Evening star., 1961-06-27
REEVES
Continued From First 'Pagl

publican leader.
He testified the candidates
tax troubles show that "Mr.
Reeves may be a chronic in
come tax delinquent"
Mr.. Shipley asked the COM
mittee to search thoroughly
through Mr.. Reeves assets and
liabilities, and added that spe-
cial attention should be focused
on whether the appointee was
in debt to any Washington
businessmen.
He described Mr.. Reeves ex-
plantations of failure to pay
certain taxes at the time they
were due as Immature" and
evidence of q flack Of respon-
sibility."
Careless handling Of his owr
tax affairs hardly recommends
Mr.. Reeves as q proper official
to supervise the tax affairs in
the Nations Capital" Mr.. Ship
ley said.
Big-Budget Advocate
"Mr. Reeves has always
been" Mr.. Shipley continued
IAN exponent Of bigger welfare
programs and a larger District
budget. Who will pay the taxes
to meet the budget, If other;
follow his example of over
sight as justification for non
payment until the Federal and
District Governments are
forced to Sue?"
Mr.. Shipley said the candi-
date apparently lacks the
necessary qualifications fol
high public office"
Mr.. Shipley said favorable
action by the committee ir
effect would be approving q
double standard" which woulc
have great impact across the
Nation"
The Shipley testimony was
described by Clarence Mitchell
another witness, an official OF
the National Association for
the Advancement Of Colored
People. as an attempt to run
through the wringer an indi-
vidual who has distinguished
himself as a civic leader, q
lawyer and church worker"
Called Unchivalrous
He described the appearance
of Mr.. Shipley as "unchival.
rous."
Another witness, Bishop
Smallwood E. Williams of the
Bible Way Church, World.
.wide, testified that Mr.. Reeves
would make q Substantial
contribution" to the affairs oi
the District. He said the ap.
pointment would place race
relations" in the United States
in its proper perspective, and
added that former President
Eisenhower did not appoint
enough Negroes to prominent
positions in Government.
Republican Senator's Miller
and Beall Of Maryland urged
Mr.. Reeves to resign a:
Democratic National Commit
teeman If he serves on the
Board of Commissioners.
Mr.. Reeves reply, q ringing
defense Of the value Of partisan
politics in government. wai
praised by committee members
Of both parties.
In assuring you that ]
would allow no obligations to
my party to interfere with my
duties as Commissioner, would
ask you to consider two facts, u
Mr.. Reeves said.
Partisanship Not Novel
! First, all those appointed
previously as Commissioners
have been active in the polit-
.ical party which happened tc
be in power at the time. I dc
not think partiSanship is novel
with me. have the honor
the distinction and the priv
ilege, of which I am very proud
of having been elected by
Democrats of the District tc
be their National Committee
man.
The fact that the citizens
of the District elected o Negro
I believe, is a tribute to those
citizens and certainly to me
I would hate to run out on the
people who elected me, par.
tlcularly now when we mus
educate the people on tht
presidential vote to be giver
them, and we must demon.
strate that District citizens are
ready for home rule.
Secondly, believe sincerely
that partisan politics, as i
exists in the United States ane
as it Is coming to the District
of Columbia, is the very basii
of our institutions"
Would Consult Kennedy
Mr.. Reeves said he hoped the
committee would not demant
his resignation as nationa
committeeman.
\ Should this demand be thu
consensus of committee mem.
bers, however, Mr.. Reeves sale
he would consult with the
Democratic National Commit.
tee members and with Presi-
dent Kennedy, exercise my
best judgment and act accord
ingly."
Mr.. Reeves was lauded by
Senator Humphrey, Democrat
of Minnesota, who appeared
personally. The Senator sale
the nominee was a "stalwart
friend, a man of good charac'
ter and a fine attorney"
AS q close adviser to Senator
Humphrey, Mr.. Reeves helpeC
the Minnesotan sweep the Dis.
trict's presidential primary las
spring.