100 years ago in The Saratogian
Thursday, March 13, 1919. Troy mayor Cornelius F. Burns shuts down a contentious conference on Troy’s public market this morning with a promise to investigate the legal aspects of the dispute more closely.
The meeting follows last Friday’s meeting of the Troy Chamber of Commerce’s agricultural committee, which called on the mayor to revamp the public market schedule to allow a wholesale market until 7:30 a.m., followed by a retail market. Committee chairman Hugh C. Galbraith hopes that this arrangement will resolve a long-standing dispute over access to market stalls.
Consumer groups want to maximize access to produce direct from local farms and oppose the leasing of stalls to a “monopoly” of retailers. At this morning’s conference Women’s Civic League representative Evanetta Hale and Central Federation of Labor leader I. Seymour Scott tell the mayor that they’re “unalterably opposed to the leasing or renting of stalls.” They prefer a “free public market” with stalls available to growers on a first-come, firstserved basis.
A representative of the Market Growers’ Association tells the mayor that “unless they were accorded better treatment next year than they had been thus far this season they would transfer the market to Watervliet.” In addition, “other matters were brought forward on which the representatives disagreed and were silenced by the mayor.”
With “no apparent solution of the problem” at hand, Burns announces that “he would look into the law governing the rental of the market and render a decision within a short period.”
Receive Veterans of Great Conflict
With help from returning veterans of the world war, Troy’s Marcus D. Russell camp, United Spanish War Veterans, had “the largest representation” at a recent legislative hearing on a bill setting civil-service hiring preferences for veterans.
Commander Joseph F. Tinney tells tonight’s meeting at Camp Russell’s 275 River Street headquarters that the Troy delegation had earned a “commendatory letter” from the state commander. The bill now has “apparently little opposition after the men of the world war defined their standing in regard to the measure.”
Warning against complacency, Tinney advises veterans to “hold themselves in readiness and be on the alert and accept nothing but favorable action on this important bill.”
Fourteen world war veterans are admitted as honorary members of Camp Russell tonight.
“This honor of distinction which has been bestowed upon you comrades will have a significant meaning in years to come and will be sincerely appreciated when your [own] organization is perfected,” Tinney tells the younger vets, “You are a part of the great army and navy which has given to the world a new freedom deserving the homage and praise of all.”
— Kevin Gilbert