The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-13

of. While most of them liked q good
share of the kind of pleasure to be had at
the inns and Oh the race course, tne1e were
plenty, also, Of the prayer-meetlng klnd.
who were very ssrait-laced about worldly
foibles.
cattle. sheep and swine going through the
streets to the slaughter houses. The
drovers knew their business and. with the
help of the dogs, usually kept the animals
in order. Strengthening within the city
limits was lone only at specified Licensed
places. which had to be provided Wv
facilities for cleaning up. 80 that the nos,
trils OF the people might not be
nor the health impaired.
This was not SO simple a matter then as
now. No system OF sewerage had been
adopted. Croton water was not brought TO
the city. Responsibility had to be centred
somewhere for the maintenance OF sanitary
laws. Only Trustworthy men could carry
on the business of Strengthening. Some of
the butchers slaughtered. They did 1t
under license. Regulation of this business
seemed to be required by the demands of
the public health
From the days of the West India company
and Peter Stuyvssant, early in the seven
tenth century, butchers were licensed, as
was practically every tradesman. Butchers
had to take an oath not to kill except by
permits from the collectors OF the mayor
and aldermen. AS markets were estab-
lished the butchers went into them with
certain vested rights and exclusive privi-
leees. The traditions and practices Of 200
years stood behind the butchers in Mr..
Schultz's youth, securing them in exclusive
privileges. From time to time the laws of
the market were broadened to provide for a
growing population, and farmers and 9th
ers brought meat to market and sold it at
retail. But eventually the licensed or rent
paying butchers controlled the business
and kept others out OF it.
All kinds of market truck had to be solo
in the markets under tho ordinances. Spe-
cial permits were granted for sales OF poul
try, vegetables, fish, or oystsrs outside thu
regular markets at certain times. AS the
population grew and spread, the conven-
fences of scattered market places became
more apparent, and about 1880 the law o.
supply and demand OVERRIDE the city ordi
nances and meat and market shops wer'
started here and there by individuals.
Market men objected on various grounds
but principally because the newcomer
were doing ut no expense except rent a bust
ness which had been by law vested in occc-
pants of market stalls. Good moral char
scter was = condition that lessees of STALL
must meet. The shop-keepers might b.
anything in morals. They were under NJ
3 restraint. They might dump their refuse
in the CUTTERS and breed disease, utterl,
4 careless of the public health.
Objections ON whatever ground were al
first sustained, because the shopkesper!
we,e violators of a plain city ordinance
3 Fines constituted the punishment usually
3 dealt out. If the shopkeeper could pay fines
, and still prosper he continued in business
3 Meanwhile the public began to be interested
The shops were c~onvenienccR. They snveo
, long journeys to market. ohopkesps got {
t good deal of sympathy. Petitions TO the
K aldermen to repeal the ordinance becam,
common. The i'sue got into city politics
Aldermen were elected and defeated upo1
: it. This was the time when wine BEGAN,
h the campaign tipple. 1t was an issue il
q Brooklyn as well as New York, and it CAV,
K jackson 5. Schultz, then living In Brooklyn
a chance to make himself famous. IL
g favored the shopkeepers.
J When public opinion really grew excite,
over this matter, the outside shops wer
t quite numerous. The butchers kept swear
6 ing out warrants until the court docket
o were full of such cases. The shopkeeper
h demanded trial by jury. Few juries woul
y convict. Sym PATTY had turned toward tn
: shops.
There sat on the bench of the commo
y pleas at that time Judge Ulsheffer, who wa
n stlckler for the law. Many of the case
: came before him, and verdicts Of acauittt
Q by juries in the face of plain and admitte
violation of law SO enraged and disguste
II him that it is said he would leave his chal
. pace the bench, and threaten to commit or
tire iuries to Jail. The aldermen final
settled the controversy by repeating ii
Il time-worn ordinance, and that left eve
k body free to open Il shop. Many of tt
butchers then turned shopkeepers.
70 The business from that time, howeve
d cease to remain in the hands of America