Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-18
They Decline to Bid for Space on
Haymarket Square.
RESOLVED TO STAY WHERE THEY ARE
Committee to Call on the Conn.,
missioners Tomorrow.
T H E C ASE IN COU R T

The farmers doing business at the Cen
ter market virtually informed the Commits
sioners this morning that they did not pro-
pose to move. This was understood by
their failure to submit bids for the rental
of stands in the wholesale market square.
When the farmers were notified to move
some time ago, an advertisement was in
serted in the newspapers inviting proposals
for the stands. The bids were to have been
opened the 18th instant, but fearing that
the farmers had not been given sufficient
time, the Commissioners extended the time
one week, and today at noon was appointed
as the time for opening the bids.
The big gong in the fire alarm office rang
forth the noon hour as Chief Clerk Lake
man of the proposal board walked up stairs.
AS is customary, he applied to Secretary
Tindall for the bids, but the latter, al
though he made diligent search, was unable
to find even a vestige of bid. He did find
a protest against moving the farmers, but,
of course, that was not wanted. Chief
Clerk Lakeman could not believe that no
one had submitted a bid, and he asked
Secretary Tindall If he was certain that
none had been received. Another search
uncarthed another petition praying the
Commissioners not to move the farmers,
but This was all the literature the secretary
could find bearing OH the market house
question.
Chief Clerk Lakeman inscribed on the
nice new schedule list, prepared with the
expectation that several hundred bids would
be received, mo bids received and then
retired to his office to prepare a file wrap
per, inclosing the notice sent out by the
Commissioners, together with his indorse-
ment. This will reach the Commissioners
about tomorrow, and then a board session
will be called to further consider the
matter.
The Commissioners respectfully declined
to be interviewed on the subject today, add
ing that 1t was a matter for the board to
consider and determine.
One or two farmers appeared about the
building during the day, but no one volun-
teered any Information concerning what
seemed to be the concerted action of the
farmers.
The Notice Removed.
The following notice. which was carefully
tackled to the office of the secretary, was
removed today:
Sealed proposals will be received at this
office until noon on Monday, November Is,
1895. to rent until December 81, 1895, rent
payable in advance stalls in the whole
as Haymarket square. A deposit of 25 per
cent of the amount of the bid must accom-
pany the offer as guaranty Of good faith
in case of the acceptance of the bid. The
Commissioners reserve the right to reject
any bid or all bids received. Specifications
may be obtained from the market master
of the wholesale market or at this office.
Each proposal must he inclosed in an en-
velopc and plainly addressed to The Com
mtsSioners of the District of Columbia and
marked Proposals to rent stalls in the
wholesale market ="
The Farmers Committee,
The committee of produce dealers, or more
properly speaking. of the farmers and
gardeners in Virginia, Maryland and the
District of Columbia, doing business at the
Center Market, appointed at Saturdays
mass meeting to walt on the District Com
missioners, will meet tomorrow afternoon
and proceed to business. They will ask the
Commissioners to revoke the order reauir-
ing persons occupying stalls under the shed
on the south side of the market and north
side of B street between It'll and 9th streets
northwest to remove tEerefrom.
The committee is composed of Messrs.
Barnabas Bryan, Bladen, Reeves, Boni-
FAINT Smith, G.lliss, Sherman, Rice and
Fields.
1t is probable that Mr.. B. Bryan of Ana
costa, d. c., who has taken a great in
terest in the matter, will be elected chair
man, and it is thought likely that Mr.. Hugh
Cosgrove Of this city will be invited to ac-
company the committee when they go to the
District building.
1t is also desired and steps will be taken
to have Congressman Wellington and Coffin
of Maryland and Meredith of Virginia ac-
company the committee, as many of the
constituents of each are directly concerned,
and WILL it Is claimed, be put to much Pc
cuniary loss if the order is enforced.
Mr.. Cosgrove said today that he thought
the committee ought not to make their visit
to the Commissioners until there Is dec,-
sion from the court that the Commissioners
have jurisdiction over the disputed terri
tory. Should the decision be against the
dealers it will still be in the power of the
Commissioners to suspend the execution of
the order of removal.
MIR. Washington Bonifant of Montgomery
county told Star reporter that he had &C.
cupied his present stand under the Center
Market and the building which preceded it
for more than half a century, and that If
he was compelled to remove therefrom it
would destroy a trade which had been ac-
cumulating during all those years.
Mr.. George G. Curtis of Prince Georges
county, Md, who is one of the largest
truckers in that county. said that If the
order of the Commissioners is carried out,
the effect so far as he is concerned, will
he to keep him from coming to the Wash.
ington market altogether, and that he will
be compelled to send all the produce he
raises to Baltimore.
The women, of whom there are many &C.
cupying stands in the disputed territory,
are even more earnest in their opposition
to the edict Of the Commissioners than are
the men.
All the persons interested who have been
talked with on the subject by a Star re-
porter said that If the Commissioners de-
sire to secure additional revenue from the
stands in question they are willing to pay
more rent than they now pay. All they
want is to remain where they are for the
transactiol of their business.
Should the court, which now has under
consideration the question whether or not
the Commissioners have jurisdiction over
the disputed territory, decide against the
Market Company, the holders of the stands
will, it is said, join with the Market Com
pany and ask for a writ to prevent the exc
cution of the order Of removal until after
the Court of Appeals, to which it is propos-
ed to take the case, If necessary, shall be
heard from on the subject.
The contention of the Market Company,
as stated by Mr.. Ordway, the president is
that the authority Of the company extends
to the middle OF street, and that the
Commissioners have no control whatever
over the space beneath the shed or from
the carbstone to the line in B street, as
oh I'M ed