New-York tribune., 1922-10-23
500 p Peddlers
Pick Committee
ToCan onHylan
Mass Meeting Representing
$4,000 Vendors Favors
Annual and Lower Fees
With No Supervisors
To Seek Change in Laws
Speakers Urge Hucksters
10 Fight for Justice;
Grievances Are Rccited

| More than soc rusheert peddlers. rep
resenting practically all the public
street markets In the city, gathered at
mass meeting ut 1913 Stanton Street
yesterday to discuss their grievances
| and plan measures for the elimination
of evils.
| After hearing speakers recount the
| numerous burdens under which the
street venders continue to labor, the
| meeting resolved upon several steps
| with view to having the Objectionable
| features Of the present conduct of the
public markets removed. Chief among
these was the Appointment of commit
q personal appeal for some genuine cor
| rective action. This committee en-
braces peddlers from various markets.
It's members are Samuel Lehrer, chair
man; Louis Greenberg, Sam Wallen-
stein, Ben Berlin, Harry Furst and
Philip Kriftcher.
Peddlers' Counsel Suggests Plans
Solomon Suffrin, counsel for the
Manhattan pushcart men, of whom there
are about 10000, outlined the street
market situation as it exists to-day
and offered several suggestions for bet
tcrment. He suggested that single
license bureau be established where
the peddler could pay a yearly fee
once year instead of the supervisory
weekly collection system now in force.
he said that In view Of the fact that
1t has been proved that the annual cost
OF the administration Of the street
markets does not exceed 100000, the
yearly fee to the vender should be re-
duced to $40 or S12, instead of the s52
that ne now is compelled TO pay.
In his opinion no supervisors at all
would be required If these suggestions
were adopted, as the police could keep
order and the Street Cleaning Depart
ment could keep the markets In a sani-
tary condition. AS the supervisory
system, however, was established by
ordinance, Mr.. Suffrin was authorized
to make the necessary preparations for
the presentation Of the subject of the
elimination of the supervisors before
the next Legislature.
lgnatz Weisengreen, another attorney
known as supporter of the Hylan ad-
ministration, regretted the inactivity Of
the local authorities in the situation
except where they were forced to take
action through court order. "Is the
city so broke" he asked, "that it needs
co squeeze 100000 year out you poor
peddlers? Come before the Board of
Estimate with your story when the
matter of the market budget is taken
up. Demand a hearing. Demand JUS
tice," he advised.
Classification Scheme Opposed
Morris Lewis, social worker, who
presided at the meeting, pointed out
that under present conditions the ven
| ders must and should have a reduc-
| ton of the 81 week fee and urged
that the peddlers fight Tor it to the
| bitter end. Others who spoke were
Samuel Lehrer, president of the League
of Citizen Peddlers of Greater New
York; Nathan Finkelstcin, head of the
Brooklyn peddlers organization, and
Louis Berkowitz, pushcart stable
proprietor. IF some change is not
soon effected" remarked Berkowitz,
Commissioner O'Malley and his bunch
OF supervisors will find all the stands
left for themselves. This, of course,
would not make food cheaper and
would be terrible thing for commu-
! nifty of million people,"
The peddlers also went on record as
emphatically opposed to any limitation
or classification Of commodities that
may be sold in public markets. Such q
limitation was recently proposed in
measure before the Board of Aldermen,
sponsored by Commissioner O'Malley,
which would have restricted the public
markets to the sale of provisions and
flowers. Such restriction, say the
vendere, would be calamitous to half
the peddlers in the markets. and would
open the door to all kinds of evections