New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-01
FOR THE REPEAL or CITY ORDINANCES.
MERCHANTS COMPLAIN THAT THOSE REGARD
ING SIDEWALK INCUMBRANCEs ARE MADE
on YE-EXTORTIONS BY TIE POLICE.

petition to the Mayor. asking him to take &C.
ton toward securing the repeal or amendment of
existing city ordinances regarding membranes on
the sidewalks and streets has been for some time
past in circulation among merchants and store
keepers These citizens complain that the present
ordinances inadequate. and are enforced with
unjust discrimination. which subjects them to an
moving espionage and compels them to submit
TO unlawful expense to secure immunity from in
reference That part Of the city lying between
Sxteenth-st and the Battery and extending from
the East to the Hudson River has already been
canvassed. Many names OF firms ana individuals
representing business capital OF about s7'OVp"O
have been affixed to the petition. which VIII be
presented to the Mayor in a few days
The present ordinances provide that no wares
merchandise or other articles shall be placed on
the sidewalks at greater distance than three leet
from the building line under a penalty OF - day
for each days offence" Violations OF the ordl-
nances are frequent and persistent. and, 1t is al
legged, are tolerated by the police only when the
violators pay a special and private tax for exemp-
ton from enforcement Of the ordinances, or When
they are members Of the Tammany organization
or have sufficient pull with that organization
to secure such exemption. This levying oil spe-
cal and private is alleged. also. to extend TO
the pushcarts of vendors. whose licenses permit
IN, m to remain only ten minutes in one place. The
owners. however. by paying an average amount sot
about 81 day for each pushcari 1t Is alleged an
addition their regular license fees. are permitted
to occupy one place indefinitely. although If they are
members of n so-caIled "syndcate' of pushcart
owners who are Tammany workers and "heeiers.
10 tax is exacted from them beyond the lawful
license fee
As proof Of the fragrant manner IN when the
ordinances are persisently violated. merchants OF
South-st. call attention 10 the monopoly oil the
sidewalk at many points by the wares or Junk
shops which render the sidewalk almost impass-
able. In the same street, above Peck-sHp, a
dealer in boats has boat about thirty feet long
mounted on a heavy truck. which is said 10 have
stood in front Of his store for five years despite
frequent complaints from his neghbors. The boat
has the dealers name painted on il in conspicuous
letters az an advertisement. The truck has no
license number on it, and its owner. II is said. has
no horse Similar conditions prevail in other parts
of the city.
1t is said that policemen in citizens dress are
continually going about the streets and markets
unlawfully exactng money from merchants store
Keepers vendors. etc. Tor the privilege OF evading
ordinances Sometimes in the enforcement OF the
ordinances men who refuse to be unawfully
levied upon are summary arrested at unseemly
hours, without warrants and are fined In the pcttN
courts The many complaints OF the merchants
and storekeeperS seem to make II evident that, as
many of them assert THE present ordinances are
| used as q club TO drive people into the Tainmany
| organization