Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-17
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BY J. A. O'LEARY

Inc civil Rights commission |
recently named by President |
Eisenhower probably will be
confirmed by the Senate early |
in January without serious OPP
position.
Southern Senators are re-
luctant to be quoted on the |
subject, but privately they give
no indication of planning a
major fight against the six APP
pointees selected recently by |
the President.
One Senator from the deep
South said he has given some |
thought to voting against all |
of the nominees. not on indi-
vidual grounds. but as a protest |
against creation of such a Fed
eral commission. But he added |
that he might not go that far |
because he is favorably dis
posed toward two of the APP
pointees.
The comment reflected the
care with which the White |
House balanced the appoint
ments between the Northern
and Southern viewpoints.
Moderate Commission
The only limitation the law
placed on the President was
that not more than three could
be from the same political
party. Mr.. Eisenhower selected
three Democrats. two Republic
cans and one independent.
Some of the Southerners are
not happy over the choice of
retired Supreme Court Justice
Stanley F. Reed, designated to
be chairman, because he was
on the court when the unani-
nous school indignation deci-
sion was handed down in 1854.
But one of them conceded
privately that they could not
muster the votes to block any
of the nominees. even if they
were so disposed.
One Southern Senator de-
scribed the makeup of the
commission as more moderate
than he had expected.
It is expected that the South
erners in Congress will be more
concerned over the selection of
the full-time staff director
than over the personnel Of the
commission itself.
While the civil rights bill
was being debated early this
year, they indicated they be-
lieved the staff director would
play an important role in the
work of the commission. which
has been empowered to inves-
tigate and hold hearings on
complaints of interference with
voting rights or denial of equal
protection under any law.
Subject to Confirmation
The staff director also must
be appointed by the President
and confirmed by the Senate.
This post will not be filled
until after the commission has
held an organization meeting
early in December. The law
requires the President to con-
suit with the commission before
nominating the staff director
who may be paid not more than
$22.500 a year.
When he conferred with the
President a few days ago, JUS
tice Reed told reporters he be-
lieved the nominee for staff
director should be a lawyer and
q social scientist with some
experience along similar lines
In government. But he would
not discuss individual prospects
until after comforting with his
colleagues on the commission.
Nominations to Judiciary
The commission may func-
ton between now and the con-
vening of Congress in January
under recess appointments. 1t
is taken for granted at the
Capitol that the nominations
will go to the Judiciary Com
mittee. which had jurisdiction
on the civil rights bill.
Justice Reed is a Democrat,
from Kentucky. Those chosen
to serve with him are:
John A. Hannah. president
of Michigan State University, a
Republican; John S. Battle,
former Democratic Governor
of Virginia; j. Vincent Wilkins,
OF Chicago, an Assistant Secre-
tary of Labor and a Republi-
can; Rev Theodore M. Hes
burgh, president of Notre Dame
University. a political indie
pendent. and Robert G.. Storey,
dean of the Southern Method
list University Law School, a
Democrat.
The life of the commission
has been limited to two years,
with instructions to recon-
mend in a final report whether
any further legislation on the
subject is needed.