Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-01
PLAN MIXED BLOCKS
Opponents of Segregation Law
Propose Amendment.
ABOLISH MAJORITY BASIS
Complete Occupation Would Be Re-
quired to Fix Status.
BOARD SYSTEM IS ON TRIAL
City's Acceptance of Unpaid Service
Has Resulted in a Situation
Approaching a Crisis.
BOARD SYSTEM IS ON TRIAL

Special Correspondence of The Star.
BALTIMORE, Md, December 81. 1910.
An amendment to the segregation Ordi-
nance will be introduced in the city coun-
Gil when that body reconvenes after the
holiday recess, and it is expected that
the amendment will disarm much Of the
objection which has been made upon the
part OF property owners and real estate
dealers. The amendment will make it
possible for mixed blocks to remain
mixed until the last house has been oc-
cupied by a negro or white family. when
the provisions 90 the law against inva-
sion will become operative.
Under the provisions of the ordinance
at present i'll force property cannot be
occupied by negroes in. blocks in which
a majority OF the houses are inhabited
by white tenants and a similar restriction
is placed upon white families moving into
a block in which the majority of houses
are occupied by negroes. Under the
proposed amendment the majority idea
will be eliminated, and invasion by one or
the other race will be prohibited only
session Of tee whole block. Under the
proposed change in the law the mixed
blocks will be allowed to work out their
own futureo white or black. but when
danger of further change will be guard
ed against by the law.
Main Object Of Law. ...
The main objec. of the segregation law
will be preserved by the amended ordi-
nance, and that is to protect a white
block from invasion by one negro family
as an entering wedge for others. How
ever, investigation has developed the
fact that residents of mixed" blocks
are not in favor Of the proposed amend
ment and that most persons residing In
mixed blocks are anxious to have these
|. blocks come under the provisions of the
law as 1t now stands
The amendment. it is stated. has beer
drawn to satisfy owners of property who
do not occupy 1t and at the demand OF
introduced will be referred to the proper
council committee and there will probably
be two public hearings, first to the origi
nal advocates Of the ordinance. as il
stands and then to those in favor of the
amendment
The first determined effort to make q
test case was baked by Justice Tyson OF
the northwestern police court, who dis
| missed the charge of renting to q negro
| against William V. Gallagher and agains
! Catherine Dixon, colored, who rented the
house in a white block. The counsel or
both sides were determined to make q
| test case and urged that it be sent tt
| the grand jury. but the justice refused
| to listen to the pleas Of attorneys or
| both sides and dismissed the charges
Test Of Board System.
To the student of municipal govern
| ment Baltimore offers an attractive fiel(
in so far, at least as unpaid boards ar,
concerned. The mayor is just now hear
ing charges against one Of the boart
of school commissioners preferred b,
the president of the board. The testi
mony boiled down has shown that tn,
two men could not see things from tn,
same viewpoint because of the fact tina
personal animosity existed between them
| The row within the board has extended
to the point that group principals ant
| teachers have been drawn in and ar,
| openly taking sides. and it is eviden
/ that such condition can only result IL
| impairing the discipline among the teach
ing force and work to the detriment o.
I the pupils.
On the heels of the school board
! trouble comes q split I'm the Jail board
which has resulted In the resignation OF
| the president and one member because OF
some charges made by the building in.
! spectOr in certain specifications for in
| terror work in the new addition to the
| Jail. Then. too, there are differences in
other city boards which have not yet
come to the surface, and 1t is not I'M
likely that the next legislature will sc
| amend the charter that boards will be
abolished and the responsibility placed
upon single commissioner for each bu-
| reau OF the city government