Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-24
Senator William Finn Appears in
the Role of a Peacemaker.
HIS HONOR is NOT PLEASED.
he Believes That the Police Should Attend
to the Matter.
GRoCERs WIN THE FIRST VICTORY

.
rels, watermelons or cabbages in front Of
please, and cover three feet of the
sidewalk if they wish without police
interference or fear of that bugaboo, the
law. The law still stands, but its practical
annullment was secured through the diplo.
macy of the grocers themselves. From the
statements published last evening it ap.
peared that the Mayor had backed down
from his original pasition in the matter,
but he shows, in an appended interview,
that his position has not changed. Chiel
Brown could not be found last evening, but
Superintendent O'Mara's version of the
matter was obtained
The Retail Grocers' Protective Associa-
tion made the diplomatic move which Sc
cured to its members latitude of pavement.
Yesterday morning as the grocers assembled
at the Liberty street commission houses
after their daily supply of green groceries,
the sidewalk order was the uppermost
thought in all minds.
A Conference Committee Appointed.
AS it was discussed the excitement in
creased, and there was perfect babel OF
voices of all nationalitles. About 9 o'clock
some thoughtful, philosophical green grocer
suggested that delegation of association
members visit the officials and see if some
compromise could not be agreed upon.
Councilman j. c. O'Donnell, who is
Chairman of the association, was selected
as the leader of the delegation and at 1890
o'clock there filed into the Mayors Office a
procession of about 20 grocers with the
Sixteenth ward Councilman in the lead.
Mr.. O'Donnell briefly stated the object of
the VISIT It was to see if the grocers in
other parts of the city who handled the
same class of goods were to be Disseminated
against while the Liberty street men were
allowed the privilege OF filling over half the
sidewalk in front of their places of business
with display of their merchandise. 1t
was home drive, that of discrimination.
The Mayor sent for Chief Brown and
Superintendent O'Mara, and they came to
his office promptly. A conference of the
three officials ensued, and then the grocery
delegation was called in. Mr.. O'Donnell
made his speech, and after few questions
had been asked, the city officers abandoned
their position three feet, that is, they gave
that much to grocers
A Short Lease of Life.
"Of course we wont discriminate in favor
of the grocers," said Mr.. O'Mara later,
"but until October any business man in
town can use three feet of the sidewalk
next his house for displaying his stock in
trade. Mr.. Brown and myself were sent for
by the Mayor this morning. We had pre-
viously received reports that nearly 300
persons had failed to obey the order to clear
the sidewalks and orders had been issued to
enter informations-in fact over 100 persons
had been sued. When we went up to the
Mayors office he told us he had about
agreed to allow the grocers three feet of
sidewalk. We were surprised, but the
Mayor said he believed the grocers were
right, that at this time of year the grocers
should be allowed extra privileges, and he
did not want any prosecutions made.
''Mr. O'Donnell's speech showed that it
was unjust to limit grocers and not COM
mission merchants Mr.. Brown was op-
posed to any evasion of the law, saying
that as the law existed it should be en-
forced, but he finally agreed to waive the
law until October with the understanding
that the grocers would in the meantime
have an ordinance passed changing the
restrictions That was all. No prosecu-
tions will be made for the present, pro-
vided the agreement is observed"
Criricising the Ordinance.
When Mr. O'Donnell was asked for his
version of the conference last night he said:
'Both the Mayor and Chief Brown con-
ceeded to US that the ordinance as it exists
should not exist. They said they knew that
the Liberty street commission merchants
could not do business without room on the
sidewalks to air their GOODS Many of
them receive from one to ten carloads of
perishable goods-fruit and vegetables It
is class of goods that cannot be produced
in this county to supply the demand and is
therefore necessity. The goods must be
bought in bulk from other sections and are
necessary to the city's inhabitants. IF kept
within doors over night they would be ruined
and to handle them that way the stores would
need to be twice as large as they are.
1.-The Mayor and Mr.. Brown conceded all
this. 1 admit it was a club we had to use
in favor of our own business The retail
grocers do exactly the same business, only
on a smaller scale, and the same argument
applies. Grocery stores nowadays are
markets as well; all carry full line of
market goods They buy in large quanti-
ties, and we claim our business demands
fresh air as we'll as the Liberty street
dealers. We asked for four feet of side
walk, but Mr.. Brown demurred, saying the
law as it exists should be observed. He
finally agreed to three feet as compromise
until the LIST of October.
Twelve or more years ago voted in favor
of the present ordinance which wiped out
one allowing business men four feet for q
sidewalk display. At that time 1 pre-
dicted that to enforce the new law would
be to compel its repeal. 1 believe the pres
ent agitation will show was good proph-
ct. A new ordinance providing for three
feet of display room will be introduced at
the next Council meeting and Chief Brown
has promised to assist in its passage"
Mayor Gouriey Disclaims Responsibility.
When Mayor Gourley was seen last night
he was asked what caused him to change his
mind regarding the enforcement of the side
walk obstruction ordinance. He said:
had no part in the decision of the con-
ference with the Grocers' Committee except
that was presentsat the request of the
Messrs. Brown and OMAHA. / did not want
to seem arbitrary, and told the committee
that anything Messrs Brown and O'Mara
would decide upon would not be opposed by
this WSe 'Ve %aRna
Liberty avenue this morning l was ap-
preached by several retail grocers
who were buying their goods from the
streets. rhey. said they desired to have q
conference with me regarding the occu-
pancy OF part Of the sidewalk to show on