The House Labor Committee today approved by a 14 to 11 vote Federal legislation seeking to prevent job discrimination because of race, creed or color.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Adam C. Powell, Jr. of New York, would apply to all firms in interstate commerce and employing more than 50 persons. The measure would cover Federal employment but would exempt state and local governments and religious and charitable organizations.
Its provisions would set up a fair employment practices commission of five members. They would be empowered to issue “cease and desist” orders against firms that refused to hire people because of religious or racial prejudice. The cease and desist orders could be enforced by the Federal courts but the commission would be required by Law to try to settle disputes over employment by informal conciliation before resorting to legal enforcement.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
