The record-union., 1896-01-18
1t Finds Favor Among Members Of the
Merchants Association.
The Harbor Commission Will Extend
Such Aid as It Can.
addresses on the Subject by William
II. Mills and Others-A Movement
That Has for Its Object the Protec-
ton of Raisers of Produce Against
the Extortions of NiddIemen.

Ao'iSASCo IS 10 nave a Tree mar
Ket' says the Call" Of yesterday. At
least' so say w. Ell. Mills and a goodly
NUMBER more, and it looks as though
they would see their pet project through
TO successful outcome. The advo-
Gates of the idea had a chance to give
Tree vent to their views on the matter
at last nights special meeting of the
Trade and Finance Committee of the
Merchants Association. Despite the
tempestuous weather there was a good
attendance
Among those present were: A. Fuse
not, II. f. Osborne, w. Fl. Mills, K.
Melrose, j. w. Carmany, A. S. Bald
win, M. Adams and R. J. Frued, Sec
retary of the committee. NJ S. Kohl
berg, the committees President. occu-
pied the chair
Mr.. Mills was the first speaker of the
evening. He said he was well aware
that the opening of a free market
might work some little hardship to
| commission merchants. At the same
time, he said, he was not speaking for
or against anyone in the commission
business. He was looking to the good
of the producer and of the consumer
If he were considering some matter
bearing upon the public health he
would not consult the undertaken By
| the same rule of reasoning, when he
was celebrating upon a measure in
| tended for the benefit of the general
public he could not be expected to con-
suit those who make a living off the
needs of the same public.
"At present the consumer pays
price which, continued Mr. Mills, eff
| divided equally with the producer
would render the cultivation of land in
California worth while. The difficulty
at present is that the producer has no
voice in fixing the price of his products
The consumer, as well, is powerless 10
determine the rates at which ne must
procure food products which are re-
garded as necessaries. The fact is that
| the producer and consumer are un-
| able to come to any understanding.
| Between them stands a third party
anxious to buy at the lowest figure
and sell at the highest. That is the COM
mission merchants business, and no
one has a right to find fault with him
for it. But in any event both producer
and consumer have to live, while if
the middleman's business is taken from
him he will find something else to do.
Another point may be noticed when
we recollect that here in San Fran
cisco about $1,000 people live in hotels
and boarding houses. There are in the
city about $50 licensed restaurants, in
some Of the largest Of which as many
as $500 meals are served every day.
From hotels, boarding houses and res
! taurants come about 1,200 daily pur-
/ chasers, and heavy, constant purchas-
ers at that. If these large buyers could
purchase directly from the producer it
can easily be seen how expenses to
| both parties would be minimized This
| is really the great raison detre of a
| free market, and I am sure such an
! institution here in San Francisco would
be eminently successful.
| Now, our city has not, properly
speaking, market. All we have in the
market line at present are market
places occupied by commission mer-
chants, who perhaps have purchased
their wares from other commission
merchants in turn. In order to compre-
hend the bearing of this patent fact, we
must recollect that the greater the num-
Der of hands through which a staple ar
ticle of commerce has to pass the higher
its price invariably becomes. There is
no reason for us to ignore the fact that
cur present commercial methods are at
fault. I can think of no city where a
free market is so necessary as our own.
| "A free market will render small hold
ings of land desirable and lucrative to
heads of families; and once this state of
things is well established the problem of
the settling and colonizing Of the unin-
habited portions of our State will be
solved. How is it that in Mexico living
is so much easier and less expensive
than in the United States? Simply this:
Food products always have a market,
and the producer is constantly urged to
further production by the consumer,
with whom he deals directly day after
day.
"A free market here would be a con-
tinual fair. The best products Of the
State would be placed On exhibition by
men having an interest in disposing of
their very best wares. Such a market
here would be a magnificent ADVERTISE
ment for Californian products, and far
surpass any other establishment of the
kind in any other section of the Union.
Tt would also radically cure some grave
defects in our present commercial con-
dftions."
B. N. Rowley was of the opinion that,
while markets seemed to be a success in
some Eastern cities, notably Philadel
phia, they would not work here, the
manner of living in California being al
together different from that in vogue in
the Atlantic cities. He said he had
given the subject very little attention
from Mr. Mills point of view, and
thought that gentlemans plan a brill
liant one "if it would only work.
Mr.. Mills and Mr.. Rowley then en-
gagged in a discussion on the issue raised
by the last-named gentleman. Each of
the contestants seemed desirous of
holding his own in quiet, gentlemanly
way, when Mr.. Fusenot came to the
rescue in a very suave little speech,
which ended by his placing himself un-
equivocally on the side of Mr.. Mills.
Mr. Adams gave some strange illus
tration of sharp practice among COM
mission merchants of the city. He cited
one instance in which the commission
merchant sold at a high retail price.
crediting the consignor with a moderate
wholesale rate. He said he had the
names, and that considerations of deli
cacy alone prevented him from making
them public.
WHAT THE HARBOR COMMISSION
WILL DO.
The following communication from
President Colnon of the State Board Of
Harbor Commissioners was read by the
Secretary:
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. is, 1896.
T1s-lo,.d Ex,~o.,d T7cC CooTsoff a ny