The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-07-22
DEFENES MS RECORD
CAPT. Willard Makes il Plain He Mas Not Against
Jim Crow.

the following statement at the instance
of Captain Joseph +. Willard. explaining
the latter'S connection with the night
over the Epps separate ca, law belon
the Legislature, when he was IA member
OF that body:
In several of the late issues OF the
Culpeper Exponent. Mr. Wizards atti-
tude toward House Bill No. l94, Session
of General Assembly OF lS99-l90O, pub
lished in the Acts of 1S99-10OO. ON pagr
23G. commonly called the "Epps orJnm
Crow Car bill, has been the subject ol
editorial comment and criticism.
In the issue of that paper last week.
the editor SAYS, he was present AT
Louisa ON the 10th instant. and heard
Captain Willard admit that he moved
the Committee ON Roads NOT 10 report
the Epps Bill, and that he also admitted
that he voted against a favorable report
of the till by the committee.
II am authorized by Captain Willard
To furnish the following statement Tor
publication. which he has prepared and
sent me-:
The first statement made 10y the edl-
tor of the Exponent. that | moved in the
Committee on Roads not To report the
EppS Bill. is not correct. made NO such
statement at Louisa, nor did make
such motion before the committee. did
say. and have repeatedly said, that !
voted in committee against reporting
the bill without the amendment Offered
by me in committee.
The facts a. reportedin the Richmond
Dispatch of January Ii, 1900. are cor
rect. To the best of my knowledge and
belief Therrin il Is stated that ! offered
an amendment To except the counties OF
Alexandria and Fairfax from the opera
ton OF the bill. and for this amendment.
Messrs. Hume, McAlister HUBBARD,
Pitcher and |. voted. My amendment
was lost 10y one vote.
II then voted against reporting the
bill WITHOUT this amendment, ~ II
WAS my intention AT that time, To
offer my amendment in the House, and |
did not wish To commit myself To the
till ~ reported 10y the committee, with !
out amendment On the passage OF the |
bill in the House, | did not offer thu
amendment. but voted for the bill a. r.
ported 10y the committee. ! was never |
opposed To the object and purpose Of the
bill and my action before the committee
was solely in the interest OF my Immediate /
and at their instance. My |
was offered in good faith |
and with no intention to hamper or de-
ieat the general provisions Of the bill.
was not then and never have been, Op- |
posed to the passage and enforcement OF
this law. and have always given it my |
hearty approval.
II respectfully submit that no candid
man, or lawyer of any repute, after
giving this law az published in the acts.
even cursOry examination, will under
take To say that it Is NOT ambiguous.
and may or may not a. indicially de-
termined. apply to electric railways, a.
well a. to roads operated by steam,
whether such roads were a. that time
chartered and operating or To be char
tered and operated in the future. |, there
fore, offered the amendment referred To,
exempting the counties aforesaid from
the operation Of the bill, and for the sole
purpose OF making assurance absolutely
sure, and thereby, as my constituents be-
leved. securing the completion Of the
railroad since built, and now operating
TO Fairfax Courthouse
"In its issue of last week the Culpeper
Exponent undertakes to quote this law,
but does not give it all, not even the first
section. |, therefore, quote the first sec
ton of the law in full, as the same ap-
pears in the Acts of Assembly referred to:
: Be it enacted by the General Assembly OF
irginia. That all railroad companies or
person or persons running
or operating ears or coaches 10y steam
on any railroad line or track within this
State, and all railroad companies, person
or persons doing business in this state.
whether upon the lines OF railroads
owned in part or in whole, or leased by |
lines that may hereafter be granted in
this State, and all foreign corporations.
companies person or persons ORGANIZED |
under charters granted or that may be
hereafter granted by any other State,
who may be now or may hereafter be
engaged in running or operating any OF |
the railroads OF this State, either in part |
or whole, either in their own name or
that of others, are hereby required TO |
furnish separate coaches or ears for the |
travel or transportation OF the white |
and cOlOred passengers on their respec-
tive lines of railroad. Each compartment |
of coach divided by a good and sub
stantial partition with a door therein
shall be deemed a separate coach within |
the meaning ofthis act, aud each separate
coach and compartment shall bear in
some conspicuous place appropriate
words in plain letters, indicating the race
for which it is set apart
II have not the slightest objection to
the people of Virginia knowingevery fact
and circumstance connected with the |
passage of this law, a. well as my every |
act in connection Herewith; but ! do
want them to know all the facts. /,
therefore, make this statement. Rich
mond Times-Dispatch, July 18th.
usn0lurR urMO