New-York tribune., 1922-10-20
O'Malley Seeks
To Break Solid
Peddlers' Front
Attempt 10 Define Status
of Public Markets Seen
as Move to Weaken the
Hue X ksters' Opposition
Could Punish sAgitators'
Plan Is to Divide Vendors
Into Small Groups OF,
Basis of What They Sell

Commissioner Of Markets O'Malley'a
sudden desire for statute definition
Of the term public markets" is con-
sidercd somewhat unnecessary. since,
by an act passed by the state Sensta
on January 23 Of this year. the law
defined as public markets only those
dealing with foodstufYs, ice and poultry.
The attempt Of the Board of Alder.
men Tuesday 70 push through an
amendment to the public markets ordi-
nance defining the status ~of public
markets within the City Of Eaw York
and making II misdemeanor for any
one to use the word public" in con-
nection with any market not under the
jurisdiction Of the city, 10 seen rs an
attempt to break through the solid
front Of the pedd'ers who have been
agitating for reforms.
BY admitting only vendors Of food
stufYs, Ice and poultry into the
pubic markets" division. peddlers Of
dry goods and other articles, who are
more numerous than the foodstuffs
men, Taust be grouped In new ciassi-
fcation. II IS asserted.
Can Set Up Small Groups
In such q way IL will be possible for
the Department Of Markets to group
peddlers Of shoes in one body, pedd.ers
Ct cutlsry and utensils In another. dry
goods men in third. and SO on; Each
group will be separate and distinct
from the Others. II the shoe men
should suffer an injustice under s1ch
elias sifcations 1t Is probable that they
would bear It alone. The East Side
peddler must look out for himself, and
far from interfering with the shoe
dea'er group, should he happen to
sell scissors for living, he would
strictly mind his own business, as long
as he waa unmolested by the city
supervisors.
Such en arrangement would provide
an effective means for breaking the
concerted pleas of the peddters Cor the
correction of evils In the street mar
kets, say these who have been seek
ing correction Of alleged evil condi.
tiJns in the street markets.
Another solution to the mystery OF
the Commissioners need for defining
the term public markets" ia presented
that new classification Of markets
would offer.
o-~hord Street has been For years the
favored street market section Of tn,
elly, AAolsew,ves ha, @ made it a hahi
70 come from homes fifteen and twent,
blocks awoy in order to save q penn,
or two on each article purchased from
the pushcart rts. One dime saved on tn,
aggregate purchases of the day m ke
20 cents at the end Of the week. to b
spent on more milk for the baby,
! is pointed out. -
a'OTehard Street Prosperous Stand
4 1tsetA a. pushcart on Ofchasd Street usuali
is a prosperous one; that is, it yield
its owner enough to support his fan
lily. Some pushcarts stationed nea
the Williamsburg Bridge or along til
dark streets In the shadow Of the Mar
haitian Bridge do not do as we'll. Som
days 60 by In these districts when th
pushcarts earn not penny, th
Orchard Street peddlers will tell yo,
If the Commissioner OF Markets see
At, he can grant an applicant for pusi
cart space stand on coveted Orcnal
Street, or on Houston Street, whel
his opportunities for making a livir
are lin ted. And perhaps the peddls