Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-31
Firefighfers
Ordered 10 End
Segregation
18 CoIored Firemen
Will Be Reossiened
To Other Companies
By Horriet Grffiths

AA OLA OAAC1 Sl1uAdAlIlS long.
standing and holly argued issue,
the Commissioners yesterday di-
rected that the District govern
ment policy declaration Of last
November Is against discrimi-
nation now be applied to the
firemen.
The re-fighters had been
specifically exempted from the
policy order.
The first step, according to
Fire Chief Willard H. Sutton.
will be the reassignment of Is
colored f1remen who are over the
quota of the departments five
Negro companies to vacancies
elsewhere.
In addition, vacancies will be
filed in the future irrespective
of race.
Chief Sutton's Orders.
Chief Sutton issued these or
ders to the department:
/. All personnel assignments
from now on will be Gin accord
ance with the needs of the serv-
ice."
2. Personnel in fire-fighting
units in excess of unit quotas will
be reassigned.
3.sAll members of the depart
ment are free to apply for trans
fer in accordance with the exist
ing rules of the Fire Depart
ment on transfers. and "all such
applications will be acted upon
in the best interests Of the serv-
ice"
The regulation that firemen
may apply for transfers to other
units has been in effect for about
Is years.
Chief Sutton is directed by the
Commissioners to report back on
the operation of the plan within
so days.
Opponents Weigh Action.
Meanwhile, Capt. George E.
Tracey, president of the Fire
mems Association, which has
fought indignation of the fire
fighting forces. said meetings will
be called, possibly tomorrow.
1--WE are definitely opposed, and
we believe it will lower the mo-
rale of the department, and. con-
sequently. the efficiency of the
department." he said.
The possibility of seeking a re-
straining order against the plan
also is under consideration, Capt.
lacey said.
The Fire Department has some
300 white firemen and ITO COL
ored. There are total of 40
companies, including the five
Negro units. At present, the
force has Is vacancies.
Chief Sutton said he could
not say Immediately to which
companies the over-quota men
in the colored companies would
be assigned. He said, however,
that vacancies are more likely to
exist in the outlying sections
of the city.
COlOred Companies.
The, colored companies are
No. 4 Engine, in the 900 block
of r street NV; No. 10 En-
CINE, at Tenth and G streets
S.W., which has white cap.
tain; No. q Engine, Kenilworth
avenue and Hunt place NE,
which has a white captain, and
No. Z Engine and No. 10 Truck,
in double house in the 800
block of K street S.W., which
have white officers.
Chief Sutton said each of the
18 men to be transferred from
the Negro companies will be in
terviewed by himself and care
fully screened.
Personnel in the Fire De-
partment other than in the Fire
Fighting Division already is in
tegrated, officers said. Appar-
emily at the base of the objec-
tons by f1re-f1ghters is the ne
cessity for community eating
and sleeping in the firehouses
during their long tours of duty.
Local SO, International Asso-
citation of Fire Fighters, success
fully has fought the integration
plan since the Commissioners ap-
proved it in the Fire Department
on october 2, 1851.
Frequent POstponements.
Since then, it has been stead
lily postponed. j. A. Mayhem.
fire chief at the time, Endorsed
the plan, which subsequently was
halted by repercussions on Capt.
toll Hill.
The city heads were called to
the Capitol to explain the action
to three Southern members of
the House District Committee.
Meanwhile, the firemen's union
polled its members on their re-
action to indignation. They over
whelmingly opposed it. Many
colored firemen dropped out of
the union.
Representative Davis, Demo-
crat. of Georgia. took leading
role in the fight for segregation
in the department. He demanded
that the Commissioners rescind
their order. and introduced a law
countermanding it.
For er Commissioner F.
Joseph Donohue led the integra-
ton forces.
Star School Maps
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