The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-24
NEGROES RESENT
 JIM CROW LAWS Delegation Visits President To
 Ask His Aid EQUAL ACCOMMODATIONS Negroes Declare That Railroads in the South Do Not Give Them Same Accommodations as
 White People.
EQUAL ACCOMM VIOLATIONS

Washington, March 23-(Special.) "A delegation of negroes from southern states called upon the President today and directed his attention to the decision of the Interstate Commerce commission that while interstate railroads have the right to separate passengers they must give equal accommodations to passengers paying the same fare. The President was asked to have the commission investigate unequal accommodations in states where there are Jim Crow laws. He asked his callers to write their complaints fully, and said he would give careful considera- ton to what they had to say.
 The visitors were Rev. J. w. E. Bowen, president of the Gamman Theological seminary. Atlanta; R. E. Jones, editor of the Southwestern Christian Advocate, New Orleans; Rev. c. c. Jacobs, field secretary of the board of education, Free mans Aid and Sunday schools; M. E. church, Sumter, S. C., I. Garland Penn, assistant general secretary Epworth league M. E. church, Atlanta; Rev. I. l.. Thomas, field secretary board of church extension and home missions, Methodist church, Baltimore; Rev. M. w. Clair, Washington, and Rev C. E. Hodges. Roanoke. Va.
 The legality of the separate car laws was not touched upon, although the mem bers stated they do not indorse these laws, see no necessity for them, and regard them as humiliation without constitu- tional warrant. While they are helpless as to this, they thought they were at least entitled to the same treatment as other passengers
 The visitors said the President received them cordially and promised to ascertain whether they could be given relief
 Representative Aiken of South Carolina today introduced 8 bill providing for the refunding of the cotton tax to lawful claimants. The bill provides that the commissioner of internal revenue shall compile statement showing the amount of money illegally collected by the gov ernment on account of the cotton tax for the years 1s63 64, 65 66. ti and 6S in the several states and showing if pos sible the persons, firms or corporations paying the same, with the amounts so paid, which statement when properly cer- tifed as to It's correctness shall be filed with the clerk of the court of claims. Under the terms of the bill the court Of claims is given complete authority to odjudicate all claims and transmit it's findings to the treasurer of the United States, who shall pay the claims.
 The House committee on claims has signified Its willingness to formally re- port an omnibus bill referring to the court of claims for adjudication the claims of those who lost property in the south during the civil war through union soldiers Each congressman from the south will be permitted to include in the bill ten claimants from his district.
 The interstate commerce commission to- day received a complaint from the Mont romery, Ala, freight bureau against the Mobile and Ohio and the Southern rail read alleging that the companies do not charge the published rates per car load cf fertilizer from Montgomery to points in Mississippi and give Atlanta more favorable rate. w. $.