President Truman today issued an executive order continuing the work of the Fair Employment Practice Committee until June 30, 1946, in accordance with provisions of the National War Agencies Appropriation Act. The committee is instructed by the order “to investigate, make findings and recommendations, and report to the President, with respect to discrimination in industries engaged in work contributing to the production of military supplies or to the offective transition to a peace time ecenomy.”
The President simultaneously sent a directive to the heads of all government departments, agencies and independent establishments, calling for fair consideration of all qualified workers for employment without distinctions as to race, creed, color or national origin.
“It has come to my attention,” the President wrote, “that a considerable mumber of loyal and qualified employees have been refused transfer and re-employment by employment agencies solely because of race and creed. This condition is a violation of sivil service rules which have been issued by the President and in violation of existing law. I am writing to request that you make careful analysis of your personnel policies, procedures and practices in order that you can assure me that they are in accord with national law and policy and in order that all qualified workers in existing temporary war jobs will be considered fairly for appointments without distinction because of race, creed, color or national origin.”
The full cooperation of all government agencies with Fepc “in all matters affecting the employment of minorities in government” was also requested by the President.
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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.
