St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1953-02-13

prohioiLs an employer from ask
ing an applicant his race, creed or
national origin would be rein
stated.
Originally this section was left
out Of the bill and gave the en-
ployer the right to ask an appli-
cant what his race, creed and ma
tional origin was.
Tho reasons given for the ON
mission was that IL was thought
that the bin would have better
chance Of passing II that section
OF the bill were left out.
This set off objections spear
headed by an editorial In the
SPOKESMAN and RECORDER
newspapers and the Minneapolis
Urban League and the NAACP.
Their contention was that the
omission considerably weakened
the bills and that II was bad
strategy to weakened bill before II
was necessary.
They pointed out that some OF
the most vocal opponents of
FEPC would be opposed TO II no
matter how weak the bill was.
At the last session of the leg
islature, In 1861, the bin was the
cause Of many a frey debate be-
fore 1t was defeated. It Ii expect
ed that there win be quite a bit
Of controversy over the bill at
this session Of the legislature be-
fore the fate Of the bill Ii de-
cided.
During the 1851 session the bin
was In Is committees before II
was finally defeated.
At the request of some Of the
authors OF the bill at the last SEES
sion of the Legislature, the Min
nesota FEPC council changed Ia
name to Employment on Merit
the name Of the new bill.
This was done because II WA
thought that the bin would have
a better chance Of passing under q
less controversial title.
II was pointed out that FEPC
has become some kind Of DOGGY
man" especially with rural legisla-
tors, and with n new name 1t Ia
hoped that more support for the
bill could be gained In the legisla-
ture.
Chief opponents Of the bin, most
ly southern Minnesota Gamers,
concentrate on soaring rural legis-
lators on the measure.
At Tuesday mornings hearings,
proponents of the bill win be given
one hour to testify In behalf of the
bill.
1t Is expected that five persons
will speak in its behalf.
Editors Note: Selection Of the
five speakers who win speak for
the bill win be done at a meeting
Of the executive board Of the Min
nesOta Council for Employment on
Merit. This meeting took place
after we went TO press.)
Otto Christensen, executive sec
rotary Of the Minnesota Employ
er's association, is expected to be
chief spokesman for the opponents
Of the bill He has been the most
vocal opponent Of the bin In the
past and is leading the fight
against the bill at this session Of
the legislature.
Opponents Of the bill are ex-
pected to testify before the senate
judiciary committee on Feb. II.
Dates for hearings on the bill In
the house haven't been set yet,
but Representative p. X. Peter
son, one Of the co-authors, said
that he expected hearings In the
house would follow those In the
senate shortly.
Rep. c. Langley 18th DIST CO.
author, has written an amend
ment that he is going to submit to
the house labor committee, the
where first hearings on the bill
win be heard, that win have the
FEPC hearings be heard by the
state labor conciliators office.
Langiey's reasoning Ii one Of
economy. He maintains that his
method win save the state money
the new commission. IL set up
and that the proposed law. with
out his amendment, the new COM
mission, II set up. win cost the
state $4,000.
Veteran political observers are
of the opinion that the bin has the
best chance Of passing this session
Of the legislature than 1t has ever
had since It was first introduced
in 1947.
They attribute this to the new
Republican administration In
Washington and Eisenhower's
position Of urging the states to
act on FTPC.
Monday mornings TRIBUNE
carried an editorial urging pas
sage Of the bin, In which they