The age-herald., 1902-01-06
DRENNEN SAYS CITIZENS FAVOR THE FRUIT STANDS Discusses Action of Council in Refusing to Abolish
 Them HAS CANVASSED THE CITY Believes Fact That stands Have Gone Into Grocery Business in Small
 Way Is the Cause of
 Complaint.
HAS CANVASSED THE CITY

Mayor Drennen, in discussing the &C., stand question, said last night that he had made a canvass among citizens of the city and found that majority favor ed the continuance of the stands under certain restrictions
 These restrictions are that the stock of the stands be confined to fruit, nuts, etc., articles for which they are licensed and that they be kept within the space pre- scribed by city ordinance
 It is claimed by members of the Board of Aldermen that the action Saturday night was not directly upon the petition in the hands of a committee to present to the board and the committee was not present Saturday night.
 Drennen Took Action.
 Mayor Drennen was present at the meeting of the Commercial Club when the fruit stand question was acted upon and of his own accord instructed the license inspector not to issue licenses to own CTS of stands until the council had con- sidered the petition, which he knew would be presented. He asked that he be advised as to whether the instructions to the license inspector should be made final The matter only occupied the few closing minutes of the session and the roll was not called on the vote. One all derman said. however, the action Sat urday night would probably be repeated when the question of the Commercial Club was formally brought up. The pe- tition will be first referred to the miscel- laneous committee.
 When asked to express an opinion on the matter Mayor Drennen last night dic- tated the following statement at the Southern Club:
 Mayor Drennen's Statement. T have made rather thorough can vass among the citizens of the city. and | find they are very much divided in their l opinion in regard to a portion of the side | walks being used for the conduct of fruit stands. Some citizens believe they should remain and be run as at present. Others believe they should not be allowed to oc- cupy any portion of the sidewalks. Still | others, composing the great majority, fa- I vor the stands occupying the sidewalks. but believe they should be limited to a | certain space and their business confined | strictly to fruits and nuts.
 For the past few years these stands have encroached on the space allotted to them. Not only have they occupied more of the sidewalks than they were entitled to, but they have not been satisfied to carry on fruit business. Rather. they have virtually opened up a retail grocery store in a small way, carrying a stock varying from $2OO to $500.
 What Has Caused Complaint. "I am of the opinion that these in- Judgements in the way of space occupied and interfering with the retail grocery trade has caused the dissatisfaction that now prevails. At one time every fruit stand was driven from the sidewalks, but they were not forced away for any length of time, as 1t seemed the people of the city had become so accustomed to making these small purchases at any time that they felt a hardship had been imposed upon them by the abolition of the stands"
 Further than this Mayor Drennen said nothing, other than that he believed, of course, in allowing the majority of cit izens to rule in this matter as in all other things.
 Little Known About Dead Man,