New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-22
PRENDERCAST HINTS
LAW BARS MARKETS
Controller Doubts Public's
Gain, but Sure Burden
Will Be on Taxpayer.
ALDERMEN ALONE
CAN LEGALIZE MOVE
Suggests Authority Be Obtained
from Board - Opposition
Selfish" Says Marks.

Three Of the four new open markets
arc threatened by an objection raised
yesterday by Controller Prendergast
that neither the Greensboro Bridge
Market, the Harlem Bridge Market nor
the Fort Lee Ferry Market is author
lied by law. The scheme of establish
does not appeal to the Controller, and
it is surmised that, for the present at
least, he will oppose any appropriation
for the maintenance OF the new mar
kets.
Controller Prcndergast's contention
is that it is impossible to get something
for nothing. If the public is paying
less for supplies at the new markets
somebody will have to pay the differ
enCe. That somebody. he opines, will
be the taxpayers Of New York, and
among them will be the shopkeepers
whose businesses arc suffering because
ofahc open markets.
After meeting Of the Board OF Es-
innate yesterday Borough President
Marks invited the members TO con-
ference on the market question.
"Thcse markets are here TO stay
asserted the Borough President as he
went into the conference; they are
permanent and will spread throughout
the city"
Following the conference Controller
Prendergast issued the following state
mont:
Mr.. Marks suggested TO the Board
of Estimate to-day that positions
amounting to an annual cost Of $4,000
should be Immediately established for
employees to take care of the markets.
I stated, and | now repeat, that the
Board Of Estimate must decide upon
one of two courses. First. is it pre-
pared to Immediately establish per-
manent market system? Second, if not,
TO what extent is it going to encourage
and maintain a temporary system?
81 think il is time, and so told my as
sociates of the Board of Estimate, that
before the city began to spend
money upon these markets, it should
decide upon some definite policy. ]
called attention to the fact that the
markets so far established have, IN
nearly all cases, been established with
out any warrant of law. The Board of
Aldermen alone has the power to es-
tablish market places.
81 am not prepared 10 stand upon the
legal basis Of the case, but suggested
that tomorrow, at the meeting of the
Board of Aldermen, authority should
be secured which would icgitimatize
the voluntary efforts that have 20 far
been performed on this question. |
also took the stand, and ] purpose to
maintain il. that if the city is to pro-
vide a place for people to sell their
wares, whether they be fancy goods
or green groceries, these people
should pay certain fee Tor the privi-
lege. and that it is absolutely unfair
TO other dealers throughout the city
who have 10 pay rent and taxes to be
exposed to the competition Of people
who nay no rent and no taxes.
"Whie this view may not at the
present moment, be very popular one,
! am not afraid of what the sober
Judgment Of the community will de-
eide when it has thoroughly digestcd
the proposition. | am not prepared to
say that the city should so into the
business at ell. The $4,000 in annual
cost for new employees asked for by
Mr.. Marks to-day, is only the be-
ginning"
collection to the new open markets
said Mr.. Marks, "has been raised be-
cause they bring no income to the city.
My answer is that the four places
where these markets are now estab-
lished never did bring any income TO
the city, They were dark, deserted
places and the Harlem Bridge approach
was a danger spot. Now all these
places are alive and are busy marts
which must bring advantage to the
city"
Commissioner Hartigan Of the Blu
reau Of Weights and Measures will ad-
dress the retail grocers Of Brooklyn to-
night al l0l Bridge St, Brooklyn, on
the subject of economy in deliveries.
Representatives Of express companies
lave told Mr.. Hartigan that they would
experiment in deliveries within u specl-
fed zone.
The executive committee Of the
MAYORS committee met yesterday. and
George ". Perkins, chairman, told of
his plans to educate school children in
economical marketing. Within the next
two weeks pamphlets will be distrb-
uted to school children. Copies of the
committees vegetable cook book may
be obtained from Mr.. Hartigan in the
open markets, or from Mrs. Julian
Heath.