Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-10-04

A-DAiOAS AIlEAL- III AbAI lssuc OF NFsbtlNdN
morning, we have read the market ordinance
passed by the City Council at its last regular
meeting; the sixth section of which declares that
50 no person shah foresiall the markets by buying
dining market hours, any article commonly sold
in market, for tine purpose Of selling the samc
again-nor shall any person o~iferany such article
-u~--~rh- Ar7rI- excerpt ~
one Of the st3ls " stands provided for he pur-
pose, in or near the market houses and al COM
-hinations TO influence in any way the prices Of
articles offered in the market, shall be unlawful
The radical dcfectin tits section IS the exclusive
right which it conf,rs on butchers and others
who sell articles in market, to sell such articles
free from all competition during the time which
is embraced in, market hours. 1t matters not
how inferior snch articles may be 10 others held
by outside parties, nor how much higher the
prices dictated by their owners for them may be
than other parties are willing 70 take for theirs
The decree is mexonble and must De enforced.
Not only is the citizens Of the city forbidden to
buy market articles except as above ordered, but
the planter from the country, or any one else
who sells any article in violation Of the provis-
lions Of the ordinance in question, subjects HIM
self to a fine of from FIVE to fifty dollars as the
discretion of the City Recorder NAV dictate.
We are utterly unable 10 see any Just principle
on which this ordinance is based, or any good 10
the people of the city likely to flow from it. So
far from restricting the people of the city to any
particular time and place in buying their daily
supplies, they should be allowed the largest
liberty in selecting them from among articles
offered by al persons who are willing 10 raise
them for sale.
The claim Of right on the part of our City
Council 70 prescribe the time and place, when
and where, the people of this city shall purchase
their daily food, or 20 without it, seems to have
been borrowed from the legislation Of the old
world, which it was TO he hoped that we had
outliyed. In an ordinance passed by the City
Council Of London on the 18th of September,
1914, we find, among other things, the following
provisions
THAT no Butcher, Poulterer, Victualler,
Country Farmer, Lader, Kidder, Gardener,
Fruiterer, Fishseller, Mealman or Baker, or
other Person or Persons whatsoever, shall, from
and after the Publication Of this act, Sell, utter,
put or expose TO sale, by Way of Hawking OF
as a Hawker, or in any other way, any Beef,
Mutton, Lamb, Veal, Bacon, Pork, Poultry, But
ter, Cheese, Fish, Herbs, Meal, Bread, or other
Yictuals or Provisions whatsoever, under any
private Stall, or at any Tavern Door, or in any
private House, Lane, Alley, Inn, Warehouse,
Street Stall, Common Passage, OF other Place on
Places whatsoever within the City Of London or
Liberties thereof. but only IN his, her or then
oped Shop or Shops, or IN tie public Market
Place or Places, and in Market Time, only ac-
eording as Is before appointed, upon Pam that
every Person and Persons So offending shall for
felt the Same Goods 50 offered or exposed to Sale
without any Manner Of Favor, according TO the
Ava..-4 E,rg+,tst Of fiuf ffkv. .f i a4Al4a fTepi
and approved.
THAT no Person or Persons from and after
the Publication OF this act, shall buy or cause TO
be bought any Nictuais or other things what
soeyer, coming 10 the City of London, OF Liber-
ties thereof, or to any of the common Markets Of
this City, to be sold, or make any Bargain, Con
1 tract or Agreement tor the having aud buying OF
the same, or any Part thereof, so coming as
aforesaid, before the same shall be brought into
one Of the said Markets, and there really and
bona fde, in Market Hours appointed, be exposed
to public sale. And also, that no Retailers o.
TRADERS, who bay to sell again, that shall by any
means whatsoever obtain or get into his, her o.
! their Hands and Possession in any Of the SAID
Markets any NictUals, Provisions or other Thing
whatsoever that shall be thitheg brought TO BE-
sold before the Ringing Of the Bell at Ten OF th'
Clock in the Forenoon aforesaid, shall iron
henceioFth sell the same again in bis, her o.
their shop or shops, or in tho same, or in ann
other of the Markets, or in any other Place O
Places within this City and tie Liberties thereof
upon Pain that every such Offender and Often
dtrs shall De for every such offence forfeit an,
a pay the sum Of forty shilings."-See lillian
Mailatds History Of London, Tot. !, Page 46l
It would seem from the similarity in some pan
~tieulars between the provisions above quote
5 from the London market ordinance Of 1914 an,
I the Memphis market ordinance Of 1861, that on
! city fathers must have derived their ideas iron
= the former or some similar enactment Of the mid
: die ages.
7 The wrong done in al such legislation is t
@ the people at iargewho are suhiectto it. In ever
. citv where such legislation prevails, the poo
y naorle who are compelled to work a specific
D number of hours in each day for a maintenanc
0 of themselves and families, are especially Il
victims of such rules and regulations, They al
: compelled by necessity beyond their control,
" rise early in the morning, 60 to market and pr
cure their supplies before the hour to go to woI
4 arrives. Ii they find poor articles al market an
e high prices demanded for them, they must tai
the one and pay the other or live without ther
/, They cannot leave then work after market hou
20 buy their supplies elsewhere, or i they {
., they are liable to be discharged therefor.
Is In this way such restrictures on the right
~ purchase supplies wherever they can find then
Z OF the best quality aud at the lowest price
- operate very uqjustly and injuriously ON Il
g ! labodng classes who are always the most n