Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-08-14
LOCAL n EW s.
The Center Market Investigation


In the House of Delegates ON Saturday Mr..
Davis, of the committee ON laws and the judic-
iary, presented the report Of the subcommittee
on the Washington Market Company investiga-
ton The papers presented included al the
testimony taken by the committee, and other
documents relating 90 the matter, which were
ordered to be printed and placed upon the desks
TIE EEPOFT
Mr. Davis says the committee has heard all
persons desiring to be heard; has allowed wide
latitude Of inquiry, and has had before 1t all the
witnesses who IL was believed could throw light
on the subject of inquiry. AL the officers of the
company, with one exception, manifested eOur-
teOus readiness 10 assist the committee in the
fullest possible Investigation, and, in fact gave
literal and cheerful help in every particular
There was In the minds OF the committee, and
indeed, with the public in general, a doubt that
the Legislative Asss mbly had any real power to
deal with, or any jurisdiction over its affairs,
and, therefore, this courtesy OF its officers is the
more especially TO be commended.
THE CAUSE or DELAY.
The progress made in building the market
structure did not and does not seem entirely
satisfactory to the committee, and notwith-
standing the various reasons assigned By the
officers Of the company the committee think con-
struction might have been carried forward more
rapidly. An examination of the reasons assigned
for this delay has, however, satisfied the COM
mittee that the company has not, by reason of
the delay, failed to comply with the terms OF its
charter.
THE MARKET MEN.
II appears that there was q bitter controversy
over the valuation of the sheds and fixtures;
that the dealers employed counsel and threat
ened 20 resist the authority of the Market Com
pany TO take possession OF the grounds; that they
demanded more money for their fixtures and
rights than the company was willing to day; that
II became necessary to resort TO arbitration, as
provided by section 10 of the act of incOrpora-
ton; and that after much dispute and trouble
the arbitrators came TO an agreement which,
under the circumstances, was comparatively
satisfactory to most of the parties interested.
NO INTENTIONAL INJUSTICE.
ia ru-f1li n. No.
heve that there was any intentional injustice or
hardship imposed, but Is rather disposed TO con-
partially followed the new arrangement W as nat
ural and inevitable The complications caused
by the fire, and the construction of new buildings
for temporary use, absorbed the officers of the
company, and drew their attention from the7th-
street wing until the winter was 50 tar advanced
that it was impossible TO commence the brick
wsrk until spring. As soon, however, as the
TBE WORK WAS PROMPTLY CONTRACTED FOR;
but the contractor, Mr.. Daniel Green, being a
cO0red man, experienced considerable difficulty
owing to the rules and appliances of the trades
unions, i'm getting skilled brieklayers to lay the
outer walls of pressed brick, as required by the
specifications in the act OF Congress. The con-
tractor has since, however, overcome the diff
Guilty, and the work rs now going forward with
such rapidity as is consistent with safety and
durability. 1t il proper To state that upon the
termination of the last session of the Forty-frstA
Congress the commission appointed under the
modifying resolution of December 20. 1870 was
incomplete, owing TO the failure Of the Speaker
OF the House of Representatives to appoint a
Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds,
the chairman OF which was 10 be a part Of the
commission alluded 10. This undoubtedly occa-
stoned some further delay.
ALTERATIONS IN The ORIGINAL PLAN.
In regard To the charge of using Seneca in
lad Of blue stone in the construction of the
building and Of leaving out the second floor the
committee, after hearing the evidence, i Of
charter in either respect. As TO the omission of
the hoor in the 9TH street wing 1t appeared that
peted that would S oP eee T sS t s
city government, but that, when il was ascer-
tanned in the committee OF Congress II would not
De wanted for that Purpose, new plans for one
that he believes there was an intention, not
carried ont through inadverteRce, to carry out
the provision OF a second story. At an events,
before the 9TH street wing was commenced,
dealers complained that
A SECOND STORY FLOOR WOULD ISJURK TIE
MARKET,
and the architect, Mr.. CIuss, and a committee
OF the company visited nearly all the market
houses In New York and Philadelphia, with a
view Of ascertaining what would be the best
form Of structure for market purposes After
their report the company concluded that the
complai of the dealers were well founded and
second floor appears to be in accordance with
the views of the commission appointed by Con-
grtss in the resolution of December -, 1870,
which assented TO any reasonable change in the
interior OF this wing, but insisted that no change
should be made in the exterior which should in
jure it, or render it less creditable in appearance
as appears BY letter of United States Senator
justin ). Morrill,, of August ., in answer TO a
letter addressed him BY the committee.
MINOR COMPLAINTS.
The minor complaints against the company,
partially stated by Mr.. Oyster, were, first, that
the company had undertaken TO collect rents i'm
the new buildings without having the amount
fixed in accordance with section 2 Of the char
ter; second, that certain ten-cent collections
made on market days from each country wagon
were Illegal third, that the company had col
lected rents for fSh-staDds on the canal front
outside the limits of their grant; also, fourth,
ON the curbstOnes Of 9ih street; and, fifth, for
the wooden building on the triangular piece of
ground at the junction of Louisiana and Penn
sylvania avenues.
All the foregoing objections seemed to the
Company The charge that the somesa Sy w sss
realizing large profits from the rents of the
stalls, and was constructing the permanent mar
ket buildings from these profits, Instead of from
the money Of the stockholders paid in for that
purpose, proved, upon Investigation, TO be
founded upon incorrect or exaggerated state
ments.
RECEIPTS AND ExPrNDIruREs
1he statement Cf receipts and expenditure of
the company heretofore published in detaiD
show their receipts to have been, from all
sources, sci ,414.49, and their expenditures
S1S ,Z225s. There are sunaTy bills Outstanding
and unpaid. viz: Water and other taxes, eG,
penses OF superintendent, interest on temporary
buildings, rental due city for June, July, &c.,
WHICH will probably make the expenditures sx,
cetd the receipts.
With reference 70 that portion OF the resolu-
tiOn referred % the committee which directs
inquiry whether persons engaged In business in
Center Market have paid license fees TO the city
of Washington since the Market Company took
possession, the committee has % report that all
the dealers in the market who have heretofore
been required 10 pay a license tax have In adj
6iton 10 the rental Of stalls charged by the Mar
ket Company, also paid the legal license fees
charged by the city of Washington.
THE CITY TAX QUESTION.
The question as raised whether, inasmuch as
the rental previously paid TO the city included
the license fees and gave the right TO sell in two
markets, the rent paid To the Market Company
would not also include the license fees.
In review Of all the charges made against the
company the committee discover no reason for
condemning or embarrassing the managers of
the market enterprise. Ii Is % be regretted that
more rapid progress has not been made; but the
company is at this time proceeding with reason
able dispatch in the erection of q building which,
a. above stated, the committee believes viii be
useful ana eredltable % the city; and, a. a
poratson chartered by the supreme law Of the
land, and including in its stockholders and man
ayers some Of the very first citizens OF Washing
ton and Georgetown, II Is entitled to any aid
which the District government can properly
afford IL.
IL is also to be regretted that the market deal
err have been compelled TO pay higher rental
than formerly; but owing 20 the heavy tax re-
quired Of the company by their charter OF incor-
pOrAftOn, this could not without loss To the com