Middletown transcript., 1904-05-28
MARYLAND'S
Jim CROW LAW
Will 90 Into Effect on July 1st,
When Additional Cars Will
be Put on
MAKING THE PREPARATIONS

MAKING THE PREPARATIONS
BALTIMORE, Nd, May Steamship
and railroad companies are considering
the changes in their business necessitated
by compliance with the provisions of
the "Jim Grow" bills, which 60 into ef-
feet on July 1st. These laws were passed
at the last session of the Legislature.
Although there are two bills-one ap-
plying to steamers and the other to steam
boats-both seek to accomplish the same
purpose. The bill referring to vessels is
to provide separate accommodations of
white and colored passengers in the sit
ting, sleeping and eating apartments Of
all steamboats, plying in the waters with
in the jurisdiction of the State of Mary
land, without any difference or discrimi-
nation in the quality and convenience of
accommodations"
Some Already Obey Virginia Law.
Many of the steamers coming to Balti-
more pass through Virginia waters, where
the same law is in operation. Compliance
with its provisions is carried out by as
signing the colored passengers to one side
of the saloon and the white passengers to
the other. These vessels are freighters.
The transportation of passengers, is
therefore, a secondary consideration, al
though they are equipped with every con-
venience. The room is so ample that this
arrangement can be made without incon-
veniencing any one, and as the colored
passengers are sometimes in excess of the
white the latter profit by the arrange
ment. The steamers passing through
Virginia waters ON their voyage to Balti-
more will continue the regulations when
Maryland is reached.
Other vessels with terminus on Light
street ply exclusively within Maryland
waters. Most of the passengers are white
and they would be inconvenienced by
giving the colored people the exclu-
sive use of one side of the saloon.
Notwithstanding the restriction declar-
ing against any difference or discriEina-
tion in the accommodations, the colored
people can, it is thought, be assigned to
limite portion of the saloon, toward the
stein of the vessel. The prov of the
boat may be considered the more desir-
able location. This arrangement may
give the colored people chance to object
on the ground of unfavorable s'discrimi-
nation"
A more important law, possibly, is the
one requiring 'all railroad companies and
corporations and all persons operating
cars or coaches by steam on any railroad
line or track in the state OF Maryland for
the transportation of passengers to pro-
vide separate cars or coaches for white
and colored passengers without any diff
ference or discrimination in the quality
such cars or coaches.
each compartment OF car or coach,
divided by good and substantial parti-
tion, with door or place of exit from
each division, shall be deemed separate
car or coach within the meaning of the
act"
The provisions of the law do not zap
ply to through express trains that do no
local business"
Both the Baltimore and Ohio and the
Pennsylvania Railroad Companies are
making arrangements to comply with
the provisions of this law. All local
trains will be supplied with an additional
car, into Which colored passengers of both
sexes will be invited by the conductor.
This will necessitate some outlay on the
part of the railroad companies. A oues-
ton has arisen as to what constitutes a
Through express train" 1t has been re-
ferred to the legal department OF the rail-
road companies. Some trains stop only
once between Baltimore and Washington. |
Others make two stops, but neither do
any local freight business. Must these
jim SIOH CATS
Will Not Detach Jim Crow" Cars
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany has 443l miles of trackage in the
United States and the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company has l0,562 All the "Jim
Grow" cars attached in Baltimore will
remain part of the various trains until
they return here. 1t would cause too
much delay to detach the extra car as
soon as the train crosses the state boun-
Diary. The car would have to be recoup-
led when the train returns within the
state limits.
On some branches OF both roads the
tracks lie within the state exclusively,
and these lines will have their regular
Jim Grow" cars. Some of them will
have partitions.