Evening star., 1955-03-02
Sutton Defends
in
But 5 Others Testify
Race Policy Harms
Morale and Efficiency

Morale and Efficiency
A House District subcommit-
tee today heard Fire DEPART
ment integration defended by
Fire Chief Millard H. Sutton.
but others continued to attack
it as a destroyer of morale and
efficiency.
Subcommittee Chairman Davis.
Democrat. of Georgia announced
after the session that a fourth
public hearing will be held soon.
Pending before the unit is a bill
by Mr.. Davis to end the present
mixing of white and colored
firemen in fire houses here and
restore segregation.
Chief Sutton testified that in
his opinion integration had
created opposition, but he
added:
II feel that this opposition
must be subordinated to what I
consider to be the best interests
of the department from both
fiscal and efficiency viewpoints"
Cites Surplus.
Questioned sharply by Repre-
sentative Davis as to why he
put into effect the Commission
ers' order on integration on Sep
tember ID last year, the chief
said it was done because there
was surplus of IA colored fire.
men in the five colored units and
a corresponding shortage of II
men in white units.
The present system of integra-
tion was bitterly attacked by Ave
firemen, including a captain, q
lieutenant, a sergeant and two
privates. They contended that
relations between the white and
colored men in the firehouses
were cold, that the white firemen
did not like the presence of the
colored men and that for the
most part there was no conver-
sation between the men of the
two races.
Opposing Witnesses.
Capt. George E. Tacey, presi-
dent Of the Fireman's ASSocia-
ton, AFL; 1t. Claison A. King.
Sergt. Hamilton Poulsen and
Pvts. Elvin E. Propst and George
Sarreu.
Pvt. Propst, aide to the first
battalion tlre chief, testified that
81 colored firemen out of "a in
his organization were charged
with hardness. He also said thus
was 87.5 per cent against 2.3
per cent among the white fire.
men. -
He testified that high per-
centage Of complaints on nom
payment of lust debts" had
been made against colored fire.
men and that the lone case Of
lnSubordination was that of a
Negro.
The conduct of colored COM
panles IN hghting fires, he told
tne subcommittee, reflected un-
favorably on their capability.
Mr.. Propst said that they were
confused, incompetent. and that
colored firemen had run away
from fires.
This testimony brought from
Representative Klein, Democrat,
OF New York, a subcommittee
member. a charge that he had
not heard such "racist theories"
since Hitler came to power.
The Representative said Mr..
Propst should be charged with
making "diSgraceful" statements.
MIR. Klein said that to permit
testimony of this character made
the House of Representatives a
forum for these racist theories,
and added hes indicting this
entire group of colored firemen."
Mr.. Klein said he did not think
the witness was qualified and
questioned the accuracy of his
statements.
Chairman Davis broke in to
say he was not going to permit
MIR. Klein to "intimidate' wit
neSses. The chairman said he
; himself had not done so and
would not stand for it.
Klein Apologies.
Later, before the hearing
closed. Mr.. Klein apologized and
said he had not intended to
|, convey that he was calling Pvt.
Propst a liar"
j.. Chief Sutton said that there
had been integration in the Fire
Department before World War I
when he served in a company
with colored driver. Later. he
explained, the Fire Department
was segregated with all-colored
' companies and all-white COM
panies.
Mingling the colored fire.
fighters with the white, Chief
Sutton testified. gave the colored
men wider diversity of expert
ence.
,, While Chief Sutton was on the
stand, Representative Klein said
: IF people in the department
were not receiving some encour-
agement from the Hill, integra-
ton would be put into effect"
!, During his testimony, Sergt.
Poulsen declared that he might
be jeopardizing his promotion
chances in appearing as a wit
ness. Other firemen, he declared,
+. feel the same way.