National Republican (Washington City

Mr. J. B. Wilson gave an account of an interview held with the District Commissioners, in which Mr. Dent stated that he was opposed to corporation markets and advised those interested in the Corcoran Square market to go in with some company. He and others had opposed such action and had agreed to compromise on half a square for the school and half for the market, but the Commissioners had not kept faith with them, but slipped in an obnoxious clause in the appropriation bill to defeat the will of the people. He knew that the K-Street market was largely interested in breaking down the one on Corcoran Square, but thought the people most interested should have some voice in the matter.

Mr. R. C. Hewitt said he had advocated a market on this square against great opposition, and was still of the opinion that Corcoran Square was the proper place for it. He inquired why all the lawyers on the school board were retained in the interest of the market companies on K street and Pennsylvania avenue? The only desire of the latter was to break up the O-street market and divert trade to themselves.

Mr. George Donaldson said he had remained in the O-street market shed when every one else deserted it. The first day they left, Wednesday, he sold sixty-two cents' worth of stuff; the following Saturday he sold $102 worth. He had been told by men in the K-street market that if they could get half square with the company they would leave and go up to O street. (The remarks of this speaker seemed the most relished by the crowd, as he was recognized as an old dealer.)

Mr. McGuire said that the market was a convenience to the people, and the building should be erected without any further delay. It looked to him very much as though the District Committee in Congress had been paid to work against the O-Street market, or else, why did they not give heed to the wishes of the people most interested? In concluding, he favored the building of a market fronting on Seventh street, which should take in the whole square.

Mr. S. R. Bond, the last speaker, said Congress did not want to disregard the wishes of the people, but they had only heard one side of the question—from the enemies of the O-street market. The revenue derived from the sheds now in use paid the interest on the $100,000, and it would be a shame to cut down this income for a school site, which could be purchased anywhere in the District for one-quarter that sum. He urged his hearers to use their influence upon Congress to defeat the clause complained of, and at the conclusion of his speech the meeting adjourned.