Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1955-11-11


commissions work"
There had been some dis
Minneapolis aldermen over the
by the commission in budget hear
ings before the city council ways
and means committee.
The commission reported that
fear in the minds of employers,
that the hiring of a worker from n
racial. religious or nationality diff
fering with that of the present
working force would cause friction
has been found TO be the chief rea-
son for job discrimination.
The report states, that The
Commission recognizes that no
step in the progress toward full
equality of employment opportun-
ity Is the result of its own work
alone. or of the work of any other
single agency or influence. Pro-
gress made is the cumulative re-
suit OF the work Of many organi-
vations and individuals over a
long period Of time"
Through processing cases and
carrying on its educational pro-
gram. the Commission said II had
focused the attention OF those who
make employment policy on the
problems OF discrimination and on
the need to correct them.
The report also said that, AT
tempts are sometimes made to re-
late the number OF complaints
handled to the effectiveness Of the
Commissions wutt Actually. no
such relationship exists. Com
plants indicate violations OF the
law. whereas the Commissions job
Is 10 secure compliance with the
law. Therefore. II the Commas
sions work wore fully effective,
complaints would be reduced to
zero"
The commission said II knew
from experience that only a small
proportion OF the total number OF
instances In which workers feel
they have encountered discriminA-
ton are actually presented to the
Commission as complaints
Therefore" II said. "the number
Of complaints cannot properly be
used to measure either the ex.
tent OF discrimination or the sue.
cess OF the Commission in over.
coming t."
On the subject Of court actions
and penalties, the report states
The law provides that the Com.
mission may certify to the Mum.
cipl Court for prosecution any
case In which discrimination car
be proved and the Commission ID
fully prepared to carry out IL
responsibilities for enforcement OF
the law.
However, the Commission claim
ed. during the eight years Of IL,
operating experience. II found M
ease where discrimination could b.
proved and in which II was un
able TO secure compliance with tn
Ordinance through Cancellation.
On four different occasions. IL
the eight years since II was form
cd the Commission has had infor
NAL discussions with the City Al
torney 10 determine whether IN,
evidence available 10 II would war
rant prosecution in Municipa
Court. In no instance u reports
was the evidence sufficient 10 war
rant prosecution and the com
plants under consideration wer,
tabled pending further evidence
This experience in Minneapolis
has been parallel 10 that in oths
cities and states Out Of 900
cases handled by operating stat
and city commissions since IN
first yuch commission was estah
ushed IN 1e45. only four cases hav
gone 70 court and only about j
or IL have gone to public hear
ings-
The report concludes, This I
no, because the commissions hav
avoided public hearings or eour
action a. = matter Of policy II I
simply because, in any case &
which discrimination can b
proved. the Commissions p0we
% persuasion II such that con-
phsnc- with the Law can alrnos
always b. secured by Cancellation,