St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1957-05-03

letters In opposition to the mea
sure. The delay Of one day wa
granted, but Chairman Yetka saiC
he would not agree TO hear ans
non-controyersial bills until tn
open Occupancy bill was heard
This delay appeared Justifiabl,
since no opponents TO the bin hac
yet been heard from.
| On Wednesday large crowd O
spectators appeared obviously
rounded up by the opponents I,
the measure. The president Of IN,
st. Paul Board of Realtors, LloyC
Fisher, appeared in opposition anC
asked that o the hearing be con
tinued as did Newell Nelson
chairman Of the st. Paul Realtori
legislative committed Boti
pleaded they knew nothing about
the bill.
Richard Moore, OF the firm Of
Falrcy, Moore and Costello.
which had been retained 10 rep
resent the st. Paul realty or.
ganlzation said he had only
heard Of the case that morning
and needed time 10 check on the
oonstitutionality Of the measure
which he said he was sure was
unconstitutional.
a man who news and television
reporter said gave hiL name as 1t.
Colonel W. y. McPheron, Still
water Road. said he was opposed
30 the measure because II forced
citizens 10 rent or sell their pro-
perty 10 persons with whom they
had nothing in common. This was
wrong and un-American. he said
McPheron Ia said 10 be on active
Army duty. His participation In a
political issue before a legisla-
tive committee was the general
topic OF conversation In the cor
ridors after his statement.
His participation may have
been In violation Of the Hatch
Act.
Rep. Don Wozniak offered an a
mendment 10 the measure which
would remove exemplary dam.
ages This amendment was APP
proved by the committee. Active
In securing quorum at these Inn
portant meetings was Rep. Sally
Luther Of Hennepin County. She
also conferred with the sponsors
strategy group from time TO time
She also predicted accurately the
source OF legislatice opposition 10
the measure several days before
the bin was pried loose from the
general legislation committee.
On Thursday l.. Howard Ben.
nett replied conyinclngly 10 the
attack on the oonstitutionality
Of the measure, citing prece-
dents and invited the opposing
counsel for the real estate
board Co submit briefs.
on this same day Larry Nelson.
executive wce-president OF the
Minneapolis Home Builders Assoc
citation made speech the tenor
and appeal OF which was remind
ful of those usually heard in
state like Mississippi He asserted
that there was no need for the
legislation He said America was
built on discrimination He said
Negroes were satisfied to live
where they were now living be-
cause Il was what they wanted.
There was no problem
Bernard Rice, executive vice
president OF the Minneapolis
Board OF Realtors questioned the
constitutionality OF the bill.
John OKeefc, former Mime
Gpolis Eighth Ward alderman and
attorney for the Minneapolis
Rental Property owners ASSN.
questioned the constitutionality OF
the measure.
A strong letter was read at the
hearing from Timothy Howard.
president OF the Rondo-St. An.
thony Highway organization at
the meeting In support OF the bill.
Ward Fleming, attorney Pion-
eer Building, unsuccessful Rcpub-
lican candidate for Fourth Dis
trict Congressman, questioned the
constitutionality OF the bill.
After a vigorous debate OF the
measure motion was made and
carried that an interim commits
sion be set up to study the bill.
Popovch offered a number OF
amendments which sponsors said
would cripple the bill.
A subcommittee was set up 20
consider argument both for the
original bill as amended and also
the feasibility Of setting up a
bill 20 provide for a legislative in
term commission. Rep Leonard
Llndquist was named 20 the sub
committee along with Rep, George
French, conservative OF the Min
neapolis heavily Negro and silk
stocking populated district and
Rep George =. wetEel Of Little
Falls.
Then followed numerous con-
ferences with legislators FOR and
against the measure between
Howard Bennett, shelton Granger,
John Sandstrom Cecil Newman,
Ernest Cooper. Richard Fox. Ger
aid Heaney, Ray Hemingway