The Washington times., 1915-02-10
SAYS PUBLIC WOULD
Be |NC0NVEN|ENCEO
BY" i'm crow LAW
Head Of Capital Traction Com.
pany Declares It Would Work
0etriment to Service.
CALLS BILL UNREASONABLE
G. E. Hamilton Thinks It Would
Impose on CoIored People an
Undeserved Reproach.
CALLS BILL UNREASONABLE

Opposition to a Jim Grow" street car
law in the District of Columbia 10
voiced in an interview today by George
T.. Hamilton. president Of the Capital
Traction Company, who says the pro-
posed legislation would work q posi-
tive detriment to the service. great in
convenience to the travelling public. and
would place upon the colored people Of
Washington an unnecessary and unde-
served restriction and reproach."
From the standpoint Of the street car
operators, Mr.. Hamilton says, the pro-
visions Of the Clark bill. reported favor
ably by the House District Committee,
would work hardship on the street car
companies; and would result in con-
Mr.. Hamilton's Objections.
Mr.. Hamilton's views are as follows:
L am not in favor Of the enactment
for the District Of Columbia of the
so-called Jim Crow law, and very
strongly disapprove Of its application
to street operation.
whether the separation of races is
provided for in compartments in cars.
or by use or separate cars, its en-
1orcement. In my opinion. would work
great Inconvenience to the travelling
public. and would place upon the col
pred people Of Washington an un-
necessary and undeserved restriction
and reproach.
lf on eacn car. or any appreciable
NUMBER OF cars, compartment at
either end Is set aside for tho ex-
elusive use Of colored riders, the or
.rleuti1n or passengers would be in.
terfered with. IL not altogether pre-
vented.
Points Out inconvenience.
'rhe space allotted to white pas-
sengers might be crowded. and tho
space allotted to colored unoccupied,
or occupied In small degree, and yfce
versa.
lt the space allotted to colored pas
.cnrers is in the rear Of the car which
IS the entrance end. and it should be-
ONE crowded, all white passengers
boarding the car and having to 70
through to the forward part. would he
'mpedest. delayed, and thrown into
loser contact. under more unfayora bic
Conditions. than they would bc IL no
such separation was attempted II tho
IS at the front end and that Compare
,ment should become overcrowded. tho
difficulties and delays above Noted
would exist al all points Of disembar rka.
lion.
Increased During Rush Hours.
The difficulties above noted would be
'a"sciy increased during rush hours,
and any attempted separation of races
WOULD necessarily add to the over
'rowded conditions which do and must
,N,st at certain points during the rush
hour periods
IF separate cars are used it would
'Ncan more unequal distribution of
passengers and consequent increase Of
'rowding during rush hours. the lessen
'nc of which is now the chief aim of
street railway companies and the pub
'lc l'tilities Commission. Separate cars
would be necessary on each line and on
ines Of light traffic and comparatively
tNfreruent service. the selection Of each
!ourth or fifth car for colorcd people
would necessitate a very poor service
Tor them and materially decrease the
efficiency of the service for the white
passengers.
These are only a few OF the diff
m'liar with the routing and schedules
made to accommodate several lines
over one track. as for instance at Fiji
,"cnth street. can easily see how far
TO the general public. which would fol-
'ow the enactment Of such legislation.
The colored people for over fifty
years have been permitted in the Dis
S,ricted use of street cars. any limita-
lion applying to them applying equally
TO the white people. and these limita-
tions are fully expressed In pro-
''S'p'i VI oNe VI ouT cHdTteTS from Con-
gross. which reads: No person shall
ho prohibited the right to travel on the
cars Of said road. or be elected there
from BY the company's employees. for
drunk. disorderly, or contagiouslv dis,
cased. for the use Of obscene and pro-
fame language, refusing to pay the
legal fare, or failure TO comply with
the lawful regulations of the COMPANY
so far as our observation goes the
car riding colored people are, as q rule.
orderly. we'll conducted. and give no
reasonable ground for the enactment of
fha Inn. 70.