The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-11
t JIM CROW" LAW
 T0 BE PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER R
Harrison Prepares to Intro duce Ordinance Providinq Separate Entrances and
 Cars for Both Races

Action on the proposed Jim Crow ordinance, which will require the Bir- Railway. Light and Power company to install separate en- frances. separate compartments and possibly entirely separate cars for the two races will likely be taken by the city commission when w. l.. liar rison, commissioner of public utili- ties, will present an ordinance at the regular meeting of the commission on Tuesday morning, according to an announcement made Saturday morn ing following a conference between Commissioner Harrison, w. Y. Wynn, city attorney. and a group of citi- zens from the various sections of the city.
 This action was taken immediately following the announcement of the attorney general to the public serv- ice commission that the separation of the races is within the hands of the police powers of the city and not up to the state commission. The matter of the one-man cars now in use was referred to the commission by Com missioner Harrison after protests had been filed from residents of Norwood and Fountain Heights.
 A mass meeting will be held in Woodrow Wilson park Thursday night, it was stated, when a formal protest will be made against the one man type of cars having only one en- trance for both white and colored passengers. Commissioner Harrison will be present at the meeting. Ten tative plans for the committee will call for the distribution of many thousands of hand bills in the down. town section and parade of protest will be held, headed by the Ala bama Boys Industrial school band.
 Cost Called ProhiSitive.
 Those who attended the conference with Commissioner Harrison and At torney Wynn were John Altman of Norwood, H. s. Hill of North Bir- mingham, Mrs. Flo Bonner of Ems ley, Mrs. Anniston Mayo of Wood lawn, and Mrs. B. A. Cooper of Foun- tain Heights. MT. Altman will act as chairman of the committee, it is believed.
 It would cost the B. R. l.. & r. Co. many thousands of dollars to effect the changes provided for in the ordi- nance, which was explained to Com missioner W. l.. Harrison by J. $. Pevear of the traction company. when the matter was first brought to the attention of the commissioner. Most of the equipment has been purchased new and other changes have been made which would make some of the cars the B. R. l.. X r. Co. now has in use obsolete anu fit onIy as second- hand equipment. Judge William l. Grubb failed to authorize the trac- tion company to provide for separate entrances when the matter was pre- sented to him several weeks ago.
 Both Harrison and Wynn charged the service commission with attempt ing to dodge the issue in an effort to show that there is no need for municipal control of the utilities. as provided In bill which will be pre- sented at the next session of the legislature. Both stated it was service regulation in that 1t calls for the expenditure of money by the traction company.
 The new ordinance will in all prob ability be more drastic than the changes asked for by the citizens or Norwood and Fountain Heights. An ordinance was drawn up by Attorney Wynn several months ago, but action was deferred when the B. R. l.. X r. compiled with the requests of the passengers on the North Birmingham line for separate entrances.