Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-27
Citizens Unit Urges
Action on Housing
Anti-Bius Druft
Is Pushed by
D. c. Council
By CHARLES d. PIERCE
Star Staff Writer

AlAllCuAdJC dClAOu vi q pIO-
posed compromise anti-dis-
elimination housing order for
Washington was urged today
BY the District Citizens Council.
Tilford Dudley, council chair
man. said recommendations
prepared by the council repre-
sent general consensus of the
differing views of the city's legal
office and a special lawyers
committee headed by Joseph L.
Rauh.
One of the major changes
in the proposed compromise
is that it would ban housing
discrimination based on race
and color only.
Previous Measures
The measures previously
drafted by the corporation
counsel's office and the Rauh
committee had proposed ban
ming discrimination on race
and color as well as on religion
and national origin.
Mr.. Dudley explained that
when the Commissioners an
nounced last March that there
was justification for issuing a
fair housing order. they did so
on the grounds that racial dis
elimination in housing resulted
In "a danger" to the COM
munity.
MFR. Dudley said that the
Commissioners did not include
in the finding a statement that
the community was ENDANGERED
because of discrimination based
on religion or national origin.
Recommendation
The recommendation of the
Citizens Council. top advisory
group to the District Com
missioners, said:
The community leaders seem
to be ready pSychologically for
the order but time will be
needed to inform the public Of
the specific terms and proce-
dures and conduct the educa-
tional campaign needed to
obtain popular understanding
and compliance.
This will be difficult in the
confusion and concentration Of
interest customary during the
Christmas and New Year sea-
sons.
I'VE therefore recommend
that the Commissioners issue
heir regulation forthwith. max
ing it effective on the 18th
day after the adjournment of
the present session of Congress.
and that the educational cam
paign be commenced immedi-
ately." .
Plan Adopted
The recommendation was
adopted unanimously by the
council.
Walter N. Tobriner. president
OF the District Board of Com.
missioners. declined to make
any comment on the council
recommendation.
The District Commissioners
announced on July Q that un-
less they were barred by Con-
gress from doing so, they would
adopt fair housing order and
make it effective not less than
Is nor more than 80 days after
adjournment of the present
session Of Congress.
The Citizens Council said
that there has been ample op-
portunity for Congress" to pass
legislation dealing with housing
discrimination here IF it so deI
sired, but there is no indication
of any such desire.
Furthermore. Congress al
ways has the authority to
change a regulation if it wishes.
Under these circumstances, acS
ton now Is not an affront to
the Congress nor a rude race
for power"
The council recommended
lions for a housing order would
ban discrimination based on
race or color in the Selling.
renting, maintaining and fl
nancing" of housing.
The ban also would cover
such real estate transactions as
advertising of housing, showing
OF property and quoting of
prices and interest rates.
Only two exemptions are rec
commended by the Citizens
Council: Rental Of part of
a single-family dwelling in
which another person will re-
side during the requested lease"
and rental of a room or rooms
IN rooming house with cap
acity of less than five persons
and in which the landlord re-
Sides"
BlOck-Busting
The Council also said that
any fair housing order adopted
by the Commissioners should
prohibit block busting at
tempting to panic owners into
selling because of a change or
rumorS of a change in the
racial composition of a COM
munity."
The council proposed that
If any fair housing order is
violated. the Commissioners
should refer the matter TO the
city's legal office for proSecu-
ton. This could result in q
$500 fine or To-day jail SEN
tence.
Paul Killing, executive di-
rector of the Council on HUI
man Relations. said ne thought
it would be unfortunate" If
the proposed fair housing or