Segregation Rule By Court Applies For Universities

The Supreme Court indicated yesterday that last week's ruling against segregation in public secondary schools would extend into the field of higher education.

While the Court, did not specifically rule out segregation in the University of Florida and Louisiana State University, it did ask the lower courts ruling on these two colleges, to reconsider their decisions "in the light of" last Monday's announcement and "conditions that now prevail."

The two cases involved the admission of Negroes to the two universities. The court handed down a similar decision on a case concerning a city-owned Louisville, Kentucky amphitheater. The Justices made no comment on the three issues.

In additional segregation cases yesterday the Court, by denying hearings, in effect supported lower court decisions.

It banned segregation at Hardin Junior College of Wichita Falls, Texas. This decision was based on the separate but equal doctrine which last week's decision knocked out. The U.S. Circuit Court in New Orleans said six Negroes who sought to enroll in the all white school should be admitted because it would be more costly and less convenient for them to attend distant Negro schools.

The Court also ordered the City of Houston, Texas, to permit Negroes to use municipal golf courses on a segregated basis. This appeal by the city has been before the Court since June, 1952.

While yesterday's decision concerning the two universities temporarily places the issue in the jurisdiction of the regional courts, Chief Justice Warren's statement of last week in addition to the court's most recent action is believed to indicate clearly that the unconstitutionality of segregation extends beyond the field of secondary education.