Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-31
MARKET TENANTS
QUIT RELUCTANTLY
Some to Finish Out Final Day
and Plea to Hoover
May Be Made.

Moving activity incident to the clos
ing of Center Market will reach its peak
after dark this evening, 1t was indicated
today, with many of the dealers affected
by the Governments order to evacuate
by midnight planning to round out their
final day of business at the historic old
market place before moving to new loca-
tons or abandoning business altogether.
A decision of Controller General Nc
Carl yesterday Interpreting the law con-
corning the closing of the market place,
was to the effect that the Department
of Agriculture, which operates Center
Market, would have no warrant to con-
tinue the expenditure of public funds to
continue the operation of the market
after midnight tonight.
The controllers ruling came after
Secretary of Agriculture Hyde yester-
day had asked McCarl for an opinion
as to the legality of an extension. Mr..
Hyde had been approached earlier in
the day by delegation from the Center
Market Dealers Association, which
sought to have the time limit extended
for a period Of at least 80 days.
Farmers Call on Hyde.
A delegation representing Maryland
farmers who will be affected by the
evacuation order called on Secretary
Hyde this morning. Their call was of
no avail, however, since the controller
generals ruling of yesterday is &C.
cepted as final. A delegation interested
in the construction of q new farmers
market, which sought an extension un-
til provision for the retail farmers
could be made, also met with no sue
cess in this respect.
An argument of the delegation yes
terday was that the annual budget of
the Department of Agriculture, which
mencing July /, had provided for APP
preparations to continue the operation
of the market through next June 80.
The later congressional legislation, how
ever, ordering the closing of the market
by January /, 1881, Is understood to
override this appropriation.
Eugene w. Wilson, chairman Of q
farmers committee of the Mar
ket Dealers Association, sal. that
preparations are under way L. is COM
m1ttee to make a plea to President
Hoover for an extension of time on the
closing of Center Market This will
constitute last attempt by the market
people to offset the closing, it was said.
Senator Tries to Help.
Senator Goldsborough of Maryland,
approached by Mr.. Wilson yesterday in
connection with obtaining an extension
for the markets operation, expressed
sympathy with the farmers position.
The Maryland Senator was in COM
muhication with Secretary Hyde'S office
and with the office of Assistant Secre-
tary Heath at the Treasury today, but
his understanding was that the control
Ter generals ruling was final. Senator'S
TydingS and Shortridge also have been
interested in the case
Although most Of the market dealers
being ousted tonight have obtained
new stalls in other markets in various
sections of the city, there are some who
have not yet secured new locations.
Some Of these plan to retire from bust
ness, while others are still fighting the
evacuation order.
Probably the hardest hit of the many
who will be affected by the Govern
ment'S order are some 400 retail farmers
who set up their stands outside the
market building in the shelter of the
long canopies that circumvent the
structure. Provision for these at other
market places is limited, so that with
the removal of retail trade from the
Center Market area by the transfer of
be without stands and will be virtually
Many Affected by Order.
Business houses in the vicinity of
the Center Market, including restau-
rants depending upon the nearly 1000
dealers and employees connected with
the market for their business and also
a number of butchers and fresh food
dealers whose cold storage facilities de-
pend on the Center Market system, also
are being affected by the closing of the
establishment. Some cold storage
houses are going out of business, while
other houses are cutting down their
STATS in anticipation of Stacker BUSH
ness.
There are between 200 and 800 whole
sale farmers who bring produce to the
farmers marketplace south of Center
Market each day, it is estimated, but
according to representative commit
tee of farmers, these will not be Sc
riously affected.