Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-15
CIVIL RIGHTS
Administration Enters
Sensitive, Delicate
Area With Program

FIeSlOenC eisenhower on Monday
sent to Congress via Attorney Cen
eral Herbert Brownell, civil rights
program that was Immediately at
tackled by Democratic liberals as
not going far enough, and by Demo-
cratic conservatives from the South
as going too far.
The Presidents proposals for leg
islation in what Mr.. Brownell
termed "the extraordinarily sensi-
tive and delicate area of civil rights"
asked that Congress strengthen the
rights of Americans by:
. Establishing a six-member BIZ
partisan commission on civil rights
which would be named by the Pres
ident, subject TO Senate confrma-
ton. The commission would have
the power of subpoena in investi-
eating denials of the right to vote
or the application of economic
preSSures" on a person because of
his color. race. religion or national
origin.
. Setting up a civil rights division
in the Justice Department headed
by an Assistant Attorney General.
. Permitting the Justice Depart
ment to petition Federal courts for
lnJunctions to prevent a person
from being denied his civil rights.
. Allowing Federal prosecution of
private individuals, as we'll as pub
lie officials, for intimidating voters
IN any election involving Federal
Office.
. Allowing citizens to go directly
INTO Federal courts with civil rights
complaints instead of requiring that
they first petition State courts.
. Permitting the Federal Govern
ment to bring civil suits against
anti-civil rights conspiracies.
The Cry Is Politics
Some Democrats immediately
cried politics, standard political
eplthet for an opponent who has
out-maneuvered you. Most Demo-
Gratis feel that any action by any
party on civil rights this year tight
~ restricts their area for campaign
maneuvering. Republicans in the
senate, where the fate of any civil
rights proposal is usually decided.
were generally withholding COM
ment until the proposals could be
thoroughly examined
The Presidents program has not
yet been introduced in the form of
legislation, but Senator Clifford P.
Case. Republican of New Jersey, is
expected to offer the administration
bill. or bills. this week. probably
Tuesday.
For some time in both houses a
number OF civil rights bills have
been lying inert in committees. In
the Senate, II bills introduced by
Senator Hubert Humphrey, Demo-
crat of Minnesota. are awaiting ac-
ton by the Judiciary Committee.
headed by Senator James o. East
land Of Mississippi. Representative
Emanuel Celler, chairman of the
House Judiciary Committee. is ready
to report out his own omnibus bill.
The measures in both bodies in
clude all of the proposals urged by
Mr.. Eisenhower, and some go
good bit further.
Senator Humphrey was annoyed
when the administration proposals
were delivered. He charged the adj
ministration had given civil rights
the "runaround" for 3Es years. He
said that Senator Thomas c Hen
nings, jr., chairman of the subcom-
mittee on Constitutional Rights, had
written Mr.. Brownell for his views
on the Humphrey proposal to set
up a civil rights commission, but
that MI Brownell had only replied
that he did not wish TO express any
views on the bill.
In the meantime. it appeared that
Southern Democrats who some time
ago began move TO take some OF
the punch out Of any possible civil
rights legislation this year were in
queer predicament.
They had planned to offer an
innocuous bill banning the poll tax
and making lynching Federal
offense. Hynching is virtually non
existent these days, and only six
States have poll taxi Now that
the whole issue has recovered a
full head of steam. the Capital was
presented with the strange picture
OF Southern Congressman desiring
to write civil rights legislation. but
being prevented from doing so by,
to complete the paradox. Northern
liberal Democrats.