Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-02-04
"JIM CROW" BILL
French Bill Provides For The Sepsrs-
ton of Black and Whites
On All Trains.

talked of Jim crow" bin requiring the
railroads to provide separate coaches
| for white and black passengers on
railroad trains was introduced in
the senate by Senator French. Sena-
tor French's bill provides for separate
coaches in the black mining belts of
the state and where the colored popu-
lstion is not 80 dense separate com
partments in the same cars and in all
other sections seats in the same
coaches may be assigned to black and
white passengers.
The "jim crow bill' follows:
'iBe it enacted by the legislature Of
West Virginia:
Sec. l. All Companies, corporations
CT persons, running or operating pas
senger trains. cars or coaches by
steam on any railroad lines or track
within this state, either in whole or in
part, and either In their own name or
that CT others, are hereby required to
furnish separate cars or COACHES for
the travel or transportation of the
white and colored passengers en- their
respective lines OF railroad. Provided,
That any such company, corporation
or person, which can properly accom-
modate the passengers upon any of
their said lines of road, by designat-
ing and assigning, in each or any train
running on such line portion Of a
single car or coach, to either race, is
hereby authorized and empowered,
instead OF providing separate cars or
coaches on any such train, to set apart
and designate, in certain car or
coach upon any such train, portion
thereof, or certeai1 seats therein, to
be occupied by white passengers, and
thereof, or certain seats therein, to
therein, to be occupied by colored
passengers.
Sec. 2. Each compartment of a
coach divided by q good substantial
partition with door therein, shall be
deemed a separate coach within the
meaning of this act; and each car or
coach shall bear il some conspicuous
place appropriate words in plain let
tiers, indicating the race for which it
is set apart; or the portion thereof
or seats therein which are set apart
for white passengers, and the portion
thereof, or the seats therein, VIII CHI
are set apart for colored passengers
as the case may be.
Sec. g. No difference or discrimi-
nation shall be made in the quality,
convenience, or accommodation in the
cars or coaches or portion of any car
or coach set apart for white and Gel
ored passengers.
Sec. 4. Any such corporation, com
pany or person that shall fail. refuse
or neglect to comply with the provis-
ions shall be deemed guilty of misde
meanor and upon indictment AID con-
viction thereof, shall be fined not less
than three hundred nor more than one
thousand dollars for each offense.
Sec. 5. The conductors, or man.
ayers on all such railroad trains shall
have power, and are hereby required
to assign to each white or colored
passenger his or her respective car or
coach; or seat, If it be a car or coach
in which portions thereof, or seats
therein, are set apart for white and
colored passengers; and should any
passenger refuse to occupy the car or
coach, or seat to which he or she may
be assigned by the conductor or man.
ager, said conductor or manager shall
have the right to put such passenger
off the train. And when such conduc-
tor or manager acts in good faith in
putting such person off his train,
neither he or the railroad company
shall be liable in damages therefor.
"Ses. 6. Any conductor, or other
person in charge of any sucl train,
who shall fail or refuse to carry out
the provisions of the preceding sec
ton, shall be deemed guilty of mis-
demeanor. and upon indictment and
conviction thereof. shall be fined not
less than twenty-five, nor more than
fifty dollars for each offense.
Sec. 7. The conductor or manager
in charge of any car or coach in which
are set apart portions thereof, or
seats therein for white and colored
passengers, shall have the right at any
time, when in his judgment, It may
be necessary for the comfort ard cen
venience OF the passengers so to do
to change the designation so as to in
erase or decrease the amount of
space or seats set apart for either
race and he may require any passen-
ger to change his or her seat when
and as otter as he may deem neces-
sary or proper.
ISec. 8. When any car or coach for
either race shall be completely
filled. where no extra coach or car
can be had, and the increased num-
Der of passengers could not be fore
seen, the conductor in charge of such
train is hereby authorized to assign
and set apart portion Of any car
or coach assigned to passengers of