Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-07-26


orce municipal regulations ="
Mr.. Rauh told the Commits
ioners that I'VE must not let
hese (anti- discrimination hous-
ng) regulations be a failure.
Weak or halfway measures
would be just as bad as none
1t all.
Our community wants strong
Lction against housing discrim-
nation, not lip service"
Called Hard to Enforce
Mr.. Rauh and Mr.. Freeman
aid that the criminal penalties
in Mr.. Gray's measure
nave proved difficult to enforce
n other cities and states which
nave fair housing regulations.
Mr.. Rauh bluntly described
Mr.. Gray's measure as won't
WOrk reguldClOn.
James H. Heller, secretary Of
the National Capital Area Civil
Liberties Union, said that it
seems deplorable to us that
The lawyer for the District (Mr.
Gray should seek to limit the
city's powers" which are avail
able.
Says Injunctive Power Exists
He insisted that the Com
do have injunctive
powers and cited numerous
documents to back up his posi-
ton.
Mr.. Heller said his organiza-
ton supports the regulation
proposed by the lawyers COM
mittee with one exception.
He explained that the Civil
Union believes that
a section of the lawyers COM
regulation designed to
ban block busting" is worded
so that it is an infringement
on freedom of speech.
Archbishop O'Boyle gave the
following examples of discrim-
inatory practices that he said
should be banned under any
ordinance adopted:
THE refusal to sell or rent
a house or apartment to a
financially and morally quail
fled purchaser or tenant, solely
by reason of his race, color or
national origin.
"The refusal of a lending
institution to lend money, in
sure a loan or accept a mort
gage in connection with q fl
nancially and morally quail
fled persons desire to purchase
property. solely by reason of
the applicants race, color, re-
ligion or national origin.
THE use of what are called
block busting tactics, that is,
to create panic among resi-
dents in an area, and to per-
suade residents to sell their
homes because one or more Ne
gro families, or families of
other ethnic groups, have pur-
or reside in the area"
Cancellation Recommended
Archbishop O'Boyle said that
agency is given the
task of enforcing a fair hous-
ing ordinance should rely large
ly on Cancellation.
However, he continued, If eff
forts at Cancellation fail, some
preliminary hearing process
should be established protect
ing the rights Of all parties
concerned.
IF upon conclusion Of such
a hearing an act of discrimis
nation is satisfactorily estab-
lished. we urge that vigorous
prosecution be undertaken by
the corporation counsel before
the appropriate court"
He said that II a regulation
Of the type he outlined is
adopted and diligently carried
out it will succeed in great
in eliminating the evil
of housing discrimination from
our Nations Capital, will re-
duce the pernicious effects Of
such discrimination, and will
help bring about a change in
the moral climate of race re-
lations in our community"
One witness. a real estate firm
executive who said he spoke as
a private citizen, declared the
hearing was illegal because the
Commissioners were usurping
the powers Of Congress. He
said there were no findings to
prove that discrimination en-
dangered the public.
THE regulation should not
be enacted because 1t takes
away the right Of private own
ership OF property as guaran-
teed by the Constitution" de-
clared John w. Gill, president
Of H. A. Gin g. Son.
Are we here today going TO
do as the Attorney General Of
the United States wishes Con-
gress to do-that is. pass a
law and then let the courts
decide II 1t is legal?" he de-
manded.
Cites Property Rights
II am present at this hearing
TO fight for rights. One Of these
rights is the right to ownership
Of private property. The Four
tenth Amendment to the Con-
stitution gives me this right.
Are you gentlemen going TO take
away my right by telling me
TO whom / can sell or rent my
property"
Mr.. Gill said that the regula-
See HOUSING. Page BIS