The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-07-08
MARKETS PURPOSE
TO REDUCE LIVING
COST SAYS MAYOR
Robbins Discusses Problems
of Efficient Service Before
Sessions of Municipal Lea
que at Columbus.


Sessions of Municipal Lea
que at Columbus.
II was a peculiar thing that with all
the trouble Richmond has had in re-
cent years attempting to solve the
city market question the mayor or
Richmond should be called upon to
read a paper on Municipal Markets"
q the annual convention of the lndl-
Ga Municipal League. but such was
the case. Mayor Robbins protested,
but his objections were overruled, so
he elaborated with Mr.. Bavis OF the
board in the preparation of a paper on
this subject, frankly admitting at the
start that the Richmond markets have
been a failure. This paper, which
Mayor Robbins read at the Columbus,
Ind, meeting this morning, follows:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen OF the
Municipal League:
When Mr.. Cunningham wrote ask
ing me to prepare paper on Munich
pal Markets, to be read on this occa-
sion, at once replied that we in Rich
mond were the least qualified to per-
. form such task as our market, II
noted for any one thing, 1t would be
for its conspicuousness as failure.
This explanation, however. was not
satisfactory to Mr.. Cunningham and
with that tenacity which has charac-
terized his actions on all matters OF
which he thinks he is right, insisted
such a paper should be prepared, and
such as it Is I give, asking In its be-
half as limited a criticism as possible,
combined with more than full meas
ure of charity.
The success of a municipal market
Is not to be measured by the standard
OF dollars and cents to the municipal
ity; it may be a losing proposition
financially and yet be eminently sue
cessful in meeting the demands OF the
consuming public and living up to the
ideals and purposes for which 1t was
created.
The vital purpose Of market is to
put producer and consumer In the
closest relation possible. The financial
minor consideration.
Three Market Ideals.
What should be the ideals of NUM-
cipal market? If 1t served its real pur-
pose 1t would
/. Bring producer and consumer to-
gether and eliminate middlemen's
profits.
2. 1t would make available to the
consumer vegetables in all their fresh
ness.
8. 1t should to a very material ex-
tent reduce the cost of living, as the
producer Is put to very little expense
for rent, fixtures, or help. The main
tenance of delivery wagons, tele-
phones, light, taxes, interest on in
vestment and such other fixed charges
as the local dealer have to meet are
entirely eliminated.
The seller has no real waste; be-
cause he can always dispose of any
surplus he may have over, to the gro
GERS and other dealers, besides the
home bargain hunters.
Now the question that arises is:
Why under these conditions are prices
uniform? Supply and demand seems
to have no bearing on prices, and it
is in this particular that the market
at Richmond is a conspicuous failure.
Criticism Of Master.
There has been considerable agita-
ton in our city of late because OF the
seeming over officiOusness of the
market master, who also is the inspec-
tor of weights and measures, and as a
means of protecting the public from
found it necessary to confiscate Ger.
tain weights, scales and measures.
In my judgment, one principle as to
the market success, If 1t is to be a
success, has not been sufficiently
clear to the buying and tax paying
public, and that is this: THE value OF
the market to the city and to the con
sumner depends entirely on the eff
cheney and thoroughness of the mar
ket master" Market failure can most
often be traced to the sodden inter
est or the narrow vision Of the market
master. Markets need to be governed
by strictly enforced set of rules fol
when left to themselves they tend tc
become but groups of grasping retail
ers with no interest in public stand
ards and no vision as to results accru
ing from enforced quality for goods
and decency In sales practices.
A Profitable Market.
In this connection, l am in strict
accord with Consul General Henry w
Diedrich in speaking of the results OF
the market at Antwerp, who says
THE value and effectiveness Of the
market as an agency for distributing
goods at lowered prices depend pri
-mariiy upon the virility with which
its affairs are administered. The Off
cial in charge must, therefore, be o.
high character, steadfast in standards
with power to bring all stall renters
to high business standards, and abilit,
to attract to the market, both produc
ers and consumers. A market so ad
ministered will be a vital and up-lift
ing factor in feeding a city"
Price regulation by the municipal
ity is a perplexing problem. The RICH
of interference by the city on the
question Of price Axing is seriousl!
questioned and it Is charged agains
the city that we are interfering will
mans inalienable right to charge a.
much as he can get for what he has t.
sell.
Food Is as essential to life as i.
water. air and light and every mem
Der Of the human family should b.
supplied with as much of 1t as is de
sired as cheaply as possible.
City Regulates Utilities.
The city has ample power to regu
late the supply and price and qualit.
of water, gas, electric current, etc
supplied by the franchise privileges
granted, yet remain pOwerless whel
dealing with the all important nee
eSSarv Of life" food