The Morning herald., 1877-03-29
WILMINGTON, March 20. 1877:
HAWKERs AND PEDDLERs.

We at least have frst.class nuisance
and instance of wrong to our citizen store
keepers, that can be remedied, and the
strong arm Of the voter may be laid upon
the men, who refuse to right the wrong, if
they persist in their present policy.
The municipality of Wilmington is sus-
tanned solely by taxation, 1t has no con-
solidated fund to pay its expenses. Its
police, lighting, cleaning, paving, water,
schools:-every factor in our corporate ex-
istence, is the fruit Of taxation. This
must be admitted-and when admitted
we have established that it is the first duty
of City Council, to protect the taxpayer
in the enjoyment of his civic rights.
That our Council, in one respect utterly
fail to do SO is dead sure. One Of our
principal streets is encountered fully one
half the week, with a set Of dealers
who are constant never
ending drag upon the propriety Of Will
mington. The permission by City Coun-
Gil to allow non resident hucksters, to
monopolize the entire produce business of
Of 40, 900 yevple, is a piece of criminal
negligence every member of City Council
should be made to smart for. In the city
of New York, and, indeed, in all the lead
ing cities fthe Union, corner stores in the
by parts Of the town, are numerous and
valuable sources of revenue. They fill the
place of the unlicensed wagon, of the for
eign huckster in Wilmington. We are
quite certain that we lose enough taxation
yearly, by our absurd street market sys-
tenn, as would suffice to maintain our pub
lie schools. We broadly affirm that there is
not one farmer in ten to be found in the
dealers who cucumber our streets-hence
the very object which originally led to tie
permission has failed. Abolish by Or
dinance the whole system, and there will
be an instant demand for one hundred
stores or more for produce dealers, and our
market properties will become valuable
and able to pay large taxes. The flour
ishing city Of Chester years ago forbad
any itinerant or street huckstering; walk
through its streets will show at glance,
the strong help its local trade finds from
the sale of food by resident tax-paying
storekeepers. Give Wilmington one hun
dred green grocery stores, and you will
add at once possibly half million of dol
lars to her trade; all of which is now car
ried out of the town by closeGsted stran-
gers who haye no interest in her prosper.
ity.
The City Council is directly responsible
for the continuance of this grievous wrong
Political considerations, whether a ward
may be lost by doing right, is always ar
item in the calculation of the average poll
tician. We think we speak the sentiments
of the people, when we assure the mem
bers Of Council, that he, who is suf:
fciently alive to the interests of Whining
ton, and brave enough to vote according
to his convictions, when the question come
up iu Council, may rely upon the people
irrespective Of party, for re election, if sucl
an endorsement is looked for.
The poorer class Of people, think tha
food would be dearer, if the huckster
were driven away. This is a fallac.
whjc', haunted the imagination of the peo
pie of Philadelphia, and for a time re
tarded the reform we advocate here, bu
experience has shown that quality AM