The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-27
HAVE NOT COMBINED.
J0bbers and Retailers Deny Me-
Gilvra's Charge.
DIVIDED ON THE PEDDLlNG BILL.
Jobbers Favor Prohibiting Hawkers.
but Retailers Oppose-Protest
From . Consumer.

AOtaiiciS with reference TO the ordinance
now before the city council for the estab-
nshment OF market place on Marion
street, near West, and to prevent the
vending of nuts. vegetables and fruit
oy any person on other streets in the
city. The result of this inquiry would indi-
cate that there is no combination between
the lobbers and retailers on the subject. as
charged in the remonstrance of J. J. Nc
6llvra, for while all the jobbers favor the
Dill, the retailers are about as strongly op-
posed to that feature of it which prevents
the producers from selling their products
as they see fit. They all favor the provis-
ION prohibiting the vending of cheap fruits
and nuts brought here from other states.
A. c. Fry said:
That statement made by Mr. McGilvra is mis-.
leading. Most of the large gardeners in the
vicinity OF the city signed the petition asking
Tor the passage of this ordinance. Mr.. McGivra
calls attention to the fact that some cabbage
and other vegetables spotted because farmers
could not dispose OF them. Are the iobbers re-
sponsible for this? Not pound of cabbage has
been brought here from California for months.
Inc supply was too great for the demand and
the result was that some spoiled because there
was no place to which it could be shipped Any
one who does not know this ought to inform
The claim that there is a combination be-
tween iobbers and retailers is absurd. The job
oers have agreed not to sell at retail because it
was to their interest to do SO. There is nothing
IN the retail business for a legitimate jobbing
house. We all did it more or less because we
were forced 10 do so through lack OF under
standing among ourselves. OF course, when
this 1obber sold at retail, that one forced to
do the same, and ii was generally against our
Will. L can say that capdldly for my own
house | cannot understand how farmers will
be injured in the least by being confined
to a particular place to dispose OF their products
1t is done in ali large cities now and think to
the advantage of the farmer. There is so much
demand for all classes of products, and that de-
mand will be satisfied if the goods are to be had
within certain limits of prices.
Joseph Green, of the Northwest Fruit
Company, talked in the same strain, and
added that the farmers are chiefly re-
sponsible for the extremely low prices, as
they compete with each other in selling to
retailers and peddling around through the
city until they run prices down so low that
jobbers would not bother handling some
of the stuff
He thought the establishment of mar
ket place where people would congregate
TO make their purchases would do much
toward keeping prices up on choice garden
stuff and fruits, as most people want to Sc
lect good stuck when they have a chance
to do so.
John Haley, of the Haley-Glenn COM
pany, said:
think Mr.. McGilvra is right on this question.
am decidedly opposed to allowing hawkers to
sell inferior fruit and other produce shipped in
here in a halfdecayed condition, but it would
certainly be wrong to class producers with hawk
ers and place the same restrictions on them.
Ii there were q regular market house, the same
as in other large cities, do not think il would
be any hardship on farmers to confne them TO
it for the vending of their fruit. 1 think there
ought TO be about three such market houses
here. But I'm til we reach this stage, L am de-
cldedly opposed to interfering with the manner
in which farmers choose to dispose of what
they raise.
But restricting those fruit vendors who sell
inferior fruit is altogether different PROPOSE
ton. understand they have combination
and buy cheap fruit in large quantities in Cali
forna aud ship il in here, and dispose of ii at
prices with which no legitimate dealer who
pays rent and handles decent stock can COM
pete. / do not think they should be allowed to
use the streets for any such purpose.
The representative of another retail
house which handles large amount of
vegetables and fruit gave expression to
similar opinions on the question and said
that when he signed the petition for the
ordinance he did not know that it was the
intention to bring the producers within its
provisions. He thought fruit vending in
the business portion of the city ought to
be prohibited.
Oscar Knox, OF the firm of Knox & Da-
mon, said he had not considered the phase
of the question relating to the restriction
of producers, but he certainly favored the
provisions prohibiting fruit vendors from
hawking cheap fruits on all the principal
streets in the city.
The following communication giving the
consumers view OF the question was re-
ceived by the Observation-Disclosures last
evening:
II is gratifying TO read this morning that a
protest has been made against the petition of
the grocers TO restrain peddlers in the city.
And yet the protest itself does not 20 lar
enough. such retition as this OF the grocers
ought 10 be shown the door. It's legitimate to
do anything legitimate To get legitimate bust
ness. But trust IL will not be waSpish To init
mate that this is carrying the protect and patro-
nize home industry theories a little too far. II
there are thousand Crocers in the city it may
benefit some Of them 70 shut off outside com.
petition. But how about the other -, 900 of us?
For the consumer. who lives from half mile TO
two miles from the center OF business. it is
a blessing 10 have the fish man, the fruit dealer,
the vegetable vender call at the house with his
wares. One of the advantages of living in q
city is that the keen competition OF business re
suits in the soliciting agent and peddler visiting
the houses The baker calls at your house, sells
sud delivers his bread al one visit. You can buy
a great portion OF the necessarieS of life in
city without going off the premises should
not this be one of the privileges of city hIeP II
Is not found in a country -four corners"
where there is but single general store. There
the goods are not even delivered. II il is desir-
able to return to such primitive state OF bust
ness this move of the grocers is in precisely the
right direction. There are people be-
sides groeers here; besides redd!ers; be-
aides any particular class, but not be-
sides consumers. Cities are varied in the
kinds of business as people. Why prevent
man from earning an honest living Why force
him either 10 go out OF business or hire store
room9 II q buyer wishes 70 patronize particu-
lar storekeepes. 90 much the better for the
iradesman. II he prefers to have the buying of
the eatabies done by his wife az his own door,
yghv should he not have the privilege? The
motive Of stopping peddllng is 10 crowd out the
peddiers entirely; for II is believed that most OF
them cannot afford to opeu g store with q full
stock OF goods.
The next thing will be for the laundrymen TO
netition against the honest, hard working
woman's taking in washing
Aud then, petition against residents rails
ing his own vegetables.
And then, against fruit trees for growing fruit,
that the owner might prefer 10 purchase fruit
And then, against cows for giving milk that is
not sold by the diaries
And then. against the hens that lay eggs on
which the egg dealers get no commission.
Ana then, petition of the BARRIERS against
mans shaving himself
And 80 on till we shall long for the sight OF