Evening star., 1950-02-22
By Chris Mothisen

By Chris Mothisen
No bargains-just the bitterest
fight of the SeSsion-WaS the lot
of House members today.
After listening to the reading
of George Washington's Farewell
Address, they were faced with a
long struggle over the FEPC Bill
"a measure intended to combat
racial and religious discrimina-
ton in private employment.
Instead of a holiday, they had
the prospect of an all-night meet
ing.
The House version of flibuster
was scheduled to follow reading of
the Farewell Address by Repre-
sentative McSweeney. Democrat,
of Ohio.
Galleries Filled Early.
Spectators began taking their
places in the House galleries more
than an hour before the members
were called to order at noon.
A large delegation of Howard
University students was among
the groups present.
Organizations which have been
lobbying for FEPC assigned "ob-
servers" to individual members of
the House. The implied threat
was that any absences from the
floor at crucial points in the con-
test would be reported promptly
to their home districts.
Southern Democrats vowed to
demand succession of time-con-
suming roll calls and use every
other available parliamentary ma
neuver to stave off a showdown
on FEPC.
The bill is major element of
President Trumans civil rights
program. It also was indorsed, in
principle. by the 1948 Republican
campaign platform. 1t would es-
tablish Federal commission en-
powered to act against employers
who discriminate.
Southerners hoped to persuade
the House to adjourn tonight
without voting on the bill. Rep
Iresentatives Smith of Virginia and
Davis of Georgia. Democrats, were
to call the signals on the floor
for the opponents.
They estimated their bag of
tricks was good for a 36-hour act,
if necessary.
Representative Powell. Demo-
crat. OF New York. author of the
bill, and Chairman Lesinski of
the House Labor Committee were
to be in charge for the proponents.
Representatives Franklin D.
Roosevelt, jr.. Democrat-Liberal,
and Marcantonio. American La
borite, both of New York, also
were expected to be among the
most active supporters.
Lesinski to Call Up Bill.
Mr.. Lesinski was to call up the
bill under the calendar Wednes-
day. procedure. This is a weekly
period during which committee
heads may ask consideration of
bills reported favorably by their
groups.
1t is being resorted to by FEPC
hackers because they have been
unable to set Rules Committee
clearance for the bill. Most major
legislation reaches the floor after
being cleared by this committee
and scheduled by the majority
leader.
The committees are called in
fixed order on calendar Wednes-
days. The Labor Committee was
reached on the list today. If it
does not finish action on the bill
it calls up-FEPC-the measure
will follow the committee to the
bottom OF the list of committees.
This would leave little hope of
FEPC action at this session.
Two other means of by-passing
the Rules Committee would re-
main available, but FEPC hackers
have been less hopeful about them
than about the mechanism being
used today.
Supporters of the bill said their
main problem, as the afternoon
and evening wore on, would be to
keep a quorum On or near the
House floor.
The Southerners were hoping
majority of the House would give
up the, wrangle as hopeless and
agree to go home tonight.
The Legislative day" lasts as
long as the House sits continu-
ously and the Labor Committee
would not lose the floor unless
there were an adjournment.
Two hours of general debate
were allotted the bill under the
Calendar Wednesday rule. Time
spent in roll calls would not eat
into this total
After general debate, the bill
will be opened to amendment.
Members may speak for five min
utes apiece on each amendment.
The Southerners had sheaf
of amendments ready for use in
the event they could not end con-
sideration before that time.