Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-31
URGES REGULAR ROUTES
FOR HUCKS7ER WAGONS
John H. Sherman Believes It Would
Be Means of Saving to
Consumers.
SAYS Waste and Fluctuations in Cost
of Foodstuffs Cannot Be An
ticipated by Dealers.

Regulation of hucksters so that they
will be required to serve definite routes
at regular periods is one of the needed
reforms in Washington's market sit
uation which John H. Sherman, super
intendent of weights. measures and
markets, is urging the Commissioners
to provide through legislation.
Believing that irregular visits by
hucksters lead to wastes in retail trade
and cause fluctuations In demand for
foodstuffs which cannot be anticipated
by dealers. Mr.. Sherman has suggested
a plan which would regulate the buck
ster business somewhat after the fash
ion that jitney buses are controlled.
| Not only would he place the licensing
of hucksters in charge of his depart
ment and require each licensee to have
his name and license number printed
prominently on each side of his wagon,
but, as Is done in the case Of jitney
bus operation, he would require each
huckster to record the route he desires
visits, and would forbid any change of
route without previous recording Of the
| same.
Should Make Regular Trips.
1.-The individual huckster should not
be restricted in any way in his choice
of routes or his determination of the
| frequency of his visits" asserts Mr..
Sherman, but he should be required to
make these regular, and this Office
should be kept constantly informed Of
the approximate whereabouts of every
huckster, just as it keeps records of
and regularly inspects the store OF eV-
cry grocer"
In the opinion of Mr.. Sherman the
huckster is a valuable factor in the
machinery of distribution. and fire.
quently is the means whereby fully rip
ened produce or fruits which would be
lost if started through the regular
channels of established trade are saved
to the use of consumers, who thereby
get an excellent product at economical
prices.
However. when the huckster's trips
become irregular, when he wanders for
weeks without covering any one terri
tory twice, he becomes a nuisance and
cause of waste and hardship. the
weights and markets official believes.
Waste to Retail Trade.
THE worst effect of this irregularity
of VISIT" Mr.. Sherman said. "is in the
wastes caused to retail trade. The
average small retailer is serving an
area of at best but a few blocks. The
away a customer unsupplied. He must,
therefore, when putting in stock, pro
vide for the full normal need of his
trade Much of this stock is highly
perishable: must be sold promptly or
lost. An intermittent. irregular, wan
dering huskster drifts past and sup
plies a considerable portion of his trade
for the day. The retailers stock is
wasted. The loss to society is COM
plete and-irrevocabl BILE. Ultimately, of
course, the major part of this loss is
shifted on to the consumers in the form
of higher prices for other goods sold.
Under present circumstances it is
entirely impossible for retailers to fig
ure on the wholesale fluctuations of de-
mand due to this cause. If the visits of
the huckster were regular the regular
fluctuations in demand would be rec
ognized and allowance for it made in
the purchase of stock. Also, If the
visits of the hucksters were required
to be regular. the abuses now so com
mon to the business would be impos-
sible of continuance, and the huckster's
value to the housewife as convenient
and regular supplier of food would be
greatly increased.