The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-08
Single Entrance to Street
Cars for Whites and
Negroes DisapprOved
TROUBLE BETWEEN
RACES is FEARED
President Ford Declares That No Com
plants Have Been Made to Com
pany-Says System Has Worked
Satisfactorily for Week

While city officials yesterday refused to
be quoted, it is indicated that after this
week in all probability the Birmingham
Railway. Light and Power company will
inaugurate the pay-as-y -you-enter system
on no other car lines for some months
to come.
The alleged delicacy of the situation is
well recognized by members OF the city
commission. In quasi-public statements
made yesterday they said that there was
no doubt but what further carrying out
of the present scheme of the street car
company might result in serious race
trouble.
The pay-as-you- -enter system in itself is
not objected to by the citizens, it seems.
from petitions filed yesterday with the
clerk of the commission and other Pc
titions still in circulation. AS a matter
of fact there is no doubt but what the
public prefers the ay-as-you-enter sys-
tem over any other.
1t is the application of this system,
by which the race problem is touched.
that has stirred up the wnoie trouble
As one of the city commissioners said
yesterday:
"All that can be said about the race
problem is that it's here. And you've got
to be mighty careful how you handle it,"
Two Oppose System
1t is known that at least, two of the
commissioners will stand fatty against
giving the street car company permis-
sion of the city to install the system
on any other lines than those using 1t
at present. As to what authority the
city has in the matter remains to be
seen. 1t is understood officials of the
street car company have mace an ap-
pointment with the commissioners the
first of the week to discuss the mat
ter.
The whole trouble over the Birming-
ham Railway, Light and Power situa-
ton is the of the system on the
character of cars now in use by that
company. 1t is understood that the COM
pany intends to secure new equipment
in which the objection now raised will be
overcome. but as the new equipment is
not yet in sight, far as the public
is concerned, the protest against the sys-
tenn is very strong. Many personal calls
have been made upon members of the
commission, others have written letters
and some 40 petitions are in circulation
to them. One or two of these petitions
were filed with the city clerk yester-
day.
Fear Possible Trouble
AS published in yesterday morning S
Age-Herald, the ground on which the
protests are based is objection to the
one entrance for both white and negro
passengers. This arrangement 1t is al
legged, will give rise to many situations
which at any moment might result in 4,
clash between the races
AS stated by one of the city commits
sioners yesterday, Birmingham at the
present time has a record ror good or
der and peacefulness between the races
compared with other southern cities and
with many northern cities, race trouu,e
In Birmingham has been almost a minus
quantity. This, the commissioners state
is Que greatly to the method used by
the birmingham Railway, Light and
rover company for many years by which
the races have used separate entrances
and separate exists on street cars
AS to whether or not a system similar
to the one now being inaugurated by the
Birmingham Railway, Light and Power
company is in use in other southern
cities, 1t is stated. will have little or
no weight with the commissioners They
say 1t Is entirely a matter of local CON
ditions and circumstances
Officials of the Birmingham Railway
Light and Power company who have the
matter in charge. 1t is understood. have
taken a firm stand and intend to put
the matter through. 1t is probable de-
Velopments will appear this week.
No Complaints, Says Ford
In this connection. A. H. Ford. presi
dent of the Birmingham Railway. Light
ana rover company, yesterday declared
that absolutely no complaints had been
made to the company against the prepay
ment system of collecting street car fares
and that the system in vogue now one
week had worked satisfactorily He said
that the patrons of the Fountain Heights
and Avondale line had made it possible
to achieve the satisfactory results so far
secured and that the patrons had CO.
operated with the company in the new
system and he desired to express his
thanks for that consideration. He said
that patience would be necessary Until
the best results were attained.
Mr.. Ford said that so far his company
had not received any complaints, but on
the contrary many citizens on the two
1,,aS in arxrtaa bod 70