Tallahassee City officials have asked a legislative investigation committee which is aiming its fire at the NAACP to look into affairs of organizations here "which constitute a violation of the law of Florida."

The cryptic request names no names and gives no facts about law violations to direct the committee into its inquiry, but apparently the object would be the organizations behind the bus boycott.

We're sorry the City officers did it.

In the first place, we doubt that any investigation by the committee of legislators will accomplish much. We opposed creation of the committee as a needless waste of $50,000 in public funds that can only intensify had feelings between the races and give the NAACP another talking point in the campaign to finance its reckless work.

In the second place, we think the situation in Tallahassee – irksome and distasteful as it is – is one we can best handle right here among ourselves and we don't need any help from out-of-county legislators.

In more than four months since the bus boycott started there hasn't been a single incident of violence or threatened violence by either race. There have been accusations of only two classes of law violation:

1. A series of minor traffic charges. They were handled by City court in routine fashion.
2. The broader charge that the bus boycotters are operating a commercial transportation system without a City Commission permit in violation of ordinance.

This case, after some stumbling starts by both prosecution and defense, now has settled down to basic legal issues with competent attorneys on both sides taking it through the orderly processes of democratic American litigation.

That's the way it ought to be.

If there are illegal organizations operating here (or legal organizations violating any laws) we have the grand juries and prosecutors to accuse them, a free choice of lawyers to defend them, good judges to try them and fair appeal courts to sit in review.

A legislative investigating committee is a poor shortcut to justice or settlement of disputes.

We hope the City won't press its request.

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