DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Dorothy Schramm newspaper clippings, 1949-1955 (folder 2 of 2) | 1953-07-09 Des Moines Register Article: "Fair Employment in Government Business" Page 1

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

1953-07-09 Des Moines Register Article: "Fair Employment in Government Business" Page 1

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7 - 9 - 53
DMR
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Fir Employment in Government Business.

Representative Adam Clayton Powell (Dem., N. Y.) reports that President Eisenhower is going to set up procedures in the near future to eliminate discrimination by employers holding government contracts. THe president himself has recently been alluding in his news conferences to the creation of some sort of anti-discrimination commission.
Theoretically, discrimination on work done for the federal government already is prohibited. Following a 1943 executive order, virtually all government contracts contain the following provision:
"In connection with the performance of work under this contract, the contractor agrees not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, creed, color, or national origin; and further agrees to insert the foregoing provision in all subcontracts hereunder except subcontracts for standard commercial supplies or raw materials."
But while government agencies are careful to check compliance on such terms of the contract as price, quality and delivery, the non-discrimination provision has been largely ignored. In a survey of 28 governmental agencies, the President's Committee on Government Contract Compliance--a commission set up by President Truman in 1951 to study the problem--found "only two . . . . had made more than a token effort to ascertain the extent of compliance . . . ."
More often than not the contracting agencies do not have personnel to check on discriminatory practices. Moreover, the president's committee found that "procurement officers have had little or no experience in handling situations involving employment bias."
Rather than leaving the job up to each separate department, the committee recommended it be handled by a single agency capable of receiving and investigating complaints. The agency would have jurisdiction over all contracts in excess of $10,000 and be directed to try to achieve compliance by conciliation, mediation and persuasion. Should these fail, the contracting agency could terminate the contract, seek an injunction or disqualify the firm from future contracts.
During the campaign President Eisenhower spoke out clearly on the role

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[[handwriting]] 7 - 9 - 53 DMR [[end handwriting]] Fir Employment in Government Business. Representative Adam Clayton Powell (Dem., N. Y.) reports that President Eisenhower is going to set up procedures in the near future to eliminate discrimination by employers holding government contracts. THe president himself has recently been alluding in his news conferences to the creation of some sort of anti-discrimination commission. Theoretically, discrimination on work done for the federal government already is prohibited. Following a 1943 executive order, virtually all government contracts contain the following provision: "In connection with the performance of work under this contract, the contractor agrees not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, creed, color, or national origin; and further agrees to insert the foregoing provision in all subcontracts hereunder except subcontracts for standard commercial supplies or raw materials." But while government agencies are careful to check compliance on such terms of the contract as price, quality and delivery, the non-discrimination provision has been largely ignored. In a survey of 28 governmental agencies, the President's Committee on Government Contract Compliance--a commission set up by President Truman in 1951 to study the problem--found "only two . . . . had made more than a token effort to ascertain the extent of compliance . . . ." More often than not the contracting agencies do not have personnel to check on discriminatory practices. Moreover, the president's committee found that "procurement officers have had little or no experience in handling situations involving employment bias." Rather than leaving the job up to each separate department, the committee recommended it be handled by a single agency capable of receiving and investigating complaints. The agency would have jurisdiction over all contracts in excess of $10,000 and be directed to try to achieve compliance by conciliation, mediation and persuasion. Should these fail, the contracting agency could terminate the contract, seek an injunction or disqualify the firm from future contracts. During the campaign President Eisenhower spoke out clearly on the role