Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-29
THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY FARMERS.
They Complain of Bad Treatment at the
Hands of the Attorney for the District.

They Complain of Bad Treatment at the
Hands of the Attorney for the District.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
As stated in Saturdays STAR, the farmers of
Montgomery county have experienced serious
difficulty in disposing of their produce in the
District, and they have fully determined to
take all necessary steps to obtain as free access
to the Washington markets as the laws as they
now exist Will permit, and if found necessary
to ask Congress for relief. In order to act in
telligently they determined to ascertain def
nitely just what their rights are, and accord
ingly one test case was instituted in the Police
Court, which resulted in removing one Of their
obstacles This method, however, was found
to be extremely troublesome ard annoying to
the farmer who made the test and also inter-
fered In a measure with the regular working of
that court.
In order. therefore. to avoid unnecessary
litigation they asked the attorney fer the Dis
trict for his opinion to the law in certain
particulars, fully explaining to him that the
farmers were anxious not to violate the law,
but wished to know what the law was. and stat
ing that If they got satisfactory opinion from
HIM 1t void avoid resortirg to the Police
Court. and in any case it would determine just
what points of difference existed.
The attorney for the District very politely
answered that he would be glad to acccmmo-
date the farmers, but that he did not feel at
liberty to give opinion in such a matter
without being called upon by the Commission
ers to do 30. and he suggested that letter be
written to the Commissioners explaining the
state of the case, and asking that the matter be
referred to him and he would then be glad to do
everything In his power to satisfy them, and
added that the opinion would then be official
and would be binding upon the officers of the
District
1t Is now a great surprise and disappoint-
ment to those interested that the attorney for
the District gives it rs his opinion that the
course suggested by himself was an improper
one, and this is more especially from time
to time during several weeks past they have
been informed at the attorneys Office that one
OF his assistants was at work on the opinion and
II would be forthcoming in few days.
The Montgomery farmers are acting in this
matter fairly and earnestly, and are only anx-
ious TO ascertain their legal rights and they are
acting In a body through regular organiZa-
uon In order to give assurance of the honesty
OF their intentions.
IL Is certainly to the interest of the residents
OF the District that the freest possible access be
given to fresh market produce, and the farmers
OF Montgomery county are certainly entitled to
consideration, as they deal almost exclusively
with Washington merchants. and bring a large
amount Of money into the District. 1t does
seem. therefore. hardship that they have to
take the risk Of violating the law and In any case
be subject To arrest, when they merely wish to
definitely determine what the law is, and thus
be able TO sell their produce without being con-
stantly In fear OF illegal arrest. The farmers
believe, and are advised, that the interpreta-
ton put upon certain laws and ordinances by
the police officers and market officials is erro-
neous. and they are seeking to correct the error
IN the easiest and most conclusive way. and yet
the regular legal adviser of the District declines
to give them an official Interpretation of the
law. Y