DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Dorothy Schramm newspaper clippings, 1949-1955 (folder 2 of 2) | 1954-10-04 Burlington Hawkeye Article: "Fourth And Washington"

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Dorothy Schramm newspaper clippings, 1949-1955 (folder 2 of 2)

1954-10-04 Burlington Hawkeye Article: "Fourth And Washington"

The Hawk-Eye
Burlington, Iowa
Sunday, October 4, 1964

Fourth and Washington
Rights All Right
By Molly Doolittle

City councilmen agree some sort of human (or civil) rights ordinance should be passed here. But they aren't sure about the one proposed last week.
They expect to consider it about two more weeks -- and maybe make changes -- before taking action.
The mayor's committee on civic unity under Art Peterson told the council about the proposed ordinance last week. The ordinance would establish a human rights commission to hold hearings on rights problems and set up fair employment and labor practices prohibiting discrimination with religious, racial or ancestral overtones.

Two Negroes Now
The city now has two Negroes on its regular staff of 250. One is in the refuse department and the other, in streets. A third works part-time under Parks Chief Harry Hatt.
Negroes have taken Civil Service examinations for fire and police positions, but only one is reported to have passed recently (for police). He was over age, though, before a vacancy occurred.

They Don't Mention It
Applications for city hall positions do not require pictures, and make no mention of racial, religious or ancestral background. Councilmen said they do not consider or ask about any of these points in personal interviews.
There are several Negroes on the Mayor's Committee -- and Mayor Max Conrad said he would "discriminate" only to the extent of putting some on the commission if the proposed ordinance were passed.

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The Hawk-Eye Burlington, Iowa Sunday, October 4, 1964 Fourth and Washington Rights All Right By Molly Doolittle City councilmen agree some sort of human (or civil) rights ordinance should be passed here. But they aren't sure about the one proposed last week. They expect to consider it about two more weeks -- and maybe make changes -- before taking action. The mayor's committee on civic unity under Art Peterson told the council about the proposed ordinance last week. The ordinance would establish a human rights commission to hold hearings on rights problems and set up fair employment and labor practices prohibiting discrimination with religious, racial or ancestral overtones. Two Negroes Now The city now has two Negroes on its regular staff of 250. One is in the refuse department and the other, in streets. A third works part-time under Parks Chief Harry Hatt. Negroes have taken Civil Service examinations for fire and police positions, but only one is reported to have passed recently (for police). He was over age, though, before a vacancy occurred. They Don't Mention It Applications for city hall positions do not require pictures, and make no mention of racial, religious or ancestral background. Councilmen said they do not consider or ask about any of these points in personal interviews. There are several Negroes on the Mayor's Committee -- and Mayor Max Conrad said he would "discriminate" only to the extent of putting some on the commission if the proposed ordinance were passed.