Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-25
BY ia. OLEARY
Star Staff Writer

~~|@ 1880
President Kennedy's civil
rights bill had as co-sponsors
in the Senate today, but this
was five short of the majority
his supporters had hoped for
by last night.
When the bill was introduced
last Wednesday, Democratic
leaders directed that 1t be kept
on the clerks desk until 5 pm.
yesterday to give other Sena-
tors time to become co-spon-
sors.
Senate d Democratic Whip
Humphrey predicted a major
ity Of the 100 Senator's would
sign up before the deadline was
reached.
The as figure does not nee
essarily reflect the maximum
strength of the bill, since some
Senators do not believe In null
tiple sponsorship, and others
are reluctant to declare their
position in advance Of COM
mittee hearings and floor de-
bate.
In any event, the real test
viii be whether supporters of
the bill can muster two-ti.irds
e 67. If all Senators are vot-
ing - to break q Southern fill
ibuster when the bill is taken
UP several months from now.
Nine From 6. o. p. Side
Only nine Republicans are
included in the As sponsors Of
the administrators entire civil
rights program.
The compromise bill intro
duced by Republican Leader
Dirksen and Democratic Leader
Mansfield has only seven Re-
|publicans and two Democrats
as co-sponsors. But Senator
Dirksen said last week no con-
certed effort would be made to
get co-sponsors on this bill.
The compromise covers all
Iof the Presidents program ex-
|cept a Federal ban on dis
termination in privately owned
hotels, restaurants and other
business places. Senator Mans
field introduced the Presidents
bill in addition to co-sponsor-
ing the compromise.
The Commerce Committee,
which had planned to start
hearings today on the public
accommodations bill, rescued
uled them for the first Of next
week after Senator Thurmond,
Democrat Of South Carolina,
said he would block any unani-
nous consent requestrto let the
committee sit while the Senate
was meeting.
The House judiciary Com
mittee still plans to hear At
torney General Robert F. Ken
nedy testify on the admins
tration's civil rights proposals
tomorrow.
House Unit Begins Voting
The House Education and
Labor Committee began voting
in closed session today on in
dividual sections Of a bill to
ban discrimination in employ
ment on the basis Of race, color,
creed or national origin.
Chairman Powell, Democrat
Of New York, said today's con-
sideration dealt mainly with
preliminary portions Of the
measure and that only two
amendments were offered.
The first was q proposal by
Representative Pueinski, DEM
ocrat Of Illinois, to include a
ban on job discrimination on
the basis Of age. This amend
ment, however. was not ac-
cepted by the committee.
The other amendment speci-
fled that Puerto Rico would be
regarded as q State in applica-
ton of the provisions Of the
bill. The committee adopted
this change. Mr.. Powell said
he believes the committee will
approve the complete bill by
Friday.
Meanwhile, in q Sena tie
speech, Senator Russell, Demo-
crat Of Georgia, criticized Pres
ident Kennedy's handling OF
recent Negro demonstrations in
the South.
Senator Russell said that
when citizens gathered in one
or two Southern cities in 1854