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4 Bills Introduced in Albany to Curb Job Discrimination

January 23, 1941
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Four bills to extend the State restrictions against racial discrimination in employment, in line with Governor Lehman’s proposals in his message to the Legislature last week, have been introduced in the Assembly, it was learned today.

William T. Andrews, Negro Assemblyman from Manhattan, proposed a measure to prohibit discrimination in all businesses affected with public interest. Robert J. Crews, of Brooklyn, introduced two bills, one to ban discrimination by employment agencies and the other to put teeth into the existing law forbidding discrimination by public utility companies. A bill introduced by Louis Bennett, of the Bronx, also would strengthen the law on public utilities. All four measures would provide fines of $100 to $500 and imprisonment from 30 to 90 days for violation.

Meanwhile, the State Council of Churches decided, at its annual conference here, to appeal to the Federal Government to penalize companies which practice racial discrimination in employment of men to fill national defense contracts. According to Dr. Wilbur T. Clemens, general secretary of the council, the action is directed against employers who refuse to hire Negroes or Jews.

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