Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-08
DECISION RESERVED
ON Center MARKET.
Both Sides of Question Ar
gued at Hearing-HecklerS
Called Down.

Following a lively public hearing yes
terday afternoon on Senator Capper'S
bill to have the District establish a
new Center Market when the lresert
one Is torn down, the Senate District
committee. has the question under adj
visement for decision at later meeting.
Spokesman for the Federation of Citi-
Gems Associations, representatives OF
several neighborhood organizations ana
O large number of individual house
wives supported the measure. Protests
against the bill, on the ground that
the Government should not put itself
into competition with private markets
in different. parts of the city, were
voiced by John e. Burgett OF the Co.
lumbia Heights Business Mems Assocla-
ton and Frederick j. Rice. Mr.. Rice
said he spoke for the Columbia Heights
Citizens Association and That he also
was representing several private neigh
borhood markets.
HeckIers AdmOnished.
While two opponents of the bill we're
testifying they were interrupted several
times with impromptu questions from
individuals in the audience. Chairman
Capper admoniShed the hecklers to let
the witnesses proceed in order.
DR.. George @. Havenner and Edwin 5,
bill for the Federation of Citizens As
sociations. Hege said a large market,
centrally located, tends to stabilize prices
at a reasonably low level. He also teSti-
fed the new market would amortiZe its
cost in IA years. The pending bill au-
thorizes an appropriation of $1,000, 900
for purchase of land and erection of a
new market.
The bill would leave the selection of
IL rs-f,- Co.,
Rotary of Agriculture and the director of
public buildings and parks, but the ques-
ton of location was discussed to some
extent by several witnesses.
Mrs. Harvey Wiley of the District
Federation of Women's Clubs, expressed
regret that the present Center Market
Is to be closed. She suggested calling
the new market terminal market and
placing it in the Southwest, where. she
said, the Fish Market has been built
and the Farmers Market has been au-
thorized.
Urge Site North OF Avenue.
Later in the hearing A. j. Driscoll
of Mid-City Citizens Association and
Grover w. Ayers of the West End as
ISOLATION told the committee they
thought the new market should be
north of Pennsylvania avenue, although
they did not advocate any particular
location.
When Congress was considering the
legislation for the establishment OF
new Farmers Market more than year
ago there were strong conflicting views
over location.
Oscar B. Robinson, speaking for the
dealers in Center Market, made an
urgent plea for passage of the bill.
Mr.. Robinson said the present market,
which is operated by the Department
of Agriculture. produces net revenue OF
500, 900 a year. The department leases
the stalls in the market to the dealers.
Mrs. w. B. Ridgely, speaking as one
who patronizes the market regularly,
told the committee there is a strong
sentiment connected with the old Cen
ter Market. Others who spoke in ia
vor of replacing Center Market in
cluded Mrs. Henry Watson and Mrs.
George w. Levy.
Glass Offers Suggestion.
At the outset Chairman Capper told
his colleagues there seems to be gen.
efal demand here for the replacement
of the market, which is to be torn down
to make way for the new Department
Of Justice Building. A resolution is
pending in Congress now to close the
present market July /.
SenatOrSc ROBSON OF kentucky, kean
of New Jersey, Copeland of New York
and Glass of Virginia took part in
questioning witnesses as to various
phases of the market problem. When
It developed that the Commissioners
have not yet reported their views on
the measure, Senator Glass expressed
the view that a preliminary hearing on
the question should be held by the
District heads.
Mr.. Rice, in opposing the bill, said
he did not object to the dealers in Cen
ter Market building new market and
competing on even terms, but he did
not believe the Government should go
into the market business.