Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-07-23

anyone OF property rlBnCS.
Mr.. Roosevelt, who was plS
on record for the bill. said he
supports it because he places
human rights ahead Of property
rights.
"Can you have any human
rights II you destroy property
rights?" asked Senator Thur
mond, adding that one Of the
first things Communists do
when they take over is destroy
private property rights.
IF you are suggesting that,
because / support this bill I am
on the verge Of becoming a
Communist -" Mr.. Roosevelt
started to answer, his voice
rising.
ImputatiOn Denied
Senator Thurmond broke in
to deny that he had made any
such imputation about Mr..
Roosevelt.
The acting Secretary ended
the discussion by declaring that
there is nothing in this bill
that remotely resembles COM
munism. This does not take
away property, it simply opens
up property"
Political squabbling between
Republicans and Democrats
also enlivened today's hearing.
At one point Senator Scott,
Republican of Pennsylvania,
asked that some Governor be
called as a witness to explain
why the Governors Conference
| In Florida abolished its reSolu-
tons committee to avoid facing
UP to the civil rights issue.
Having in mind that the
President urged civil rights &C.
ton on the Mayors when they
met ct Honolulu, II the Gov
ernors of the country are 60
ing to duck, run and scatter,
let's find out" said Senator
Scott.
PastOre Joins Discussion
Senator Pastcre. Democrat Of
Rhode Island, acting chair
man, said members Of the
G o m mittee are proficient
enough to discharge their re-
sponsibility, land ] don't think
we need to fuss around with
what the Governors are doing. :"
Maybe he (the President)
thought that, after he had ad-
dressed the Mayors, he ought
to wait and see what Gov.
Rockefeller could do with the
Governors" Senator Pastore
told the Pennsylvania Repub-
lican.
Earlier Senator Scott also
tangled with Mr.. Roosevelt over
keeping the civil rights issue
bipartisan. Senator Scott said
1t would help If the Kennedy
administration would give
more recognition to Republican
support for the bill.
Mr.. Roosevelt replied that
the administration welcomes
such support. But the witness
said he was confused when Re-
publican Leader Dirksen intro
duced q civil rights bill that
omits control over places of
public accommodation.
Mansfield Co-SpOnsor
Mr.. Roosevelt said he would
pass on to the President Sena-
tor SCOTS suggestion about
recognizing Republican support
II Senator Scott could get his
party leader to withdraw the
substitute bill.
Senaor Scott retorted that
the substitute bill in question
was co-sponsored by Senate
Democratic Leader Mansfield
Is well as Senator DirkSen.
Senator Scott called this un-
fortunate.
Mr.. Roosevelt replied with o
smile. II hoped you had forgot
ten about the joint sponsor
ship"
Earlier, Senator Cotton, Re-
publican Of New Hampshire,
expressed doubt that the use of
court injunctions in the adj
ministration's civil rights bill
would be q strong enough
weapon to end segregation in
hotels, restaurants and other
public places.
He told the committee that
Congress has been trying for 30
years to secure the voting
rights of Negroes with a variety
Of laws, which have been
avoided by such devices as lit
eracy tests and the poll tax.
Very shortly this bill would
have to be replaced with one
containing punishment for vio-
lations. or 1t will take 90 years