St. Paul recorder., 1961-02-03
ST. PuuI FEPc
Cases Increase In
Number & VuriefV

A small but steady increase in
the number of cases over the past
several years is noted by the City
of st. Paul Fair Employment Prac-
tice Commission, which adminis-
ters the educational and enforce
ment programs of the ordinance
forbidding discrimination in en-
ployment. According to 1860 case
figures, recently prepared by the
Commission's executive secretary,
Daniel G. JacobowslIi, 73 cases
were handled by the Commission
in 1860, 81 of them new cases
arising during the year. This COM
pares with 49 cases registered in
1859, and "a in 1858. Total for all
years was 271, as of the end of
1860.
AS in past years, most of the
cases were based upon charges of
racial discrimination. While this
figure was 7596 for 1860, it actual
ly represents a decrease in the
number of cases based upon race,
from previous years, where it was
$40 in 1859 and practically all in
1858. In addition to racial discrim-
ination, the FEPC ordinance also
forbids employment discrimination
on the basis of religion and nation
ality. In 1860 these two categories
accounted for 11go of the cases.
The balance of the cases were on
matters over which the Commits
sion had no jurisdiction.
Private employers were involved
in 1870 OF the 1860 cases; 1917
were with government depart
ments, So with employment agen-
cies, and Az with labor unions.
This distribution has remained
similar over past years.
AS to the types of business rep
resented, manufacturing continues
among the highest, as in previous
years, accounting for 23% Of the
1860 cases. Most other cases in
volved retailers, hospitals, hotels, !
restaurants, transportation, pub
and insurance - these in
amounts varying from so to 1O%.
1t is noted that cases involving |
retailers, 10%, declined consider !,
ably from the past when 1t was
24% in 1859 and 15% in 1858.
Two types Of business included in
this years business categories for
the first time were commercial
schools and auto services (caTwash
stations and parking ramps). No
cases in 1860 were registered in
the categories of delivery services
and office building services which
were registered in previous years.
There was a greater spread among
the types of business represented
in 1860 than over previous years.
In the past there were 7 categor-
les; in 1860, there were IL.
Similar with past years, laboring
type jobs accounted for a good
share of the cases-3596 in 1850.
Sales jobs declined to only so
in 1860, whereas they were 31%0
in 1859. 90 of the 1860 cases in
volved waitress type jobs, while
there were none in the previous
year. In 1860 a new category arose,
office machine operator, account
ing for 1596 of the cases. The re-
cases involved jobs as fol-
lows: professional, clerical and
typist, factory machine operators,
skilled labor, and drivers.
65 cases were closed by the Com
mission during 1860, including
some carried over from 1859. 56%
were closed on the basis Of insult
ficient evidence to establish prob
able cause of violations; 29% in
volved conciliation settlements;
12% were determined to be with
out the commissions jurisdiction,
and 80 represented cases initiated
in other commission jurisdictions,