CONTENTS Hon. Israel M. Foster, Member of Congress from the State of Ohio. Hon. Emanuel Celler, Member of Congress from the State of New Dr. J. Stanley Durkee, president Howard University, Washington, 11 Mr. Perry W. Howard, Washington, D. C. Mr. Isaac H. Lutter, attorney, Atlantic City, N. J. Mr. Jesse Lawson, president Frelinghuysen University, Washing- 19 TO CREATE A NEGRO INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION-TO CREATE A COMMISSION ON THE RACIAL QUESTION COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY, The committee this day met, Hon. G. S. Graham (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. The next measure we have to consider is the bill introduced by Mr. Foster (H. R. 3228) to create a negro industrial commission. We also have before us the bill introduced by Mr. Celler (H. R. 5564), a bill creating a commission on the racial question. I think we might have a hearing on the two bills at the same time. (The two bills referred to are as follows:) [H. R. 3228, Sixty-eighth Congress, first session] A BILL To create a negro industrial commission Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there shall be created a negro industrial commission, which shall consist of five members, at least three of whom shall be members of the Negro race, to be appointed by the President of the United States, who shall hold office for four years unless removed for good cause shown, and whose position shall in no way be political; that they shall be nonpartisan, and whose salary shall be fixed by the President of the United States: Provided, however, That the salary of each member shall not exceed $5,000 per annum, except in the case of the chairman, who shall be designated by the President of the United States, and whose salary shall not exceed $7,000 per annum; that said commissioners shall be entitled to the usual per diem and necessary expenses that are usually allowed officers of the Government when absent from their official station for the conduct of official business. SEC. 2. That said commission is authorized to appoint such necessary clerks, agents, or investigators, attorneys and assistants as may be necessary for the 1 conduct of the business for which said commission is created, or such other work that may be assigned to said commission by the President of the United States, or any of the departments of the Government of the United States touching any problem or matter affecting the negro, whose salary shall be fixed by the commission and approved by the chairman of said commission. SEC. 3. That said commission shall be provided by the Secretary of the Treasury with suitable quarters in the city of Washington, District of Columbia, for the transaction of the business coming before said commission. SEC. 4. That the duties of the negro industrial commission created by this act shall be to study the economic conditions of the negro; to study the labor problems in which the negro is interested; to stimulate and encourage thrift and industry among the negroes of this country; to promote the general welfare of the negro in industrial pursuits; to give aid and to encourage the general uplift of the negro; to work out plans for the solution of the different problems confronting the Negro race of the United States; to consider all questions pertaining to the negro that may be referred to said commission by any department of the United States Government, and report the proper solution of any and all problems that may be presented to the commission by any officer of the United States, the governor or attorney general of any of the States, or labor department of any State in the United States; to investigate all labor questions that may be referred to said commission by the governor of any State, and to recommend what is necessary to regulate labor conditions for the best interest of the communities in which the labor questions may arise; to recommend what may be necessary for the stability of labor in the different States; to discourage Bolshe vism wherever it may exist; to formulate a policy for mutual understanding and confidence between the races; to report to Congress through the President of the United States all their acts and doings and to make such recommendations for the solution of any problem or problems affecting the negro that they may deem advisable. SEC. 5. That for the purposes of the expenses of said commission there shall be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, for the first year, the sum of $200,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to defray the expenses of this commission; and there shall, every year thereafter, be appropriated by Congress such sums as may be necessary to carry out the work of said commission; that the expenses shall be paid out of the money hereby appropriated, upon proper vouchers approved by the chairman of said commission, including the salaries of the commissioners. SEC. 6. That all acts or parts of acts inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed, and this act shall take effect upon its passage and the approval of the President of the United States. [H. R. 5564, Sixty-eighth Congress, first session] A BILL Creating a commission on the racial question Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That a commission of nine persons, citizens of the United States, be, and is hereby, created to be known and designated as the commission on the racial question in the United States of America. The commission shall be composed of three white men from the South, three white men from the North, and three colored men. SEC. 2. That said commission shall be appointed by the President of the United States and shall be divided into three groups of three men in each group, two white and one colored; that the term of the first group shall be for one year, the second group for two years, and the third group for three years. SEC. 3. That the commission shall have authority to inquire into and thoroughly investigate the conditions surrounding the colored people in the United States, ascertain, if possible, the cause of the unrest among them, and, if there be racial friction, the cause of the same, and to suggest such remedies as they may deem best calculated to relieve the situation and to bring about harmonious relations between white and colored Americans. They shall have power to send for persons and papers, administer oaths and affirmations, employ experts, and, when necessary, travel from place to place in order to ascertain the true conditions affecting the interests of the colored people in different sections of the United States. SEC. 4. That the expense of the commission shall not exceed the sum of $50,000 for any one fiscal year; to include compensation of the commissioners when |