"race screens"

From the New Orleans Public Library comes the text of an interesting 1928 memo concerning "race screens" and what streetcar motorman and conductors should do if a black person refused to move to the back of the streetcar. Here's the memo:

Form 542 COPY 12-26-2m

NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC SERVICE INC.
TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT
ORDER No. 1128

Subject: ADJUSTING RACE SCREENS

COPY
Date March 6, 1928.

TO ALL TRANSPORTATION EMPLOYEES:-

We have received quite a number of complaints from the public lately to the effect that some of our conductors will not attempt to seat white passengers when it is possible to do so, by having the colored passengers who occupy a single seat to move to another seat occupied by only one passenger.

It is the conductor's duty to see that the race screens are placed in the cars at all times in such a way as to prevent too many seats being occupied by the single colored passenger. This arrangement can only be had by the conductor requesting the colored passengers to change from the single window seat to another seat that is occupied by only one other colored passenger.

If your request is refused do not attempt to force the passenger off the car but call the first Police Officer you meet and enlist his aid in having the passenger move. Be sure that you personally make the request upon the passenger to move and not indifferently shift that responsibility upon the person making the request to be seated, in cases where a seat is to be had, thru a shift of the colored passenger, nor tell them you cannot do anything that might assist them in obtaining a seat.

Division Superintendent

Approved:- (signed) D. C. O'Dowd
Supt. of Transportation

Copies to:
Arabella
Prytania
Carrollton
Canal
Poland
Canal & Wells
Canal & Bourbon
Switchboard
Training School
Mr. A. B. Paterson
Mr. A. B. Mc Coard
Mr. W. H. Renaud, Jr.
Mr. J. C. Barnes
Mr. F. E. Bourgeois
Mr. A. E. Kern
Mr. E. T. Colton
Mr. J. J. Kornfeld
Mr. P. Mc Kay
Mr. A. J. Sarre
Division #194

The distribution list is interesting, since it shows locations significant to the system at the time.