The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-07-21
EXPOSE BY CHANDLER.
Ex-senator DeclarGs,Passage Of Eseh.
Townsend Bill by Congress Would
Knock OCT Jim Crow Cars.

A Washington dispatch says: In 8
recent interview former Senator
Chandler OF New Hampshire brought
forward a question that was generally
discussed when the Esch-Townsend
bill was under consideration durlng
the last session OF congress, but which
is sure to come up If a similar meas.
IRE is brought forward next winter.
Mr.. Chandler favored the Esch-ToEn
send bill and one Of his reasons Tor
doing so was that IF national con
troll Of railroads is allowed all dc.
criminal ons between whites and
blacks in the enjoyment of railroad
facilities will be abolished; in other
words there will be no i'm crow
cars, and the white man and the
negro will have TO sit side by side
in the same cars ali over the sou h.
This utterance by Mr.. Chandler has
already given rise TO considerable d.s.
cussion and some of the friends of
the Esch.ToWnsead bill have endeav.
ored to explain that It would have
no such effect, as he believes, and
that 1t would not be construed as null.
lify.ng the laws that have been passed
IN southern states requiring the rail-.
roads to AFFORD seplra accommoda,
tons for whites and blacks. II Is
cer'ain that 1t would not affect these
laws so far as they apply TO trans
rortation wholly within the bounds
of a single state. 1t is not SO clear
that II woull not be within he power
Of the interstate commerce commits
sion and Of the cour.s 10 compel the
roads TO grant equal accommodation
10 whites and b,acEs travelling across
state lines.
The language Of the bill which Mr.
Chandler believes would place negroes
on an equality with white men and
women m southern railway transit is
fond in section !, This section pro
vdCs:
That Whenever, upon complaint
daly made, under section 10 of the
act 10 regulate commerce, the inter.
state commerce commission shall, al.
ter frll hearing, make any finding or
ruling declaring any existing rate for
the transportation OF persons or prop
"rty,or any regulation or practice
whatsoever affecting the transporta.
zion of persons or property 70 be un'
reasonable or rnjustly discriminatory,
he commission shall have IowCr, AMI
It shall be It's duty, 10 declare and
order what shall be a Just and rea.
sOnable rate. practice or regulation
TO be charged, imposed or followed
n The future in place Of that found
10 be unrea sonable or unjustly dlscrim.
lnatory, and the order OF the commits.
sion shall, Of its own force. take IF.
feet and become operative thirty days
after notice thereof Las been given
% the person or persons affected
thereby"
While the chief purpose had In view
BY the trainers OF the Esch.Townsend
bin was 70 give the interstate. com.
merce commission increased authority
over freight rates, they did not stop
here. The bill proposed 10 confer
upCa the commission power 10 change !
any regulation or practice whatso
ever affecting the transp ortation Of
persons or properly" that might be
round 10 be unreasonable or unjust'y |
This Is very broad .
language. Some Of the opponents Of
tho bill have gone so far as to con. /
tend that II would give the commits .
sion practically absolute power over
the management OF e.! NJ the rail /
roads in the United States even en- /
abling them 10 prescribe the SEIZED .
ulcs on which trains should move |
and the stations al which they should /.
stop and 10 Ak the wages OF employ. (
COS. A much less extreme construc- .
ton would seem TO MAKE II cover a
regulation or pract'ce"that might be |.
alleged 10 he "unjustly discriminatory" /
IS between a white man and a black |
man.