The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-30
THE TIMES DspATcH RICHMOND VA, WEDNESDAY MAY 80 1905
LONG FIGHT OVER
RATE BILL LIKELY H
All-Day Session OF Conferees
Held Yesterday and Situation
Gone Over.
DISPUTED POINTS PASSED

tVI0I VJcO YIN rOS1S
(From Our Regular Correspondent)
WASHINGTON, May 29.-At an ALL
day session Of the conferees on the
railroad rate bill to-day a number OF
undisputed amendments were agreed 10
tentatively, ali Of the disputed points
were pissed over, and considerable time
was devoted to discussion OF the So
called Jim Grow car provision. This
amendment has given the Republican
conferces some concern because of the
opposition made by Northern negroes
against the alleged principle involved IN
the separation OF races Senator Tillman
announced that he would not consent to
any change in tho Senate provision.
Long Fight Likely.
When the conferees adjourned for the
day every amendment In the bill had been
gone over Twenty-Five Of the fifty-three
amendments hnvo been disposed Of,
either by acceptance or rejection, tho
indication being that most have been
accepted.
The important amendments are still
subjects Of consideration, and the indi-
cations are that q speedy agreement cam
not be hoped for. The express company
amendment is still disagreed to; tho
pipo line amendment is ulso one Of those
not settled
Considerable time was spent to-day in
discussing the amendment requiring five
days notice before the Issuance of an
injunction to enforce an order of the
commission. This amendment will doubt
less be modified. Several counter propo-
sltions have been made, one making the
time two, nno Their one and another three
days, and still another to leave the
time to be determined by the court.
Tillrnan Exercised.
K Senator Tilln1an, who Is ono of the ratio
bill conferees, Is very much exercised
concerning efforts which are being made
to have the confcrees on the rate bill
strike from the measure the amendment
put on by the Senate compelling rail-
roads to furnish the same service for
the Same money. The. amendment was
proposed by Mr.. Foraker. and was de-
signed to compel railroad companies in
those States having separate car laws to
give the negroes the same nccommodn-
lions given whites, where the same price
is paid. .5
"Thc Southern Democrats are going to
stand for the rights of Southern negroes,
said Senator Tillman to The Times-D!s-
patch correspondent to-day. THE ne
groes of Boston and other Northern
States nre sending protests to the Repub-
lican senator's and representatives to de-
feat the amendment. The Northern me-
groes charge that the amendment is a
step towards the introduction Of separate
cars in the Northern States, where the
negro now rides with white men and
women.
I'VE claim the amendment only insures
the Southern negro the Same treatment
at the hands Of the railroads that the
white man receives. It Is an outrage to
compel the Southern negro to pay just
rs much rs the white man pays and
then give him a car not fit for him to
ride In. I suppose those Northern negroes
don't care whether their brethren at the
South get just accommodations or not,
so long as their own right to ride with
the whites is not infringed upon.
Effect Of Amendment.
"The amendment does nothing more
than to put under the supervision Of the 4
Interstate Commerce Commission the en-
forcement of the law in the matter OF
granting equal accommodations to whites
and blacks when the charge for the same
Is equal. 1t has no reference to the In
production Of separate cars for tho ne
groes In any State where they are not
now in use.
IT hope the negroes of the South will
profess against the knocking out OF the
amendment" continued Mr.. Tiilman. ut
will inure to their benefit to retain 1t
In the bill. There are eight million ne
groes In the South and eight hundred
thousand In the North. Even II the
amendment would cause the introduction
Of separate cnrs in the Northern States.
the comparatively small number Of ne
Eroes in the States not now having the
separate cars and the large number IN
those States where separate car laws are
on the statute books would cause me to
support tho amendment.
.This Is no tthe first time Southern
Democrats have stood for tho rights OF
Southern negroes" concluded Mr.. TIL
man, as he smiled and made his way
back to his seat In the Senate chamber.
The fight over this amendment and
the attitude Of the Republicans on this
question only demonstrates the insincerty
Of tho protcsta tons Of love for the negro
made by one OF the great parties In
this country. Although ten times as
npny negroes would be benefited by the
amendment as would be hurt or embar-
raised by It. the Republicans seem will
ing to abandon the great number OF
negroes at the South, where Republican
votes do not count for much, and to leg
islate for tho benefit OF those In doubtful
States Of the North and Wost, where the
negro voter holds the balance of power.
RI IL. ~, . . ma a - - n y nm