Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-18
WANT CHANGE MADE
GRoCERS APPEAL FOR REPEAL
OF STATED EXEMPTIONS.

At meeting of the Retail Grocers Pro-
tective Association.( held Wednesday even
ing. a resolution was adopted and forward
ed to the District Commissioners for record,
which sets forth that by provisions of sec
ton ) of article 81 of the existing police
regulations of the District of Columbia
owners or occupants of stores on business
streets or avenues may the space out
side the front thereof to the extent of three
feet from the building line for the display
of goods, wares and merchandise directly
connected with the business transacted
within their stores. with the proviso that
no meat. fish or fowl shall be so displayed.
except that game and poultry may be be-
tween November l and April Of each year.
1t is also declared that for reasons that
are not known or apparent an exception is
made from the operatiO of said section D
in favor of the owners or occupants of
stores places of business on Louisiana
avenue between 9th and 10th streets and B
street between 9th and 10th streets north
west who are permitted to display meats
and provisions in front of their stores or
places of business practically without limit;
and that In consequence of the exception
named owners or their tenants of property
on the south side of Louisiana avenue be-
tween 9Th and 10th streets. particularly the
corner of 9th street are occupying a large
part of the sidewalk for IN" pr"n>eH of
exposing provisions for SALE including
meas and otter artcics OF .v,>. p,s,
susceptible to climatic conditions and rapid
decay and to the absorption of dust and
dirt.
Alleged Increase in Rent.
Further. that the owners of property or
some of it, are charging very high rentals
to their tenants, which rentals are based
in large part upon the permisSive use of
the sidewalks as aforesaid.
The resolution declares that the exception
of the If
stores or places of business on the squares
indicated above is a discrimination in their
favor for which. no valid reason or excuse
exists, and that the health of consumers
of the provisions as aforesaid exposed
for sale at the places indicated above is
JeopardZed. particularly in hot and dusty
weather: and that the public having occa-
sion to use the sidewalk on those squares
excepted from the provisions of the afore
said section : of the police regulations is
Gbstructed and embarrassed.
And We do hereby protest against the
further continuance in force of the excep-
ton from the operation of section of the
police regulations, the resolutions further
declare. and the officers of this assoca-
ton are directed to communicate the pas
sage and the contents of this resolution to
the District Commissioners forthwith and
to take such other steps as to them may
seem mete and proper to bring about re-
peal al the aforesaid exception to section )
of the police regulations.
Referred to Col Biddle
When the resolutions were received at
the District building they were referred to
Engineer Commissioner Biddle for a re-
port upon which the board of Commission
ers will base their action. The point
brought out by the retail grocers is not
new one. This so-called discrimina ton has
been brought to the attention of the Com
miSsioners on several previous occasions.
IL Is explained that the business houses
Louisiana referred n in ha
resolutions are considered an adjunct
TO the market and therefore given the
benefits and privileges OF the latter. 1t
is also explained that the width of the
pavement in front of the houses on Lou
siana avenue is of sufficient width to al |
low more space for private occupancy |
which space could not allowed in the
other sections of the city where the pave
ments are much narrower. However. the |
Commissioners will give the matter due |
consideration before finally disposng of it. |