St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1959-01-16
Council Of Clubs
Hears Scheiner
On Housing Bill
By Staff Correspondent

Monday evening at Maxfield
School, st. Paul before a dis
appointingly small, but enthusiast
tic audience, Samuel SCheiner, eX-
ecutive director of the Jewish
Council munity Relations
warned that the Negro communi-
ty must wake up and make itself
heard, if it expects an Open Oc-
cupancy bill from the present Min
nesota state Legislature.
The informal discussion of this
important question was sponsored
by the civic committee of the
Twin City Council Of Clubs, of
which Willard Jones is chairman.
Noting the small turnout on
hand, Mr.. Scheiner declared: IF
this were a rally sponsored by
the opposition of this legislation,
the audience would be packed to
the rafters. The opposition is
strong, organized and well sup
ported financially. They are even
claiming that we, as supporters of
the bill, are professional 'do-good-
ers' who do not represent the will
of the Negro people, because of an
apparent apathy"
COnstitutiOnaIity A Question
1t was agreed by the speaker
that the question of constitution
ality would be one of the prime
instruments of the opposition,
even as it was so effective in de-
feating attempts to establish an
Open Occupancy ordinance in Min
neapolis.
Several judicial rulings were
cited involving similar ordinances
which were upheld. Perhaps the
most significant of these was the
Jan. 16, 1858 ruling of the NY.
State Supreme Court which up
held that states housing anti
discrimination law. Included in the
opinion was this statement; I'm
a conflict between private prop
erty and power of the State to
regulate it's use and enjoyment in
the interest of the public welfare,
the powers of the state is sup
RENE"
AS for Minnesota, the constitu-
tionality question cannot be solved
until the law is first enacted.
Education
Mr.. Scheiner agreed that along
with the bill a tremendous COM
munity education program must be
put into play. He was critical of
the churches and religious groups
for not taking the lead in this
direction.
AS an example he cited the
work of the Detroit Presbyterian
General Assembly in drawing up a
strong five-point resolution for
complete Christian compliance and
promotion of open Occupancy
in housing. Religions of all faiths
should follow this lead, he stated
Organized labor was lauded for its
role in this program. AFL-CIO re-
Gently sponsored an all day human
relations institute clinic in Mpls
The Law
The Open Occupancy or Fair
Housing Bill, that is being intro,
duced at the State Legislature
makes it unlawful to discriminate
, because of race, creed or color in
} publicly assisted property OF
housing Accommodations" The en-.
. forcement or teeth" provision OF
the bill are essentially the same
as those provided in the state
FEPC bill. The law also provides
for complaints to be brought tc
the Commission against non-pub,
licly assisted housing, but limit.
enforcement to conference, con,
Citation and persuasion"
Mr.. Scheiner stated that though
the bill may fall short of what
some might have hoped for, II
passed it is certain to be a giant
step toward equal housing oppor
tunity for everybody, as well a!
being as good of a bill as any
state in the union has enacted.
The Twin City Council pledged
it's complete support toward effec
tuating the passage Of the legis,
lation. Included among these eff
forts is a COMMUNICATIVE pro,
ject to raise funds for its support
ill., IT, "I Al