Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-02-18
The New Civil-Rights Bill Passed by the
House.

The following is the text of the Civil
Rights bill, without the preamble, passed
by the United States House Of Repre-
sentatives on the 9Th:
ReS0ZUed, That all persons within the iurisdic-
ton of the United States shall be entitled to full
and equal enjoyment of accommodations adj
Vantages, facilities and privileges of inns, pub
lie cOnveyances land or water, theaters and
other places of public amusement, subject only
to conditions and limitations established by law,
and applicable alike to citizens of every and
color, regardless of any previous condition OF
servitude.
SEC. 2. That any person who shall violate the
foregoing section by denying to any citizen, eX-
cept for reasons by law applicable to citizens of
every race and color, and regardless of any pre-
viOus condition of servitude, the full enjoyment
Of any OF the accommodations, advantages, facil-
tiles or privileges in said section enumerated, or
by aiding and melting such denial, shall for
each and every such Ofense forfeit and pay
the sum of $500 to the person aggrieved thereby,
to be recovered in action of debt.
with full costs, and shall also, for every such
otfense, be deemed guilty of a misdcmeanor,
and, upon conviction thereof. be fined not less
than $500 nor more than $1,000, shall be i'm
prisoned not less than thirty days nor more than
one year: Pr005ded, That all persons may elect
to sue for the penalty aforesaid, to proceed
under their rights at common law and by State
statutes and having so elected to proceed in the
one mode or other their right to proceed in an
other jurisdiction shall be barred. But this pro-
viso shall not apply, to criminal proceedings
e1JHef unQef JD1S act or the criminal law OF
any State: and Dr0Uided further, That judg-
ment for the penalty in favor of the
party aggrieved judgment upon an IN
dictment shall be a bar TO either prosecution re-
spectively.
SEC. 3. That District and Circuit Courts of the
United States shall have, exclusive of courts of
otenses against and violations of the provisions
of this act, and action for the penalty given by
the proceeding. section may be prosecuted in
Territorial, District Circuit Courts of the
United States, wherever defendant may be
found, without regard TO the other party;
and the District Attorneys, Marshais,
and Deputy Marshals of the United
States, and Commissioners appointed by the Cir
cult and Territorial Courts of the United States
with powers of arresting and imprisoning or bail
ing offenders against the laws of the United
States, are hereby specially authorized and re-
qured TO institute proceedings against every per-
son who shall violate the provisions of this act,
and cause him to be arrested, and imprisoned or
baied, the case may be, for trial before such
court Of the United States. or Territorial Court.
as by law has co@nizance of the ofense ex-
cept in respect OF the right OF action accru-
ing to the person aggrieved, and such Dis
srict Attfneys shall cause such proceedings
to be prosecuted TO their termination. as in
this section shall be construed to deny defeat
any right Of civil action accruing to any person
whether by reason of this act or otherwise and
any District Attorney who shall willfuly fail 10
institute and prosecute the proceedings herein
required shall for every such Ofense, forfeit and
pay the sum OF $500 to the person aggrieved
with full costs, and shall, conviction
thereof be deemed guilty of misdemean-
than 5000: and proUided further, That judg-
ment for the penalty in favor of the party ag-
grieved against any such District Attorney. or
Judgment upon an Indictment against any such
District Attorney. shall be bar TO either prose
cution. respectively.
SEC 4. That no citizen possessing all the
other qualifications which are or may be pre-
scribed by law shall be disqualified for service as
grand or petit juror in any court of the United
States, of any State, on account OF race, color
or previous condition of servitude. And any
officer or other persoR charged with any duty in
the selection or summOning of jurors who shall
exclude or fail to summon any citizen for the
cause aforesaid shall, conviction thereof, be
deemed guilty Of misdemeanOr and be fined not
more than $1,000.