Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-06

Another Hearing on the Pending Bill Before
the Commissioners Today

Another Hearing on the Pending Bill Before
the Commissioners Today.
The adjourned hearing on the bill to estab-
lish a market on the square now occupied by
the hay market took place this afternoon in the
board room at the District building. large
number of farmers and hucksters were present
Mr.. Lloyd, representing certain farmers in
Maryland and Virginia, submitted q petition
bearing the signatures of over 700 farmers
protesting against the bill He said the
farmers objected to the bill because they
were perfectly satisfied with their pres
ent facilities. and believe that the
proposed change would be to their disadvan-
tage. The stall holders in the Center market
also objected to the bill. he said, on the ground
that it was not right TO grant public
money to establish a market in compe-
tition with them on terms which will
compel the. District government to rent
stalls a. a less rental to farmers than the stall
holders are paying. 1t seemed to him that the
farmers were being used to forward a scheme
to enhance the interests Of certain individuals
owning property in the vicinity without any cor
responding advantage. He thoughtit was a bold
proposition to take 600 600 out OF the treasury
for which no return is even proposed and for
the sole benefit of certain private interests
under the pretext of accommodating a few
farmers with other facilities than those with
which others Of the same class are now entirely
satisfied.
In fact, he said in conclusion, the bill is a
proposition to return to the policy. which ex-
perience has shown to be q bad one and which
has consequently been everywhere abandoned,
OF municipality conducting u market bust
ness, and in this case, as shown by the eighth
section of the bill, on terms by which the mu-
nicipality may lose, but cannot possibly win.
OTHER PETITIONS.
Mr.. G. ". Burr of Loudoun county presented
a petition signed by seventy-three farmers Of
his section protesting against the bill. Mr..
John Kelly presented a petition signed by
rs hucksters renting stalls in
Mr.. R. L. Wells handed in petition signed by
upward of two hundred farmers of Prince
Georges county against the bill. Gen. Zurich
and Mr.. Buell. Of Fairfax county spoke against
the bill
IN Favor OF THE BILL.
Mr.. Guion Miller spoke at length In favor Of
the bill His remarks covered the same ground
gone over at the last hearing. He explained
the provisions of the bill in detail. As
an advocate of the bill he wanted it uu.
derstood that he was not fighting the
market company. Mr.. Miller presented letters
from farmers favoring the bill. He claimed
that there were names on some Of the petitions
which were obtained by misrepresentation
He had not found one farmer who was not
alter nearing the Dill explained, neart ana soul
in favor of il.
Mr.. J. II. Crane spoke in favor of the bill
He said he did not wonder that men signed q
petition that originated with the market COM
pany, when they were forced to sign Q con-
tract that was outrageous in its terms before
they could get . stand.
FOR THE MARKET COMPANY
Gen. Birney, representing the market COM
pany, spoke against the bill He said he had
heard some queer statements regarding the
right of farmers to stand upon the streets.
before. George Washington - early o.
1874 had given this right and there vas
plenty Of law for it, and the Law was sound. Il
was claimed, he said, that the bill under dis-
cussion was not aimed at the Washington Mar
ket Company. Any sensible man could zee ct
glance that the establishment Of . market sd-
joining the present market would have Q
tendency TO reduce the value Of stock.
Gen. Birney was speaking whom TIE 6fAl's
report closed.