The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-19

none will say I've ever asked it. I
don't want social equality. As Cover
ner Tillman has said the first and Sec
ond class coach law has settled the
question. The negro understands the
line of demarkation, and he never at
tempts to break through it. We don't
want to pay first class fare and do
away with the second class privilege.
This law will make road run all first
class coaches and charge only first
class fares. You'll place us adjacent
to smoker. We are not asking for
social equality, but Justice. The de-
bate on this question was then ad-
journed until 8 o'clock at night when
it was again taken up.
The largest crowd of spectators of
the season were in the galleries and on
the floor of the House. Governor
Evans made his first appearance on the
floor. In the galleries were many ne
groes. The fight on the bill was one
Of the most interesting and persistent
that has been made perhaps in several
years on any bill.
When the bill was first taken up Mr..
OTIS took the floor and began to de-
fend it for all he was worth. For the
benefit of the many fair ones in the
galleries he had a good deal to say
about protecting the white women
from indignities. He was followed
by Mr.. Gadsden in a very neat and
forcible speech against the bill.
Josh Ashley then grew fowery-at
least the color of his face was like a
red, red rose. 1t may have been blush
es, for he rose to refer to the many
ladies in the gallery" 1t was an un-
pardonable thing for Josh to do, but
he did it. He spoke with zeal unu-
sual with him, and his words ratified
from his lips like an omnibus hustling
to a depot over Charleston's cobble
stones. Josh said he "wuz en- favur
of efrything fur de benfit of all class
es Did air one ur yer ever heair of put
tin or nigger in er house wild er white
man9 no dis'll better fur der niger,
de white man, an I no it's better for
hour white winmin of our Stet." And
Josh continued thus. The rest of his
speech, being translated, was to the
effect that nearly all the other South
ern States had this law; that their
manhood should make them do this
for the protection fthe women of the
State who sometimes had to travel
alone. 1T was good to put or fust
clez coach on, but er secin clez coach
rides as good ter me es enything elz.
d unno if ever rid in eny but er secin
clez coach, when 1 cum ter thenk Nv
it."
Mr.. Harper called the previous ques-
ton. He withdrew TO let Mr.. Town
send of the committee present pretty
strong argument against the bill.
A vote was then taken on motion
to strike out the enacting words. The
ayes and nays were called. The House
rejected this motion on vote Of 5S to
53. Thep&he war commenced.
Miller moved an amendment that
the coaches for both races be kept in
the same condition and be fitted up
Just the same.
Mr.. Pollock moved to continue the
bill t6the next session of the Legisla-
ture, and the ayes and noes were called
for. The House once more supported
the bill by vote of 81 to 56. Then
there was a scramble and scampering
of members all over the House. Mr..
Otis lost his sleepy look and rushed
here and there.
Judge Townsend tried to load the
bill down with an amendment to
make the bill apply to parlor, sleeping
and street cars.
Mr.. McSweeny shot in an amend
ment to Section 1 that every passenger
train should carry a second class coach
to which the separation" section
should not apply.
Miller got in an amendment here,
which was accepted, that it would be
unlawful to use either end of q parti-
toned first class coach as a smoking
car.
The Conservatives had been handed
so wrongly earlier in the night, that
Mr.. Patton felt some misgivings in
offering an amendment to line two of
Section Q, but he hoped that bis
friends of the opposition would let it
20 through their impregnable parti.
ton. He suggested that the word
petition" as written in the bill where
it read "a good and substantial wood
en- petition, movable or fixed, etc., be
spelled partition" as that was eyi-
dently what the author intended. The
amendment was agreed to amid roar
of laughter. -.
Miller offered an amendment to di-
vide the fine imposed one-half to the
person complaining and the other half
to the school fund of the State.
Mr.. Thomas then moved to recon-
NIT the bill and the poll was demand
ed. The House declined to recommlt
by vote of 66 to A.
Mr.. Magil moved to adjourn the de-
bate for one day. This was lost on a
viva voce vote.
Miller's amendment as to the fines
was then laid on the table on motion
of Josh Ashley. This was done by a
vote of 49 to 3s.
There were some further slight
amendments. :. ,
The main question was then called
for. The vote was taken viva voce
and there being a chorus Of ayes, the
Speaker quickly declared that the ayes
had it and declared that the bill had
passed to a third reading. The an
nouncement was greeted with cheers
THE BILL AS PASSED.
The bill as passed reads this way:
Section 1. That every railroad COM
nanY. lessee. manager or receiver