Birmingham state herald., 1896-06-10
INTERESTING TO RAILROADS
Is the Communication From the Railroad Com mlssioners on the Subject of Passen-
 ger Accommodations.

Montgomery, June s.-(Special) 1.-The following interesting communication has been sent the managers of all of the rail- roads doing business in Alabama:
 Sir: We enclose herein printed copy of an act of the general assembly of Ala bama, approved February ', 1891, to which we again invite your careful con- sideration. The duties imposed by the act upon railroad companies, conductors and passengers are plainly set forth, and the penalties provided for its violation are specific. Complaints are repeatedly made to us establishing in some eases the inadequacy of passenger coach ac commodations for the colored people, neglect of duty on the part of train con ductors as required by this act.
 In order to properly carry into effect the law in all of it's parts, we direct that you cause circulars of instructions to be reissued to all passenger train conduct ors, calling attention to the specific du- ties required of them and insisting upon their observance.
 The sale by the railroad company of first-class tickets carries with it the obli- gatlon of the company to furnish first class accommodation in passenger coaches. If for any temporary cause whatever flrst-class coaches cannot be furnished to colored passengers and sec ond-class accommodations are given them in all such cases we direct that re- duced rates be made for such second class accommodation.
 We also direct that the news agents on the trains engaged in selling books. papers, cigars, tobacco, fruits etc., be re- quired to keep their boxes, packages and supplies at all times in the coaches, or the partitioned ends, given especially for the use of smokers Yours truly,
 President Railroad Commission of Ala
 bama.
 HARVEY E. JONES. ROSS c. SMITH,
 Associate Railroad Commissioners.
 c. P. JACKSON, Secretary.
 The act referred to the commissioners manifesto is as follows:
 1855. AN ACT H. 119 To Promote the Comfort of Passengers on
 Railroad Trains. Section l. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Alabama, That all railroads carrying passengers in this state other than street railroads shall provide equal but separate accommodations for the white and colored races by providing two or more passenger cars for each pas- senger train, or by dividing the passen- ger cars by partition, so as to secure separate accommodations.
 Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That con- ductors of such passenger trains shall have power, and are hereby required to assign each passenger to the car-or the division of the car, when it is divided by a partition-used by the race to which such passenger belongs; and should any passenger refuse to occupy the car or the division to which he or she is assigned by such conductor, said conductor shall have power to refuse to carry such pas seHger on his train, and for such refusal neither he nor the railroad company shall be liable for any damages whatever in any court; provided, that this act shall not apply to cases where white or colored passengers enter into this state upon such railroads under contract for their transportation made in other states where like laws to this do not prevail.
 Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, That any passenger upon train provided with separate coaches or divisions for the passengers who shall ride or attempt t6 ride in coach or division of same not designated for his or her color. contrary to the provisions of this act, shall be guilty of misdemeanOr and shall be fined upon conviction thereof, not ex- ceeding $100; provided that such rail- road companies shall have the right to regulate and control the travel on all other coaches in each of their said trains except the two coaches, or double coach. as the case may be, as provided for in this act.
 Sec 4. Be it further enacted, That all railroad companies that shall refuse or neglect within sixty days after the ap- proval of this act to comply with the re- qurements of section 1 of this act shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not exceeding $500: and any conductor that shall refuse or neglect to carry out the provisions of section 2 of this act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not exceeding S10O.
 Sec. 5. Be 1t further enacted, That all laws in conflict with the provisions of this act be and the same are hereby re- pealed.
 Approved February G. 1891.
 Acts 1S90-1, page 412.
 Mayberry & Watson for hardware spe- cialties.