The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-05-10
"JIM CROW" CARS
Touched Upon in Discussion
of Railroad Rate Bill.
PROTEST BY DEMOCRATS
Senator Foraker PreciPitated Lively
Racket by Coupling Jim Crow
Feature with Anti-Pass
Amendment.

Jim crow cars were discussed n
the senate for several hours Monday
in connection with the rate bill, with
the final result that, with the aid Of
twelve republicans, a provision for
"the same or equal accommodations"
was stricken from an amendment in !
troduced by Senator Foraker.
The OHIO senator presented a
strong ant;-pass amendment, but cou-
pied with it was this Jim crow car
feature. Senator Bacon led the fight
against it, insisting that its. intro
duction was for the purpose Of en-
barrassing southern senators in their
action upon the pass question. He ar
gued for a division Of the Foraker
amendment.
Senator Money, Senator McLaurin
and other southeraers took virtually
the same stand.
Senator Bacon based his objection
not so much on the merits of the
proposition, for the reason that the
laws of all the southern states which
call for separation of the races upon
trains also provide for equality of ac-
commodations, but he argued that the
effect of the incorporation of such a
provision in the interstate law would
be to act as an incentive to people
seeking to stir up strife over the race
question, a thing that should be
avoided.
Senator Culberson introduced sub
stitute for the Foraker anti-pass
amendment even more stringent on
its terms than that Of the Ohio sena-
tor. but shorn of it's reference to the
Jim crow question, and this was adopt
ed by a vote of 80 to 36. l
The twelve republican senators who
joined with the democrats were
Messrs. Knox, LaFollette, Frye, Doll
liver, Clapp, Burkett, Long, Warner,
Nelson, Switzerland, Nixon and Kit.
tIedge.
The senate spent the major por-
ton of its time on one amendment
to the Hepburn railroad rate bill, but
instead Of accepting it, adopted q
substitute.
The discussion took broad range
covering first the pass question and
then the race question in the south
ern states. The race issue was rails.
ed in connection with the clause rela-
tive to determinations which was In
terpreted as referring to separate cars
for the races.
"Can it possibly be the design OF
the senator to incorporate this SUD
iect of discrimination with that OF
free passes in order to strengthen 1t!
asked Mr.. Bacon, referring to the sep
arate car system OF the south lor ne-
groes. The provision, he said, touch
ed upon a matter Of vital importance
to the south. There could be no
question raised of more vital import
ance to that section" he said. He
insisted that the two matters should
not be coupled together.
Does the senator object to equai
accommodations for the same pay!
asked Mr.. Foraker.
NO." responded Mr.. Bacon, but
I do object to giving the Interstate
commerce commission supervision
ever the matter"
"And that 1 insist upon" declared
Mr.. Foraker.
",n view of the fact that two-thirds
of the senate are republican, 1 pre-
sume that he can make coed this
boast" said the Georgia senator with
warmth.
Mr.. Foraker disavowed any purpose
to boost, and Mr.. Bacon proceedea
with his argument against the coup
ling OF the two propositions.