Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-02
Proposes to Eradicate
Segregation in District

OF lie. tested and proven wise.
Proposes to Eradicate
Segregation in District
I propose to use whatever
authority exists in the office of
the President to end segrega-
ton in the District of Column
bia. including the Federal Gov
eminent. and any segregation
in the Armed Forces.
Here in the District of
Columbia, serious attention
should be given to the proposal
to develop and authorize.
through legislation, a system
to provide an effective voice
in local self-government. While
consideration of this proceeds,
I recommend an immediate in
crease of two in the number
OF District Commissioners to
broaden representation of all
elements of our population.
This will be a first step
toward insuring that this Capt.
tai provide an honored ex-
ample to all communities of
our Nation.
In this manner, and by the
leadership of the Office of the
President exercised through
friendly conferences with those
in authority in our States and
cities. we expect to make true
and rapid progress in civil
rights and equality of employ
ment opportunity.
There is one sphere in which
civil rights are inevitably in
volved in Federal legislation.
This Is the sphere of immigra-
ton.
1t is a manifest right of our
Government to limit the num-
Der of immigrants our Nation
can absorb. It is also a mani
fest right of our Government
to set reasonable requirements
on the character and the num-
bers Of people who come to
share our land and freedom.
It is well for us, however, to
remind ourselves occasionally
of an equally manifest fact:
we are-one and all-immi-
grants or sons and daughters
of immigrants.
Existing legislation contains
injusticeS. It does, in fact,
discriminate. I am informed
by members of the Congress
that it was realized, at the
time of it's enactment, that
future study of the basis of
determining quotas would be
necessary.
I am therefore requesting
the Congress to review this
legislation and to enact a
statute that will at one and
the same time guard our legiti-
mate National interests and be
faithful to our basic ideas of
freedom and fairness to all.
In another but related area
that of social rightS-we see
most clearly the new applica-
ton of old ideas of freedom.
This Administration is pro-
foundry aware of two great
needs born of our living in a
complex industrial economy.
First, the individual citizen
must have safeguards against
personal disaster inflicted by
forces beyond his control. Sec
ond, the welfare of the people
demands effective and eco
nomical performance by the
Government of certain indis-
pensable social services.
In the light of this RESPONSE
bility, certain general purposes
and certain concrete measures
are plainly indicated now.
There is urgent need for
greater effectiveness in our
programs. both public and pri-
vate, Offering safeguards
against the privations that too
often come with unemploy-
ment. Old Age and Survivors
Insurance Law should prompt
ly be extended to cover mil
lions of citizens who have
been left out of the Social
Security System. No less i'm
portant is the encouragement
of privately sponsored pension
plans. Most important of all,
of course. is renewed effort to
check the imitation which de-
stroys so much of the value of
all social security payments.
School System in Need
Of Prompt. Effective Aid
Our school system demands
some prompt. effective help.