New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-28
HOY STREETS ARE INSTRUCTED.
lNACTIoN OF CITY AUTHORITIES.

A GREAT IMPROVEMENT ABOUT THE MARkEIs BUT
NO REFORM ELSEWHERE.
The SHAREHOLDERS at Washington Market are inst
now deenlv interested IN the efforts OF Controller
Campbell to rid the market OF the numerous vendors
who have long obstruced the sidewalks and injured
the business of the legitimate dealers lhese
vendors in many cases, have built stands covering
half the sidewalk. They are not tenants OF
the city and pay no rent to any one except, per.
haps in few instances to property0wners In 'front.'
of whose premises they are sc tiled Not being SUBJ
ect TO the control OF the market clerk aud reyinR0
the political influence OF Aldermen ana Esss o 70
weight and treasure and sell an inferior quality OF
produce. The market clerk has seized at different
times from these outside vendors large QUANTITIES OF
"bob veal diseased meat. etc, and the reputable
dealers who pay rent to the CITY have suffered IN
consequence Of the bad reputation thus gwen the
tendent DeVoe propose TO remedy one
nuisance by clearing away all the sidewalk
vendors surrounding the markets. me wotk uone
Market was cleared has had good effect, and there
rs a noticeable abatement OF the nuisance on the
other sides Of the market. The work will be con-
tinued until the sidewalk vendors are entirely
moved. both ut Washington and Fulton Markets.
. The work can only be half done by the Finance
Department, however The distinctions con
and it is not in the power of the Con-
troller TO reach these vendors. Nesey-st., from
Church-st. down to the market. is lined on both
sides with men and women selling all kinds of
articles who even moro Of a nuisance than those
removed from Immediately in front of the market.
The same can be said of other streets leading TO the
market. IL is the business of the police and the
SUPERINTENDENT of Membranes IN the department
of pnblic Works to remove these INSTRUCTIONS.
some few of these sidewalk vendors who are con-
fined WITHIN the sioop line have permits from the
MAYORS Office. Others are in possession OF the
streets by virtue OF resolui9ns OF the Hoard
of Aldermen. The Mayors Permit Bureau
is wholly occupied in granting permits
for sidewalk distractions, and two.tllrds OF the
business of the Board Of Aldermen are of the same
character What these two do not accomplish IN
0bsructing the streets in all parts of the city IL eff
fectcd by the failure OF the Corporation Attorney.
noIice and civil justices to enforce the laws and or
drnances The police complain that the Justices, at
the request Of politicians and on their own account,
dismiss without penalty nearly all perIons arrested
for Obstructng streets aud that 1t Is almost useless
70 take "a prisoner before many OF the Justices on
snch n charge. Many violations OF the ordinances
reported to the Corporation Attorney are never heard
of afterward by the Police Department, and the
persOn complained OF continues TO disregard the or
dinances. The amount appropriated for the Bureau
of membranes by the Boad OF Estimate and APP
nort ionment is so small that IL accOmplshes practl
caIly nothing aud q pleasant sinccuTe for an eX
member of the Assembly. Recent decisions by
relative TO street distractions IN favor of
the unqualified right of the public
In the uee of the streets against the action OF any
authority except tho Legislature. by these deci-
sious the resont tons passed by the Aldermen per.
hitting street distractions are pronounced illegal,
as il also the action of the Bureau OF Permits Good
CORPORATION lawyers state that the Bureau Of Per
mts is an Illegal ms tuition lie was created by an
ordinance of the Board Of Aldermen, which has no
authority to legslate in any such way. As there
has never been any legal objection raised to the Blu
reau. it has been allowed to continue an existence
which would doubtless be quickly ended If tested in
the courts
The ordinances in regard to street distinctions
are very strict. They prohibit under penalty of n
fine any person from placing merchandise or any,
thing else at q greater distance than twelve inches
from the front of the building. Pedestrians who
are frequently driven off the sidewalk by hand
carts, should know that the wheeling Of hand
cart on the sidewalk is prohibited under fine of 80
for Merchants liable a "a In for
permitting goods or boxes anything else TO re-
main on the sidewalk in front Of their premises for
O longer time than is necessary to load or unload
them. Men with baskets and other distractions,
from which they sell goods the sidewalks. are vi
olatlng the law In every instance. 1t is offence
stop vehicle on crosswalk, etc Ii is the duty Of
tees to impose fines. How well they do their duty
patient and long-sufferine public knows too well.