The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-23
Jim Grow Cars Urged for Dis-
 tict of Columbia
HEFLIN STARTS THE s%s < AT
Great Entertainment Is osded By the Members of the 1 in Dis
 cussins the Prob'~. aeIa-
 tive To Street Car Service.

Washington, February 22.-Washington's 8 birthday in the House of Representatives was commemorated by a lively debate on the negro question. It arose out of an ef- fort by MT. Hehin of Alabama to amend the District of Columbia street railway traelage bill by requiring separate cars for whites and negroes. For over an hour and half the subject was fought over with the result that the amendment was overwhelmingly defeated. The bill was passed. It provides universal trans fers on the basis of cash fares or six tickets for 20 cents. It also provides for the street railway facilities from all parts Of Washington to the new union station.
 Previously in the day the House was greatly amused by Mir Campbell of Kan sas relating an experience last Sunday in the new House office building when d number of children skated down the cor riders, entered his room and greatly an noyed him. His remarks grew out of an active debate on the resolution to appoint number of policemen for the building and MT. Currier, in charge ef the measure, hearing of the episode of the children got MT. Campbell to stand up and tell the House about it in order to demonstrate the necessity for the number of men rec commended.
 MT. Hefiin, Alabama, offered an amend ment to the District of Columbia street railway trackage bill providing for Jim | Crow cars MT. Hefiin de- clared that separate coaches for the whites and blacks had solved the race problem in Alabama and he expressed the opinion that such an arrangement would solve It in Washington.
 Protest By Foster.
 MT. Foster, Vermont, voiced his protest against the amendment, and said that 1t was regrettable that on the birthday or George Washington such an un-Amer- ican proposition should be advanced,
 Does my friend believe Washington himself would vote for this amendment if he was here?' inquired MT. Griggs or Georgia amid laughter
 "Emphaticaliy mo-" responded MT. Eos ter.
 Tbe amendment was bitterly fought by MT. Madden, Illinois, who asserted that Congress should never legislate in favor of one element against another. He was
 
 him if he remembered "the shotgun quar- antine established by Governor Tanner against negroes.
 MT. Madden responded that he never conceded the right of the governor to act as he did.
 By this time a number of southern members were vainly seeking recognition
 (Which race does the amendment dis crminate against" inquired MT. Hum | 4 MI -rfx nj rhn GrC chairman's eye.
 q don't concede the right of the gentle man to ask such question:" MT. Madden replied. at which the democrats derisively laughed.
 Negroes in the Galleries. "Mr. Humphreys insisted that tho accommodations. He provoked democratic laughter and applause when he said, pointing to the members galleries, that although the republicans were the friends of the negroes he could not see any members of the African race in those galleries.
 Has the gentleman ever issued any cards to the members gallery to ne- gro?" asked Mir Griggs insistenty.
 "Yes sir." MT. Madden replied with emphasis, and I will be glad to do so again.
 It remained however, for MT. Camp bell of Kansas to arouse the interest of the House on the subject. He defended the negroes of Washington and said he never noticed anything .ofenslve on tnelr part on street cars.
 "Nothing disturbs your equanimity ex- cept small children" remarked Mir. Clay ton of Alabama
 There are a great many who don't dls- turb me at all.' was MT Campbell's retort.
 would you add the representative from Alabama?" inquired MT. Griggs, amid laughter.
 'I will add the gentleman said MT. Campbell smilngly. q
 By request said MT. Simms of Ten nesse, sotto voce.
 Yes said MT Campbell, ''and by re- quest of the gentleman from Georgia
 House convuIsed.
 The repartee convulsed the House and galleries. which had become packed to the doors with many struggling for ad- mittance
 MT. Campbell said he would regard it as an evil day when Congress would create a class distinction.
 voice was heard to say that the republicans were after negro votes. This infamed MT. Campbell, who declared it to be shame to the gentleman from Alabama and his party that there are thousands of colored men in his state and in the south who have no vote" Laughter was brought down upon him when, after stating that I<ansas guar anteed the rights and privileges of every citizen, Mir. Bartlett of Georgia read q newspaper dispatch stating that Booker Washington had been denied hotel accom- modations at Wichita, Kas.
 Mir Campbell took the matter very se riously and declared that if the dispatch was true and Washington had the time to give to an action in the courts, the hotel keeper would be the defendant in an action for damages, and" he added amid shouts of laughter. the probabili- ties are the hotel man was a democrat from Alabama or Georgia
 "The democrats from Alabama or Geor- gia," interjected Mir. Bartlett of Geor ..da,a,t l. K ofta., 2,