An Old Problem Once more the municipal market is before the people of Philadelphia. Last week resolutions were introduced into both branches of Councils authorizing the establishment of nine curb markets in as many different sections of the city. A Step in the Right Direction The establishment of municipal markets is one of the best ways to secure better prices for both farmers and consumers. The greater part of our population spends from forty to fifty per cent of its income for food. It therefore should be one of the important functions of the city to provide the means whereby good food can be bought cheaply. This venture will not be successful, however, unless it provides at the same time an incentive to produce more and more food. The Colored Gentleman in the Fuel Supply The resolution just introduced provides for "a permit to be issued free of charge and to farmers or other persons who are equipped to offer fruits and vegetables for sale to the public only." The italics are our own. We understood that in the event the city established curb markets, regulations would be enforced which would make it necessary to establish the responsibility of the farmer before a license and stand would be granted to him. The "other persons" phrase in the above mentioned resolution, however, kills entirely any hopes for a real "farmers' market" by granting the privilege of a stand to any middleman who desires to sell fruits and vegetables exclusive ly. If it is merely an extension of an existing evil, the curb market will do little to reduce the cost of food to the consumer and nothing to encourage increased production on the part of the farmer, which is the basic need to produce low prices. The chief cause for complaint has been that in almost all of the markets, both private and municipal, the number of farmers present is exceedingly small. This condition has been caused by the excessive rents charged for stalls and by the numerous restrictions which in fact protect the retailer and discourage the farmer. The Result The general result has been that few farmers attempt to sell directly to the consumer. The curbstone market, being free, should offer an inducement to the farmer. However, the farmers who must come in long distances on regular days cannot advantageously patronize them unless they can be assured a market for all the products of their farm. How would the small farmer dispose of his chickens, eggs, cottage cheese and the numerous other articles on which he must depend to make his trip into town successful? Even the truck farmer relies to a greater or lesser extent on the sale of articles other than "fruits and vegetables." Unfair At the present time there is nothing to prevent any retailer from taking a stall in any market, private or municipal, and representing himself as a "farmer" and asking high prices for "fresh" vegetables, eggs and similar commodities, thus putting the real farmer at a great disadvantage. Killing Two Birds with One Stone If, instead of discouraging him, steps were taken to encourage the farmer by making it advantageous for him to bring his produce to the city and dispose of it directly to the consumer, two ends would be attained-the farmer could demand higher prices for his products than he has at present any chance of getting and the consumer would at the same time be buying cheaper and fresher food. The farmer, by getting good prices for his articles, would be encouraged to speed up production which is the most necessary thing to be accom. plished. The Remedy Philadelphia's machinery for the distribution of food supplies within the city is too antiquated to be patched up. It needs to be entirely overhauled and expanded. The job is a big one and requires the services of a big man. Fifty years of talking is sufficient. The time has come to act. "The creation of an efficient electorate is far more important than the mere efficient performance of a governmental function. For this reason it may be unsound to urge that a power of government should be taken from the city because it has been improperly used or that the state could do the work better. The same sort of reasoning would lead us to forbid the child to use the pen because, forsooth, he cannot at once write as well as his instructor and sometimes smears himself and the copy with ink. With this note of warning we may turn to a solution of the problem of the control of police."-A. R. Hatton. Amusement for Playtime In these days everyone, young and old alike, recognizes the necessity of play. Labor laws are made in most of our states to secure playtime for our workers; public and private agencies have been organized to give us the amusement we require. Our city does much toward providing recreation for us. We have parks, playgrounds, play streets, recreation centers and piers; we have public libraries, museums, free lectures and art galleries; we have parades and band concerts-all to keep us occupied during playtime. And yet, when we see children, youths and even adults in the streets seeking amusement, engaged often in activities of questionable character, then we realize how much still is to be done. Schools Idle about Five-sixths of the Time One of the possibilities that has largely escaped our notice is the use of school buildings for recreational purposes. Most of these buildings are open about seven hours a day, five days in the week, for forty weeks. They represent a large investment of public funds. How much greater would be the return on our investment if the schools were utilized for more hours of the day! Is it not an economic waste for them to remain idle for so much time? In 1913 we began to make more use of our school buildings, but unfortunately, we cannot claim much progress. Last fall provision was made for the opening at night of seventeen public schools, to provide recreation for those living nearby. Lectures, gymnastics, games, concerts, community sings, dramatic performances, moving pictures and dances are among the entertain |