New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-09-04
League SeesS $50, 900 Yearly
Saved by Dropping Useless
Supervisors Aids and Put
ting Fees on Annual Basis
Politics Chief Evil Now
Call for Conference With AL
dermen or Legislature TO
Put Stop 10 Exploitation
BY NJ. Jay Racusin


What can be done7 What can be
done?' is heard on every side. They
then answer themselves: "If we pay
the money, then everything is all right
for the supervisor, but If we don't
pay, ah. how the shoe begins to pinch
or ali toesin
Several weeks ago, however, group
of hucksters not so resigned to the
situation as their brothers, called a
meeting of the vendors under the di-
reetion Of TIL League Of Citizen Ped
clcrs of Greater New York and had a
thorough discussion Of the problem.
They pointed out exactly where the
NEST troublesome spots lay and they
offered some suggestions as to the
manner in which these could be elm
mated.
Would Bar Political Parasites
They insist that the present method
of appointing supervisors be changed.
They complain that the supervisors
now holding jobs are only nominally
chosen by the Commissioner of Mar
kets, and that in the main they are
political hangers-on in the districts
embracing the markets; exploiting and
NdThsSlHB inc VeHuerS lOE their own
enrichment. They want the civil serv-
ice commission to replace these men
az once with more properly equipped
persons in accordance with the law
passed recently by the legislature.
They also want the powers and au-
thority of these supervisors properly
defined and their numbers reduced to
the actual needs of the markets. They
point to the burdens placed upon the
shoulders of the peddlers by the ar
ray Of assistants" that the super
visors now surround themselves with,
insisting that they have few duties to
perform except to collect monies
| weekly.
They want the Board Of Aldermen or
the Legislature to create a committee
to study the budget needs of market
regulation SO that the rock-bottom fig
ure required from each peddler for the
up-keep of the market may be estab-
lished. The present 81 week, they
say, is an arbitrary tax, not based on
any study of the cost of supervision.
Survey Would Cut Cost
| There should be complete survey of
the number of markets, the actual num-
Der of peddlers, the amount given UP
by the vendors, the amount expended
IOT SGpGIA IStUH ana tElS
into the city treasury. Under the law
all surplus monies remaining after ex-
penses have been paid are to go into
! the sinking fund. On the basis of my
own observation I am sure that such q
| study, if properly made and acted upon,
! would reduce the cost to the peddlers
| by at least SO per cent.
| The peddlers also desire to meet this
committee in conference to discuss
grievances and make recommendations
| for their relief as they come to them
| from time to time.
Instead Of giving up money to men
who are not really city employees, in
that they are not on the pay rolls, they
desire to make their payments to recog-
nized Department of Markets officials,
the payments to be made for yearly
| permits instead of the present weekly
arrangement. They assert that the 81
week impost is unnecessary, arbi-
trary and works hardship upon them.
| In addition it presents many emporium
ties for graft,
There are from 10000 to $4,000 push.
cart vendors paying in all from $780,,
900 to 100000 a year for permission
| to sell their wares on open street
| markets, it is said. Under corrected
supervision the peddlers are convinced
/ that their outlay could be cut dowr
| to at least S250,000 year. Only II
per cent Of the first mentioned sun
has found it's way into the city
treasury within the last month.
1 eff the markets can be run fol-
| S250,0o0, and 100000 has been col
lected in the last year." the vendors
point out, "you can see how much ha:
| been wasted or grated"
League Offers Remedies
The League OF Citizen Peddlers ha;
| formulated and offers its recommen
dations for correction Of evils in ths
street markets, as follows:
| The appointment of market super
| visors by the Civil Service Commits
sioner as soon as possible.
The establishment of q definite code
of authority covering the duties Of
| such supervisors.
| The limitation of the number Of sucf
supervisors to the actual need OF
supervision involved.
| The creation of q COMMITTEES by the
LEGISLATURE or the Board of Aldermen
to study the budget needs of marke'
regulation and supervision in order
| that basis may be established as x
[ the amount required from each ped
| dler per year. (b) This committee also
| TO study the disposition Of such funds
already collected for the purpose o.
ascertaining the amounts expended OF
salaries, sanitation and other Incl
dentais, and also to determine the
amount delivered to the sinking fune
of the city, as required by law defining
the authority Of the Commissioner o.
Public Markets and the disposition q
funds collected under this authority
! (c) The committee to meet com
mittee of representative peddlers II
conference for the purpose of dis
cussing their grievances and hearing
suggestions for their alienation.
The payment of definite amount b.
the peddlers into recognized de
partnlent of public markets for yearl.
permits, instead of the present 81
week system.
The definite establishment OF fina
| authority in the matter of complaint:
1 by peddlers or supervisors.
A modification or withdrawal OF the
present application blanks issued t
peddlers for permits on the grount
/ that they are odious and not com
| patible with free citizenship.
A@ M@ Me ~