Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-08-28
CAPITOL
Most Congressman
Keep Offices Open
Continued From Page Al

the spirited walks from the
various legislative offices.
The NAACP's Roy wilkins
was the major spokesman for
the group, it was learned.
Also included In the group
were Mathew Amman, execu-
tive director of the National
Catholic Conference for Inter-
racial Justice; Eugene Carson
Blake, vice chairman of the
Race Relations Commission Of
the National Council Of
Churches Of Christ in America;
Floyd McKissick, national
chairman of the Congress Of
Racial Equality.
Others on Hand
Also, Martin Luther King, jr.,
president of the Southern
Christian Leadership Confer
ence; John Lewis. chairman Of
the Student Non-Violent Co
ordinating Committee; Joachim
Prinz, president Of the Ameri-
can Jewish Congress: Walter
Reuther, vice president of the
AFL-CIO. and Whitney M.
Young, jr., executive director
Of the National Urban League.
Also invited to attend were
Arnold Aronson. secretary Of
the Leadership Conference on
Civil Rights; Clarence Mitchell.
director Of the Washington
NAACP and Joseph L. Rauh.
jr., vice chairman Of the Ameri-
can for Democratic Action.
The delegation was orderly.
Talks were private. Leaders
were satisfied that members Of
Congress were sympathetic"
But there was dissatisfaction
with what was regarded by
some Of the Negro leaders as
a lack Of urgency" on civil
rights issues In Congress.
Bill Gets Setback
Hopes for early House action
on any civil rights bill suffered
q setback when q Judiciary sub
committee considering the leg
islation recessed today until the
week after next. The subcom-
mittee headed by Representa-
tive Celler, Democrat Of New
York, who also heads the full
committee, held another closed
session but announced it had
made comparatively little prog
ress.
Mr.. Celler explained that, be-
cause of the Labor Day holi-
day, the House would have only
routine meetings next week and
that most members Of his SUBJ
committee planned to be away
from Washington.
He voiced regret that he
probably could not call anoth-
er meeting before September
10. He conceded this would
further delay action on any
civil rights bill because the full
committee probably will need
several weeks to act on any
subcomm ittee recommen-
dations.
Committee Held Key
Mr.. Celler said he agreed with
Speaker McCormack's state
ment to march leaders that the
House would pass a broader
civil rights bill If such a meas
ure came out of committee.
Like the speaker, however,
Mr.. Celler said he did not know
whether his subcommittee or
the full committee would add
the especially controversial pro-
visions for a fair employment
practices com mission and
broader authority for the At
torney General to initiate Fed
eral court suits In all major
areas of racial discrimination.
Declaring that he personally
favored putting the FEPC and
the old Title III provisions in
any civil rights bill sent by the
committee to the House, Mr..
Celler noted that the measure
currently being considered by
the subcommittee would give
the Attorney General broader
powers in some instances OF
racial discrimination.
He explained that 1t would
allow the Attorney General to
institute court suits against
racial discrimination in voting,
education, and to some extent
in public accommodations. But
he said the pending bill would
not extend such authority
against racial discrimination in
labor. housing, transportation
and several other areas, nor
does 1t contain an FEPC provi-
sion.
Senator Mansfield said he
told the delegation that he
looked on the public accommo-
dations bill in the Senate as
insurance" He meant that
this Senate bill could carry an
omnibus measure expected from
the House around the primary
Senate danger point-the Judi
ciary Committee, headed by
Segregationist Chairman East
land, Democrat Of Mississippi.
II told them ] would much
prefer to have the whole bill
as passed by the House." the
Senator said.
Query Unanswered