New-York tribune., 1922-11-25
Mrs. LaidIaw L.
IC.alledDistllrber
By Hirshfield
Checked When She At
ternris 10 Ask Questions
at III e caring Regard
ing Market Spectators
Growers Counsel Ousted
Overcharge for Stall Rent
and Bad Conditions AL
legged by Women Present

Mrs. James Lees Laidlaw, chairman
OF tho living cost committee of the
League Of Women Voters. and several
other witnesses had an unplaasan
hour OF two yesterday wish David
Hirshfield, Commissioner Of Accounts
at the hearing before him on the com
plant Of the New YORK Market Grow.
ers' Cooperative Assocation that
specniasors are victimizing the farm
ers at the Gansevoort and WalIabout
city markets. Commissioner Hirshfeld
called Mrs. Laidlaw q "disturbern
wren she insisted upon asking some
questions. He had Nj. l.. Ernst, counsel
Tor the Market Growers Association.
elected from the hearing.
Several farmers appeared to testify
against the practices of the jobbcrs
and spectators at the markets. They
declared also that they were over
charged by the city for stall reut.
Other farmer witnesses called by the
cmmissioner declared that the jobbers
were all right. Mr.. Ernst, on cross
examination of some of the latter wit
nesses, brought out tho fact that they
had never rented stalls at the markets
When Mrs. Laidlaw's turn came to
speak, she said she was there to pro-
test against the violations of the law
at the markets. She said she had Wis
tied the markets and had found that
the rentals Of the stalls, In some in
stances, had doubled over night"
Whom do yu represent?" ?" asked
Commissi ioner Hirshfeld, with a sharp
glance at tho woman witness.
THE League Of Women Voters,' re-
piled Mrs. Laidlaw. about million
women"
After few other questions the COM
missioner abruptly excused the wit
ness. Later MRS. Lsidlaw told the Com
missioner she would like to ask some
questions, as she had to make q report
to her organization. Commissioner
Hirshfeld told her he was there to ask
questions and not to answer them.
u want to make report to my or
ganization," said Mrs. Laidlsw. "All
get here is one thing-your opposi-
tion. amounting almost to persecution,
Of the Market Growers Association" ;"
"Iln satisfied that you are here as q
disturber and nJt as he per-" said
Commissioner Hirshfeld. 81 draw the
line between genuine farmers and
2akes who want to live off of them.
You can so back and report that to
your club
Mrs. Laidlaw left the hearing. Mrs.
Frederick Hodgson, president Of the
Women's Municipal League, and Mrs.
Thomas Rombeau, representing tho
Womeu's University Club, were other
witnesses who testified that they had
visited the markets and found condi-
tions bad.
After several farmers had testified
at the opening Of the hearing, Mr..
Ernst informed the commissioner that
hor
would like to be heard.
III realize that you are here for the
purpose of making newspaper stories,"
said Commissioners Hirshheld.
THAT isn't true" replied Mr.. Ernst.
I'VE have been comp. aiming OF these
conditions FOR three months"
"sit down now, I'm through with
you," commanded the commissioner,
Mr. Ernst started 10 speak.
"Offieersh shouted the commissioner,
directing his remarks to policeman
present, 'you tell that lawyer to sit
down."
Mr.. Ernst sat down temporarily, but
later the commissioner ordered the
left without waiting for the pstrolmar
to execute the order. Mr.. Ernst's
ejectment followed his objection to the
question put by Commissioner Hirsh-
field to Fred Merge, farmer, who said
he owned nine-acre farm in Jamaica.
Merge testified that the speculator at
the markets was good thing. as the
farmer cou.d come in and sell his prod
ucts right away and go home, without
waiting around ali day.
Then, in winter time, IL you didn't
have jobhers or Spectators the people
Of New York would have 60 starve to
death, wouldn't they?" asked the COM
missioner. The witness replied in the
Affirmative, when Mr.. Ernst made his
objection.