Evening star., 1960-04-08
RIGHTS
Southerners Win Compromise
On Bills Provisions for Votino


Continued From First Page
Visional voters met all the
qualifications.
The Southerners argued that
This might enable a large num-
GER Of Negroes to become ell
Eible TO vote the day before an
election, even though no addi-
tional white citizens could
register because the time for
registration under State law
had expired.
The Southerners insisted this
section would have to be modi-
hed, and after hours Of nego.
aation yesterday, Senate Re-
publican Leader Dirksen Of
Tered a compromise which was
accepted by the Southerners,
the moderates and some of the
liberals.
Skeptical Of Amendment
The compromise provided
that the Judge would be COM
PEELED to grant the last-minute
voting authority only if the
applicant was found to be
qualified to vote under State
law"
The liberals disagreed over
the wisdom of accepting this
compromise. Twelve of them
voted against it, but several
others Joined in giving it over
whelming approval.
Senator johnson said the
amendment merely spelled out
what the House indicated 1t
had in mind when it first
adopted the provisional vot-
ing" section.
But Representative OHara,
Democrat Of Michigan, who
drafted the original section in
the House, expressed fear the
Senate amendment wipes out
the authority for provisional
voting.
Mr.. O'Hara said the original
proposal was intended to take
care OF cases in which the ref
ereeS have not had time To de-
termine the qualifications of
the applicants in time for elec-
ton day.
Mr.. OHara and Senator
Hart, Democrat of Michigan,
took the view that if the Judge
must find before the election
that the individual is qualified |
under State law, there would be /
nothing left to determine after
the election and therefore no
need for provisional voting.
Senator Javits, Republican of .
New York, told the Senate he
originally suggested the Ian
guage which Senate leaders fl
nally accepted as the basis for
compromise. but explained that
after further study he changed
his mind about its desirability
and found himself in the un-
happy position of opposing
language he had suggested.
GarafAY- Ta,,ike
amendment would be more ac-
ceptable If it merely required
the Judge to find prima facie
evidence that the applicant was
qualified before the election.
Earlier yesterday the South
erners failed 73 to l8 In an |
effort to kill the voting referee
plan in its entirety.
BY S pm. both the liberals |
and the Southerners had ex-
hausted their conflicting ef-
forts to strengthen or weaken
the bill.
When no one else arose to
offer an amendment. the pre-
siding officer ordered the third
reading" of the bill. This closes
the door to any additional
changes, but leaves Senators
free to make speeches against
final passage.
Other Provisions In Bill
Today it was apparent
that the Southerners would let
the leaders bring the bill to a
vote without cloture, after the
Southerners convince their
constituents that they are still |
against any Federal interven-
ton into what they regard |
States rights. !
In addition to the voting /
referee plan, which was drafted
by Attorney General Rogers.
the bill contains these other
features:
Requires preservation Of
State voting records for %
months, and opens them to in
spection by the Attorney Gen
eral.
Authorizes the armed services
to provide for the education of
children of servicemen if local
schools near military bases are
closed.
Makes it a crime to use force
or threats to obstruct any court
order.
Enables the FB1 to join in
the hunt for those who per-
petrate hate bombings, if they