The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-11-13

that citizens, Congressman, politicians, even
the Government itself. must need stop AMI
''nsten to this tale OF Woe" Now this tale
is a plaintiye and withal just one, mas
much as IL ronieS from the hearts of men
Whose Whole time and enc rgies re spent in
bcautieying the homes of the very PEG Die
who are the cause OF this injustice to them
AMI tbeii business interests. In other words,
tie wholesale distribution of cut flowers ay
agents OF the Government here In Washing
ton has grown To such large proportions as
u l,C "A matter OF very serious concern TO
evel, man engaged in horticulture.
4 Times reporter called on soIDc Of the
most prominent florists and asked Tor an
Individual expression of opinion as To this
practice. The CONSENSUS OF opinion is tnat
this distribution of flowers by the GOV
eItnent is a fragrant abuse OF authority
anG a grave in Justice to the florists.
Ma Guide, ina speaking on the sublat,
Said very earnestly that If the Gov I'm
mscIt woul,l 6onfine this abuse to the civ
ing ava flowers. he, for enc, would never
enter protest NOR utter word of re-
pruacli But. he explained, the real in
Justice and injury 10 florists lie in the
fac; that the industrial institute and the
refoII:, school both Government ins'itd-
ti.itS-fnake Il business of selling fL >r.rs
at half price, [ thus directly causing not only
atnuyance, but act ual loss If custom tn
the florists generally. lie commended that
this fact causes the florists to reduce The
wages of those in their service, thus
no inf. q
in the business, frpm the managers and
othe' office help e. the enand boz, end
even tie bands who wprk the fiawer-be'ls
WI ere the plant grown. When this as-
pee, of the case Is considered, one AN
see that IL IT, manifestly an injustice Tor
the Government To thus compete with
the fiOwet- gro wers. especially when the
fast that these very workingmen are .e
uuircd to pay the taxes that supply he
fuuds which Incorporated by CongresSto
make th!s distribution nf flCweTs possible.
Another prominent florist said that as
many as forty 10 firty boNes of cut flow crs
were daily distributed 10 persons wlo.
through political influence or other me ans,
were fortunate enough TO get their names
on the free list" and that a regular
delivery wagon was Kept busy delivering
these flowers. Ia fact. he continued,
there was no appropriation tuade by Con-
crasS authorizing the raising OF cut flowers
10y the Government. The appropriation
il for plants Go re raised and cultivated
for the purpose OF decorating and beauti-
fying the public parks IL Washington.
But. ia order 10 give employment 10
rayorsd few. and Ia make the service popu-
lai il, a way. and for Tho benefit OF those
who haSc a pun" with the Government,
s-----.s,-,.-5r 81 -ts- greenhouse pot plants
10 ha. r,,s.-1sSz-a
al extent. tiat the cultivation az gar.ten
plants has been very much interfered with,
AMI o. a result there are not enough plants
grown now with which la properly deco
rate IA, public parks and gardens.
As to the statement hat the flowers so
distributed by tie Government are given
t. hospitals and other Institutions, it was
stated br a wdl-Snown flUrist that, " hile
he did not keep a record, yet he w0..ld
venture TO sav that the number OF boxes If
flowers annually given by his house alone
To the ChildT.,fi's Hospital, the Home for
mcuraRes, the Cnttenton Mission and
other worthy causes would far exceed the
quantity and quality given by the Gov
eminent to these institutions, and that, if
this Tree dlSiri button was confined to
such institutions and not made TO indi
Viduals AT the expense OF the taxpa yers,
there could he no just ground for com
Idaint.
In 81 - kim OF the statement made by Col.
Bingham in yesterdays Evening Times, |
Mr.. J. r. Freeman said TO The Times
In The third pa ragraph OF Col. Bingham's
vou viii notice re claims only /
precedent set Icy Gen. Ba5cuck and others, |
but iatcf Oh he 81 - that under the law /
are entitled to plants nnd /
Flowers IN alphabetical order. What law? /
The florist hive asked for TINS Information
and have bern promised enhghtenm mt !
" heii found. tut they are still ignorant IF /
any such law. II Col Bingham viii kindly |
1istnbJte his favursiu Baltimore FOR awhile
the florists here viii sUaraute him livelier 1
time than any he has experienced here,
rot HcSl Baltimore florists possess voting
In conclusion, Col Bing-
ham make me too cOnspcBous. l was
ected 10 represent others AZ well as my
self To the best uf NV ability, ana | 1
regret yer. much the unnecessary modesty
u some OF InS feIlow-florists who, likely
eBnueh. have reason for not desiring to he
go much I'm evidence"