Evening star., 1953-09-27
Heads Discuss t'I !.
ding,Segregatioln
With White House
CONTINUED From First Page.)

lieved doubtful that an execu-
tive order could legally sweep
away all segregation.
2. The President might want
to achieve his aims indirectly,
and perhaps on a broader scale,
by having his decisions carried
out adminiStratively as far as
possible through the Board of
Commissioners. The adminiStra-
tion repeatedly sought to take
some such step when it recon-
mended last February that the
Board Of Commissioners be en-
larged by two members. A pro-
vision of that kind was pigeon
holed by the Senate District
COMMITTEES.
3. In other policies the Presi-
dent often has shown an unwill-
ingnesS to resort to compulsion
when other methods offered a
better chance of gaining popular
acceptance and assuring lasting
results. In this instance, he
might rely on the prestige Of his
Office by urging private buSi-
nesses and semipublic agencies
as well as District government
groups to end various segrega-
ton policies. He might, as has
been suggested, issue a proclama-
ton that segregation is contrary
to public policy.
4. In combination with any
move, either, executive action or
otherwise, the President might
decide to set up some agency to
handle specific cases or COM
plants of segregation.
Anti-SegregatiOn Bills Lose.
It is not known whether the
White House discussions cover
the question of urging Congress
to enact specific legislation. The
President, Of course, could recon-
mend that Congress pass laws to
ban racial segregation in public
schools of the District, establish
a Fair Employment Practices
Commission with enforcement
teeth, or otherwise prohibit seq
regation in general here.
But the political realities" are
against congressional approval
of such measures. During the
first session of the 83rd Congress
bills of that kind were introduced
by Senator Morse, Independent,
of Oregon, and Representatives
Dawson, Democrat, Of Illinois;
Powell, Democrat, Of New York;
Javits, Republican, of New York,
and others. Those bills seem to
be buried in Senate or House
District committees.
Aside from congressional con-
siderations and legal studies Of
executive authority, a prime
aspect of the White House con-
ferences would touch on con-
ditions today in the District.
This would involve a survey Of
prograss especially during the
last year in lowering or removing
segregation barriers. 1t also would
look to particular population and
governmental problems confront
ing the District as a city as well
as the national capital.
Tensions Still Prevail.
Tensions, pressures, incidents
and disputes still are evident
in numerous places. But it is
a far cry from the 1899 day
when Marian Anderson was
barred from singing in Consti-
tuition Hall. A lot has happened,
too, since the Presidents COM
mission on Civil Rights in 1947
attacked what it called "intol-
cradle" discrimination and other
abuses of civil rights in the Dis
trict.
It recommended outlawing ra-
cial property covenants and seq
regation in schools, restaurants,
hospitals, theaters and other
public places. It urged greater
employment opportunities for
Negroes in business and the pro-
fessions and in the District gov
ernment, including the, Police
and Fire Departments.
The Supreme Court in 1948
held that Federal and State
courts could not constitutionally
enforce property covenants based
on race. Since then Negroes
have replaced whites in expand
ing areas in the center of the
city. They have moved into
many other neighborhoods, espe-
cially in the Northeast.
The Supreme Court last June
held that restaurants in the Dis
trict could not legally refuse
service to Negroes.
School Issue in High Court.
Biggest issue in the Supreme
Court during the term starting
october 5 is racial segregation
in public schools. The tribunal
will hear reargument in Deem
ber in five cases, one from the
District.
In the case here, the attorneys
for Negro children claim that
the laws of Congress never spe-
officially required segregation in
the schools and that the Board
of Education has no legal right
to operate a segregated system.
Even if the statutes do require
segregation here, the law is un-
constitutional because segrega-
ton itself is unconstitutional,
those lawyers contend.
When Commissioner Spencer
began comforting with Mr.. Rabb
and others at the White House
as long ago as last July. officials
indicated that the first move
would be to appraise the racial
situation here and then to de-
termine what might be done
about it.
Any such appraisal, as of to-
day. would include:
Fire Department. Negro fire.
men serve in separate companies,