New-York tribune., 1922-10-21
w oman Peddler
Il ellis Sad ale
OF Market Guile
Typical Story Is of Hard
ships Faced Because Of
Abuses Practiced by
Pus heart Supervisors
Took Away Her Permit
Declares Man Forced Her
From Street When Rival
Spoke of Paying ST, ,000'
BY M. Jay Racusin


Court Justice Cropsey compelling the
street market supervisors to turn over
the fees collected from the $1,000 push
cart peddlers of the city into the Sink
Ing Fund has driven the markets ad-
within the law, but, it APP
pears, it has only partly eradicated the
oppressive abuses practiced upon the
struggling vendors by many srpervis-
ors to their own enrichment. 1t seems
that nothing short Of thorough house
cleaning will bring about condition
that will permit the licensed peddler
to make meager living without re-
curing him to give up substantial
part of his earnings.
Ii one needs to be convinced Of this
fact he need only hear the typical
story of Mrs. Yetta Gieenhaum, as sor-
rowful little epic as has ever come
out Of the East Side. She at one time
had cart with which she was able to
exc out maintenance for herself, an
invalid husband and three children, but
she was too poor to "to pay" she says,
and SO was deprived OF an opportunity
to make a living. Here is her story in
her own words:
Depended on Two Boarders
"You will see what can be done to a
helpless old woman" she began, sitting
at an oilcloth-covered table in her lit
tie three-room fiat, at 167 Orchard
Street. 81 am forty years old, but
look, see how old am, the wrinkles
and red eyes. Well, / pay rent for
three rooms. For eleven years we have
been here, but for long time had to
take in two boarders, SO I could get
food for my babies. One Of my board
ers Is leaving. I don't know what I am
going to do.
II am citizen and so is my husband
and we vote, but it makes no differ
ence. We made living when we had
to pay only 81 a year for our license
When the markets WAS made different
our troubles started. I had. little
fruit cart in Orchard Street, next tc
q man named Shaw, who sold crockery
Shaw wanted my place, but told him
couldn't change places without the
permission of Supervisor Louis Fried
man.
SHAW said to me, 1T will cost n,e
$1,000, but will see that you are
thrown out of here This was in Au-
gust, last year. laughed because
had my permit and / thought every
thing was all right. But soon ] found
out how terrible it is to be poor ped.
'dler. | saw Shaw go into Friedman's
office. He was there two hours.
Puts Permit in Pocket
"Thsn Friedman. the supervisor
came up to me. He was nice like, and
said in gentle voice, Mrs. Green.
baum, let me see your permit
showed him my permit. When he got
it In his hand his face got different
expression. He put the permit in his
pocket and said, You get out of the
market; get out quick
the reason and begged him to please
had three children and didn't do
nothing wrong. He went away, but
later he came back. He said he would
get me place In Stanton Street They
call this the cemetery because you
can't make living there. But ] didn't
have anything else to do, SO I thought
/ better take 1t. / didn't even have
money to buy fruit with and whole
saler gave me credit for q few baskets
Of plums.
II couldn't make living at all. One
Saturday ! went TO an empty place on
Orchard Street and had my boy watch
the stand while went home FOR a few
minutes to feed the young children.
FRIEDMAN chased my boy out OF the
market. He grabbed the cart and turned
it over and threw all the plums in the
gutter. We was willing to give him the
quarter which peddlers give Cor one
day, but he wouldn't take it. I cried
and wrung my hands. When Monday
came around and I had to give the
supervisor on Stanton Street 81, I
didn't have enough left for my chill
dren. It's true, so true as there is a
God"
She beat her breast and tears came
to her eyes.
Refused Offer of Charity
"But had to try and make few
CENTS" she continued, "and so I stayed
there all winter, and in the spring
things got worse. went to Mrs. Kauf-
man, the wife Of DR.. Kaufman, in
charge Of a day nursery in Fifth Street,
and asked for assistance. They offered
me money, but wouldn't take charity.
only wanted chance to make liv-
ing. ! said, You see, doctor, there is
graft here and ! am poor and can't
pay and | need help and DR.. Kauf-
man said, yes, it's true and / know
Of worse graft, but ! must keep still.
Bring your children here and we will
feed them.' This was in June. I was
ashamed. don't want charity and
they were always wanting to give me
money when I wanted place to make
a living myself.
"WpiI ma triad u,apy $hinus than
asked Friedman if he would let me
stay in Orchard Street for little
while when a peddler sold out. Hc
made this way with his hands and said,
You are too poor to be in this mar
ket'"
interrupted Mrs. Greenbaum. with
question: "Did he mean that you
did not have enough money to pay for
g place?n
"a cynical smile came over her face.
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