New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-03
THE OWL RIGHTS BILL.
LOCAL TREATMENT OF THE COLORED
RACE,


vIsIoNs-cOMMKNTs OF COLoRED MEN ON THE
MEASURE.
The Civil Rights bill has been signed by the
President The question Of the right Of colored people
10 the privileges Of the hotels and the theaters Is ex'
citing considerable attention in this city Under the
laws OF state discrimination on account OF color
lawfully DO made yet 1t Is well UNDERSTOOD tnat
under various protects c0ored people are depr'eu vi
equal privileges with tho white men ana women Oh
visiting theaters or in lodging at hotels The law Is
substantially nullifled and evaded In some OF the
theaters there Is set Off portion OF the family circle
for coored persons while the managers Of other heae
refuse in guarded language to admit them foany part OF
the house. The act Of Congress provides that all persons
within the Jurisdiction OF the United States snail DO en-
titled to the full and equal enjoyment OF the accommo
dations advantages, facilities, and privileges OF INNS,
public conveyances on land or water, theaters anu
other places OF public amusement 1t ID Claimed ny
those who favored this law and urged its adoption that
It will supersede the State laws and guarantee TO the
coored people equal privileges with all Others IL Is
a,sd stated that the United States officers under this act
will enforce its provisions and compel obedience on the
part of the propretOrs OF hotels and theaters TRiB
UNB reporter converted yesterday with the managers
of several Of the leading theaters as to the probable
feet of the law on their business
Theodore Moss Of wallacks Theater said that the
management had not determined how to act Theaters
to run them in their way, and admit whom they
please TO admit and TO refuse admission TO those WIN
would iniure their business who were 0therwise oo
,ectiopable Sheridan Shook Of the Union square Inc
alter stated that the tbeater would no DOUBT oocy ~
law but It did not follow that coored people would Oe
admitted except on the conditions made ny Hne pio
nr,e,ors. MIR. Fske OF Days Fifth Avenue Thea'er
said that there had been set aside portion OF inc Jun
ily Circle in that house for colored people, anu he u
NOT pect that the arrangements would be altereo OK
cent hinder advice of counsel In LONDON ~ t"o o.
James one of tho fashionable theaters DO hau scc o
ored people sitting next to Duchcsscs anu noo'en''"'
and occupying the best places He Thought inau III
~ ~ he nreiudce against cOlOred people III thls
co"ntrV would wear away, and they wond enjoy eqoa,
privileges without question or notice. MI n,', ho
Rnotb's Theater stated that there woud prooaoy oe
Don of interests and tho theaters would be governed
by the advice OF counsel. At the Lyceum ln9ater anu
the Academy OF Music IL was also understood lnht ho
managers would DO guided In their course ny COUNSEL
INTENTIONS OF HOTEL-KEEPERs AND RESTAURANT
PROPRIETORs.
At several Of the most prominent hotels IN the city,
where inquiries made yesterday AS 10 inc action
proposed TO DO taken In relation to the Civil Rights DILL
the managers found 10 be very retcnt upon INC
subject and disposed to evadc the question AT the
Fifth Avenue Hotel, Mr. Grswod said he Ola not thlhh
that the bill would trouble the NewYork hotel proprie
tors To the question il he would permit eolored men 10
have such they desired be said he did not allow
his guests dictate to him rs TO what portion
OF the house they would occupy they were assigned
such rooms he fit 10 give hem ana u they were
not satisfied they were perfect liberty to go else
where He declared that his course would he snch as
was for the advantage OF the house and Tor the
comfort OF his patrons; but II coofed man came ne
would give him In answer 10 tne question nc
would allow coored persons tn sit at The general table,
Mr. GrswOd said that there was more IMAM one dining
room 10 the hotel that ne certainly would not refuse 10
feed coored guest. AMI woald take him into sucn OF
Al the Grand Central II. L. Powers the lessee. was
called upon and In reply the question whether he
would entertain coored guests lie SAID tnat ne dd nos
think he would nc either honored or troubled WIN
Them When asked II he would allow them TO sit at the
general table, he said that the hotel was PROVIDED WIN
three dining and he did not allow any one TO
dictate i'm his establishment no could dispose Of coloed
guests as he it, and that he saw NJ TO put any one
In tho smallest diningroOm ne should do so' -
At other hotels the proprIetors said that they were
not prepared commit themselves upon tne suplci;
that they thought matter which would regulate
,tser and when the time for action they would be
better able say what they would no. Al tue 81 DENIS
In repy 10 the question. whether the Motel would admit
coored guests the clerk said that II 1t was tho law lie
amused that there would be noting left FOR the man
ageinent to do but to obey The general impression
iven nv me propretOrs tnaf probably all their
Tooms would be occupied or not IN condition TO receive
undesirable guests. - - .-.
In with the leading uptown restaurant
propretors yesterday, win one eAoeption' ahtso
vas found, a bitter sentiment or opposition 10 the
features OF the Civil Rights bill relating 90 the enter
ainment OF tue negro In public houses ana rfL urhnls
One Dropretor OF years eXpbrlchce WIN colOftu
walters had found them the frat TO protest against
serving their own people. He thought matter that
would regulate itsef that tue interests OF MS business
and The sentiments his patrons should be projected
and this ev en- the disregard OF law IL; preferred 10
nav penalties than suffer the Destruction OF his
ius,Iress Another gentleman employing French sery
ants stated that he should exercise the rgn "a ne al
WAYS had OF discriminating with regard 70 the quallty
and of his patrons; that he cOuu not enter
tain colored people intoxicated or persos
nor those untidily dressed; that III an These
tters he was Obliged exercise the greatest caution
The sentiments Of other propreors were found 10 10
s,n,ilar 10 these Only found that expressed
n,msef willing 10 abide by the law. However Disagree
able 1t ght HIN personally. ne salu nc knew Oh
no other alternative and III case MS servants shou re-
fnse to wait upon persons, lie would serve them
bimsef One proprietor had III Ie" Instances served
them in "a retired part OF his saloon, or Ia separate
room and would continue to do SO as long as " dld not
niure mis- business. Generally no trouble was appIe-
bended from the new law, az II was thought hot the
matter would regulate itself in the future as IT had
done IN the past
VIEWS OF PROMINENT CoLOBED MEN.
The feeling of the colored portion OF the population OF
this city generally found 10 be that the Civil Rights
bill was OF little advantage to tue race and as poitl-
cal measure was failure Isaac H. Hunter OF No. ll9
West Twentysixth-st, of tine members OF the Lib
eral Republican Association, said that the Radical Re-
n,blicans had played this their last card,
and in 80 doing had thought to win over the colored
vote but cOored men had lost al confidence IN the
Republican party; and by taking from Charles sum
ners bill the very essence OF civil rights to the coored
nan the Republicaus had spoiled their whole game.
The colored voters had depended on the Radical RepnD
leans long and had absolutely ganen n0lhihg thal
they were not likely to place any trust in them for
'h P,r Downing who is in the Custom house. said
wonId have been better II bill at all had been passed.
than the present 1t the coored man no other
rights than he had already gained under the amend
nent to the Constitution. The greatest advantage to
he gained by the former bill would have been cduca-
ton aud that was denied the colored youth by this
LII He believed that II the cOl0red people were TO be
c.izena as they BY the Constitution, they should
have ali the rights of citizens and their children should
ha va tho advantage best education hat tue chill
dren of any other could obtain The only way
IN the cOIOred would be by educating them
ana many OF the present social peJudces would DO re-
moyed In time by education together OF children or
nil classes He was also opposed 10 the 0 - beng
special legislation. whereas, as TO cliz;bs hero shouu
be no distinction under the law 40
G. f. Dorsey OF Florence, Mass, contractor for the
works on the Mill River. said that he employed cos
monotan force native and forelgn white and cOl0red.
rms hin gave hun the opportunity To travel on tho same
In -anldh ...o la..nn