The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-03-05

only retreat from the indgnity offered US.
A FRIEND TO VIRGINIA.
CIVIL RIGHTS.
Views of HoteI-Keepers, Restaura.
teurs, and Leading COlOred Men.
The New York Tribune says the civil
rights bill having been signed by the Presi
dent, the question of the right of coIore6
people to the privileges Of the hotels anG
theatres is exciting considerable attention ir
that city. A Tribune representative con
verscd on Tuesday with the managers o.
several leading theatres as to the probable
effect of the law on their business.
WHAT TIE MANAGERS THINK.
Theodore Moss, of Walack's Theatre, said
that the management had not determined
how to act. Theatres are q luxury, and the
managers ought to have the right to run
them in their own way, and admit whom
they please to admit, and to refuse admission
to those who would injure their business OF
who were otherwise Objectionable. Sheridan
Shook, of the Union-Square Theatre, stated
that the theatre would no doubt obey the
law, but it did not follow that colored people
would be admitted except on the conditions
made by the proprietors: Mr.. Fiske, oil
Daly's Fifth-Avenue Theatre, said that there
had been set aside portion of the family
circle in that house for colored people, and
he did not expect that the arrangements
would be altered except under advice OF
counsel, Mr.. Tooker, of Booths Theatre,
stated that there would probably be union
of interests, and the theatres would be gov.
erned by the advice of counsel. at the Ly.
ceum Theatre aud the Academy of Music it
was also understood that the managers would
be guided in their course by counsel.
INTENTIONS OF HoTEL-KEEPERs AND REsTAU-
RAET PRoPRIgToRs.
The leading hotel proprietors were also
interviewed. At the Fifth.Avenue Hotel,
Dir. Griswod said he did not think that the
bill would trouble the New York hotel pro-
pretors. To the question if he would per.
NIT colored men to have such rooms as they
desired, he said he did not allow his present
guests to dictate 10 him as to what portion CT
the house they would occupy. They were
assigned such rooms as be saw fit to give
them, and if they were not satisfied they
were at perfect liberty to g. elsewhere.
At the Grand Central, Fl. L. Powers, the
lessee, was called upon, and In reply to the
question whether he would entertain c6lored
guests be said that he did not thiLk be would
be either honored or troubled with them.
When asked if he would allow them TO sit at
the general table, he said that the hotel was
provided with three dining.rooms, and as he
did rot allow any one to dictate in his estab-
lishment he could dispose of colored guests
as be saw fit; and that if he saw fit to put
any one in the smallest dining.room he should
do so.
At the st. Denis, in reply to the question
whether the hotel would admit colored
guests, the clerk said that if it was the law
be supposed that there would be nothing left
for the management to do but to obey. The
general impression given by the proprietors
was that probably all their rooms would be
occupied, or not in u condition to receive I'M
desirable guests.
In conversation with the leading New York
restaurant proprietorS, there was founda bit.
ter sentiment of opposition to the features of
the ciril-rights bill relating to the entertain
ment Of the negro In public houses and res
Iaurants. One proprietor OF many years
experience with colored walters had found
them the first to protest against serving their
own people. He thought it matter that
would regulate itself; that the Interests OF
his business and the sentiments OF his pa
irons should be protected, and this even
q, the disregard of law. He preferred to pay
penalties rather than suffer the destruction
Of his business. Another gentleman, en-
blowing French servants, stated that he
should exercise the right, as he always had,
of discriminating with regard to the quality
and character OF his patrons; that he could
not entertain colored people, intoxicated or
disreputabe persons, nor those who were
untidily dressed; that in all these matters he
was obliged to exercise the greatest caution.
The sentiments Of other proprietors were
found to be similar to these. Only one was
found that expressed himself willing to abide
By the law. Generally no trouble was appre.
hended from the new law, as it was thought
that the matter would regulate itself in the
future IS it had done In the past.
VIEWS OF PROMINENT coLoRED MEN.
The feeling of the colored portion Of the
population in New York generally was
found to be that the civil-rights bill was OF
little advantage to the race, and as political
measure was failure. Isaac e. Hunter, one
Of the members of the Liberal Republican
Association, said that the Radical Republi.
cans had played this measure as their last
card, and in SO doing had thought to win
over the eolored vote; but the colored men
had lost all confidence in the Republican
party and by taking from CHARLES Summers
bill the very essence of civil rights to the CO.
lored man the Republicans bad spoiled their
whole game. The celored voters had de.
pended on the Radical Republicans SO long,
and had absolutely gained nothing, that they
were not likely now to place any trust in
them for the future.
Peter W. Downing, who is in the custom.
house, said it would have been better If nc
bill at all had been passed than the present
one. It gave the colored man no other
rights than be had already gained under the
amendment to the Constitution.
The Rev. j. Morris Williams said that the
bill did not give satisfaction to the colered
people generally, although a large proper
ton accepted it as the best they were likely
to get under the circumstances. In bis
opinion it showed that the Administration
party was very weak in the knees. ="
The Rev. Jacob Thomas said that he was
not satisfied with the bill, as 1t was virtually
of little practical effect.
The Rev. William Spellman said that he
thought the civil.rights bill, as a law, will be
like many other statutes, entirely valued esS
and of no effect. The prejudlces of some
would still remain, and they would
continue to eyade the law without actually
its tenets. i. 4. -.
:, THE clviL.RIGHTs. LAW IN BALTIAoKs.
The proprietors Of the principal hotels d
Balimors:met for consultation on Tuesday
night at the Carrollton, adjournipg over I'M
til last night, when they again met at Bar
NUNS City Hotel. At the second meeting
the Carrollton, Eutaw, St, Clair