The daily gazette., 1879-03-07
City Council.


Presented.
City Council met last evening in regu-
lar session, President Lichtensten in the
chair.
The session was an important one, the
main question being to allow the farmers
to sell meat on the streets. The follow
ing business was acted upon:
The Committee on Public Buildings
reported adversely on the petition of
Jacob Sharp, asking Council to repeal
the ordinance prohibiting farmers from
selling meat in tue street market. The
report was signed by Messrs. Chandler,
Adams and Heusted. The other MEM
bers of the committee are Messrs. Taylor
and McGlinchey.
Mr.. Norton said that he would like to
say something in regard to the report
made by a majority of the committee
lie was surprised at the report, because
IL is against the interest of the citizens.
lie believed that the committee in max
ing the report violated their oath, because
when taking tn r oath they had proms-
ed to legislate tor the best interests of the
citizens; such report as that is not for
the interest of the citizens, because if
VIC noiiu ouCll ItIOlb do tudb IL
would be in the interest of monopoly,
and monopolies are not benefit to the
citizens. If we allow the farmers to sell
meat on the streets, we will gets cheaper
| if not better article We find by
looking over the quotations, that meat is
as high now, as II was ten years ago, and
this in the face of the large reduction in
wages, we also find that the farmer can
| bring chickens to market and sell them
for 10 and II cents a pound, while beef
sold for 10 and 20 cents a pound. He
did not think that Council had right
to make a law that created monopoly,
and the present law does create a mono
poly, as it prohibits the farmer from SELL
| ing meat on the streets. The law is a
detriment TO the masses. Why not stop
the farmer from selling his produce on
the streets, If you stop him from selling
meat?
| One word as to how the democrats OBJ
tained their majority in Council. I.was
on their solemn promises to repeal all
laws that operate against the masses
of the people. to carry on the city gov
eminent in an economical manner, and
the people are looking to them to do so.
If vote was taken in tine city to-day to
| allow farmers 10 sell meat on the streets,
it would be carried unanimously, and he
did not see why the citizens had not held
a public meeting and urged upon Coun-
Gil 10 repeal the present ordinance.
Mr.. Chandler said he was surprised at
the remarks made by Mr.. Norton. He
had during all his term in Council en-
deavored to work to the best interests of
the citizens irrespective ofparty. He had
watched the meat market for quar- or
of century, and to the best of his know
ledge about every three years a change
W as asked for. The farmers are allowed
to sell meat on the st eets for about that
length of time, and then it becomes so
obnoxious that petitions are sent into
Council, asking that body to drive them
from off the streets.
When meat was sold on the streets, ,ac-
cording to his observations, it was no
cheaper than when it was not allowed to
be sold in the street market, because the
butchers took possession Of the farmers
market. Ifyou allow the farmer to sell
meat on the street, you should also q low
the butchers who pay taxes toward the
support of the city. Most of the farmers
l WHO sen IIlFhb Ol lDc ltiCtbo, atC eboaN
who own $50 acres, and can afford to hire
help TO farm their land, while they make
a combination among themselves, and &c
around the country buying up stock, and
bringing it to market to the detriment oi
the butchers who pay taxes. If you leg
islate fol the farmer, tn sell meat on the
S reefs, why not legislate for The country
storekeeper, and allow him to come il
and sell his goods or the country pro
duce. He did believe in special legisla
ton.
Mr.. Ueusted thought that if Mr.. Nor
. ton would look at the quotations Of liy,
stock, and then look at the prices, tina
the butchers get he will see that they dc
not make 200 per cent. In regard to tht
pledges of the members of Council, wh,
as lar as he was concerned he had neve
made any.
! Mr.. Norton said that in order to show
that meat had gone up. it was only neces
$ sary to look at the prices in February
when the farmer was allowed to sell pt RI
e on the streets. Then you could buy sau
: sage for 6 cents per pound, and what is i
. now? He did not see why the farmer
should ask such special legislation. II
t show the difference in the price OF meat
/ it was only necessary to point to the fac
v that cattle could be shipped from the ia
@ west to New York, and then reshippe
Ito England, and the tender loin from tn
u same BULLOCK could be sold for Is cent
's per pound, while here we would have :
10 pay % cents. He believed in the oil
~ adage of alive and let live" There al
4 about 800 butchers in Wilmington, an
- are they to control 10000 people.
Mr.. Hart said that the wholesale price
le of meat controlled the retail prices. l
s. February pork Wholesale was from 4a
D. 6 cents per pound, and that is the reaso
n \ the retail prices in this city were so lo'
Il Now it is selling wholesale at 7 cen
II and in. consequence retail prices hav
'y gone up. He did not think the farme
wanted the law ; if they did he had l
objections, but he was opposed to shi
ners on the streets.
40 Mr.. Norton said he would not say oil
word against the law if there sufiiciel
of market houses to put the farmers IL
and as there is not enough why let the
N sell In the streets.
of Mr.. McGlinchey, said that he had pa
sed through the same ordeal, seven yea
ne ago, and he had came to the conclusl'
that you could not legislate to put me
N on the street. If you put it there W
the simmer will come, and then t