The morning times., 1896-05-28
PLEL FOR THE farmers
Mr.. Shannon's Report on the
Market Dispute Printed. q
VESTED RIGHT VIOLATED
House Committee Found That No One
But the District Commissioners
Want the Recent Order Enforced
Farmers Market IL Convenience to
Citizens ana Themselves.

One OF the most interesting reports
presented at this session Is that OF Mr..
shannon, from the House District Com
mittee, relative TO preventing the re-
moval OF the truck farmers and gardeners
from the south side OF Center Market.
1t is found upon investigation that nearly
every housekeeper in this city is favorable
to the retention of these handlers OF
country produce in the place they have
so long occupied, and their removal, If
1t ever occurs, will raise remarkable
storm of protest and Indignation.
The original order OF removal was sent
to Superintendent of Police Moore by
Secretary Tindail ON November 2 last.
and was as follows:
The Commissioners direct rae to instruct
you To prevent the occupancy, by market
wagons or stands OF produce dealers, OF any
portion of the sidewalk or roadway on
the north side OF street north, between
Seventh and Ninth streets west, except
so long as such occupancy may be necessary
for ordinary use"
MR. SHANNON'S ARGUMENT
In commenting on this order Mr.. Shan
non says:
Testimony given before your commit
tee showed clearly that it had been the
custom for nearly the whole OF the pres
ent century to permit the small Farmers
and gardeners to sell produce OF their
own raising at this place. This privilege
they had enjoyed without molestation down
to the time when the Commissioners issued
their peremptory order Of eviction, No
yember 2, 1S95
THE patrous of the Center Market had
certainly not complained On the con-
trary. they came promptly and enthusiast
caly TO the support OF the farmers aud
presented numerous petitions TO the Com
missioners, signed by l, 300 to 1000
ladies and gentlemen of the city, begging
that these worthy people might be al
lowed to remain in undisturbe d possession
OF their old-time privilege, declaring that
any other arrangement would greatly in
commode the patrons of the market, the
stall holders of Center Market, as well as
hundreds of small farmers and gardeners,
who, by the forcible removal threatened,
would be sepa rated from their customers.
THE Commissioners in their report also
make reference to the fact that street,
between Seventh and Ninth streets. was
little used formerly as thoroughfare, aud
Intimate that with the lines OF street rail
way now running through it there is a CON
gestion Of traffic at hines by reason Of the
large gathering OF shall farmers and gar
derners at that point.
NO TRAFFIC CONGESTION.
Three are three market days 10 the
week-Tuesday. Thursday, aud Saturday
and your committee have taken special
pains to visit the locality OH those days and
note the condition OF traffic. Everything
appeared to be orderly. There was 40 cen
ges,iou'' or teaffie. in the sense in which
that term is ordinarily used. In fact there
is little or 40 general traffic passing there
No one visits the LEGALITY except TO attend
the ma rket and are customers there; and
by II O'Clock in the forenoon street
north. between Seventh and Ninth. IS
practically clear-one might say almost
free from traffic.
1T was but natural that the Washing
ton Market Compnay should dispute the
right of the Commissioners to Interfere III
this way TO oyerturn condition OF affairs
that had existed so long on street north.
to the manifest advantage OF all parties
interested, and so prejudlciai to the sue
cess OF their own business. The COMPANY
therefore took legal steps to restrain the
Commissioners from carrying out their
purpose to forcihly remove the farmers
A temporary restraining order was granted,
and the case is still to be heard.
DRAWN FROM THE HEARING.
'As numerously sigued petitions by the
patrons of the market and the small farmers
and gardeners had been presented to the
~
ofremoval and as the commissioners in their
report made little reference to these peti-
tions, your committee thought it advisable
to give the farmers a special hearing, at
which they might freely express their SEN
timents iu regard to the matter.
"seventy-five persons OF both sexes at
tended the hearing, and for over an hour
many of them eagerly availed themselves
of the opportunity to give their testimony
as to the old-time privilege they had so long
enjoyed, and to protest against the attempt
made by the Commissioners to deprive them
Of it.
"A fter the most ca areful consideration OF
the sub bject your committeeare ofthe opinion
that ttheproposeda dactiOnofthe Commissioners
in ordering the removal of the small farmers
and gardeners from the place where they
have been so long and SO satisfactorily
serving their patrons, and with so much
advantage to themselves, is not only unjust,
but very lmpoitic and ill-advised; and your
committee, therefore, unanimously recon-
| mend, as a solution of the whole matter,
the adoption OF the accompanying joint
resolution for the relief of farmers, gar
| deners and truckmen selling produce OF their
own raising in the markets of Washington,
District of Columbia -
The accompanying resolution is that
introduced by Mr.. Shannon, and heretofore
printed in The Times. providing for the
continued occupancy of B street under
certain regulations and restrictions.
-
Fatal Tannery Fire.