The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-05
MARKET GARDENERS
MEET AND DECIDE TO PERMA-
NENTLY ORGANIZE.
Dfscuss . Plan OF Getting Their
Products TO the Outside
Market.

| In response to q call there was quite .
large meeting Of market gardeners held
yesterday morning In the city council
chamber.
There were probably 100 truck farmers
present and this was said to be but small
proportion Of those who supply Houston
with vegetables.
On motion Mr.. Theo. Hillendahl was
elected temporary chairman and H. T..
Sapp temporary secretary.
Mr.. ]. l.. Mattingly was introduced to
the meeting and explained the importance
Of establishing shipping point at Houston
for profitably disposing Of their products
He explained the best methods of packing
and shipping the different characters Of
get them to the most profitable market.
His remarks were listened to attentively
as opening up new field for the truck
gardening industry.
The question OF local taxation came up
and the following letter upon this score
to one OF the members was read:
Attorney Generals Office. Austin, Texas,
August 25. 1S97.--Dear Sir: In reply to your
letter Of recent date beg TO say that the
department has no Jurisdiction. but through
personal courtesy to you may say unof-
ficially that under the law of this State
county or municipal corporation has no
authority to levy an occupation or license
tax upon any person for pursuing any oc-
cupation unless such occupation has been
made subject to State occupation tax by
State law. Under the law as it now
stands and also under the bill passed by
tne special session of the Twenty fifth
legislature, persons selling poultry, vege-
tables or other country produce exclusively
truit and fruit trees exclusively. If raised
or produced by the vendor or his family.
are exempt from paying any occupation tax,
ana as general proposition the city would
have no authority to levy an occupation
TAX upon person engaged in the selling of
the commodities as above mentioned. How
ever, there might be some grant given to
the city OF Houston by a provision in Its
charter that would in some way affect
ms general rule. have not the charter
before me and am unable to decide this
point. Very truly yours,
John NJ King,
Office Assistant Attorney General
MT. Sapp said this applied to peddling on
the streets, but that the city of Houston
owned Its market house and square and had |
a right to charge for using space there |
lust as any owner of building would have |
q right to charge rent
on motion Of Mr.. Blackwell the follow |
ing committee was appointed to draw up n
SCI OF rules. constitution and bylaws and
nave the same ready for the next meeting
70 lake place next Saturday at 10 a. M. |
wneh permanent organization is to be per.
lected; j. G. Blackwell, Peter Janowski II
l. Sapp, j. a. Ramsey and b. R. Hill.
beiore adjoining Secretary Sapp urged
iaise meeting for next Saturday. He said
mat several years ago Houston consumed
al the truck the market gardens raised
me number of market gardeners had in
,reased more rapidly than the population
u houston and now there WA a surplus of
~ ouucl Out no way to get rid of IT, In
ms connection he regarded very fayorabIy
ne suggestions of Mr.. Mattingly.
Houstonians. he said, were accustomed
20 Doast OF the big market as one of Hous
.oh chlel attractions. True, said he, but
- :" NJ Mouiu come here to look at . big pile
d orlck and mortar? 1t is our products
mat make the market attractive peonio
'one 10 see the varied production of our
SOL. we have paid an immense revenue
. the city In the aggregate and what has
us CITY done FOR us In return? We asked
OF an awning around the square to protect
is from the sun and rain. but the reouest
las not been needed. We asked for lights
'ut are still in darkness. Anything. thew
ay, Is good enough fer market gardener
ina yet remove us from the market and
Shat would the market be?
Mr.. Hillendahl spoke of the aericrItrra,
omoines and trusts that were cr,Isbinc
ne iittle Fellows out and we NAV exnect
mem mere In course Of time said he
me piedge to attend the next meeting
vas generally signed and al adiournmon9
vas had TIL next Saturday for permanent
organization.