Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-29

n
mo AT TEE pnTRicr BUILDING.
The Commissioners had announced for today
hearing of those who might appear for or
against the proposed occupancy by the District
Of the space at the intersection of 10th street
and Louisiana avenue, used as a wholesale mar
ket by the Washington Marke, Company. AZ
the request Of the market company. which de-
sires to be heard. the hearing was postponed
until November 10. but a number Of farmers
and others who stand ION the line" on
the south side Of street between 18th and 18th
were on hand and there was a hearing of those
who object to and those who approve the new
arrangement by which the Commissioner have
assumed the regulation of the space there oc-
cupied.
OBJECTS TO THE ARRANGEMENT.
Col. Reeves, one of the big producers,
stated his case. He desired the power Of the
Commissioners to collect money for the oc-
cnpation of the public streets. aud said
further that all money collected assuming
for the sake of argument that the Commits
sioners had the power to so collect could not
be diseursed according TO law. This was now
being done.
Capt. Aldrich. the assistant clerk OF the mar
ket. interrupted the speaker. stating that the
| collection was not compulsory. II the farmers
collected.
Col. Reeves continuing. said that he was one
| OF the largest producers ana he was without a
| place. He was willing to contest the law and
was willing to stand a test case. As far as the
stands were concerned they had been partially
assigned. He would give the Commissioners
q, 800 a year for several Of them.
CAPT. ALDKIcu's REPLY.
Capt Aldrich, in reply, disclaimed any par
tiality. The whole matter OF assignment had
been left to Mr. Saltler, one of the old watch
men, and he believed he had made the assign
ments impartially.
The reason Col Reeves had no stand was
because he had not attended market for a
month. The stands had been distributed to
those who were regular attendants.
| Mr.. Deyer, another farmer, spoke of what he
called the injustice of the whole matter. He.
like Col Reeves, had no place, and none had
| been assigned 10 HIM. Capt. Aldrich took issue
WITH him on this statement and explained that
he had assigned Mr.. Boyer a place with MIR.
McSweeny.
why HE DIDN'T WANT IT.
THAT place belonged to Bill Jones, the
avenger, and he amt man to be trifed with.
We didn't want his stand" said Mr.. Boyer
The new scheme is a failure and no improve
ment on the old system and 1 trust the Com
mlssioners will go back TO the old system"
Col Reeves thought the Commissioners should
make the ASST nments. Put the uames in a
hat and let them draw. Give them all an equal
| chance"
Commissioner Douglass said they couldn't do
That, Tor they would be fined for running lot
| terry.
| FARMERS WHO APPROVE IT.
| Farmer Crosier took issue on what the other
speakers said. He thought the new scheme
was entirely satisfactory, and that the dissatis-
fed farmers could be counted on one hand.
MIR Il. u. Howison said be had been up and
down the hne OF b street several times ANA it
| seemed TO him that all the farmers were well
satisfied except lew vino had been occupying
| stands at the crossing and who in the assign
| ment of places had not Jared well as they
| thought they should.
He thought large majority of the farmers
| were satisfied with the new arrangements and
| regulations. He did not think there were more
| than a dozen dissatisfied out of $50 or 30 in
! the habit of coming il. Most of the men had
been located pretty nearly where they had been
| IN the habit OF standing.
Mr.. JOHN H. cRAyE's OBJECTIONS.
Mr.. John ii. Crane spoke of the legal side of
! the question. He asserted that the objections
to the new arrangements were that il was ille-
| gal, that it was unfair that it was an obstruc-
ton to the sidewalk and that the person
who erected the o;ice,, or obstrue-
! ton on the sidewalk was Liable
| to fine Of $40 per day for every day the OBJ
struction remained. Mr.. Crane referred 70
the order of the Commissioner instructing the
clerk of the Center Market TO assign STAGES.
and inquired who the clerk of the Center
| Market was.
Mr.. Crane said as Mr. AIdrich already re.
ceired compensation sealer of weights and
measures he could not receive the $50 pro-
Nided by the old law the salary OF the clerk
of the market
He will not get any $780," remarked Mir.
Douglass.
Mr.. Crane also referred to the fact that col
lectiors were made by MIR. Aldrich from the
| farmers. and said that the law made il penal
/ ofsense for the clerk of the market TO receive
money. He asserted that the tax of Is
cents each imposed on the farmers
| Illegal. and moreover that the money was
| not used for the purpose named. as he had seen
the work house gang cleaning the streets. Mr..
Crane read the act referred to in his letter 10
the chief OF engineers, making it the duty Of
that officer 10 Clear IRON distractions improved
in whole or in part by the United States. He
argued that the obstruction there was clearly q
violation OF law.
Mr.. Douglass asked if it were held to be
| legal whether Mr.. Crane would not think the
present arrangement good one. as a matter
| OF convenience, and what the farmers and the
| public want.
I'VE can't assume what anybody wants. -
said Mr.. Crane, ''the law is there and we must
obey the law"
THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE LAW.
Mr.. Douglass said they had two opinions
one by Mr.. Riddle and one by MIR. Thomas
that these regulations were legal AMI correct
and two decisions by the Police Court to the
same effect. He asked what they were to do.
Mr.. Crane said the law WAS there and the
Commissioners could see what it was
| MIR. Douglass said the Commissioners would
| not set themselves up against everybody and
decide legal questions TO suit themselves.
Mr.. Crane asked what the Commissioners
would do if the chief OF engineers enforced the
law and cleared this space; they would not, he
supposed. oppose the United States govern