Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-01
80 Witnesses
Still Remain
To Be Heard
SAM EASTMAN
Star staff Writer

anti-bias housing regulations In
Washington will resume Mon
day.
The Monday session is ex-
pected to parallel yesterdays,
which drew conflicting testi-
mony on the question.
The point Of the hearings,
called by the Commissioners, is
whether racial and religious dis
elimination in housing endan-
gers the general welfare of
Washington residents.
At the close of yesterdays
hearing, the Commissioners had
heard from nearly 40 witnesses.
The statements were running
about 2 to l in favor adoption
of anti-bias regulations for the
District.
About 80 witnesses had not
been heard from when time
ran out. The hearing will
resume at 10 am. Monday in
the District Building.
Yesterdays session was at
tended by more than 200, who
listened to the day-long debate
on the racial housing question.
Earlier, the Commissioners
had receiver qualified legal
clearance on adoption Of regu-
lations designed to knock down
racial and religious housing
bars in Washington.
Danger Factor Cited
This stipulation was that the
Commissioners must have
found:
%. as q fact, and base a
legislative determination there
on, that any such condition Of
discrimination results, or is
likely to result, in danger to the
lives, limbs. health, comfort.
quiet, or property Of the in
habitants of the District ;"
For the most part, the testi-
mony yesterday boiled down to
arguments on two key points:
Whether there is concrete
evidence that housing discrim-
ination endangers the health.
safety and general welfare of
the residents. and whether the
Corporation Councils office
was on sound legal ground in
its advice to the Commissioners.
witnesses on both sides of
the issue used President Ken
nedy's recent anti-bias housing
order as a point in their argu-
ments. The White House order
mainly dealt with requirements
for "open occupancy" policies
on new housing financed with
FILA or VA loans.
Some Ask Study
Some witnesses who favor
adoption of local anti-discrim-
ination regulations said the
Presidents action should be q
signal for the Commissioners
to move ahead. Others on the
other side of the fence argued
that the Commissioners should
study the impact of the White
House order before taking ac-
ton.
The Presidents order did not
take in resale or rental Of
private homes by individual
owners.
Meanwhile, at a press con-
ference yesterday, FILA and VA
officials said every effort will
be made to persuade builders
to end discriminatory practices.
However, if this approach fails
for the property covered by the
White House order, follow-up
action will have to be taken,
the officials said.
This action, it was explained,
may be to rule that the Offend
er is no longer eligible for FILA
or VA financial help.
Proponents Heard
Among those at yesterdays
hearings who urged adoption
Of anti-discimination regula-
tons for Washington were
spokesman for:
The State Department; the
local Democratic and Republic
can organizations; the Catholic
Archdiocese of Washington;
the District Redevelopment
Land Agency; the Washington
Chapter, Am erican Jewish
Committee; and the National
Capital Area Civil Liberties
Union.
Also favoring this move were
representatives Of:
The League Of Women
Voters: the Washington Chap
ter, Americans for Democratic
Action; Washington Urban
League; Washington Planning
and Housing Association: and
the Council Of Churches, Ma
tional Capital Area.
Among those who opposed
immediate adoption Of the reg
ulations were spokesman for:
The Federation Of Citizens
Associations; the Metropolitan
Washington Board OF Trade;
the Washington Board OF Real
tors, and the~Building owners
and Managers Association Of
Metropolitan Washington.