The evening times., 1895-11-14

In response to the call issued yesterday
for meeting Of the market men and women
who occupy stands on B street, in front
of Center market, large number were in
attendance this afternoon.
1t might almost be said that the lame,
the halt, the blind, and aged also were
at the meeting. They were fighting against
the Commissioners of the District and, as
they believe, for their own subsistence.
Men and women on whose heads the snowy
imprint of time was plainly To be seen made
their feeble protests.
The meeting was held In the main hall of
the market house. and long before the time
for the assembling OF the men in charge of
it, the venders of farm pro ducts began to
troop in. Some were even shtyering from
the cold in the hall and one old woman who
might have been kissed by Lafayette dur
ing his triunlphal tour of the United States,
had the rheumatics so bad that she had to
be aided up the stairs. As one of the men
said, what would become of the Old and
infirm dealers IL they were compelled to
go and stand in the wind, rain and cold
upon the vacant lot which bears the official
designation of "a hay market? There Is abb
solutely nothing TO protect them from the
wintry winds, or the sultry rays of old Sol
in the summer"
Many OF the people who occupy the places
by the market say that they would much
rather pay q small rental to the inarketcom-
pany. They say they are not paupers and
would rather pay for the space than have 1t
given to them.
A poor aid woman whose stand is near
the corner of Ninth street said that the
people who occupy the sidewalk stands
wanted to pay Tor the privilege. They
made dirt, she said, and the market people
had to pay some one to clean 1t up. Au-
other reason they want to pay for the
stands is because some OF the Farmers
come in over night and special watch.
man must be employed to watch their
produce.
In some instances a dealer will bring In
a wagon load of produce on Friday night
for the Saturday market day, and then
leave hts produce on the sidewalk and re-
turn home for more. The produce dealers
declare that it is absolutely essential to
have 4 watchman.
The rentals asked by the market COM
pany, they said, were not extortionate.
Fifteen cents wagon was charged on
every day but Saturday, when the price
advances to 20 cents.
AIDED THE OUTSIDERS.
A large number of the stallholders in
side the market building were present and
aided the outsiders" in their fight. They
say they have no objection TO the sidewalk
merchants, and much prefer that they be
allowed to remain.
The meeting was called to order by Wash
ington Bonifant, who suggested that George
G. Curtis, of Prince Georges County, be
elected temporary chairman. He was
elected chairman unanimously. u. V.
White, of Twining City, was elected sec
retary.
The chairman, Mr.. Curtis. then briefly
stated the object of the meeting. and during
his remarks said that the market-men and
farmers thought that the Commissioners
were placing great hardship on the women
and men to take their stands and make them
move out into the open air. He dweit
on the fact that some of the women de-
pended upon their selling farm produce.
B. Bryan, OF Anacostia, then arose and
made a most impassioned speech against
the action of the Commissioners. He said
lie wrote them letter asking that they
revoke the order. He dwelt on the hard
SLIPS on the women, and told the Commits
sioners that he believed deaths would re-
suit from the exposure Incidental to the
selling OF produce, and that they the Com
missioners would be responsible for the
deaths.
The secretary of the Commissioners. in
a very polite note, Informed Mr.. Bryan that
in view of the order having been already
issued. the Commissioners saw no reason
to revoke it. Mr.. Bryan stated that he would
not suffer so much as others, but that some
would be driven to starvation. Mr.. Bryan's
talk brought forth tumultous applause.
the next speaker was business man,
Mr.. ii. Cosgroye. who rOa sted the Comlnis-
sioners. and told the people not to obey the
order.
You people own more OF B street than
the Commissioners do. You pay the
taxes. The street is not a thorOughfare. and
is not blocked up by you people. 1t is IN
poor people to a wilderness to sell their
produce. l have Just come from the place
where they want to put you, and it is six
inches in mud"
"a voicc)-'.And it will be sixteen in a
few days.
SEE THEIR CONGREsSMEN.
"Gentlemen from Maryland and Vir-
ginia you must see your Representatives In
Congress and tell them TO tell the Commits
siopers TO allow you to remain where you
are II seems to me the Commissioners are
irving to drive you away to spite the market
company. For what reason they are sore
on the company l am unable to say but
there is something behind this recent move
of the men WHO run the District ofColumbla
TO suit themselves and their friends"
Gen. n. Il. Ordway. president of the mar