Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-01
THE DISTRICT SEALER
Mr.. Haskell's Annual Report
of Operations.
THE MARKET RECEIPTS
comnEHY oA TROUBLE WITH Al
LlEED soUATTERs.
Change Recommended in Law Govern
ing Inspection of Flour-Alleged
Underweight Packages.
THE MARKET RECEIPTS

Mr.. w. c. Haskell sealer of weights and
| measures TOR the District. has submitted to
| the Commissioners his report OF the opera
tons OF his office during the fiscal year
| ended June 30. last. Among other things
| the report shows that the receipts OF the
| Office exceeded the expenses by $l.1So.7O.
Notwithstanding the fact that the fees Tor
the inspection of spring balances were re-
| duced last year 20 per cent. thus decreas-
| ing the amount collected for such inspec-
| tons about $780,
The report also shows that the receipts
at the various markets during the year
| were as follows: Eastern. $3.476; Western
$5.596.25: Georgetown, $1OOl; wholesale
Producers Market, 81. o26.71.
| Mr.. Haskell states that In the canvas OF
the District in the inspection and selling OF
| scales, weights and measures. the officials
| OF the office find that while improved con-
ditions obtain, activity and diligence are
necessary to cope with the many ingenious
methods resOrted to in an attempt on the
part of some dealers to deceive and defraud
| the public. Special reports In fifty-three'
cases of violation Of the law were made
| and the greater number Of these cases were
successfully prosecuted In the Police Court
Burden of Complaint.
THE use of berry baskets as measures for
| beans, tomatoes, ETC.. in the market, and
| by hucksters on the streets, has very often
been the burden OF complaint" says Mr.
| Haskell. Every effort made to break
up this Illegal custom without prosecution
and the dealers were notified verbally from
Iime to time that such use was In viola
| ton of the law. Little attention was paid,
however. to our repeated efforts to regulate
| this. and the dealers were again officially
notified. in writing. reasonable amount
| of time was allowed them in which to equip
] their stands with proper measures and to
| requirements W. A
| case was made against a dealer. and
| jury trial demarded by him. which post
poned further trial until fall, and the case
| IS still pending. While it is true that d
| very large number of these baskets do hold
| standard measure when manufactured and
sold. their construction Is such that they
are easily manipulated SO that short meas
| ure is given. "A large number of what is
! known to the trade shorts are in the
market for sale, but their use is strictly
| prohibited. and prosecutions follow their
| use.
complaints continue to come in relative
| to short measure Oil and gasoline and ev-
cry effort possible, with the facilities at
hand, has been made to prevent such sale.
\ few prosecutions have followed. and in
| some instances the drivers Of the wagons
| have been discharged upon a report from
| this office that they had been caught de-
| livering short measure. Legislation should
| be secured which will empower the Com
| missioners OF the district of Columbia with
| authority to regulate the sale of oils and
The Several Markets
| In commenting on the condition of the
| various markets, Mr.. Haskell says:
The markets are in a better condition
| than heretofore and with the exception of
| the Georgetown market have been occupied
I to their capacity. improvements have been
made insofar as the appropria ton for
| care and repair Of same would permit.
More extensive repairs and improvements
n irh ha do
year. In the Eastern market modern
| plumbing is to replace the old. Some paint
| ing and changes In the stands are contem-
| plated.
I'm the Western market it will be neces-
| sary to renew the foundations to few of
| the stands and the cement floors should
| be extended about the stands to keep the
water from running under the floor, there
| by causing dampness and an unsanitary
| condition.
The Georgetown market needs some mi
| nor repairs to the plumbing also some
painting. 1t is regrettable that this mar
ket does not pay the expenses incurred in
keeping 1t open to the public. The opinion
seems general that the present unsatisfac-
| tory condition, as to lack of occupants
and trade. Is due to the absence of the
| farmers and their fresh produce from the
country
From personal observation am of the
| opinion also that IL the farmers and garden
| ers were allowed to occupy space at the
market the patronage would be. in a meas
u.
| line are before the Commissioners for con-
| sideration.
| ITO relieve congestion on NJ street this
privilege is granted to the farmers, pro-
visions have been made for parking the
| horses on the East Market space and nro-
viding further that the shafts or poles of
| the wagons must be fastened up on a line
with the front OF the wagon We bona -
present better report for the Georpetown
market next year. 1 consider the conditfon
or the Eastern and Western markets very
fair. indeed, and with the amount made
available by the appropriation for the fiscaI
| year 1905, we hope to make such imnrove
| ments as will place them on an eouai foot
| ing with those Of other cities''
The Alleged "Squatters.
Mr.. Haskell makes the following COM
| ment in connection with the difficulties the
authorities have experienced with the so
| called "squatters:'
| THE territory on the south side of
street northwest, and on the north side ~
B street between 10th and 18th streets and
! on the south side of Little B street cot
| apart by the Commissioners under anthor;tn
of Congress for the use of bona fide farmers
and gardeners and licensed hucksters. will
accommodate 90 teams. and unless 1t is
very crowded market (Which will mot ex
coed thirty days in the Year,. there Is snaca
| sufficient for all legitimate for onS
gardeners and licensed hucksters. Until re-
| Gently the space so set apart was in a
measure occupied by unlicensed nersnrs
who had no right on the premises. and who
crowded into and held places next to the
curb and sold produce that they boueht
elsewhere. In consequence the farmers whose
| right it is to occupy this space. were crowd.
| ed out, and in some cases they have heen
obliged to throw their produce away he
cause they could not get space at the mar
| ket on which, to sell.
Legitimate Farmers Rights.
These hucksters. or so-called .suuatters.,
take advantage OF the legitimate farmer. oc-
cupying space allotted to the latter. and it
Is necessary'to discriminate against them
as In many cases they sell inferior products
Hucksters have their rights and privileges
| b street for their market purposes after
they have secured the necessary license to
permit them to DO business in the District
and they will be as fully protected then in
! their rights as areQthe farmers and garden
| ers. After many continuances Of casas
brought for violation of the occupancy of
space set aside for farmers and gardeners
without permit. conviction was had and
continued enforcement of the law has re-
| ditions at this market The nurchosf,rx