Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-12-18
HOUSE.

The speaker laid before the House letter
from the secretary of war, informing the
House of the completion of arrangements
for the unveling of the statute of Rear Ad-
miral Dupont, referred.
After the disposal of several minor mat
ters, the House proceeded with the con-
sderation of the interstate commerce bill,
The pending question being on the motion to
table the motion to reconsider the vote by
which the House yesterday adopted the
amendment offered by Mr.. O'Hara of North
Carolina, providing that any person having
purchased a ticket to be conveyed from one
State to another. shall receive the same trest-
ment and be afforded the same facilities as
those afforded to other people holding ticket
of the same class without discrimination.
The motion to reconsider was tabled-l49 to
129.
Mr.. Crisp of Georgia offered an amend
ment providing that nothing in the act be so
construed as to prevent any railroad company
from providing separate accommodations for
white and colored persons
Mr.. Smals of South Carolina opposed the
amendment and said he was glad it was of
fered by member from Georgia. The col
| lored men and women did have trouble in
travelling in that State They had ear in
Georgia called the second class car. The
colored man travelling from Washington
to New Orleans, when he came to the State
of Georgia, was compelled by persecution or
force TO go into the 'sJim Grow" car. He
thought the good sense of the members Of
the House would vote down the amendment,
especially the good sense of the democrats,
who were saying, ''We are going to be the
best friend of the colored men," He hoped
the gentlemen who said "this great and good
man. Cleveland. will do good for the colored
man would not stand up for the Jim Grow -
car of Georgia.
Mr.. Herbert of Alabama advocated the
amendment.
MIR. O'Hara said the amendment appealed
to the good sense and patriotism of Congress.
All it asked was that when the House was
protecting the property of men and protecting
dumb byutes, it should give voice and ex-
preston TO the protection of all American
citizens
Mr. Breckenridge of Arkansas offered as
substitute for Mr.. Crisp's amendment, an
amendment providing that nothing in this act
shall be construed to DENY to railroads the
right to provide separate accommodations for
passengers as they deem best for public COM
fort and safety, or to relate to transportation
between points wholly within the limit of the
State
Mr.. Breckenridge said the gentlemen were
mistaken if they thought that the southern
people wished to abridge the rights of the
colored man under the Law, but if Congress
prevented the asserting OF passengers from
the standpoint of public convenience and
safety, it infused a social question into a
commercial question.
Mr.. Reed of Maine. ironically expressed
his pleasure at seeing the question changed
from one OF color into one of assortment.
The House. which had determined to pursue
these robber 5arons, had before it the plain
question whether it would by enactment con-
fer on those same barons the privilege OF
asserting their passengers. Certainly some
treasury regulations must be adopted as TO
the method of assortment. There were men
to be assorted on the ground of size or on
the moustache ground or on the beard basis.
| daughter He objected to have these rob-
Der barons assort passengers on any fanciful
basis. They might undertake to set up.
| daughter.
| Mr.. Reagan said that the gentleman from
Maine (Reed) might make himself humorous
about the assortment" but the fact re-
manned that it was the custom of railroad