Evening journal., 1908-07-25
TALKED OVER The
MARKET LAWS
Clerk of Market Accused Chief
Black Of Using Bad Lam
euaee, Which is Denied
MATTER REFERRED
TO CITY SOLICITOR

Members of City Council, Police
Commissioners Charles r. Jones and
Thomas N. stayton, Chief Of Police
Black and Clerk Of Market Cook dis
cussed the subjsSt of the street mar
ket laws at a special meeting held in
the Council chambers last night.
The conference was called at the
Investigation Of Mr. Ccui, who asked
Council at its meetin~ last Thursday
night TO define his duties He made
the statement last night that Chief of
Police Black usel urofane language
toward him at he corner Of Sixth ara
Market streets when he asfed why
the chief had caused tho arrest Of sew
eral market people. Chief Black de-
MED the statement
Councilman Homer c. Simmons pre-
sided at the meeting in the absencs
of President of Council Tavlor, and
Councilman Walter Rash started the
discussion by asking Police Commits
sioner Jones why Chief Black ha1
caused the arrest of the market pao-
pie
Mr.. Jones replied ihag the chief Of
police was merely inforcing a city or
dinance. and he did not think that
there was any question as to the right
Of the department to enforce ordin-
ances. He said If the department lad
erred he would Ike ia be shown.
why should he take action just at
this timer" asked Mr. Rash. and Corr.
missioner Jones replied that it was be-
cause Of so many complaints. He said
there had been a gradual encroachment
upon sidewalks by the market people
until the department had decided tat
il was time to act. He did not con-
slider that the clerk OF the market had
any power to enforce ordinances. but
though his duties were more of a
clerical nature.
Asked by Councilman Rash n he did
not think that the clerk should have
been consulted. Commissioner Jones
said he did not think such necessary.
Commissioner Jones vas next asked
bv M. Rash If he considered that con.
djtions in the market were any worse
than they had been, and he thought
they we~o growing worse.
Mr. Rash charged that the ordinance
had been enforced in sDots and that
the department had not gone down the
line. and Mr. Jones said that, WILLS
all ordinances were not enforced to
the strict letter Of the law. it was pro-
posed to enforce them where incon-
venience was caused 10 a number Of
people and where complaint was made.
Clerk of Market Cook spoke of his
tilt with Chief Black. and said he did
not know of any trouble until one
week aso last Wednesday. While
walking through King street market
he was asked by the vendors why he
had ordered them off the street. His
reply was that he had not put them
on the street and did not propose 70
take them of.
Speaking of the commission men on
Fourth street who are allowed four
feet from the building line and no
more. he addressed his remarks Ia
Police Commissioner Stayton and de-
clared that he-Stavton-was violat-
ing the ordinance every 6ay Of his life
He said he had asked Mr.. Stavtcn
once how he would like for him to get
n rod and measure the distance il
front Of his commission place
Commissioner Stayton interrupted
the testimony of the clerk at this
iuncture to enter denial to this.
Clerk Cook replied that he was noi
present to argue with anyone as Nc
only wished to have his duties defined
for him. and he proceeded to tell OF
his trouble with Chief Of Police Black
after he had been informed of the ar.
rest Of the Italians. dc said he asked
Chief Black why he had caused the
arrests. remarking that he thought
that Black was chief Of police, and
that Black replied with q profane re.
mark. Eyes, and he was going to b,
chief of police" Cook said he replied
with a like profane remark that nc
was going to be clerk of the market.
Up to this time Chief Of Police Blaci
was not present at the hearing and
he was sent for Cook was then ask
ed to repeat what he had just said
and he did.
Chief Black became angry, and aris-
ing. he faced the market clerk and
denied that he had used the profahs
remark credited to him.
well. I think as much of my oath
as any man here" replied Cook will
some warmth. land If you people will
get a notary public and n Bible. 1 viii
take oath that he did make that re.
mark"
Whether the market laws were be.
ing violated was discussed a some
length. and one suggestion was made
that the question of jurisdiction ovei
the markets be referred to the city
solicitor.
Councilman White sa.d that the mar
lxet matter was one that had been dis
cussed for some time. and in asking
for an opinion from the city solicitor
he thought the law committee should
be instructed to take steps relative tC
repeating the present ordinance and
preparing one to meet all conditions
This was ordered done.