Evening star., 1952-06-18
Decision on Assigning
OF Colored Firemen
Left With Chief Sutton

Left With Chief Sutton
The decision on assigning Negro
firemen to white companies today
rested in the hands of Fire Chief
Millard H. Sutton.
Commissioner F.. Joseph DON
ohue said late yesterday after a
conference with Chairman Nc
MILAN of the House District
Committee that Chief Sutton may
proceed with this move if it is
necessary to carry out the Fire
Department leave schedule.
The three city heads talked
with Representative Mcmillan at
his request on the issue of inte-
grating the department. The
conference resulted from an order
Of Chief Sutton last week assign
ing six Negro f1remen to as many
white companies. The order was
Cancelled by Deputy Chief Fred
Literal last Saturday after a
number of protests by white fire.
men.
Commissioner Donohue said he
and the other two city Commits
sioners conferred with Mr.. McMil-
Ian, Democrat, of South Carolina
in his office late yesterday.
Mr.. Donohue said he had ex-
planned to Representative McMil-
Ian that the Sutton order trans
ferring colored f1remen was not in
violation of previous understand
ing with Mr.. Mcmillan.
Called for Study.
That understanding, he said,
has been to the effect that the fire
chief had been asked to. study
proposed integration. The chief
was to make a report to the Com
missioners. The Commissioners
were to take up the problem with
Mr.. Mcmillan before taking any
action on integration.
The order last week to transfer
six colored firemen, Mr.. Donohue
said he had explained to the law
maker, was not in any way vio-
lation of the understanding with
Mr.. Mcmillan.
The order was intended only 70
assure Washington residents that
every fire company would be fully
Stated during vacation leave by
regular members of the white
companies. Secondly, he pointed
out to the House member, the
only way of permitting the white
Ifiremen to take their regular leave
would be to assign other firemen
to take their places temporarily.
Explained to Mcmillan.
"We explained all this to Con-
gresham Mcmillan" Mr.. Donohue
told the press" and he under
Stood"
Chairman Mcmillan could not
be reached for comment, following
the conference.
The National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People,
meanwhile, called upon the city
heads for restoration of the trans
fer order. billiard N. Brown, pres
ident of the District chapter of
NAACP, made the demand "in
the name of good government and
equality Of opportunity and fair
practices in all areas of employ
ment."
MIR. Brown added the NAACP
deplores the evident yielding to
undemocratic pressures" on the
part of Chief Sutton and Com
missioner Donohue."
Explanation Asked.
Today, Curtis E. McGhee, chair
man of the segregation commit
tee of the local firefighters' union,
issued this statement: =.
II am sure the firemen would
like our chief or the Commission
ers to please tell us what is wrong
with simply giving the colored
flremen another company now
manned by white men. We be-
lieve. the colored firemen would
be happier together. We know
the white f1remen would much
prefer to be together.
"There is no civil rights ques-
ton because colored firemen have
the same opportunity to get the
Job. same pay, and same promo
tional opportunities. We would
like for our officials to explain
why our leave problem cannot be
solved just as well by simply Civ
ing the surplus colored firemen
another company. Then we would
have just as many white men to
fill up the vacancies in the white
companies"
Union Meeting Friday.
The union has tentatively
scheduled a meeting for Friday
to discuss the transfer and inte-
grafton controversies. Mr.. Nc
Ghee said the membership will
also consider naming an official
spokesman to represent the union
on racial issues.
A proposed move towards in
tegration Of white and colored fire
companies was blocked last year.
Representative Davis, Democrat,
Of Georgia introduced legislation
to prevent integration and requir-
ing competitive examinations for
promotion of all f1remen. The two
measures never were brought to
public hearings.
An executive conference later,
however, among House District
leaders, District officials and lead
ers of the flremen's union at the
Capitol was followed by q tenn
Iporary lull in any attempts at mix
ling white and colored IRE fighters.