The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-09-24
uohn Lancaster Is the Lord
High Dictator, and He Be-
walls Admission of Ped
dlers to This City.
MARKETMASTER ALSO
/ HELPS THE DEALERS
City Official in Charge of the
Market Instructs Market
men on Prices for the Gar
rden Produce.

Denouncing the action Of the city
council, in modifying the ordinance
governing the peddling of farm pro-
duce, John ID. Lancaster, recognized
for years as one of the leading local
marketmen, declared Saturday that
this action will eventually ruin the
market His statement in this respect
Is concurred in by the majority of
the marketmen at the South Sixth
street market. From their statements
the natural conclusion is that the mar.
ketmen cannot pay the annual fee for
market stalls to the city and compete
with the other farmers who peddle
their produce from house to house.
Other reports are of an entirely diff
ferent nature, in regard to the coun-
cilmanic action on this subject. 1t is
said that farmers are peddling their
fruit and vegetables at a much low
er price and that the average house
keeper believes that in the end the
high cost Of living will be reduced
considerably.
Up to the present, however, the
modification of the peddling ordinance
has not affected markethouse prices,
as the marketmen are maintaining the
same prices as before.
Now that council has taken this
step 1t Is likely that it will be re-
uuested to take step further and re-
he hn ar.Iyn
Stalls.
nands for the market stalls are ex-
Drbitant," declared Mr.. Lancaster.
The city council acts like class of
lchool boys. Some one says let's do
his thing and another says let's do
that. and away they go like so many
sheep. The market will eventually be
ruined.
The thing to do now is to let every
produce man back his wagon up
around the market house for nomi-
nal fee,'' continued Mr.. Lancaster.
"The best stalls could be more costly,
say $40 or SIS year, and let the
other stalls which are now consider
ed as the best locations sell for So or
$4 annually. The way 1t is now, a
'marketman Is obliged to pay S25 for
A stall, which is by far too much"
Conrad Zwissler, another prominent
marketman. believes that council took
q step in the wrong direction when it
lowered the so-called bars to all sarm-
ers, allowing them to peddle at any
time during the day. Mr.. Zwissler
states that there should be no ped
ding at all. He made the statement
that he would rather take a whipping
than peddle.
Referring to the matter of the high
cost of market stalls, Mr.. Zwissler
said that produce men and gardeners
could sell their fruits and vegetables
Mt much lower price If the stali fee
was not 80 high. He said that as the
arrangements were at present, very
few produce men could afford to pay
$25 annually for market stall.
Rumors to the effect that a combina-
ton Is in existence between the mar
ketmen at the South Sixth street mar
yket have been substantiated, despite
1.-THE fact that marketmen stoutly deny
IL.
lis John ID. Lancaster. who denounces
lcouncilmen as school boys for their
faction last Monday night.
John Taylor. market master, aids
the marketmen in fixing prices. Tay-
lor tells each marketman what prices
lare being asked for various commodi-
tiles by other marketmen and a uni
form price Is established each day by
this method. Taylor's assistant, in
lstructed by the market master, also
acts 'as informant.
As a rule Lancaster is at the market
place first in the morning. The next
marketman to arrive asks Lancaster
4cr his prices and the third gets his
prices from Lancaster and so on.
Those who do not get an opportunity
to ask Lancaster his prices are inform
cd by the market master or his as
sistant.
II is explained that this is one of
the reasons for the high price Of pro-
duce which is maintained at the mar
ket house.
An interesting incident is related by
consumer, in connection with this
matter. The consumer asked the
price OF bushel of tomatoes of a
marketman, stationed at the South
Sixth street market. and he was in.
formed that he tthe marketman)
would have to ask Mr.. Lancaster. AT
ter conference the gardener return
ed and informed the consumer oil
the price. The consumer visited a
grocery store and found that tomn
toes were selling twenty cents lower
on the bushel there than at the mar
ket. after the grocer had purchased
them at Wholesale and made his pro
nt