Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-21
White House
Advice Sought
On Housing
D. c. Officials Ask
Guidance on Curbs
For Discrimination
BY SAM EASTMAN
Star Staff Writer

Oval 1t6AA HAA1SA
The Commissioners have
asked for White House guild
ance on what moves they should
make toward ending racial
housing discrimination IN
Washington, it was reported
yesterday.
This appeal reflects the
Commissioners concern over a
congressional committees "re-
quest" to hold back on adop-
ton of anti discrimination
regulations here.
This request" from the
House District Committee put
the Commissioners under con-
flicting pressures from the
Capitol and the White House.
The Kennedy administration
favors efforts to knock down
racial housing bars in Wash
ington.
The House District Commit
tee told the Commissioner it,
wants the opportunity to hold
hearings on proposals to ban
housing discrimination in the
city.
Calls For Delay
In a resolution, the commit
tee urged the Commissioners to
shelve their housing plans UNI
til the hearings can be held
during the next Congress.
Faced with this request, the
Commissioners have turned to
the White House for advice.
Commissioner Walter N. To-
briner repeatedly has asked
Charles A. Horsky. special adj
wiser to the President for Ma
tional Capital Affairs. for
guidance on the controversial
matter.
Mr.. Tobriner. president of
the Board of Commissioners,
said he had no comment on
this report.
To date Mr.. Horsky's stock
statement on racial housing
developments has been that he
is following the situation close
". and that he is certain the
Commissioners twill do the
right thing"
The request for White House
guidance apparently was not
made under formal action by
the full Board of Commissions
ers. Commissioner John B.
Duncan has said the District
should move ahead with adop-
ton OF ti-discrimination
regulations under the Com
missioners' police powers.
Mr.. Tobriner and Engineer |
Commissioner Frederick j.
Clarke have declined to COM
merlt on this question until |
they formally receive legal |
clearance for adoption Of anti
discrimination regulations from |
the Corporation Counsels Of
flee.
Corporation Counsel Chester
H. Gray repeatedly has been
told by Mr.. Tobriner to hold
back for the time being on SUBJ
mission of this opinion. Also in
the e;ty's legal office are drafts
anti discrimination regulations
ordered by Mr.. Tobriner several
months ago.
President Mark Time
Mr.. Tobriner's plan has been
to tie in adoption of the city's
regulations with Federal anti
discrimination moves in the
housing area. President Ken
needy has said he will order an
end to racial discrimination in
federally financed housing.
1t was reported Friday that
the President has no plans for
taking action before the No
vember 6 elections to end racial
discrimination in federally fl
nanced housing.
According to the report, there
was no change in the Presi-
dents long-standing attitude
that he would issue an anti
discrimination order for Fed
eral housing programs only
when he believes the time is
right.
The House District Commit
tees request to the Commits
sioners earlier this month was
a major development in the
housing matter. The committee
handles all of the Commission
ers' legislative proposals.
In the resolution the COM
mittee also questioned whether
the Commissioners have au-
thority to adopt the regulations.