Evening journal., 1917-08-11
SEE ENFORCEMENT
OF MARKET Law
Police Active Today Among
Commission Merchants
Who Occupy Curb
THINK "SQUATTERS"
KEEP PRICES DOWN

"They might as well stand us up
against wall and shoot u.s. said a
commission merchant who mas done busi- F,
ness in this city for 25 years, this morn
ing. The police sergeant and patrolmen
had Just been the rounds Of the whole
sale market on Fourth street. cast Il
King street, and taken the names Of all
merchants who had goods on tse curb.
The police asked a number OF routine
questions. such as how much OF .hese
goods was raised by the commission
men.
"You know we don't raise our rro.
ducc." said the merchants.
What are they going to do? God
only knows" answered the cOmmls-
sion men. "The police feel that they
have been criticised and so they have
been around tho markets today tending
to every alleged yiolat on OF marke-
law. We are not blaming the police,
We are blaming the law. We feel
that the Street and Sewer Comms-
sioners ought to grant us this curb
privilege which they have the power
10 do.
The commission men are stand
ing solidly together. II they are ar
rested they will make test case Of
the ordinance. In the event that the
law IS enforced, the commission men
propose TO band together and close
down for possibly thirty days
THE commission men sell In fif-
teen minutes the quantity sold in one
market day by all the retail markets
put together. II the commission men
closed down this city would starve. /
am prepared 70 give my men a va
cation with pay In order to show the
city how much we are needed said
one merchant
THE Street and Sewer Department
must have the idea OF making this a
beautiful boulevard down TO the
wharf. l don't see what other reason
they have for wanting 10 make a
blank asphalt space OF our curbs.
Well I suppose well have 20 move
over To Delaware avenue SO they can
have this a beautiful street"
"The Chamber Of Commerce and the
street commissioners ought 10 be
proud Of this market. which Il has
L y
I trying to destroy il. A concern doing
a million dollar business a year has
I stated that the Wilmington commi So
sion market IS one OF the best in the
east.
"The markets here supply Elkton,
Newark. West Chester, Perryvllle.
Pennsgrove, New Castle and other
places bes des Wilmington. They
have about forty carloads a week,
outside OF local goods, brought in.
People want 20 see goods out in the
daylight, not inside where It is dark,
and perishable goods spoil more
! quickly"
Orders we're issued by the Police
Department yesterday to allow Mrs
Mary Miller. OF No. 709 Monroe
I street. who has sold pies in King
stree. market for nearly twenty
years the right TO remain at her
stand until arrang0n-lts could be
made 10 find a place for her where
he law would not be violated. This
action was taken after complaint had
been made to the authorities about
some "squa.ters" being moved and
others allowed 10 remain in the mar
kets.
II was stated in the market today
that Mayor Lawson was in favor o.
allowing Mrs. Miller 20 remain at hei
sand in the market near Seventh
street
The entire market was in a fermen
this morning. The police patrolleC
IL all day. and ordered severa
hucksters sands removed from th'
farmers market. Mayor Lawson has
expressed his intention OF v'sitin'
the market at a late hour again TO
night as last week.
A great deal Of Dissatisfaction ma
been heard from poor people who paw
always. crowded tie market on SatuI
dav night, from Surrounding places, q
well as this city, TO get the cheap price,
They think the "sq,A.ters' ougft 70
allowed to come altac Irarket how s>sn
sell cheap The hucksters are underssl
ing the farmers in their line of good
and did "A big business this morning
Thev sold. tomatoes at 10 cents
b quarter peck, while the King stree
: price was 20 cents.
G. nWnNr