Evening star., 1951-10-13
FireDepartnleni
Shift Awaits
Hearing on Bill
Davis Defers Session
On Integrution for
Donohue's Return

The Commissioners have agreed
to hold up the proposed integra-
tion Of colored men into white
companies Of the Fire Depart
ment pending hearings in q
bill introduced by Representative
Davis. Democrat. Of Georgia.
Mr.. Davis bill would force the
city heads to continue segregation
Of white and colored firemen.
The delay in starting the new
integration system. which had
been scheduled to begin early next
week, was the Commissioners part
in a sort of mutual concession
arrangement with the legislator.
Commissioner F. Joseph Dono-
hue. before leaving for the Ameri-
can Legion Convention at Miami,
Fla, yesterday afternoon, wired
Mr.. Davis a request to hold up any
hearing on the bill until his return.
Anxious to Testify.
An elected delegate to the con-
vention. Mr.. Donohue will be gone
until October 20. He wired Mr..
Davis he is exceedingly anxious
to testify" however.
Mr.. Davis answered that he
would be glad to delay hearings
until Mr.. Donohue's return, if the
integration order were suspended
in the meantime.
The Commissioners announce
ment that the integration move
would be held up followed receipt
Of this wire.
Commissioner John Russell
Young explained it was "a matter
of courtesy to hold up putting this
into effect until after the hear
ings."
Mr.. Young said the delay did
not mean a change in views on
the new integration policy. twice
reafdrmed by the city heads.
In Effect 80 Years.
It had been contemplated that
IA colored firemen would be
assigned in pairs early next week
to seven white units stationed at
battalion headquarters.
A segregation policy had been
in effect in the Fire Department
for 80 years. when the Commis-
sioners approved the integration
move October 2 on recommended
ton of Fire Chief J. A. Mayhem.
Mr.. Davis. chairman of the
House District subcommittee on
police and firemen, introduced
bills Thursday to continue segre-
cation and to require that all
officers Of the Fire Department
be appointed on the basis of COM
petitive examinations.
There are some non-competi-
tive Negro officers in the depart
ment now and there are five white
officers assigned to three Of the
Negro companies.
At its first meeting Of the year
last night. the Ladies' Auxiliary
of the Fire Department indorsed
the two Davis bills and the action
of Local No. SO of the Interna-
tional Association Of Freight
ers, AFL.
The union local adopted reso-
luton 'imploring" the Commis-
sioners, Chief Mayhem, Congress
and the taxpayers to continue the
segregation policy.
The constitution and bylaws
of the auxiliary contain a pro-
vision that all applicants for
membership must be at least Is
years of age and of the Cau-
casian race.
Letter From Diocese.
Meanwhile, a letter from the
Episcopal Diocese of Washington
notified Mr.. Donohue of the COM
mendation of Is members of the
department of social relations for
the move to end segregation in
the Fire Department.
1--WE are sorry that there are
those who oppose the furtherance
of the democratic process in our
Nations Capital and will endea-
vor to support you in every way
possible as you face this opposi-
ton so foreign to the basic rights
Of American citizenship" the let
ter said.
The members listed included the
Right Rev. Angus Dun, the Rev.
E. Felix Kloman, D. D., the Rev.
Malcolm Marshall, the Rev.
Canon Gardner Monks. the Very
Rev. Francis B. Sayre, jr., the Rev.
John Stipe and the Rev. Richard
Williams.