Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-21
A COMPLAINT OF THE FLORISTS.
They Object to Composition From the Reform
School and the Ind ustrial Home School.

They Object to Competition From the Reform
School and the Ind ustrial Home School.
The florists of the District, a. represented by
the Washington Florists' Club. took action at Q
meeting held last week in relation to what they
claim Is a great wrong committed against them
by the trustees OF the District Reform School.
and also by the authorities in charge Of the
Industrial Home School The matter of which
the florists complain is the selling Of the cut
flowers and ported plants raised by the inmates
Of these two ms titutions at what they term cut
prices, thus, as they claim, greatly injuring the
business of the men who are taxed to supper.
the institution.
At the meeting of the club held few days
ago a committee Of six was appointed to wait
upon the trustees of the two Institutions for
the purpose Of stating their grievance and ask
ing q redress of the same. The committee
was composed of Thomas Field, William H.
King aud Robert Bowdler, representing the
growers, and A. Guide, E. Miller and c. F.
Hale, representing the retailers. conference
will be held with the trustees Of the two schools
at the first opportunity.
Speaking Of the matter to STAR reporter
today. Mr.. C. F. Hale stated that the florists
felt tina: the action Of the authorities worked
most injuriously against them and that 1t was
most unfair. Competition in their business was
yearly growing kesner, prices were falling and
consequently their profits were becoming
smaller. The schools we're at little. if
any, expense, and they were thereby
enabled to sell at prices which could
not be touched by the growers and retailers.
While the florists believed that the boys
should be taught useful trades and occupations,
they were confident that it practically i'm
possible to teach them Horticulture with the
limited means at the command of either insti-
tuition. They also took the position that the
authorities Of the two schools were putting
what is practically pauper labor in the field
against them, which could in no way be justified
For these reasons they felt compelled to OBJ
to prevent q continuance Of the practice.
WHAT PRESIDENT FALLS SAYS.
President A. J. Falls Of the board of trustees
Of the reform school explained that the school
had been raising and selling plants and flowers
for the past fifteen years without serious OBJ
lection on the part Of the florists. I'VE are
required by law" he stated. ito teach the boys
useful trades and occupations, and are required
by law to deposit all receipts received from their
labors in the United States treasury. We have
invariably endeavored not to undersell. but
to obtain the prevailing market prices.
We have probably never sold more than $500
or $500 worth OF our products in any one year.
and have had but one purpose-the covering
OF our legitimate expenses incurred in teaching
the boys what we believe is a most useful and
valuable occupation. The boys could not well
be kept idle. even did not Congress say that We
should teach them useful and valuable trades
and occupations We have no desire to injure
the business of any citizen. and at the next
meeting of the board. which will be he'd in a
few days, the committee from the florists will
be fully heard and their complaint carefully
considered"