Arizona sun., 1961-09-28
Civil RIGHTS REPORT ALARMING
VIRGINIA COURT ASKED TO ORDER OPENING OF SCHOOLS
Discrimination Evidence
In 100 Counties In
8 Dixie States

washington, ~. C.-lHe u Ds
Commission Of Civil Rights has
submitted a report to the Presi-
dent and Congress which document
racial denials Of the right to vote
and recommends remedial legls-
lation and executive action.
The report, entitled TThe Right
to Vote'' is the first of a series of
five volumes prepared by the Conn
mission on five areas of civil
rights discrimination in voting, ed
ucation, employment, housing, and
administration of Justice.
Finding evidence of discrimina-
ton in some 100 counties in eight
Southern States, the Commission
urged Congress to enact legislation
barring States from denying the
franchise except on the basis Of
reasonable age or residence re-
quirements, legal confinement at
the time of registration or election
or conviction of a felony. This and
another recommendation for legis-
lation which would make a sixth
grade education sufficient proof Of
literacy, are designed to deal with
the use of educational" or "in-
depreciation tests as devices for
disqualifying Negro applicants. In
calling for new legislation, the
Commission noted that discrimi-
nation persisted despite the fact
that existing Federal laws "have
been vigorously and effectively in
voked' by the Department of JUST
ice.
The Commission report also in
cluded:
A study of the effect Of unequal
representation upon the right to
vote.
A special study of the status Of
civil rights in II rural counties in
the South where Negroes cOnsti-
tute a majority of the popula-
ton but none or very few vote,
and four other similar counties
where Negroes vote in larger num-
berS.
The results of hearings and in
vestigations in II parishes in Loui-
Siana where the Commission found
that a variety of techniques were
used to deprive Negroes of the
right to register and vote.
The Commission declared that
malapportionment Of State and
Congressional election districts
throughout the United States di-
lutes the right to vote and, by OPP
Grating to the disadvantage of mi
nority groups in urban areas, in
tensifies the effects of racial dis
franchiSement. 1t recommended
that a Federal law be passed to
require that voting districts be
substantially equal in population.
In its study of rural counties,
the Commission found that "a de-
pendent economic position appears
| to be one of the most significant
factors that inhibits Negroes from
registering and voting" But, in
voting as well as n0n-v0ting coun-
ties, all public schools are segre-
gated; public libraries provide in
ferior or no service at all for Ne
groes; State employment services
subsidized by Federal funds offer
only unskilled jobs to Negroes;
transportation terminals and fa-
cilities are segregated; Negroes.
and recreational facilities at some
Federal dams and lakes are for
whites only
Finding that unequal conditions
existed to some extent in all coun-
ties, the Commission said ''it cam
not be concluded that the free ex-
ercise of the right to vote nee
essarily results in quick tangible
gains in other areas" The Com
mission recommended Federal and
State action to reduce economic
deprivations in these counties.
In Louisiana, the Commission
found that the Association of Citi-
zens Councils of Louisiana and the
state legislature exerted pressure
against Negro electors and that
the legislature actively encourage
ed registrars to use a variety OF
devices to thwart Negro applicants.
Economic reprisals in Fayette and
Continued on Page Four)