The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-11
ANOTHER SEPARATE
CAR BILL 0RAF TED
MBnDYlN6 PROVISIONS fR)M StVTRAl
PRtVHU BILLS.
Railroad Commission Given Ptwer 10 Exempt
Rats With Gross farming Of less
than SCOOP vile

The Joint Committee on Railroads
failed to have quorum of Senate mem
bers yesterday, but the committee pro-
ceeded to consider the four or five sep
arate car bills before it, Notwithstanding
1t was the expressed opinion of sever9l
members of the committee that the bill
drafted by the subcommittee and printed
IN this paper several days ago was not en-
tirey satisfactory. Mr.. Rountree offered
as a substitute bill providing that con
ductors should assign the seats which
passengers of both races should occupy,
hut not providing for separate cars. The
bill was first recommended but after
ward reconsidered.
Judge Allen was favorable to Repre-
sentative Winstons bill, which gives
large discretionary powers to the Rail-
road Commission. Mr.. Council thought
the commission would find the problem
rs difficult as the committee had found
it. Mr.. Rountree was opposed TO shift
ng the responsibility to the Railroad
Commissions After further discussion
the committee reached an agreement as
10 the main features, and Judge Allen
was asked to draft a bill embodying
them. The bill will be Il composite EN-
bracing provisions from the several bills
presented and considered. So far as
agreed upon yesterday the essential fea
lures of the bill are as follows:
''That all railroad companies engaged
rs common carriers in the transportation
within the limits Of the State of North
Carolina. of passengers for hire, other
han street railways. shall provide sep
arate but equal accommodations on their
passenger trains for the white and col
ored races. Such railroad companies
shall provide one coach for tirst-class
passengers of the white race, and one
.oach for first-class passengers of the
,.olored race. and one coach which shall
he divided by partition. and one part
assigned to secOnd-class passengers OF
The white race and the other part as
signed to second-class passengers of the
.olored race.
1T shall be the duty of such companies
TO place said second-class caf between
the two first-class ears, with the Secona-
lass compartment for the white race
next to the first-class coach for the
white race; Provided, that the cOnduc
tor of any train shall have power, in
.ase there is an excess of passengers OF
either race. that could not be forseen, to
| misunderstanding not yet agreed upon.l
Provided, however. that nothing here
in contained shall apply to freight train
with passenger car attached. to reliei
| trains operating in case of accident, tt
| Pullman ears. to through cypress trains
that do not usually stop 1T al stations
to negro servants travelling in attendance
| upon their employers, to officers OF
| guards transporting prisoners, nor tc
| prisoners being so transported
| The Railroad Commission shall have
| discretion as to exempt from the pro
| visions of this act, railways whose gross
| earnings do not exceed $1,000 per mile,
The penalty has not yet been agreed
upon fully, but it is probable that tbs
| failure of a conductor to comply Will
the law will be made a misdemcanor ant
a fine of 500 day will be imposed OF
the railroad company failing to colnpl!
| with the act.