The Washington herald., 1907-01-29

! The revenues accruing to the commits
/ sion merchants on Louisiana avenue, be-
tween Ninth and Tenth streets. by the
alleged renting Of public space viii III
the future revert to the District. accord
/ ing to a statement of Commissioner Mac
farland, at the conclusion of a hearing
yesterday on the question of the special
/ privileges extended to those merchants.
/ More than 100 representative business
men were in attendance, and various views
were expressed regarding the provision
Of the police regulation, which permits
the exposure Of meat fish, and fowl on
stands on Louisiana avenue and street
between Ninth and Tenth streets, and
prohibits the same in all other sections of
the city, except that game and poultry
may be displayed in front Of stores be
tween November and April ].
c. T. Digs, attorney for the Retail
Grocers' Association. which, he stated,
is composed of eco members. declared
that the extension of such privileges TO
Louisiana avenue merchants is an in
justice class legislation. and results in
financial injury to merchants not IN the
favored locality
This view was taken also by J. T. D.
Pyles of 94S Louisiana avenue. who said
that. by reason of the fact that stands
were subleased by the occupants of the
stores, owners were raising the rents.
The sanitary condition Of the market
section in question was declared by Fred
erick L. Siddons To be a menace TO public
health. Mr.. Siddons also alleged that
number of the dealers We're paying rental
for the use Of the sidewalk to the owners
of the abutting property. Instances were
given by Mr.. Siddons of an increase Of
rent by property owners. owing TO the
privileges extended the Louisiana avenue
merchants. the rent in some cases having
been almost doubled.
Not Market Representative.
F. c. Brandenburg who argued against
the revocation of the regulation. asked if
Mr.. Siddons was representative Of the
Washington Market Company. which
based It's opposition not on sanitary
grounds, but by reason that the dealers
/ in that section are in sharp competition
with the Center Market Mr.. Siddons an
swered that he was not
While in favor of the regulation per
hitting the sale of meat. fish. fowl. and
vegetables within three feet Of the build
ing line Of stores and commission houses
in all sections of the city. Attorney Hen
~ E. Davis opposed the granting Of spe-
ciaI privileges to the merchants on Louis
lana avenue. Mr. Davis also directed the
attention Of the Commissioners to the
danger Of food exposed on stands bec0m-
ing contaminated by contact with dust
and dirt.
Commissioner Macfarland raised the
point that food So exposed in any section
Of the city. especially vegetables which
were not TO be cooked is likely to con
tain germs.
Increase In Rents.
James +. Barbour advanced the argu.
ment that the Increase in rents Is due to
the increase IN property values and not
10 the subletung Of stands. The opposl-
ton, ne declared. was due to business
competition.
James La Fontaine. a dealer in the Cen
ter Market, favored the repeal of the
privileges. and john 5. Miller and James
II. Hoag spoke in opposition
Al -NANA'ilNI w AliF sanitary ElQc or the
question, Commissioner Macfarland raid.
at the conclusion Of the hearing.
The health officer has been 1T work
upon improved regulations not only OF
meat markets but OF sIaughterhouses.
provision stores. bakeries. and lunch
rooms ever since last August. and the
Commissioners on January 3 sent 10 Con
gress as the first fruits Of his labors q
bill covering slaughterhouses and similar
establishments. and last week they an
proved another bill 10 cover meat mar
kets, bakeries, lunch rooms. &c. The
Commissioners have had no comrnunica-
ton from the Department Of Agriculture
about meat markets, but the health Off
Ger, long after he began his inquiries
and within the last fortnight has ha3
two letters from the Assistant Secretary
OF Agriculture complaining in general
terms of meat market conditions. which
the health officer is now personally in
vestigaung. Nothing has been said b..
any one In the Agricultural Department
about the other establishments which we
are seeking 10 improve"