Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-17
THE FLORISTS PROTEST
Claim That Distribution of Cut Flowers by
Government is Prohibited.
Letters Addressed to Public officials
Manufacture of Paper Boxes.

A meeting was held by = number of
florists at the Hotel Johnston last even
ing. called by James r. Freeman, to pro-
test against the distribution of cut flow
ers by the government officials, which. the
florists claim, is extremely detrimental to
thei- business.
1t was stated at the meeting that last
fall at least $4,000 chrysanthemums were
given out by the Department of Agricul-
ture. and that they could not have been
given to members of Congress alone, as
they were out of the city.
The florists made point of the inferior
appearance of the public gardens and
grounds. They claimed that were the sums
! annually expended in rearing expensive cut
flowers to be given away devoted to the
use intended by law, and only such plants
and flowers cultivated would be suited
for the Crnamentation of public parks, the
government reservations in Washington
would be the handsomest in the world.
A law was read at the meeting which, it
was stated, prohibited the gift of any such
products by the superintendent of public
buildings and grounds.
The florists declared that any of them
would supply the decorations for the pub
lie functions held during the winter at one
tenth the cost required to maintain the spe-
penses of labor and stock required for cut
flowers for the White House.
RuinOus Competition.
Complaint was also made at the meeting
that the Industrial Home School and other
similar institutions afford serious COMPETE
ton against the florists. At the Industrial.
School potted plants are raised and mar
keted, while the Reform School makes
specially of raising Easter lilies ard selling
them at 0ne-half the price which can be af-
forded by regular dealers. Last year this
IN (alt ir,nnr md
Fiiladelphia.
representative of the paper box manu-
facturers of the District was present. He
Claimed that the manufacturers whom he
re presented had been almost driven from
the business by the competition of the re-
form school box-making plant.
After consultation. letters were drawn up
Dy the florists, signed by them and adj
dressed tc the superintendent of public
buildings and grounds and the superin-
teIdeh Of charities.
Text of the Comm unicatfon.
The letters were as follows:
To the Superintendent of Public Buildings
and Grounds:
We, the undersigned florists of the Dis
trict OF Columbia, at special meeting
called for the purpose, most respectfully
protest against the present system of free
distribution by your department of cut
flowers and other products of the propagate
grounds.
We look upon such distribution as IL
legal, i'll addition to being a source of great
injury to cur business. ard we are hopeful
OF hndlng some way of stopping the prac-
tice- We hope The calling of your at
tention to this matter will he sufficient to
justify you in taking strict measures to-
ward the desired result
To the Superintendent of Charities:
We, the undersigned florists of the Dis
trict OF Columbia, most respectfully pro-
test against the present practice of the
Reform School and Industrial Home School
In Offering plants and blooms for sale in the
open market in direct competition with
and to the great detriment of our bust
ness II IL rs not deemed advisable 70 dis
continue the production of plants and flow
ers, then We respectfully suggest that the
plants produced at these institutions be
utilized for the purpose of identifying the
grounds surrounding public schools, engine
houses, police stations, hospitals and other
District institutions which, instead of being
detriment to our business would tend
to educate school children and others in
the love for plants and flowers and thereby
create a legitimate demand for such pro-
ducts Trusting you will take such ac-
ton as Will relieve us from our present
strain. We remain. etc.
Receives Signatures.
The letters were signed by Chairman
James r. Freeman. William F. Guide pres
ident Society of American Florists; ]. Louis
Loose, Nicholas Studer. Albert Esch, Rob-
ert Bowdler, Adolf GUIDE, Charles F. Hale
and John H. Shine.
1t was agreed that further steps would
not be taken until after receipt of REPLIES
from the communications. 1t was stated
however, that If found necessary to resort
to protection an Injunction would be de-
manded to prevent the violation of the
Statute mentioned before