The evening times., 1895-11-22
FARMERS 1lDt PETI7IOH|
Committee IT maikstmen and a
Congressman Presented Il.
WELLINGTON NOT PRESENT
The Maryland Representative Again
Promised to Attend, But Broke His
Word-Short Preliminary Meeting
and Then the Delegation Went Be-
fore the District Com nmissioners.


and farmers appointed by their associates
to protest before the Commissioners gainst
the recent order compelling them to re-
move from B street met Congressman
Meredith of Virginia at the National Ho-
tel at noon today and after brief con-
sultation repaired with him to the Dis
trict building.
Representative Wellington of Maryland
had also promised to go with the COM
mittee before tue Commissioners and as
lite as yesterday afternoon q telegram
was received from him announcing that
he would be here this morning. After
waiting for nearly two hours the members
or the committee decided to go on with
out him.
Mr.. Wells A. Sherman OF Fairfax. Va,
had been selected to dra W up a suitable pc
utioD, and while that was being completed
this morning George g. Curtis and other
farmers interested sat at the Center Market
discussing the situation. Just before noon
they repaired to the National Hotel. where
Messrs. Meredith and Sherman awaited
them.
The paper prepa rcd by Mr.. Sherman was
then read. and met with the unanimous
approval of those present. II was subse-
quently signed by all OF the farmers.
= There were nearly half a dozen closely
written pages OF the petition. setting forth
distinctly the irreparab bic injury, 1t is said,
that would be done the countrymen by the
enforcement OF the order of the Commis-
sioners.
They were about to he deprived, the peti-
tion stated, of a right and privilege en-
joyed for at least three generations by one
or the protesting families For at least
100 years the farmers have had a pre-
scriptivc right in the space they are about
to be made TO vacate.
This extremely long period, 30 the petit
tionrrs oncciuded, should give them vested
have II. Their presence where they are. or
rather where they have been until re-
Gently. is q universal benefit.
DRAWN BY THE FARMERS.
Many people attracted by the fresh goods
OF the farmers come to the market when
they would otherwise stop al the butchers
shop aud at the dclicatessen store. The
market men inside the building, they said.
must profit by the customers drawn by the
farmers outside.
IL was Il profitable ella IS, too, they stated,
tlat came to tue market because OF their
presence. The wife OF one OF the Cabinet
officers Is a regular customer OF one OF
the occupants of B street. So are many
families of Senators and Representatives
among them.
The committee recognized the necessity
OF prohibiting the parking Of wagons on B
street. They would ask the Commission
ers to rigidly enforce an order preventing
the produce sellers from leaving their
wagons in the middle of the street. But
the wagons Of the farmers, as they have
been in the past and as the vast majority
seem to keep them. are So backed up to the
the curb on either side that four wagons
or carriages and two street cars can con-
yenientfy pass between them. 1t is the
mass OF empty vehicles between the curb
lining wagons that causes all the trouble,
they contended in the petition.
The petition was signed by retailers out
side the market aluue. Their names are:
Messrs. Wells A. Sherman. of Fairfax, Va;
Joseph Field, OF BaIistor, Va: Barnabas
Bryan. OF Anacostia; A. NJ. Smith. OF Mont
gomery county. Nd; George q. Curtis. of
Prince George county. Nd, and ]. W. LAWS,
of Prince George county. Nd
Mr.. Stabler. of Montgomery county, Nd,
went with the committee to represent the
interests of the hay raisers of his county.
BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS.
The party then proceeded to the Dis
trict Commissioners office, where the Pc
tiiion was read to the board and speeches
in support Of it were made by tue com
pittecmeD.
Representative Meredith spoke first.
He said he was accompanied by q com
mittee Of producers from the neighboripg
counties Of Washin gton who have been in
the habit Of coming in here for years and
selling their goods to the people.
Col. TruesdeIl said: Are these wholesale
OF retail dealers?"
They are retail dealers" was the reply.
They have been doing this for years. and
1t is an advantage to them in business
way. and, / believe, great convenience
to citizens here. 1t gives fresh. desirable
country produce. such as car be obtained
in no other way" He then introduced Mr..
Wells A. Sherman Of the committee.
Mr.. Sherman said the use of street could
be made entirely satisfactory to all with
out asking them to give up their business.
IF the parking of wagons and teams in