discrim-
nation. Enactment of our bill
may not eliminate prejudice, but
1t viii establish as a national
policy that. although prejudice
may be personal, discrimination
~ not.
Experience with State and
municipal FEPC ordinances prove
that kEPC Is effective. II Is eff
tective primarily because 1t es-
LaDhshes a policy that decent,
humanitarian Americans are per-
tectIy willing to conform to q
humanitarian and democratic
policy. am pleased to place in
The record a Z-year report on the
operation Of the FEPC in my own
city OF Minneapolis. 1t covers the
operation Of the FEPC from June
l, l947, to June 80, 1919.
FEPC ordinances now prevail
in Cincinnati, Ohio; Chicago, ILL.,;
Milwaukee, Wis; Philadelphia,
Pa; minneapolis, MINI; Phoenix
Arlz.; and Cleveland, Ohio. There
Is now "A total of 10 States which
have FEPC laws on their statute
books: Connecticut, New Jersey,
Indiana, Massachusetts, New
York, Wisconsin, New Mexico,
Oregon, Rhode Island and Wash
ingtOn.
These local and State attempts
to solve the problem of discrim-
nation are to be commended.
They are effective. They de-
monstrate the basic desire of the
American people to eliminate the
scourge of employment discrimin-
alton from their midst. They re-
ceive popular support wherever
they operate. They have allayed
all previous fears as to their
operation. They prove conclusive
ly that FEPC can work.
l am pleased that in s. 1928,
the bill we are now asking the
right &c consider; that State and
local governments have an I'M
Portant role to play in promoting
fair employment and in cooperat-
ing with the Federal Government
toward achieving that end. IN
der the terms Of our bill, iuriS-
diction over discriminatory cases
would be transferred to state and
local agencies where those agen-
cies are operating effectively.
The evidence Is clear, however,
that State and municipal FEPC
laws by themselves, important
and effective as they are, cannot
adequately solve the problem.
National legislation is necessary
to provide national standards of
decenGy and fair play. The FEEDER
al Government has an obligation
to establish a national pattern
and a basic standard of employ
ment rights for all Americans.
Discrimination does not recog-
nize State boundaries, just as en-
ployment does not recognize
State boundaries. We have on
many occasions established the
principle of Federal employment
legislation. We can do no less in
the realm of human rights as 1t
affects employment.
We have said that employers
may not hire children because
we need an educated America.
We have said that employers
must provide safety measures be-
cause we need a healthy Ameri-
ca. We must now say that en-
ployers may not discriminate
against qualified workers because
OF race. color, religion. or nation
al origin, because we need a uni
fled. prosperous, and democratic
America.
s. 172S Is particularly note
worthy in this connection In that
II recognizes that the Federal
Government cannot effectively
and should not extend its iuris-
diction to all areas of employ
ment. The bill. therefore. will not
only limit its operation to inter-
state employment but also has a
size limitation in that IL IL limited
to those employers wath so or
more employees.
There Is one other area, i'm
portant in its own right, in which
8. i72S win have an effect. The
Federal Government Is today the
largest single employer of labor
in America. Approximately D.
100000 persons are now on its
payroll. Only a Federal FEPC
win provide these workers with
the protection TO which they are
entitled.
In my testimony before the
House of Representative on MAY
IL. l94s, pointed to the fact
that the Federal Government in
19tS spent more than 50, OO0. OOO,-
600 in direct expenditures for en-
ployment In addition to the ap-
proximately 2,o00. 900 workers on
the Federal payroll, an average
Of 1T5,0e0 persons were employ
ed by private contractors on con-
struction projects financed either
In whole or in part By Federal
funds, amounting TO 81. eoo, 0oO,-
900. This estimate does not m
clude Federal loans such as REA-
financed projects and the employ
ment resulting from them.
Furthermore, even though ex-
act data Is not available, partial
data as q result Of the Walsh
Healey Public Contracts Act.
which provides for the inclusion
Of stipulations with regard 10
pay. hours. and working eondi-
tons IN Federal Government con-
a.. l.