The Omaha guide., 1957-08-16
COP Move
Waited On
Rights Bill
By William \. sfringer

AAuuoc htphbAiNdhn laAA hlahe SUI
ficient political noise in "moder-
ately modifying the measure, the
House viii agree to a slightly al
tered measure. Then the nation
will have its first full-dress civil
rights measure since Reconstruc-
ton days.
The House, which passed its own
version in June, now Is gingerly
looking over the Senate verson,
which contains a controversial a.
mendment that would guarantee
jury trials in each and every gov
ernmental case involving criminal
contempt. This could insert jury
trials in antitrust cases, cases in
volying labor injunctions, and
many actions before government
regulatory agencies.
Support Lining Up
Representative Sam Rayburn of
Texas, House Democratic general
issimo. says he is in favor of the
Senate product but IS willing to
see the jury trial provision limited
so it would apply only to voting
rights cases.
But Mr.. Rayburn says he will
need help from the Republicans
to get the measure. as modified
in the Senate, through the House.
And Representative Joseph w.
Martin, J., Of Mass. the Republi.
can House chief, says he cannot
spare" any COP support for bill
containing language opposed by
the administration This means,
as Of the moment, that he is insis-
ting on elimination, not mere mod
ification, of the jury-trial pro-
vision.
Nevertheless support is lining
up, in Congress and out, for the
proposition that half-a-loaf bill
is better than no bill.
The reason Mr.. Rayburn says he
needs Republican support is that
the Rules Committee, to which the
Senate bill undoubtedly will be
committed. naturally has its con-
tingent Of southern Democrats.
They are aways to be found
shrewdly positioned iE vital com
mittees.
The Rules Committee is made up
Of eight Democrats and four Re
publieans. Normally is an instruc-
ment of the Speaker and if Mr..
Rayburn said he wanted a Senate |
bill accepted. the committee would
normally comply.
Party Maneuverins
But in the case of civil rights, |
the Speaker must count on two
Democrats voting against the bill
= one the committee chairman.
Howard w. Smith
Of Virginia, the other, Represent
ative William NJ. Colmer Of Miss.
Neither. apparently. can afford to
60 on record as favoring a civil
rights bill Of any sort
Detection Of two Democratic
votes would deadlock the commit
tee. Mr.. Martin says, therefore,
that he is confident the bill viii
go to a Senate-House conference
and be modified. The Republi-
cans need, for the record, to be
able to show that they compelled
a modification Of the Senate bill
which considerably improved it.
Aware of the voting potential Of
Negroes in the northern big cities.
the Republicans hope TO persuade
these valuable minority balloters.
who could swing many a city and
even statewide election. that the
COP Is by fir the more vigorous
party in chainpioning their rights.
Suffrage for All Urged
The proposal TO send the bill TO
a senate-House conference was
urged by vice-President Richard
NJ Nixon. who has fought strongly
for > vigorous civil rights bill. by
the Justice Department. and BY
Meade Alcorn, chairman Of the Re.
publican National Committee. Mr.
Alcorn released a statement de-
elaring:
1T Is 70 be fervenily hoped that
the House Of Representatives viii
insist upon q much stronger bill
that viii proglde-at the least
genuine protection for the right
Of suffrage for all Americans"
Il is significant. however. that
A Justice Department statement
denonncing the Senate bill en-
phasized particularly the wide.
ranging impact Of the jury trial
ameudmenf--lls application far
beyond the voting rights area This
suRReslsd that the Republicans
might settle, Ia the end. merely
fer : eIla,lfa4lon of the lurv trial