Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-23
|0k NOT TOBE EXCLUDED EVIDENCE P|lNG UP
House Insists on Theaters
Respecting the Uniform.
HOBSON BILL Is PASSED
Fine Of 81, 900 Imposed on Places Of
Amusement That Discriminate
Against Enlisted Men.

Hereafter the proprietors of "theaters
or other places OF amusement in the
District of Columbia or territories of the
United States will not be permitted to
deny admission to soldiers and sailors on
account of their uniforms, under a PEN
atty of fine of $1,000 or Imprisonment
not exceeding two years. provided that
the Senate considers favorably bill pass
ed by the House today. after an hours
debate. all favorable to the measure
The race question threatened to be
injected into the issue at one time
through a proposed amendment by Rep
resentatfve Sims of Tennessee, who
wanted to insert the word white IN
the bill. making it read tina. no white
person wearing the uniform should te
denied admission solely because of that
uniform.
Mr.. Hobson. the author Of the bill
induced Mr.. Sims. lin the interest Of
the section from which we come to
withdraw the amendment. lie explained
that careful reading oe the hill would
disclose that it referred To disc-imina-
ton solely because of the uniform, and
that 1t in no way affected any other
discriminatory rules tneater may
have.
Amendment Withdrawn.
After a closer reading of the bill Mr..
Bins admitted that he had construed 1t
enormously and withdrew his amend
ment 1t had not been offered, he said. in
a spirit Of prejudice, but solely to avoid
possible trouble. because he feared that
some colored sailor soldier in dis
orderly condition might interpret the law
as giving him the right to demand ad-
mission to any playhouse.
Mr. Hobson made 1t plain that the
bill would be of no benefit to disorderly
or otherwise Objectionable persons. be
they white or colored, but that discrimina-
ton, founded solely upon the fact tnat
the ticket holder wore a uniform. must
stop when the bill became law.
Representatives Hull of Iowa. keifer or
Ohio and Dawson of Iowa also spoke upon
the merits of the bill. The soldtery OF the
country it was declared. should be taught
that the uniform had the nation behind
it and was a badge OF honor rather than
a discredit as was sometimes made to ap-
pear.
Mr.. Hobson asserted that the time had
passed when soldiers and sailors could De
depended upon to constitute a disorderiy
element Inc pest young HIcu Iiom .iio
farms and the workshops are now in the
service, he said.
Patriotism Mr.. Hobson exclaimed.
cannot be instilled when the UNIFORM
meets with discrimination at public
places"
Provisions of the Bill.
The bill as passed today provides that
there shall be no discrimination against
any person who rightfully and lawfully
wears the uniform Of the Army, Navy or
Marine Corps" because Of the fact that
the uniform Is worn.
Mr. Keifer introduced the amendment
taking in the army, saying that there
was no such thing as a United States
service uniform" as the bill was origi-
nally framed. penalty of 1000 fine or
two years imprisonment is provided for
viola lions Of the law.
The introduction of the Hobson bill
was occa sioned by the refusal of theaters
to admit marines because they were at
tired in service uniform. Mr.. Hobson
said that in the last three years there
had been nine cases of such discrfmina-
ton in the various states and territories.