* Selected resources as of June 30 are as follows: Unpaid undelivered orders, 1964, $51,000; 1965, $41,000. Mr. ROONEY. The next item under Public Law 88-352 to which we shall direct our attention is entitled "Commission on Civil Rights, salaries and expenses," and is a request for an additional amount of $295,000. This appears at page 3 of House Document No. 318 to which reference has heretofore been made.

We shall at this point insert in the record pages 1 through 4 and 8 through 10 of the justifications.

(The pages follow:)

COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS

APPROPRIATION LANGUAGE

"For an additional amount for 'Salaries and expenses,' $295,000."

GENERAL STATEMENT

The Commission on Civil Rights was created as an independent, bipartisan agency in the executive branch of the Federal Government, pursuant to Public Law 85-315, approved September 9, 1957. The original statutory life of the Commission was limited to 2 years with a final report on the activities of the Commission due to the President and Congress on September 9, 1959. Public Law 86-383, approved September 28, 1959, extended the life of the Commission for an additional 2 years. The Commission submitted a second report of its findings and recommendations to the President and Congress on September 9, 1961. Once more the Congress extended the life of the Commission for an additional 2 years through Public Law 87-264, approved September 21, 1961. The Commission's 1963 statutory report was submitted to the President and the Congress on September 30, 1963. Public Law 88-152, approved October 17, 1963, extended the life of the agency until September 30, 1964. Public Law 88-352, approved July 2, 1964, extended the life of the agency until January 31, 1968. The Commission is composed of six members, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, who serve on a part-time basis. The day-to-day administration of the Commission is assigned to a full-time staff director who is also appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

36-723-64-pt. 1

The specific functions of the Commission on Civil Rights are

(1) To investigate allegations that citizens are being deprived of their right to vote and have that vote counted by reason of their color, race, religion, or national origin;

(2) To study and collect information concerning legal developments which constitute a denial of equal protection of the laws under the Constitution;

(3) To appraise the laws and policies of the Federal Government with respect to equal protection of the laws under the Constitution;

(4) To serve as a national clearinghouse for information in respect to denials of equal protection of the laws;

(5) To investigate allegations that citizens are unlawfully being accorded or denied the right to vote or to have their vote properly counted as a result of any patterns or practices of vote fraud or discrimination; and,

(6) To prepare and submit interim reports to the President and the Congress and a final report of its activities by January 31, 1968.

BACKGROUND

The first report (1959) of the Commission was a one-volume document covering a limited area of study: voting, housing, and education. After the first extension was granted to the Commission in 1959, the Commission expanded its scope of inquiry to include not only voting, housing, and education, but also publicly connected employment and the administration of justice. In 1961, the report was issued in five separate volumes, each volume documenting and making findings and recommendations in one of the study areas. Since 1961 the Commission has published a number of reports submitted by its State advisory committees; it has issued staff reports and has itself made interim reports on matters of national concern. The 1963 statutory report summarized the Commission's work over the past 2 years in the fields of voting, education, employment, housing, administration of justice, and health facilities and services. Commission projects concerning civil rights problems in urban areas and on the Negro in the Armed Forces were also summarized in the 1963 report. The work of the Commission's 51 State advisory committees was summarized. A total of 27 recommendations for legislative or executive action was made.

The Commission's appropriation for fiscal year 1963 was $959,500, and the 1964 appropriation is in the amount of $985,000.

The justification that follows reflects the Commission's unanimous attitude toward efficiently and economically pursuing its new duties as defined by Public Law 88-352, approved July 2, 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, during fiscal year 1965.

JUSTIFICATION

The annual appropriations request for fiscal year 1965, while assuming the extension of the life of the agency by the Congress, did not reflect new functions. "Additional funds are needed to enable the Commission on Civil Rights to carry out two new functions assigned under title V of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: (a) to serve as a national clearinghouse for civil rights information; and (b) to investigate allegations of violation of voting rights.

"Of the amount requested, $205,000 will be used to provide 20 additional positions for a Technical Information Center and related field activity. The Center will collect and disseminate information with respect to denials of equal protection of the laws because of race, religion, or national origin. The remaining $90,000 will be used to provide five additional positions to enable the Commission to conduct investigations and hearings in response to specific complaints that individuals or groups are being unlawfully accorded or denied the right to vote." (Quoted from H. Doc. 318.)

The following paragraphs describe the Commission's interpretation of these new functions:

National clearinghouse

To function as a national clearinghouse requires not only a comprehensive collection of and repository for a vast amount of data, much of it of a complex

or

legal and technical nature, but an ability to digest, abstract and interpret disseminate this information to the Nation. We must establish a unit not only capable of responding quickly to a wide range of requests for information, but one which disseminates on a current and frequent basis information on developments in this field.

As the federally established clearinghouse we must be regarded as the authoritative national resource. We must be prepared to service the needs of the Federal, State, and local governments, public and private agencies working in this field, business, industry and labor, and the public at large.

Some present resources of the Commission will be utilized for this function, but an increase in personnel and funds is essential if we are to meet this responsibility effectively.

Vote fraud

It is anticipated that most of our work in carrying out this new function will be in response to specific complaints. The previous experience of the Commission will not be too helpful in this work, but the experience of others indicates that vote fraud investigations are extremely time consuming, complex, and expensive.

Commission hearings may be required in instances where investigations of complaints appear to substantiate their validity, and a pattern or practice of election fraud or discrimination is evident.

Again, some present Commission resources will be made available for this new function, although a separate staff unit must be established since this new program will be largely unrelated to any other work of the agency.

In summary, this is a request for 25 additional positions and funds in the amount of $295,000 for fiscal year 1965, to carry out the new functions for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights created by Public Law 88-352, the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

PERSONNEL COMPENSATION AND STAFFING

$160,000 for 25 permanent positions distributed as follows:

Total permanent positions_-.

Average employment (including WAE)–

1965

25

27

SUMMARY STATEMENT ON "OTHER OBJECTS" FOR 1965, SUPPLEMENTAL, $135,000

12 Personnel benefits, $11,000.-Includes contributions to retirement fund, $8,800; health benefits, $1,200; group insurance, $400; and FICA, $600.

21 Travel and transportation of persons, $40,000.-For travel in connection with vote fraud investigations and hearings, $35,000; clearinghouse services, $5,000.

23 Rent, communications, and utilities, $20,000.—For telephone and telegraph services, and payment of postage fees in connection with new activities. 24 Printing and reproduction, $15,000.-For printing of publications necessary to clearinghouse activities.

25 Other services, $36,000.

Payments to commercial contractors, $25,000.-For stenographic services and reproduction of materials for new functions. Services of other agencies, $11,000.-For administrative services by GSA and for reimbursement to other agencies for health room services, office machine repair, furniture repair, and security clear

ances.

26 Supplies and materials, $5,000.-For office and administrative supplies and materials necessary to the new functions.

31 Equipment, $8,000.-For purchase of necessary equipment for increased staff and new functions.

Mr. ROGERSON. I am Howard W. Rogerson, Acting Staff Director; this is Mr. William L. Taylor, General Counsel; Madeleine O'Brien, administrative officer; and Arthur J. Craten, budget analyst, General Services Administration.

Mr. ROONEY. You mean there are no members of the Commission here?

Mr. ROGERSON. No, sir. There are four members. Two others have not been confirmed by the Senate. On Friday, when I received notification of this hearing, I attempted to reach the members. Two are out of the country. Dean Griswold has official duties at the American Bar Convention in New York and Dr. Hannah is away, and as a result no member of the Commission was able to be present this morning.

Mr. ROONEY. This places us under a handicap because-well, never mind "because." What is your statement?

Mr. ROGERSON. You have material that has been previously submitted. I have a very short supplementary statement which I will read,

sir.

GENERAL STATEMENT

We are asking for an additional $295,000 and an increase of 25 positions to perform our new functions under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. One of these new functions establishes the Commission as a national clearinghouse for civil rights information. The other charges the Commission with the responsibility to investigate sworn complaints of patterns or practices of vote fraud or discrimination in Federal elections.

It is impossible to predict what demands will be made on us in the vote fraud area. This function is new to the Commission, although we have done considerable work in regard to voting denials for reasons of race, color, religion, or national origin.

We are asking for five additional positions to aid us in carrying out this new vote fraud duty. Some present staff resources will also be assigned to vote fraud. Our present plan is for a vote fraud and investigative section of nine people, seven professional and two clerical. I view the new clearinghouse function as something that is long overdue both in the Federal Government and in the Nation. It is a large and vital undertaking. To the extent possible, we have in the past been responding to the growing need for information concerning developments in the civil rights field. The resources that we were able to devote to this did not begin to meet the demand.

To carry out effectively this new function we must establish a comprehensive, reliable, and respected information center. Current developments in this field are staggering in number. The dramatic increase in Federal involvement as a result of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 has created an even more pressing need for a reliable central source of information.

We are asking for 14 additional positions to staff our information center, which will be the heart of the clearinghouse function. Some present staff resources will also be devoted to this operation, making a total of 21 people in the information center activity.

Mr. ROONEY. Has that been changed since the submission of House Document No. 318?

Mr. ROGERSON. No, sir. This last paragraph or two gets to the other positions. You are referring to the larger number?

Mr. ROONEY. I am referring to a lower number. House Document No. 318 says:

Of the amount requested, $205,000 will be used to provide 20 additional positions for a technical information center and related field activity.

You just mentioned 21 people.

Mr. ROGERSON. We are asking for 14 additional positions to staff our Technical Information Center. This 21 couples the 14 with some we already have on board working in our library and related services which will be a part of the Center.