The Daily News Of The Virgin Islands

Cyril King to Tell Senators:
No Go-Slow On Civil Rights

Government Secretary Cyril E. King plans to go before the Legislature this afternoon and say it is "absolutely incorrect" that he has a go-slow policy on implementing the Civil Rights Act of the Virgin Islands passed last June.

The Civil Rights Act was approved June 9. It is aimed at preventing discrimination in the Virgin Islands because of "race, creed, color, or national origin."

Senator John L. Maduro (Unity Party), chairman of the Legislature's judicial committee, brought the matter up last week by questioning Public Safety Commissioner Jack M. Monsanto on policing of the act.

Monsanto, it was reported, said he had not chosen police officers to inspect places of business as directed by the act because he was moving in accordance with a go-slow policy on the part of Government Secretary King.

The act specifies that "The Commissioner of Public Safety shall name a panel of police officers, selected for their tact and intelligence who shall be authorized to make periodical unspections of all places holding any licenses whatsoever, or any other business establishments selling any article whatsoever as covered in this Act, or upon reasonable cause to investigate any club in order to see that the provisions of this Act are complied with."

Monsanto told the Legislature he had not yet chosen such a police panel because of King's alleged go-slow policy, whereupon Senate President Walter A. M. Hodge asked King to appear before the Senate this afternoon.

King is expected to testify:

That the intent of the act is not to cause ill-will and that to go forth immediately upon its passage cancelling licenses to do business would be inimical to its purpose.

-That the public safety commissioner's role is to police violators of the act and as such is totally different from the government secretary's part, which is to issue or deny licenses to do business.

That his (King's) policy against discrimination has been clearly stated.

That the administration's policy has not been to go slow, but "to go sensibly."

That the act was passed in the middle of the licensing year when it would not be feasible (and perhaps not even legal) to revoke licenses.

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That, contrary to "going slow,"

he had immediately set about formulating an affidavit to be sent out at year-end with all applications for renewal of licenses.

A report from the government secretary's office indicates that in every case except one, applications for license renewal have been accompanied by signed copies of the affidavit, which says:

"I, the undersigned, (owner, operator, manager) of (name of business establishment) do hereby certify that in the conduct of this business all the applicable provisions of the Civil Rights Act of The Virgin Islands are complied with and it is fully realized that compliance with said Civil Rights Act is a condition incident to engaging or continuing in said business,"

The exception was the St. Croix Country Club, which withdrew its application and asked for a refund of the $60 it has sent in for a license to sell liquor on the premises.

The letter the club sent accompanying the withdrawal said it would no longer sell liquor to members or their guests.

Regarding Monsanto, King said "he is trying to excuse his own failure to take action" by saying that it is the administration's policy to go slow in enforcing the act. There is nothing to keep the Public Safety Department from going right ahead with its duty, he said, which is to report violators.

King said he had the "approval and endorsement of Governor Ralph Paiewonsky" of his (King's) methods and timing in enforcing the act.

The government secretary last week called attention to an address he made late Memorial Day before St. Croix Post 85, American Legion, which said in part:

"We cannot continue to tolerate the operation of segregated

clubs or other types of businesses which are licensed by my office."

King said that signing of the affidavit of compliance with the act was not in itself a requirement toward being granted a license. He said failure to sign would however be sufficient cause for him or his representatives to confer with the applicant in order to ascertain whether the Civil Rights Act is being complied with.