Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-12-11
LOCAL NEWS.
Pretecsien for the Ox~fer rrase

THE MIDDLE MIN.
Several weeks ago THE STAR published m
account OF dissatisfaction among the ca ~
tsins OF oyster vessels who bring their pro-
ducts 20 our markets, their complaint oeius
as 20 the manner I'm which the oyster trade Ia
conducted here through the interference OF
middlemen and drummers, who 30 manip-
ulate the business rs 10 bring 10 under their
entire control, 20 the great prejudice Of the
oyster men.
COMPLAINT or THE CAPTAINS.
These bard working men complain that
me mlddlemen have supplsnted them IN
thelr legitimate business. by coming in be-
tween the captains OF oyster vessels and the
consumers OF oysters; that under the guise
OF commission merchants they fiN the prices,
make all the sales, and absorb most OF the
profits, leaving the dredger with a mere nit
lance 10 keep body and soul together. They
state that in former years the custom pre-
vailed for keepers OF restaurants and hotels
10 visit the wharves daily and purchase their
own supplies direct from the boats, that the
business has gradually fsllen into the pres
ent state, partially through the careleSsness
Of the oyster men themselves, but PRINCIPAL
~ through the sharp practice Of the drum
mers, who are ON the alert constantly for
new customers. solicit orders from restau-
rant men and others, and furnish them reg
ularly through the season. The drummer
charges the oystermen Ave cents commits.
sion on every buShel taken ont OF his boat.
Instances are related where these drummers
have fixed the price and paid the cartains as
low as 3 cents per bushel for their cargoes,
as high as from 20 cents 10 - per bushel FOR
the same oysters and their cent per bushel
commission besides for disposiug OF them.
30 isr has this commission practice been car
who lounge about The wharves for n lob TO
Shuck bushel now ard then for some gen.
their cents per bushel for every bushel
they sell, and should any captain refuse 90
pay they combine i'm denounclug his oysters
as stale and worthless 20 every customer
,lsaF.s
al sales until their terms are complied with.
These are among the reasons given why the
best men In the dredging business are ieav-
ing ~ gradually, or seeking higher prices an
Norfolk, Baltimore and other places. where
the law protects them better. A result of
this state OF affairs is, that we get inferior
oysters IN this market, while the good ones
are sent elsewhere. All efforts 10 correct
these evils having been found Unay alling, on
Monday evening, November p,
MEETING OF THE CAPTAINS
was held at the Green House. kept by Mr. &.
w. Thomas, ON llth street, near the river. %
confer as 10 what measures should be adopted
Mr. A. h. Warren, an attorney VINO was
present. called the meeting 20 orter, and
stated the objects 10 he the formation OF an
association for mutual protection against
rings and middle men. A constitution and
by laws should be adopted. he said, and
measures be taken TO have the organization
one worthy To tie recognized In our courts.
temporary organization was effected, with
Captain Nelson as president; Captain Rob
ert fleury vice president; VIM. Beishear
treasurer; e. w. Thomas secretary. and n
committee was appointed 10 drsft a consti-
tuition and by laws, 20 report az a future
meeting. The committee were Csptnin Ed
ward Tasker. A. Il. Warren. aud VIM.
Leishear. A form OF agreement was drawn
up, 10 which all attached their names. bind
ing themselves 10 carry out theobects OF the
organization against middle men. and to re-
establish free trade. They propose 10 con-
sign ali their cargoes of oysters hereafter to
Mr.. VIM. Leishear as their agent. 10 dispose
OF Them on The best terms possible, aud
allow him commission of five per cest.. in-
stead OF nve cents per bushel as heretofore;
furthermore not 10 recognize any other
agent, nor bargain with any third party for
The disposal Of their cargoes. Thursday night
following (the 25fh ultimol, another meet
ing was held, a large number OF captains be-
ing present. Captain Fleury presided, with
c. W. Thomas as secretary. Tie committee
ON
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
submitted a report, which was read, dis
cussed, and adopted section by section. Tue
preamble reCites i'm full the grievances OF the
oystermen, stated in substance above. aud
their determination TO preserve tree trade i'm
the oyster business. To the mutual "a santage
OF themselves and the consumers. The first
article establishes the name of the organiza-
ton as the "Oyster Captains Mutual Pro-
tective Associations" second, reciies the
qualifications necessary TO make persons ELI
gible tomembership; third, the objects, when
are In substance the welfare or each other;
the fourth fixes the permanent officers 10 be
president, vice president, secretary, treas
urer and attorney; NTH, fixes the stated
meetings and constitutes seven members a
quorum; directs that the officers be
elected annually, and fixes the dues, fines
and penalties. After the adoption OF tnis
constitution and bylaws
PERMANENT OFFICERS WERE ELECTED
as follows: Capt: Alfred j. Lewis, president;
Thomas, secretary; William feishear. treas
urer, and A. Il. Warren, attorney. CAPTAIN
Lewis took the chair, and, after appropriate
remarks, invited the captains 10 come for
WI
twenty names were signed, and subsequently,
oilers, Until
embraces nearly every bos.ndr Al the 0usl-
Lewis, president; Robert r.. Fleary, vice
president; c. w. Thomas, secretary; VIM.
w. Leishear, treasurer; A. B. Warren, attor-
ney; +. IL. Tasker, sloop Molly; G: w. Kelly,
schooner Anna Lowe; ii. II. Haghes, do.
Pomeroy; Samuel Posey, do. Thos. Jefferson;
X. +. Langley, sloop Della Chas. w. Ellis,
schooner Goldfinch; Richard Brand, sloop
Flying Cloud; James Sanford, do. do; Joseph
w. Hudson, schooner Enterprise; w. III. Chi
seltine, sloop American Eagle; Henry Perry,
do. River Queen; Ransall Brown, schooner
Brewster; Edward Nelson, sloop Fanny
Southan; A. V. Williams, 40. Rainbow; j.
II. Gibbons, schooner Anna Bell; william N.
Evans, do. John Francis; w. II: Games,
sloop q. p. Wright; Jas. johnson, do. Susan
Brewer; I. ID. Cheshire, schooner Ocean
Queen; c. Il. Evans, sloop Samuel Thomas;
}. g. Jaqges, do: Margaret Miller; Edgar
SON. do. " we; J. I. Russell, schooaer Char
ley; VIM. III. NeGuiggan, sloop Alberta; r,
w. Reed, do. Two Hothers; George II. Chilli
son, schooner OctavIa; a. j: Tyler, do. Maria
Laird; Dallas Scott, do. o. 'eaa; K. Il. Dod-
son, sloop NJ. Miller; John ii. Poe, schooner
Mary Ellen; John c. White. do. s. Alright;
samuel Trader, DO. Defy; IL. w. James, rloop
Reindeer; Il. w. George, do. Coradelphfa; -.
w. Revere, do. Mary r. Ward; Rich'd Court
ney, do. s. Gedney; G. II. Allison, schooner
Delaware; X. A. Crabb, sloop Flying Scud;
j. ID. Ailsworth, do. Cobb's Creek: RAYMOND
Rolley. schooner John Taylor; Joseph Davis,
do. X: a. Golden; w. r. Crowder, DO. Thomas
Franklin; s. Foxwell, do. Father & Son: r.
A. Z. Scott, do. Caroline; Leonidas Lewis,
do John s. Ravens; VIM. III. Davis do
Peart; Thomas Davis, do Charles Lewis; l..
X, Coles, sloop Billy Burns; George j. Trice,
schooner Matilda; W. u. Palmer, sloop Johp
4. Miles; Daniel Thompson, schooner DR..
Ballard.
LATER ACTION.
A bylaw was adopted that the names of
all persons proposed for membership shall
be referred 10 a committee of three whose
duty IL shall be TO make the necessary in
quiry as TO qualifications and report on the
same, and the election shall be by ballot al
the next succeeding meeting, unless other
wise ordered.