Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-17
Civil Rights Bill
Survives Test;
Debate Rolls On
BY ROBERT X. WALSH

applied politics, constitutional
and classical quotations, and
needing cross-examination rolled
on in the House today.
The bill in controversy sur
vived an early test yesterday
that seemed to improve its
chance of passage, at least in
the House. The start of two
days Of general debate, however
raised further doubt that the
House will be able to take a final
vote before Friday.
Opponents disclosed they not
only intend to talk as much as
they can but also will try to tack
on amendments to practically
every provision and line they
believe vague or distasteful.
Although the general speech
making is scheduled to end at
the close of today's session. the
amending process probably will
mot start before Thursday. To-
morrow will be devoted mainly
Ito numerous calendar bills
which can be called up for inn
mediate consideration by COM
mittee chairmen. This will in
clude discussion of military
installation construction bill re-
vised to meet objections in Pres
ident Eisenhower's veto Of the
original measure.
SOutherners Set Back
Southern members fighting
the civil rights bill, for which
both Eisenhower administration
spokesman and Northern Demo-
cratic members claimed credit.
suffered a setback in a Isl to
103 test vote yesterday.
They attempted unsuccessfully
to have the bill debated for a
total of eight hours. instead of
the two days recommended by
the Rules Committee. They said
they feared that the apparently
adequate two days might sud-
denly dwindle to a few minutes
yesterday or this afternoon if
advocates of the bill moved for
early adjournment. Supporters
of the bill charged that the
eight-hour move was a device
to drag out debate for several
afternoons.
Debate Calm and Witty
Despite a bitter beginning, the
debate yesterday was compare
lively calm and at times was
marked by witty exchanges. The
Southern members, although
presumably in the minority on
the issue, promptly seized the
offensive and kept up a running
attack as well as relentless cross
examination Of the bills de-
tenders.
Representative Heating, Re-
publican of New York. a member
of the House Judiciary Commit
tee. bore the brunt of this attack
after he declared the pending
bill was word for word and line
for line a key measure in the
Eisenhower program"
At the outset of the debate on
the length Of time to be allowed
for general speech making, Rep
resentative Colmer. Democrat Of
Mississippi, asserted the bill was
politically inspired and pointed
at one section of our country for
the purpose of favoritism with
certain minority groups" He
asserted the bill goes far beyond
any racial question and threatens
to regiment people Of all States
by allowing the Federal Govern
ment to invade the field Of voting
qualifications reserved to the
States.
Representative Smith, Demo-
crat of Virginia, who made the
unsuccessful move for the eight
hours Of general debate, pre-
dicted that many members who
have no stomach for this bill
will vote for it just because this
is an election year" He urged his
fellow members to listen care
fully during the general debate
and judge for tn e m civ S
whether the various provisions in
the bill would endanger basic
Constitutional rights Of States
and citizens everywhere.
A former Democratic Virginia
Governor, Representative Tuck.
told the House the bill would
throttle States in the orderly
administration Of their affairs"
He warned that the Attorney
General would be vested with
dangerous powers to institute
civil suits in Federal courts
without allowing complaints Of
civil rights violations to be
handled in State courts.