Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-16
AGENTS TO SELL PRODUCTS
REQUEST FOR REPRESENTATIVES,
OF FARMERS AT MARKET.
Hearing Given at District Building.
Matter Referred to Sealer Of
Weights and Measures

The question OF farmers having repre-
sentatives or agents to sell their products
for them on the market line adjacent to
the Center market was the subject of \
public hearing before the Commissioners In
the BOARD room of the District building
Tuesday. The corporation counsel. in an
opinion to the Commissioners. holds that Il
is a violation OF the police regulations for
farmers having permits for the farmers
line" to employ agents or statesmen to sell
their produce for them. When the matter
was brought to the attention OF the Com
missioners 1t was found that some OF these
agents were selling for six or seven farm
ers Those who are affected by this ruling
were given an opportunity to make argu-
ments upon the question and state tho
ways and means of amending the regtila-
tions. The farmers present represented
Maryland, Virginia and the District OF Co.
lumbia
Fillmore Beall Of Maryland, as spokes-
man for the farmers was the first 10 adj
dress the Commissioners He said: THE
present regulations, il enforced, will work
hardship upon the farmers 1t is utterly
impossible for the farmers to always como
In person to the market line, and they can
not always send a laborer or assistant TO
transact the business. 1t requires a man
of intelligence. The farmer is u busy maa
and he cannot leave his work at any tirS
The enforcement of this stringent law VI
not only infiict a hardship, but will pc
some or these good, strong, law-ablding Cit
liens out of business. What We ask Is that
the law be amended so as to permit a
farmer to hire an agent once in a while to
represent him.
Mr.. Beall Questioned.
At this point Commissioner Macfarland
asked IL this method would not place the
farmers In the commission merchants class,
to which Mr., Beall answered in the Mega
tive, saying these representatives are not
employed regularly, and the agents are
not given percentage on the sales.
In answer to question from Commits
sioner West, Col. Haskell said he cannot
see any particular objection to the prac-
tice, the only complaints being made by
commission merchants. This statement
caused number of the farmers at the
hearing to call out, That's because the
commission merchants don't get our bust
ness"
The impossibility for the farmers to coma
to the market line in person on every
market day was voiced by the other speak
ers at the hearing. They told of the neces-
sity of their remaining at the farms during
certain seasons and the necessity of hiring
some one familiar with the markets to sell
their goods.
Commissioners West and Macfarland
closely questioned the speakers saying they
are anxious for all the details in that they
did not want to do anything which would
infiict hardship upon the dealers and at
the same time they are intent upon carry
ing out the law.
The hearing was concluded by Commits
sioner mcfarland saying the question re-
Quired considerable attention and that the
Commissioners will direct Col. w. c. Has
kell sealer of weights and measures of the
District, who has supervision OF the mar
kets, to submit a proposition to the Com
missioners for them to consider, with q
view to amending the regulation, and an
nounced that in the meantime the farmers
may continue the practice Of hiring agents
to sell their produce "along the line"
Those who addressed the Commissioners
were William H. Hoag. J. Henry Kirby.
George W. Hardy, w. d. Pyles and Alex
ander GUIDE.