Evening journal., 1913-08-26
FARMERS SAY
$50 PAID FOR
MARKET STALL
Had to Give Up More Than
Legal Fee For Years,
GrangerS Assert
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
HEARS OF GRIEVANCES

Members OF the Cleanup commit
tee of the Chamber of Commerce
we're astounded yesterday afternoon
when well-known farmers and
grangers of this county appeared be-
fore them and told of some hitherto
unrelated and remarkable conditions
in King and Madison streets markets.
That there has been graft some
where was charged by the farmers.
These conditions together with the
presence OF hucksters and traders in
the markets, it was asserted, were
the evils of the markets.
The story came out when II was
stated thai farmers secured the
privilege of standing in the markets
too cheap. The yearly license is
$3.50 but according to Hervey Walk
er, of Mermaid, a granger who was
Democratic candidate for receiver OF
taxes and county treasurer last fall,
that was not the only price paid by
the farmer. He cited a case where a
man had paid as high as $50 for a
stand In the market, the price de-
pending on the desirability Of the
location. This practice. he contend
ed, had been going on for some time.
On one occasion he said a farmer
was informed by the clerk of the
market that no stands we're for rent
but on being advised by neighbor
to offer the clerk $40, the farmer re-
ceived a permit for the stand the
following day after offering that
amount
Mr.. Walker said he informed a City
| Councilman recently that his brother
had to pay sl5 for a stand and another
man had paid $40. J. w. Banks, a mem
Der of Diamond State Grange, said he
had a stand and had paid for It, II
was not the one he desired however
and had it been he would have doubled
his price.
That the paying of this money in ex
cess of the legal license was not the
only thing objected to by the farmers
was brought out, when, after the meet
ing adjourned at six o'clock, severa
of the farmers said that the clerks o
the markets made practice Of carry
ing baskets and begging every market
day for "sick people" or poor widows
Another practice in vogue, they said
was Of putting a farmer out Of th'
market by renting his stand to anothe
because Of political opinions. That TIN
was done IN one instlnce vas charged
BY !. r. Kilvington of Rose Hill Grange
While the charges were being heard
&c. p. Dckey OF Diamond State Grang
declared that it formerly cost S. and s.
for a stand but recently it became So
Tor the same privilege This. he de
clared. was graft. Mr. Dickey also con
tended that if the present laws were en-
forced conditions would adjust them
selves. He continued the markets
have degenerated and he claimed thai
farmers were buying crate eggs anC
oleomargarine which they sold for thei
own products. This. Mr.. Dickey
thought, should be stopped.
During the meeting. when the ques.
ton of one farmer renting two spaces
in the street markets was being dis.
lcussed. Thomas Greer, of Rose Hill
cited an instance when he rented
two spaces from Former Clerk of the
Market Smeltz. and his successor
lClerk Feaster, took one stand from
him. "Clerk Smeltz then accom-.
lpanied me to the Offices of Judge ]
Frank Ball, and the clerk told tn,
Judge how good a political worker
| dcs rdlN hIttls NutH 7 ltii Ut
loffices the Judge told me / had NJ
fright TO two stands"
Josiah Marvel. president Of tn
Chamber Of Commerce. was introduces
by James H. Wright chairman of tn
clean up committee. Mr. Marvel salt
in part: 81 want to thank you for you
interest in this matter. and the Cham
Der of Commerce wants to thank you
and sooner or later you will have tn
thanks of the people. We canno
satisfy everybody on the matter bu
this committee is going to get advic
and it will then proceed to remed.
conditions in the street market
without fear or favor. Just what !
will do. is not known at this tint
-but the members of this committe
are not Democrats or Republicans bu
citizens OF the city and are striving
for better market conditions"
When the meeting opened at
o'clock Chairman Wright welcome
the grangers saying he was please
to see so much interest taken in tn
matter Of supplying foodstuffs in tn
markets and that the committee de
sired to Nsar the conditions and al
legged usurpation Of rights in Kin
and Madison street markets. This bod
Continued On Second Page.