Evening star., 1953-02-03
Eisenhower's S
D. c. Reforms
Face Hurdles
Digest of Powers
To End Segregation
Proposed on Hill

President Eisenhower's pro-
posals for reforms in the District
apparently are facing a ibumpy
road on Capitol Hill.
His plan to use whatever
authority his presidential office
possesses to end segregation here
drew praise, doubts and some
outspoken opposition from mem
bers of Congress and interested
citizens.
One prime question, aside
from recommending legislation,
was what actual powers did he
have?
On this point the word on
Capitol Hill was that a first step
would be for the Presidents
aides to get up a digest of his
powers over District segregation
questions.
White House Press Secretary
James c. Hagerty said such a
study is being made. He said
he did not know how far it had
progressed.
On the one specific District
recommendation included in his
state-of-the- Union mesSage-for
an immediate increase in the
size Of the Board of Commits
sioners from three to five mem
bers-there were some friendly
comments but no noticeable en-
thuSiaSm.
Case Pleased.
The one exception was Chair
man Case of the Senate Dis
trict Committee, who sponsored
a bill for a larger board. He was
pleased that the President had
seen fit to recommend the
measure.
In keeping with the Republi-
can platform pledge on District
suffrage, President Eisenhower
asked that serious attention"
be given to proposals to give the
District IAN effective voice in
local self-government." While
this study proceeds, he recon-
mended a prompt increase in
the Board of Commissioners ito
broaden representation of all
elements of our population"
Senator Case had urged this
move to make way for the ap-
pointment to the board of a
Negro and a woman.
AS Gen. Eisenhower put It,
"This will be a first step toward
insuring that this Capital pro-
vide an honored example to all
communities Of our Nation"
Cost Factor Raised.
The present members of the
Board of Commissioners, along
with some other key District
officials, have taken a stand
against the larger board. One
official calculated that to name
two extra Commissioners might
add as much as $4,000 a year
to city government costs.
On the segregation issues, FL
mer w. Henderson, director of
the American Council on Human
Rights, declared his group is
"highly encouraged by President
Eisenhower's pledge to use his
authority to end segregation in
the District, the Federal Govern
ment and the Armed Forces"
eve are convinced" he said,
"the power exists, and he can
move rapidly. Our council will
make specific recommendations
to him and has offered full CO.
operation.
1--WE were, however, disap-
pointed that more attention was
not given to the overriding issue
of fair employment practices
throughout the country"
Russell Comments.
A different view came from
Senator Russell, Democrat, of
Georgia, one of the States rights
leaders on civil rights issues. He
said: II do not know what the
President has in mind as to end
ing segregation in the District.
I am, of course, opposed to racial
integration in the public schools
and in the Fire Department."
Stanley Karson, president of
the Young Democrats Club of
the District, reacted this way:
President Eisenhower will find
the Young Democrats Club be-
hind him in his announced in
tention to end segregation in the
District, but until home rule is
a reality the Presidents pledges
will bear little fruit unless he
makes a specific request of Con-
gress to enact the appropriate
legislation. We look forward to
that presidential message"
Representative Kearns, Re-
publican, of Pennsylvania a
member of the House District
Committee: 1--WE shall have to
face the segregation problem
and attempt a solution. 1t no
doubt can be worked out to the
satisfaction of all concerned"
Neely Cites Vacancy.
Senator Nicely, Democrat. Of
West Virginia ranking minority
member Of the Senate District
Committee: 81 don't think race
or religion should form the basis
for setting the form for a COM
mission. That is bad govern
mental policy. If the President
wants to appoint a Negro as
Commissioner, he can do that
without new law, for he has a