Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1962-02-10
Cong. Powell -.
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VVuu6e O"Osss
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lates to schools and colleges.
He charges that various
government departments dis
fributing federal funds for re-
search and natural science
studies have, In most cases, cut
Negro students OF without q
penny.
He feels It is time Congress
built a Are under the federal
government on this issue, %
well az under states which
practice no school integration
Or only token migration.
Before q battery Of television
cameras, he announced at Q
special press conference. Friday
that he had appointed an ad
hoe committee to make q ma
tion-wide survey OF school de-
segregation and also ito look
into discrimination within the
federal government Itself"
Not that he feels the Kenne-
DIV administration's record on
civil rights Is poor. On the con-
trary, he admits It has shown
greater progress In one year
than any previous administra-
tion-but obviously not enough
to satisfy the ebullient. lesis-
lator.
He sees this ad hoe investi-
eating committee las long
overdue and Congress derelict
in its duty as q legislative body
in supporting the law Of the
land under the Constitution"
Two members Of his regular
Education Committee already
have introduced three bills to
start the ball rolling.
One Is a bill to amend the
law under which land grant
colleges, under the Department
Of Agriculture, are still oper-
ating on a separate but equal
basis" with separate colleges
for Negroes and whites.
Another would give segre-
gated schools a desegregation
ultimatum, calling for first
step compliance" by 1868.
The third-not introduced by
Mr.. Powell himself-but remi-
niscent Of Powell bills" of the
past would amend the law
governing the ALLEGATION Of fed
eral funds to impacted areas so
that such payments would be
denied TO schools practicing
segregation.
Mr.. Powell, whose committee
now is conducting a broad in
vestigation into the expendi-
ture of federal funds for edu-
cation by some 40 separate
government agencies, is inter
ested in finding out, further,
in what cases these funds are
denied to Negro students or
allocated only to all-white COL
leges.
A preliminary investigation
has disclosed, he said. that the
Atomic Energy Commission
confines all its ALLEGATIONS to
white schools; that the National
Institute of Health has given
only $797 to one desegregated
institution, compared to the
more than 100000 expended
under its total program.
He also protested that under
the special programs for coun-
selling and guidance under the
National Defense Education
Act, mot one single Negro is
receiving a penny"
In justification of his move to
prod the federal government
on this score. Mr.. Powell cited
the recommendation of the
Presidents Commission on
Civil Rights that the federal
government by executive action
of Congress. if necessary. make
certain there is no discrimina-
ton in the distribution Of gov
eminent funds for these pur-
poses.
The new ad hoe committee
will hold hearings and conduct
three-month investigation,
after which it will make it's re-
port and recommendations to
the regular committee on or
before May II.
While the chairman's criti-
cism was directed largely at
the South, he pointed out that
discrimination against Negroes
is not confined to that area
and that the ad hoe committee
will turn the spotlight on the
North as well as the states be-
low the Mason-Dixon Line.
1t is not expected that Con-
gress will get around to the
more controversial features OF
this legislation during the
present session.
It is reported that Mr.. Powell
is about to embark on even
more controversial seas in the
near future in the form Of q
sensational recommendation
for the abolition Of the present
Department Of Health, Educa-
ton, and Welfare.