The morning times., 1897-01-14
Commissioners Reject a Resolu-
tion for the Relief Of Farmers.
CALL IT. A SUBTERFUGE
They Regard 1t as OF More Conse-
uuence TO the Market Company
Than to the Dealers-A "SINllfully
Devised" asaas"-a-Gen. Birney's
Comment.


the relief of farmers and truckmen in the
city of Washington as noted in the Even
ing Times, and submitted substitute
resolution, which they regard as better
calculated to subserye the public interests.
They are severe on the original resoiu-
tion, and express their disapprobation at
considerable length.
This measure the Commissioners say,
"appears to be of more Importance to the
Washington Market Company than TO the
farmers and truckmen, whom it processes
to protect.
A Mere SubteTfuge.
aUnder the guise or relieving the farm
ers from an order of the Commissioners TO
vacate the stands adjacent to the market
building on b street northwest, it will, in
the opinion of the attorney for the Dis
trict, concurred in by the Commissioners,
should IL become law, grant to said
company an enlargement of its franchise
by placing the sidewalk and fifteen feet
of the carriageway of b street under the
complete supervision of the Market Com
pany.
should the decision In the case be-
tween the company and the Commission
crs, now pending in the Supreme Court, be
adverse to the Market Company, it will
still, by the skillfully devised resolution,
should it be enacted, gain control OF the
sidewalk and fifteen feet of the car
riageway, while should the decision
favor the claim of the COM
pany as to the north line of b street, it
would not only gain all that it is contend
ing for in court, but the width of the new
sidewalk, and fifteen feet additional OF
the remaining carriage way"
The Commissioners add that the order
referred to, that for the removal of the
stands from the curb and other public
spaces adjoining the market to the
wholesale market space, was issued at the
urgent solicitation of large number of
farmers.
The Metropolitan Tracks.
They describe the effort of the company
to be an encroachment upon an important
thoroughfare, already occupied by two
railway companies, to an extent that
would seriously inconvenience the public
and possibly result in the removal OF the
Metropolitan tracks
In the opinion Of the Commissioners, the
Senate committee was ''misled'' by some
body, else the resolution could not have
received the approval of the committee
They regret that they had no opportunity
to expose the Objectionable features of
the measure, and assert that they never
saw copy of the resolution until after
it had been adopted by the Senate.
Pursuing the subject, the Commissioners
say 'the effort to revive an Old and
obsolete city ordinance, passed years
ago, when the Center Market was public
market, and to confer upon the clerk Of
a private company the powers formerly
exercised by an official OF tie munich
pality, would be very detrimental TO the
public interests
The Commissioners are Of the opinion
that if a considerable part of B street
is to be turnedover to the market company,
it should be done eunderstandingly, and not
under an act apparently intended for the
sole purpose of protecting the farmers.
Submit Substitute.
joint resolution drawn by Attorney
Thomas, which, the Commissioners say,
will subseryc the public interests, Is sub
nitted for enactment in lieu OF tile one
introduced by the Market Company. Under
its provisions the Commissioners are au-
tlCrized to divide the north side OF B
street, between Seventh and Ninth stress,
into market spaces which may be rented
to farmers and truckers at small cost, the
District to receive the rental.
copy of the attorneys opinion upon
the subject, and also of the letter received
by the Commissioners from Gen. Birney
the company's counsel, declining to en-
tertain a substitute measure submitted
to him, accompany the report. The com
ment of the Commissioners is throughout
quite as severe as the language above
quoted.
Gen. Birney's Opinion.
Gen. William Birney, counsel for the
market company, characterized the report
as the most remarkable document he had
ever read.
Tie Commissioners substitute, he said,
is one that would give them control abso-
lutely of the south front of the market
house, under which they might close up
every door on that side, Close the avenues
of egress for the butchers and others,
regulate the sales and prescribe what shal
be sold.
In short, he said, power is given to the
Commissioners to close up "a large part u
the market house and in effect give then
control of the balance.