Catholic Spokesmen Attack N.Y. Anti-bias Bill; Jewish Congress Defends Measure

Defeat of the Austin-Mahoney Bill, which would bar discrimination by institutions of higher learning in New York State, was urged yesterday by the New York State Catholic Welfare Committee, in a letter sent to all members of the Legislature.

The Conference charged that the measure was “un-American” and contained “passages and provisions that infringe on the fundamental rights of parents.” It said further that “the purposes of the Austin-Mahoney Bill seriously affect the freedom of all educational institutions in this State.” The Catholic statement suggested that since a commission has been named by the Legislature to study discrimination by universities, no new legislation be acted upon until its report is completed.

Replying on behalf of the American Jewish Congress, which is sponsoring the bill, Shad Polier, vice-president, said that the measure does not interfere with the freedom of parents, but on the contrary would prevent any institution from saying to a parent that it will not admit his child because of his color, race, or religion. He added that “no group has the moral right to ask that we tolerate for another year discrimination in education.”