sitting side by side on the same bench unless all the other seats are filled. The conductor has the power to require passengers to change their seats as often as is needful to secure actual separation of the races. The laws do not prohibit the running of special cars exclusively for either race, provided the regular cars are run.
The cars or compartments are to be clearly designated to show to which race they belong. Several statutes and ordinances require that the placard "WHITE" or "COLORED," in plain letters, not less than two inches high, shall be upon each end of the car or compartment, or upon the sides of the open cars. A recent case[70] in Mississippi would seem to hold that the sign must be large enough to be seen in all parts of the car. The laws of Mississippi and Louisiana require that the law be posted in the car; in Virginia, the substance of the law is posted in the car. In Houston, Texas, the race to which the seat belongs is posted on the back of the seat. In several cities, any one tampering with such a sign will be punished by a heavy fine.
The law of North Carolina probably contains a fatal defect in that it requires separation "as far as practicable." Of course, this would allow the conductors or companies to make numberless exceptions. As a matter of fact, most of the North Carolina cities had been contemplating such a separation, and, when the law went into effect the first of April, 1907, were ready to regard and enforce it.
Enforcement of Laws
In practically all of the cities, the street-car conductors and motormen are special policemen to enforce the law.
