Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-24
Rights Bill Win
Seen in Face Of
Opposition Gain
BY the Associated Press

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Senator Erwin, Democrat of
North Carolina, said today he
feels opponents of the admin
STATIONS civil rights bill have
made "some headway." But Sem
Iator Knowland. Republican OF
California. predicted passage OF
the legislation at the present
session.
The measure is up for con-
|sideration at a closed meeting
|of the Senate Judiciary Com
mittee called for Monday morn
ing. A Judiciary subcommittee
approved it last Tuesday by q
AZ vote.
Senator Knowland. the Senate
Republican leader, told newsmen
he hoped that the full commit
tee would act on the bill in the
coming week and that the legisla-
Ition might be brought up for de-
bate in the Senate before an
Easter recess late next month.
However, Judiciary Commit
tee members on both sides of the
civil rights fight said they saw no
prospect of any final action at
the groups meeting on Monday
Six Amendments Fail
Senator Watkins, Republican
Iof Utah. one of the chief spon-
'scrs of the administration bill.
said he hoped the committee
might at least begin considera-
tion of some of the amendments
proposed by Senator Erwin and
Others.
At the Judiciary subcommittee
meeting last Tuesday. Senator
Erwin offered half a dozen amend
ments. All of them failed of
adoption, including one to pro-
vide for jury trials in contempt
cases growing out of civil rights
enforcement.
Senator Erwin. a leader of the
Southern opposition, has been
hammering away at a contention
that the administration legisla-
ton provides for what he called
government by injunction. He
also says it would deprive citi-
zens of their constitutional right
to trial by jury.
While Senator Erwin said he
thinks opponents have made
Roadway with this argument,
Senator Knowland said he didn't
believe administration forces
would have to accept a jury trial
to get the bill
through Congress.
Senator Ellender. Democrat of
Louisiana, said tonight the bill
would make a shambles of the
Constitution and place basic in
dividual rights at the whim of
whoever may occupy the posi-
ton Of Attorney General of the
United States"
Ellender Raps Measure
In a speech prepared for broad
cast over a New Orleans radio
station, Senator Ellender said.
like other opponents. that the
legislation would destroy such
precious constitutional SAFE
guards as trial by jury"
Under present law. the Gov
ernment can enforce civil rights
only through criminal prosecu-
tons. The administration bill
would empower the government
to sue for injunctions or TO seek
other civil remedies.
Other parts of the administra-
ton bill call for the creation of
a presidential commission to in
vestigate complaints of civil
rights violations and for estab-
lishment of a civil rights division
in the Justice Department.
Senator Knowland predicted
the measure would pass event.
ually" at this session. But he
said that if its consideration by
the Senate is delayed until early
June. when money pills and
other legislation begin to pile up,
it will be highly Vulnerable to
a possible Southern fllibuster.
The House Judiciary Commit
tee has approved a civil rights
bill substantially in line with
the administrators recommen-
HofiOnc htIf iV1dfra finac ara that