Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-03-28
HIGH COST OF SPuOS
TALKED At CITY HALL
Council Tables. Big Petition
After Hearing is Held
on Subject. ,

lay on the table petition of four hun
dred citizens asking that the peddler's
ordinance be repealed. after a hearing
at which the question Of the high cost
Of potatoes was discussed by several
people.
Mr.. X. T. Rykken presented the petit
tion which read as follows:
City Ordinance Number 145. "An Or
dinance to license and regulates peddlers''
provides that no person shall sell any
goods, wares or merchandise within the
limits Of the City Of Willmar, by ped
ding the same from house to house or
from place to place, or upon any street,
alley, or public grounds, without hav-
ing first paid license fee of $500
day for the privilege.
This Ordinance works a gross injus-
tice to the consumers Of this city. Be-
cause of this Ordinance carloads Of po-
tatoes, apples and other necessaries.
which the consumers of the City might
have had at very reasonable prices.
other towns. causing a loss to the con-
sumers of this City of hundreds of dol
lars.
This Ordinance is of practically no
value as a revenue producer. It's sole
beneficiaries are few merchants OF
this city. It's repeal will be no injus
tice to these few, while it will be a dis
tinct benefit to the more than five thou
sand consumers of this City.
We. the undersigned, therefore re-
spectfully petition the Honorable City
Council to repeal at once the above
named Ordinance.
Mr.. Rykken spoke at some length
stating that there existed spirit CT
distrust in the city that ought to be re-
moved. 1t is the popular belief that
the peddlers ordinance complained of
was the cause for the high cost OF po-
tatoes, and that change permitting
free trade in perishable products like
potatoes and apples would no doubt sat
isfy the petitioners. This he urged be
done in the interest Of harmony.
Mayor Wellin questioned Mr.. Rykken
if he knew of any instances where car
loads of potatoes or apples had been
diverted from Willmar. and Mr.. Ryk-
ken said he did not, but that he did
know Of an instance earlier in the sea-
son when two carloads had been divert
ed from Benson for a like reason and
had been taken to Danvers and sold at
$1.25 per bushel.
misrepresentation had been made to
signers of the petitions. Among them,
that the Mayor personally had been in
strumental in keeping out cars of pO-
tatoes in order to keep up the price.
He said that his conscience was clear.
and that none would welcome a chance
to secure supply of potatoes at less
prices more than he. The ordinance does
| not prevent any farmer or grower to
| sell his own products within the city,
| without paying for the privilege. That
| charge Of $500 for selling car
| would be less than cent a bushel, and
certainly would not deter anyone who
might wish to sell here. That ordinar-
| lily apple cars are peddled by old sold
iers who are exempt from any licenses,
and that no one with cars Of produce
| had been refused a chance to freely sell
| their products here. He called upon
wholesale men present to testify as to
the cost Of potatoes. Mr.. Bondy Of the
Stacy Bros Company said the best fig
ures he could get on local cars was
$3.50 per bushel, and the size and quail
ity were so inferior that he could not
use them. They buy their potatoes
now in the State of Washington and pay
IS cents a bushel freight. Mr.. McNairy
stated he has 200 bushels of potatoes
which cost him three dollars a bushel
Mr.. Berkness stated that he purchased
twenty bushels Of potatoes at Pennock
for $3.50 a bushel and paid SC per BUSH
Ell to get them here. Mr.. Rykken stated
that he had quotation on a car Of po-
tatoes for the Bethesda Homes from
near Eau Claire, Wis. at $1.75 per
| bushel. Mr. p. c. Peterson said that
quotations of few weeks ago were of
no value now. That the failure Of crop
caused shortage and the severe win
ter weather had discouraged shippers
from sending cars into this section OF
the country. Early in the season cars
had been unloaded at Willmar and ped
died at $1.15 to $1.25 per bushel. and
} no license fee had been paid. but nov
potatoes were hard to get at any price
At the close Of the discussion thu
Council voted to lay the petition on tn,
table without dissenting vote,