or State action against the Negroes' equality of treatment economically, make the poll tax a discrimination in and of itself resulting from the prior discrimination. Thirdly, and here I do not think there is any question about action against the Mississippi and Alabama poll tax, and I would challenge anybody even to raise a serious problem about it. Under your bill, Mr. Chairman, setting up Federal registrars in those two States, the Federal registrars that you create are put in there as a remedy for discrimination. Congress has the right to give them the duties that will best further their action. Poll tax collection will impede the work of these Federal registrars. Indeed, insofar as the poll tax is a revenue-raising measure, the Federal Government is about to do the work for the States, they are about to do the registration. If a poll tax is a revenue measure to defray the cost of the election process, the Federal Government is about to undertake a substantial part of the election process; namely, the registration. Why should the system that you are now setting up collect money and turn it over to the States when Congress is forced to set up this Federal system because of the discriminatory conduct of the States involved? So in Alabama and Mississippi where you have Federal registrars, certainly Congress has the power to direct those registrars to act in such way as Congress feels appropriate. This would not deal with the Tennessee-Texas problem if the statute is limited as it is today to the seven States, but it would solve the problem in the two worst States. Mr. MATHIAS. Would the gentleman yield? Governor Stafford points out that the bill that he, Mr. Lindsay, and I have introduced, specifically provides that a poll tax shall be disregarded as a prerequisite to vote. Mr. RAUH. Thank you, Congressman, for pointing that out. I would like to insert here a table in which we point out that the Lindsay bill, to which Congressman Mathias and Governor Stafford refer, did come out for abolishing the poll tax. So does the Resnick bill, so does the Douglas-Case bill in the Senate where 10 Senators agreed to it. In other words, the abolition of the poll tax is before the Congress in many bills as Mr. Mathias points out. We have here a table, sir, that might well go in the record here of your bill, the Douglas-Case bill, the Resnick bill, and the Lindsay bill to which Congressman Mathias refers, in which we point out that all the other three bills do ask for the elimination of the poll tax. It might be of value to you. The CHAIRMAN. We will be glad to accept that. (Documents referred to follow :) Tests of moral character, vouching, Collection of current tax permitted as prerequisite to State and local Finding by Director of Census. Not prohitited, but 6th-grade educa- Other State tests permitted unless Poll tax prohibited as prerequisite to Poll tax prohibited as prerequisite to voting in all elections. voting in all elections. Enforcement of prohibi- Civil action by Attorney General... Automatic in same States as admin- When President certifies that dis- Upon a determination by Commis- Appointment of registrars. (2) Appointment of supervisors (3) Establishment of a system (4) Issuance of a cease-and- Douglas-Case bill (S. 1517) Automatic (1) in voting districts where less than 25 percent of the potential voters of any race were registered to vote in November 1964 election or where it drops below that figure in future elections; or (2) upon petition of 20 or more persons of district if President has reason to believe their allegations are true and the district is one in which less than 50 percent of the potential voters voted, or is in a State in which less than 50 percent of the potential voters voted in the November 1964 election. Covers, in addition to areas covered by administration bill, areas in Florida, Arkansas, Tennessee, etc., where less than 25 percent of eligible Negroes were registered in November 1964. Who and how appointed. Examiners appointed by U.S. Civil Registrats appointed by President Registrars appointed by Commis Service Commission. Examiners shall apply State stand- Upon certification by Attorney from anywhere within Govern- Registrars shall apply only standards When President determines denial of right to vote in district has ceased, but may be reappointed under formula. sion. Before registration by examiner ap- No requirement to try State official.. No requirement.. plicant must try to register with Challenges of registration. Heard by hearing examiner. Ap peal to court of appeals. Chal- Threatening or intimidating regis- 46-535-65-26 |