Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-09
RIGHTS
Continued From First Page

Continued From First Page
see. will act soon on a proposed
constitutional amendment to
ban the payment of State poll
taxes as requisite for voting in
Federal elections.
On the House side Mr.. Keat-
ing introduced bills to carry out
the proposals.
Under Mr.. Brownell's proposals
The requested broadened new au-
thority would be concentrated
in the proposed new civil rights
division of the Justice Depart
ment. This division would be
headed by an Assistant Attorney
General vino would give full time
to it.
Mr., Brownell sent texts of his
proposed bills to Vice President
Nixon and House Speaker Ray
burn. Democrat Of Texas.
More Litigation Seen
In asking for new Assistant
Attorney General for civil rights,
Mr.. Brownell noted that the
present setup is within the JUS
tice Departments Criminal Di-
vision. Civil litigation in pros
pect in connection with carrying
out the Supreme Court edict for
public school desegregation Gre
ates a need for a division oil
broader scope. Mr.. Brownell in
dicated.
The decisions and DEGREES OF
the United States Supreme
Court relating to indignation in
the field Of education and IN
other areas, and the civil rights
cases coming before the lower
Federal courts in increasing
numbers. are indicative of gen.
orally broadening legal activity
in the civil rights field" he
wrote the Vice President and
House speaker.
These considerations call for
the authorization Of an addi-
tlonal Assistant Attorney Gen
eral to direct the Government S
legal activities IN the field OF
civil rights"
The communication empha-
sized that the right to vote is
one of our most precious rights
and indicated that this will be a
prime field for inquiry by the
proposed bipartisan commission
Would Find All Facts
Where there are charges that
by one means or another the
vote is beng denied, we must
find out all Of the facts-the
extent. the methods, the results, "
Mr.. Brownell wrote.
The same is true OF substan-
tlal charges that unwarranted
economic or other pressures are
being applied to deny funda-
mental rights safeguarded by
the Constitution and laws OF the
United States.
THE need for full-scale pub
lie study as requested by the
President is manifest. The
study should be as objective and
free from partisanship. 1t should
be broad and at the same time
thorough.
The proposed commission
would have six members APP
pointed by the President and
confirmed by the Senate, with
no more than three from the
same political party. 1t would be
limited 10 a life of two years
unless extended by Congress, and
would have full subpoena powers
TO summon witnesses and request
necessary data from any eXecu-
tive department or agency.
Backs Court Decision
In submitting the program. the
Attorney General said.
AT time when many Ameri-
cans are separated by deep
emotions as to the rights of some
OF our citizens as guaranteed by
the Constitution. there is a con-
slant need for restraint, calm
judgment and understanding
Obedience 10 law as interpreted
by the courts is the way differ
ences are and must be resolved
II is essential TO prevent ex-
tremists from causing the ire
parable harm.
Il believe that consideration OF
these proposals not only will give
us the means intelligently to meet
our responsibility for the safe
guarding Of constitutional rights
in this country but will reafflrm
our determination to secure equal
justice under law for all people. "
The program was promised
several weeks ago. but was held
up number Of times for re-
wording of the proposed new
statutes by Justice Department
lawyers.
Representative Heating Of
New York senior Republican on
the House Judiciary Committee,
said he thinks the recommended
tons have an excellent chance
at least on the House side" He
SAID he and Representatives
Scott Republican OF Pennsyl-
vania and Miller. Republican OF
Aa.ss "a. ..t4n -