Daily Republican., 1882-11-21
The HmCks.ers' Privileges.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 81. ISS2,
The HMCksGerS' Privileges.
The a ;tion taken at the last meeting
of the City Council instructihg the
Mayor TO enforce the ordinances regu-
lating hucksters in the market IA
bringing to light some queer phases OF
the City markets, Though the action
of Market Clerk Hickey yesterday
came like bomb from the Cloudless
sky amongst the hucksters who have
been Cluttering and crowding up King
street, no blame can be attached to him
as he was only the executive officer ap-
pointed, to carry out the municipal laws.
The hucksters naturally feel indignant
at what they deem such a summary
proceeding and unwarrantable inter-
4 ference with the rights and privileges
they have enjoyed for so many years
almost urmolested. So long have they
been left in undisputed possession OF
the street crossin and choice places in
market, that not only they but the
citizens as well never supposed for an
instant but that they were there ur
der the regulations and protection Of
the city ordinances. The fact that they
were taxed and made to pay fifty cents
a week Tor the privilege of standing on
the Cnrb gave color of legality to their
right to occupy tho places they appal-
emily paid for. But now it turns out
that these huckSters have no right
whatever to stand upon any part of the
street exposing their wares for sale
The city ordinances have been carefully
examined and that examination reveals
the fact that none but farmers who sell
their own produce are entitled TO stand
upon the curb, and thas only on four
half days in the week Tuesday after
noon and Wednesday forenoon, Friday |
afternoon and Saturday forenoon
Nothing whatever can be found giving |
hucksters the shadow of legal right to |
take possession of the choice corners |
and intervening spaces between the COZ
ners the streets. Long established
custom only has given it the semblauce
of q right. 1t seems to have commenced
perhaps thirty or more years ago, in
permitting poor people, who were not
able to rent store and pay heavy taxes
to occupy certain ces, more through
a charitable object than any thing else,
and these people even though poor, paid
something to the Clerk of the market
for the privileges they enjoyed. An eli
taken 1t was not hard to take yard
and from q yard it was no difficult mat
ter to seize a whole street corner, and |
from a street corner half CROSSINGS Ct
the street. Thus has mere privilege, !
not sanctioned by the law, grown into
a monopoly almost of the markets |
Crowdirg cut farmers, for whom the
curb stone markets were exclusively |
intended. To such an extent has the /
monopoly grown that renters and own
ers of property along the street have
obtained permission from Council to
have certain space in front of their
premises kept open, and When the re-
quest was granted these same rentogs
or owners leased the space thus reserved
TO huCksters. One case has come to
light where renter was getting q dol
lar a week for the use of the curb on
market days. A search of the city ordi
nances reveals the fact that no person
whatever is permitted to occupy the
curb stone except the market people on
market days. Store keepers are per
mitted to occupy the sidewalk for dis
tance Of four feet from their doors, mere
ly for the exhibition of goods, but it is
contrary to the ordinances to sell
such goods outside of their stores. The
city ordinances have been carefully
drawn to prevent trespass. Whoever
owns a residence or store, owns the
pav emeDt and curb in front of it, and
any person who occupies it even on
market days, does SO only by the own
er's consent. He can keep his space in
front Of his store or r. sidence clear, with.
out resolution of Council, though the
custom is to geS such resolution. But
that owner cannot lease the space in
front of him for any business, because
he will be trespassirg upon the rights
of citizens. If dealer in merchandise
he can occupy four feet from his wall
for the exhibition of his wares, no more;
read the ordinance upon this subject
in our local columns and be convinced.
A word for the hucksters will be found
in another editorial notice.