The Washington herald., 1908-02-23
HOUSE TURNS DOWN
jim CROW PROPOSAL
No Race Question in the
Adopted Track Bill.
DEBATE BECOMES WARM
Union Station Measure Is Now
Up to Conference.
Few Alterations in Proposed street
prove Present BiIl-Hot Words ON
Amendment 10 Provide Separate
Compartments for whites and Ne
ErOes-LOst on Party Vote.

James Crow. who has sprinted OF late
years into great popularity in most
portions Of Dixie Land. failed to qualify
in the race for the District Of Columbia
street railway cup. held yesterday in the
House of Representatives. before several
score Of Democrats. several score and
few more Republicans, and large num-
ber Of interested spectators.
Senate BIZ No. so2. popularity known as
the Union Station uaeksge bin. sailed
through the House practically unchanged
from the manner in which the committee
reported 1t. although the racing OF James
and an amendment proposed by Repre-
sentative Hepburn both threatened for a
time the serenity Of the committee and
the almost untarnished surface Of the
bill
With the very few alterations made
during its progress through the House,
the bill viii now go to conference. as the
original measure proposed by the Upper
House has been altered in many features
by the Lower The conferees we're not
appointed yesterday, but probably VIII
be named Monday
senate May Modify.
1t is considered probable that the Senate
eonferees VIII insist upon modifying the
bin as it now stands. so that it is pre-
dicted that it viii be many days yet
before the street railway companies can
begin the construction of even the tenn
porary tracks TO the newly built and en-
urely isolated station.
James Crow was introduced to a tired
looking House by Representative Hehin.
OF Alabama, where James is well known
and where, Mr.. Hefin says. ne has been
found altogether a most useful citizen in
eliminating III feeling between the whites
and the negroes.
Mr.. Henin proposed an amendment 70
an amendment 10 the traekage bin Of
fered by Representative Hepburn. Of
Iowa. The Hepburn amendment was it.
self proposed as a substitute 10 q section
OF the bin which gives the Commission
! ers power 10 some extent 20 regulate the
numbers OF cars. the sanitary conditions
OF the same, sc.
No sooner had the clerk read the Hep
burn amendment. which was much more
strict than the provision in the bin IL
self than was the Alabama Represent
ative on his feet asking the Chair for
recognition for an amendment in regard
20 his friend James.
The IIefin amendment proposed TO re-
qcire The street railway companies 10
run cars with separate compartments fer
whites and negroes Its consideration
called forth the oratoricsI efforts OF more
than a dozen men. from both sides Of the
House, and there were some thrusts ex-
changed which We're very gentle. but
which might have pierced tho hide OF a
rhinoceros.
Both sides Applaud.
Both sides applauded frequently during
the debate. which lasted for about two
hours. and tie galleries at first insisted
upon expressing their views by clap
ping Representative Mann. who was
acting as chairman. was finally forced 10
call the galleries 20 order. and several
times also gently showed members that
the course of true debate does not run TO
personalities
Mr.. Hefiin began the debate by defend
ing his amendment. He said in part:
Mr.. Chairnan. the passsgc Of my amendment VIII
rebound to the good of both races in the District
Of Columbia 10 VIII remove the cause Of friction
that YOU now ser upon the street cars Of this city
every day. We read IN the newspapers about o.
fenses and dist lrhances here and yondeE But
nearly every day in the District Of Columbia there
are disturbances on the CARS which the newspapers
have long ceased 10 publish ANYTHING about.
They occur because yea herd in the sane car
negroes and whites because the males Of one race
the males Of the other race keeping their seats
while the females Of that particular race stand IN
The aisle. holding onto straps. fOu viii ser IN
the cars every day negro men keeping their seats
and white women holding ento straps and when
negro woman enters the car the resTo mau VIII rise
and give her seat. White ladies es-ne into car
and a white man viii rise and give the white lady
his seat, and there you have it,
Trouble Between Them.
There is trouble between the races on this account
Ess nights between white mea and black men. A
wpr-iTessed lady comes into a car and negro. not
well dressed who does not smell half 50 sweet as
bower Of roses BY Bcndemeer's stream. IS sitting
next to the only vacant seat in the car. She docs
not want 20 ST down by him. but she IS forced 70 do
it or stand mp
Now Nr. Chairman, | have no prejudice against
the negro but | acknowledging the facts Of hu-
man nature. / acknowledging something that
senator Vest said above ali human law-racsal
antagouisln This amendment gill remove that. Put
separate compartments IN csr. Let the negroes 60
in their compartment and the whites into theirs.
Then let the white give the white woman his
seat. and let the negro give the negro woman
his seat in his part Of the car.
Then this cause Of irritation viii be removed and
this olashng and III feeling. which constantly oc-
ours between the races viii cease. Gentlemen may
theoTize abou; this but there facts connected
with il that you must realize sooner or later.
Mr.. Hefiin continued by saying that he
felt sure that men on the Republican side
of the House would vote against his pro-
posal. because of negro votes in their
own districts He said that he personally
represented a district with many negro
voters, but he knew that this amendment
would not cause these voters to swerve
in their allegiance 10 him.
Representative Campbell. OF Kansas.
was the Republican who replied to Mr.
Hefiin. Nr. Campbell made his plea for
the rejection of the amendment upon the
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