I




DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

BUREAU OF STANDARDS

S. W, STRATTON Director

Weights and Measures

NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE

OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS STATES

HELD AT THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS

WASHINGTON. D. C. MAY 26. 27. 28. AND 29, 1914

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFRCE

1915
1
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

BUREAU OF STANDARDS

S, W. STRATTON ^ Director

NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE

OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS STATES

HELD AT THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS

WASHINGTON, D, C, MAY 26, 27. 28, AND 29, 1914

WASHINGTON

GCVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

I9I5
ADDITIONAL COPIES

OF THIS PUBLICATION MAT BE PEOCTJEED FBOM

TtTR SUPEEmTENDEOT OF DOCUMENTS

GOVEENMENT PEINTING OITICE WASHINGTON, D C. AT

ao CENTS PER COPY

V
OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES.

OFFICERS.

President, Dr. S. W. Steatton, Director of the Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C. Vice President, Mr. William L. Waldkon, State Superintendent of Weights and

Measures, Trenton, N. J. Secretary, Mr. L. A. Fischee, Chief, Division of Weights and Measures, Bureau

of Standards, Washington, D. C. Treasurer, Mr. Chas. C. Neale, State Commissioner of Weights and Measures,

St. Paul, Minn.

COMMITTEES.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

Mr. H. H. Henet, State Commissioner of Weights and Measures, Chester, Vt. Mr. J. T. Willett, Chief State Inspector of Weights and Measures, South

Bend, Ind.

Mr. F. G. BucHTEL, Deputy State Sealer of Weights and Measures, Salem, Greg.

Mr. F. P. Downing, Chief State Inspector of Weight and Measures, Madison,

Wis.

Mr. A. W. RiNEHAET, Deputy State Superintendent of Weights and Measures,

Olympia, Wash.

Mr. Thomas F. Bgan, State Superintendent of Weights and Measures, Hartford, Conn.

Mr. F. C. Albeecht, Chief State Inspector of Weights and Measures, Columbus,

Ohio.

Mr. Joseph Habtigan, Commissioner of Weights and Measures, New Yorlj City.

Mr. Lucius P. Beown, State Superintendent of Weights and Measures, Nashville, Tenn.

Mr. E. W. Van Dxttn, State Superintendent of Weights and Measures, Des

Moines, Iowa.

Mr. O. Evans Mikesell, County Inspector of Weights and Measures, Washington, Pa. committee on toleeances and specifications.

Mr. L. A. Fischee, Chief, Division of Weights and Measures, Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C. Mr. J. C. Connobs, Troy, N. T. Mr. F. P. Downing.

committee on constitution and by-laws.

Mr. A. W. RiNEHAET, Deputy State Superintendent of Weights and Measures,

Olympia, Wash.

Mr. C. B. WooLLEY, Sealer of Weights and Measures, Boston, Mass.

Dr. W. F. Hand, State Chemist, Agricultural and Mechanical College, Agricultural College, Miss.

COMMITTEE OF BEFEEENCE.

Mr. H. H. Heney, State Commissioner of Weights and Measures, Chester, Vt. Mr. E. F. Stimfson, Deputy State Sealer of Weights and Measures. Lawrence,

Kans.

Mr. WILLIAM F. Cluett, Chief Deputy Inspector of Weights and Measures, Chicago, lU. COMMITTEE ON THE METBIC SYSTEM.

Mr. Joseph Haetigan, Commissioner of Weights and Measures, New York City.

Mr. Thuee Hanson, State Commissioner of Weights and Measures, Boston,

Mass.

Mr. F. G. Buchtel, Deputy State Sealer of Weights and Measures, Salem, Oreg.

Mr. F. P. Downing, Chief State Inspector of Weights and Measures, Madison,

Wis.

Mr. Lucius P. Beown, State Superintendent of Weights and Measures, Nashville, Tenn.
LIST OF PERSONS WHO ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE.

STATE DELEGATES.

Connecticut Thomas F. Egan, State Superintendent of Weights and

Measures, Hartford.

District of Columbia_.JoHN H. Sherman, Superintendent of Weights, Measures,

and Markets, Washington.

Idaho James H. Wallis, State Sealer of Weights and Measures,

Boise.

Illinois John C. Richaedson, Special Representative, Edinburg.

Indiana H. E. Barnard, State Commissioner of Weights and Measures, Indianapolis.

John T. Willett, Chief State Inspector of Weights and

Measures, Indianapolis.

Herman F. Adam, Inspector of Weights and Measures of

Indianapolis.

John F. Sullivan, City and County Sealer of Weights and

Measures, Crawfordsville.

Iowa E. W. Van Duyn, State Superintendent of Weights and

Measures, Des Moines.

Kansas B. F. Stimpson, Deputy State Sealer of Weights and

Measures, Lawrence.

Maine John A. Roberts, State Sealer of Weights and Measures,

Augusta.

Levi S. Pennell, Deputy State Sealer of Weights and

Measures, Augusta.

Massachusetts Thtjee Hanson, State Commissioner of Weights and Measures, Boston. John J. Cummings, State Inspector of Weights and Measures, Boston. Michigan Burr B. Lincoln, Deputy State Dairy and Food Commissioner, Lansing.

Minnesota Chas. C. Neale, State Commissioner of Weights and Measures, St. Paul.

Mrs. Chas. C. Neale, Special Representative, St. Paul.

W. B. Thompson, Chief Clerk, Railroad and Warehouse

Commission, St. Paul.

Missouri James W. Griffin, Inspector of Weights and Measures of

St. Louis.

Montana John P. Riddell, Deputy State Sealer of Weights and

Measures, Helena.

New Jersey William L. Waldeon, State Superintendent of Weights

and Measures, Trenton.

North Carolina Thomas F. Beockwell, State Standard Keeper,. Raleigh.

New York John F. Paerell, State Superintendent of Weights and

Measures, Albany.

F. Reichmann, Special Representative, New York City.

Ohio Feed C. Albeecht, Chief State Inspector of Weights and

Measures, Columbus.

Oklahoma W. P. Haseman, Professor of Physics, University of

Oklahoma, Norman.

Oregon F. G. Buchtel, Deputy State Sealer of Weights and

Measures, Salem.

Pennsylvania James Sweeney, Chief, State Bureau of Standards, Harrisburg.

Porto Rico F. S. Holbrook, Associate Physicist, Bureau of Standards,

Washington, D. C.
LIST OF PEESONS WHO ATTENDED. 5

.Lucius P. Beown, State Superintendent of Weights and

Measures, Nasliville.

J. G. PoRTEE, Assistant State Sealer of Weights and Measures, Knoxville.

W. S. TiTCOMB, Deputy State Sealer of Weights and Measures, Knoxville.

-J. S. Abbott, Chemist in Charge of State Cooperative Food

and Drug Control, Bureau of Chemistry, Washington,

D. C. John W. Richardson, State Superintendent of Weights

and Measures, Richmond.

.Hugh H. Heney, State Commissioner of Weights and

Measures, Chester.

-F. P. Downing, Chief State Inspector of Weights and

Measures, Madison.

-A. W. RiNEHAET, Deputy State Superintendent of Weights

and Measures, Olympia.

. Samuel W. Patteeson, Special Representative, Vivian.

H. S. Green, Chief, Legislative Reference Bureau, Charleston.

CITY AND COUNTY DELEGATES.

Bridgeport, Conn Dennis Kelly, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Fairfield Co., Conn__ Thomas J. Cunningham, Sealer of Weights and Measures,

Bridgeport.

New Haven, Conn Edwaed J. Maeoney, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Chicago, 111 Pijtee Zimmee, Inspector of Weights and Measures.

William F. Cluett, Chief Deputy Inspector of Weights

and Measures.

Evansville, Ind J. C. Wallenmeyee, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Hammond, Ind Feank J. O'Roueke, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Montgomery Co., Ind- John F. Sullivan, Inspector of Weights and Measures,

Crawfordsville.

Penobscot Co., Me Daniel J. Mooney, Sealer of Weights and Measures,

South Brewer.

Baltimore, Md George A. Donoghue, Superintendent of Weights and

Measures.

John Beendel, Inspector of Weights and Measures.

J. A. Haeffnoe, Inspector of Weights and Measures.

J. J. Lanahan, Inspector of Weights and Measures.

James W. Lynch, Inspector of Weights and Measures.

Charles J. Silveeson, Inspector of Weights and Measures.

Charles Volk, Inspector of Weights and Pleasures.

Braintree, Mass Charles S. Hannafoed, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Gloucester, Mass John J. Currier, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Haverhill, Mass Joseph G. Powers, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Holyoke, Mass J. D. Goddu, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Lynn, Mass Chaeles P. Murray, Sealer of Weights and Measures. • New Bedford, Mass__.JoHN H. Ryan, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Newton, Mass Andrew Prior, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Waltham, Mass Fred M. Haggeety, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Battle Creek, Mich F. G. Barnard, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Detroit, Mich George F. Austin, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Grand Rapids, Mich__JoHN J. Byrne, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Manchester, N. H John E. Piller, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Bayonne, N. J H. Mainhard, Superintendent of Weights and Measures.

Cape May Co., N. J—D. W. Roxan, Superintendent of Weights and Measures,

Cape May.

Elizabeth, N. J Wm. J. Bender, Superintendent of Weights and Measures.

Essex Co., N. J Aethur Haeris, Superintendent of Weights and Measures,

Newark.

Hudson Co., N. J—T. J. Waldron, Superintendent of Weights and Measures,

Jersey City.

Jersey City, N. J John S. Burke, Superintendent of Weights and Measures.

Kearney, N. J J. D. Castles, Superintendent of Weights and Measures.

Tennessee

Texas

Virginia

Vermont

Wisconsin

Washington

West Virginia,
6 LIST OF PERSONS WHO ATTENDED.

Monmouth Co., N. J__.Thomas Wyncoop, Superintendent of Weights and Measures, Asbury Park

Newark, N. J J. H. Sullivan, Superintendent of Weights and Measures.

Pateick J. Cattfield, Assistant Superintendent of Weights

and Measures.

Passaic, N. J Peter J. Gallagher, Superintendent of Weights and

Measures.

Paterson, N. J Haeey Eoseneeldt, Superintendent of Weights and

Measures.

Trenton, N. J Jas. O'Donovan, Superintendent of Weights and Measures.

Union Co., N. J A. W. Schwartz, Superintendent of Weights and Measures, Elizabeth.

Fulton, N. Y Harey M. O'Beien, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Jefferson County, N.Y.C. H. Bulson, Sealer of Weights and Measures, Theresa.

New Yorkj N. Y Jos. Haetigan, Commissioner of Weights and Measures.

Fred H. Tighe, Deputy Commissioner of Weights and

Measures.

Oswego County, N. Y_ F. H. French, Sealer of Weights and Measures, Fulton.

Watertown, N. Y Frank E. Martell, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Cleveland, Ohio W. Q. Radcllffe, Commissioner of Weights and Measures.

Columbus, Ohio Lewis M. Ort, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Madison County, Ohio L. J. Leonard, Sealer of Weights and Measures, London.

Marion, Ohio Chas. M. Tobin, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Allentown, Pa B. Frank Rinn, Inspector of Weights and Measures.

Bradford County, Pa_ R. F. Adams, Inspector of Weights and Measures, Sayre.

Fayette County, Pa— W. J. Callaghan, Sealer of Weights and Measures, Uniontown.

Franklin County, Pa_ F. A. Foreman, Sealer of Weights and Measures, Chambersburg.

Harrisburg, Pa H. D. Reel, Inspector of Weights and Measures.

Johnstown, Pa H. E. Mitchell, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Lehigh County, Pa H. E. Biery, Sealer of Weights and Measures, Allentown.

Luzerne County, Pa E. J. Keating, Sealer of Weights and Measures, WilkesBarre. Northampton County, John A. Person, Sealer of Weights and Measures, WalPa. nutport.

Philadelphia County, John Virdin, Supervisor of Weights and Measures.

Pa. Benjamin M. Sharp, Chief Clerk of Weights and Measures Offlce. John Umstead, Inspector of Weights and Measures.

Pittsburgh, Pa William B. McGrady, Deputy Inspector of Weights and

Measures.

Sullivan County, Pa—N. Cox, Inspector of Weights and Measures, Dushore.

Washington County, O. Evans Mikesell, Sealer of Weights and Measures,

Pa. Washington.

Chattanooga, Tenn_—T. F. Mahoney, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Memphis, Tenn W. P. Shea, Jr., Assistant Inspector of Weights and Measures. Alexandria, Va L. D. Lyles, Adjuster of Weights and Measures.

Ac'comac County, Va_ S. J. Stevenson, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Prince William C. Faeqttae, Sealer of Weights and Measures, Manassas.

County, Va.

Petersburg, Va A. S. Johnson, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Richmond, Va T. W. Joseph, Inspector of Weights and Measures.

Milwaukee, Wis Wm. F. Steinel, Deputy Sealer of Weights and Measures.

VISITORS.

Dana T. Ackerly Counsel National Wholesale Grocers' Association, 32 Liberty Street, New York, N. Y. Carl L. Alsberg Chief Bureau of Chemistry, Washington, D. C. FeankAlletti Howe Scale Co., New York, N. Y. HollisB. Bagg Inspector of Scales, Scoville Manufacturing Co., Waterbury, Conn.

W. J. Barnes Detroit Automatic Scale Co., Detroit, Mich.

H.BEIQHAM Salesman, Dover Stamping & Manufacturing Co., Cambridge, Mass.
LIST OF PEESONS WHO ATTENDED, 7

W. S. Btjen The Sturges & Bum Manufacturing Co., 50 Cliurch Street,

Chicago, 111. W. G. Campbell Chief Eastern Inspection District, Bureau of Chemistry,

Washington, D. C. R. F. Chatillon John Chatillon & Son, 89 ClifC Street, New York, N. Y.

A. H. Cheslet Manager Philadelphia Branch, The Standard Scale & Supply Co., 35 South Fourth Street, Philadelphia, Pa.

A. L. Cheistt Special Representative Angldile Scale Co., Elkhart, Ind.

J. C. CoNNOES W. & L. E. Gurley, Troy, N. Y. D. A.COEEY S. F. Bowser & Co. (Inc.), Fort Wayne, Ind.

W. Feank Daub The Howe Scale Co., New York, N. Y.

L. D. Davis Supervisor Scales & Weighing, Baltimore & Ohio Railroad,

Baltimore, Md.

Feed R. Drake National Wholesale Grocers' Association, Baston, Pa.

G. W. Deexelfus Fairbanks Co., Baltimore, Md.

A. Neal Dtiggee Chief Scale Inspector, Tennessee Coal & Iron Railroad,

box 77, Ensley, Ala. A. W. Epeight Scale Inspector, Pennsylvania Railroad, Altoona, Pa. GeoegeA. FiEL Special Representative Dover Stamping & Manufacturing

Co., Cambridge, Mass.

H. A. Foss Board of Trade Weighmaster, care Board of Trade, Chicago, IlL R. S. Feench Business Manager National League of Commission Merchants, 90 West Broadway, New York, N. Y. B. B. GoEDON —.Scale Inspector, Pennsylvania Lines West, 1530 Broadway,

Logansport, Ind.

W. W. Geaham District Manager Toledo Scale Co., Philadelphia, Pa. A. H. Hafnee Special Representative Pennsylvania Railroad, Mechanical

Engineer, 2610 Beale Avenue, Altoona, Pa.

R. J. Hagey Henry Troemner, Philadelphia, Pa.

C. H. Hapgood Toledo Scale Co., Toledo, Ohio.

H. L. Haeeis Pacific Coast Borax Co., 100 William Street, New York,

N. Y. H. O. Hem Engineer, Strait Scale Co., Kansas City, Mo.

W. E. HiLLTEB Assistant Chemist, Bureau of Chemistry, Washington, D. C. Cael B. Hinsman Vice President Howe Scale Co., Rutland, Vt. Jos. HoPKiNSON Superintendent The Computing Scale Co., Dayton, Ohio.

Geoege a. Howe Assistant Superintendent of Weights, Measures, and Markets, Washington, D. C. G. R. Johnson Virginia-Carolina Chemical Co., Petersburg, Va.

Geo. W. Keplee General Manager The Computing Scale Co., Dayton, Ohio.

W. T. Keeshaw Special Representative Hersey Manufacturing Co., 174 Fulton Street, New York, N. Y. B. W.King Scale Expert, Standard Scale Co., Detroit, Mich.

H. D. Knowlton Fairbanks Co., New York, N. Y. A. E. Kohlee Supervisor of Weights, Baltimore Chamber of Commerce,

Baltimore, Md.

H. M. Loomis Chemist, Food Control, Bureau of Chemistry, Washington,

D. C. Samuel B. Lux Chairman Legislative Committee, Western Fruit Jobbers'

Association, Topeka, Kans

Geoege a. Mann Streeter Amet Weighing & Recording Co.. Chicago, 111. Albert H. Meads Attorney for Toledo Scale Co., 1302 Chamber of Commerce,

Chicago, 111. EmilMenz Scale Expert, Hamilton Scale & Tank Co., Hamilton, Ohio.

W. R. Metz Superintendent of Buildings, Government Printing Office,

Washington, D. C.

C. G. MiCHALis Manager Torsion Balance Co., 92 Reade Street, New

York, N. Y.

C. W. MooMAW Specialist in Cooperative Organization, Office of Markets,

Washington, D. C. G. A. MooEE Assistant Manager Detroit Range & Boiler Co., Detroit,

Mich.

C. T MoEE Department of Agriculture, Office of Markets, Washington,

D. C.
LIST OP PERSONS WHO ATTENDED.

D. J. MoYNiHAN, Jr The Moneyweight Scale Co., Dayton Computing Scale Co.,

Boston, Mass.

B. P. MuLLOT Mulloy Scale Co., New Albany, Ind.

G. H. Neidlinger Neidlinger Bros., New York, N. Y. W. H. Nicholson, Jr_ Assistant Manager, Whitall Tatum Co., Millville, N. J. Ernest Ohnell Special Representative American Kron Scale Co., 39 Cort- landt Street, New York, N. Y. D. C. Palmer Standard Computing Scale Co., Boston, Mass.

S. B. Peterman__ Manager, Henry Troemner, 911 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pa.

R. G. Phillips Secretary International Apple Shippers' Association, 612

Mercantile Building, Rochester, N. Y.

J. T. RiGGS Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Co., 1130 Railway

Exchange, Chicago, 111. Wm. H. Rodgers District Manager Angldile Scale Co., Philadelphia, Pa. Wm. M. Roteance Treasurer Western Fruit Jobbers' Association, Provo,

Utah.

Wm. T. Saefell, Jr Federal Sales & Service Co., Munsey Building, Washington, D. C.

J. A. ScHMiTz Scale Inspector, 90 Board of Trade Building, Chicago, 111. L. S. Schoenthal Assistant Superintendent of Weights, Measures, and Markets, Washington, D. C.

C. F. Shtjpp Erecting Engineer, the Winters-Coleman Scale Co., 237

North Limestone Street, Springfield, Ohio.

E. A. Stephens General Superintendent Angldile Computing Scale Co., Elkhart, Ind.

C. G. Stoody Chief Scale Inspector Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Co., Boom 323, La Salle Street Station, Chicago, 111. C. G. Strttbler President Strubler Scale Co., Elkhart, Ind.

G. L. Strubler Representative Strubler Scale Co., Elkhart, Ind.

John L. Theobald Eastern Representative Toledo Scale Co., 1358 Broadway,

New York, N. Y.

J. L. Troemner Henry Troemner, Philadelphia, Pa. Wm. L. Wagner_ President Western Fruit Jobbers' Association of America, 123 West South Water Street, Chicago, 111. W. Earl Wakeman__ Toledo Scale Co., 504 H Street NW., Washington, D. C.

J. H. Warren_ Chief Weigher Baltimore Chamber of Commerce, Baltimore, Md.

G. I. Waterhotjse Norfolk & Western Railway. Roanoke, Va.

W.H. Weber Computing Scale Co., Dayton, Ohio.

Daniel G. Wells District Sales Manager Detroit Automatic Scale Co., 400

Gratiot Avenue. Detroit, Mich.

Robert C. West Assistant Scale Inspector, Pennsylvania Railroad, Harrisburg, Pa. Walter W.Wood Salesman, Standard Scale & Supply Co., 35 South Fourth

Street, Philadelphia, Pa. H. C. WoRKALL Gilbert & Barker Manufacturing Co., Springfield, Mass.

A. G. Zeibel Scale Supervisor Chicago Great Northern Railroad, Oelwein, Iowa.
CONTENTS.

PrasT Session (Morning op Titesday, May 26, 1914).

Page.

Address of welcome by Hon. William C. Redfield, Secretary of Commerce. ... 11 Address by the president, Dr. S. W. Stratton 12

Report of tbe secretary, Mr. L. A. Fischer 15

The net-weight amendment to the national food and drugs act, by Dr. Carl L. Alsberg, chief Bitreau of Chemistry 18

Discussion of above paper 22

The metric system, by Mr. Fred R. Drake, of the National Wholesale Grocers' Association 27 Appointment of committee on resolutions 33

Second Session (Afternoon of Tuesday, May 26, 1914).

Demonstration showing the necessity of maintaining scale levers level and the

lever connections plumb, by Mr. C. C. Neale, commissioner of weights and

measures, State of Minnesota 34

Discussion of above paper 36

Creamery, prescription, and jewelers' weighing and measuring appliances, by

Mr. F. R. Downing, chief inspector of weights and measures. State of Wisconsin 39

Discussion of above paper 51

Discussion on the Tuttle-Weeks standard barrel bill 53

Appointment of legislative committee 56

Wednesday, May 27, 1914.

Hearing before congressional committee 56

Inspection and demonstration of the railroad track scale- testing equipment of the Bureau of Standards 56

Third Session (Morotng of Thursday, May 28, 1914).

Report of committee on tolerances and specifications, J)resented by Mr. John C. Connors 57

Discussion of above 63

Fourth Session (Afternoon of Thursday, May 28, 1914).

Announcements 89

Nominating committee appointed 89

Discussion on tolerances and specifications (continued) 89

Fifth Session (Morning of Friday, May 29, 1914).

Reports of standing committees:

Committee on constitution and by-laws 115

Discussion of the above • US

Committee on Resolutions—

Resolution concerning death of Mr. William C. Haskell 122

Resolutiofl recommending the appointment of a committee of reference. 123

Resolution condemning practice of falsely marking the capacity on

range boilers, hot-water storage tanks, expansion tanks, etc 123

Resolution recommending that an amendment to the Federal net- weight law be prepared, and that a committee be appointed to draft such an amendment 126

Glass graduates suitable for weights and measures officials, by Mr. H. W. Bearce,

Bureau of Standards 126

9
10 CONTENTS.

Page.

Election of officers 136

Weights and measures of Porto Rico, by Mr. F. S. Holbrook, Bureau of Standards 138

Answers to questions:

Regarding size of beer barrel 146

Proposed legislation in Virginia 146

Selling dry commodities by weight or coimt 147 Relation of State universities to weights and measures 150

Reports and miscellaneous papers submitted by delegates:

Address by Mr. Thure Hanson, State commissioner of weights and measures

of Massachusetts 152

Address by Mr. Wm. L. Waldron, State superintendent of weights and

measures of New Jersey 155

Remarks by Mr. F. G. Buchtel, deputy State sealer of weights and measures, Salem, Oreg 158

Report by Mr. J. C. Wallenmever, sealer of weights and measures, Evansville, Ind " 158

Remarks by Mr. Frank J. O'Rourke, sealer of weights and measures, Hammond, Ind 16o

Report by Mr. Herman F. Adam, inspector of weights and measures.

Indianapolis, Ind 161

Report by Mr. John S. Burke, superintendent of weights and measures,

Jersey City, N. J _ 162

Report by Mr. John H. Sullivan, city sealer of weights and measures of Newark, N. J 162

Paper on serialization of type by Mr. Joseph Hartigan, commissioner of weights and measures, New York City 164

Report by Mr. John VirdLu, supervisor of weights and measures, Philadelphia, Pa 170

Discussion as to place of next meeting 172

New business:

Resolution that the president appoint a committee on the metric system. . 174 Presentation of loving cup to Mr. Lewis F. Caswell 174

Adjournment 176

Reception by the President of the United States 176

Appomtment of committee of reference and committee on the metric system. ... 176

«
REPORT OF THE NI^^TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS

AND MEASURES OF THE UNITED STATES.

HELD AT THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

WASHINGTON, D. C. MAY 26. 27. 28. AND 29. 1914. HRST SESSION (MORNING OF TUESDAY. MAY 26, 1914).

The conference was called to order at 10 a. m. by the chairman,

Dr. S. W. Stratton, Director of the Bureau of Standards.

The Chairman. Gentlemen, the Secretary of Commerce needs no

introduction to you, and his time is limited, as he must attend a Cabinet meeting at a quarter to 11 o'clock. However, I will let him

speak for himself.

ADDRESS OP WELCOME BY HON. WILLIAM C. REDEIELD,

SECRETARY OF COMMERCE.

Dr. Stratton and gentlemen of the Conference on Weights and

Measures, it seems a very unnecessary thing for me to say you are welcome here—unnecessary, I mean, because I am sure you all know

it and because we on our part will try to make it so obvious in all

that we have to do and to say to you that it will speak for itself.

You are a sort of an object of envy to me. This particular place,

this particular branch of our department's activity, has always appealed to me in a peculiar way. Years ago, before there was any

such thing as a Bureau of Standards, I used to want, and to go in

the want of, the information and the accuracy here supplied. In

a very small way I had to build up on a private basis that which

is now here freely supplied to all the world that needs such knowledge, and this particular Bureau of Standards, therefore, makes a strong appeal both to my judgment and to my interest. It has in a very marked way the confidence of both Congress and the Executive,

and I need not say to you (now that Dr. Stratton has gone out) that

we have in him one of the most useful and efficient public servants,

leading a staff as admirable for its character and skill as he is

remarkable as a leader.

I like to think of this as the place where selfishness stays outside

and where profit has no room within. For here we seek and find

truth. We do not estimate the cost of finding the truth, but we seek

the truth with infinite belief in its value as truth. Here, in searching

for knowledge, we search without the commercial necessity of finding

that knowledge at such a time and in such a way that we can earn something thereby. We are happily free from that embarrassment.

So this is one of the few places—one of the rare spots in the world

where truth is sought and truth is taught merely for its own sake

and for its great public and general usefulness. That distinguishes

11
12 BUEEAU OF STANDARDS.

this Bureau of Standards from many another place where similar

work is done. Here we act on behalf of us all, to find that which is

of interest and use for us all. This is catholic in its sympathies and

universal in its scope and is one of those places where the good of

everyone is the only thing that we can consider, for into these doors

no private interest can enter.

I like to think of your conference, too, as one of the most efficient

branches of the great informal society for the suppression of American liars. You are the very apostles and soldiers of truthfulness.

Your business is to get the liar in the act of lying and to punish him

;

to preach the real truth about things; to get away from hysteria;

to avoid the superficial and deal with the fundamental. You do not

bother with the headlines of your art ; you are concerned with fundamental facts that are so often concealed beneath a lurid headline.

And I am glad that there is this body of men gathered from all over

the land whose duty it is to get the real truth and to see that the real

truth is followed, squarely and honorably followed, by others over whom you have jurisdiction. I am glad of that, for it is a thing

sorely needed in this America of ours—to pierce beneath the shadows; to get below the superficial; not to mistake the foam on the

crest of the tossing wave for the mighty currents of the ocean itself

that lie beneath. We need so much in this land of ours—more now,

I sometimes think, than ever before—to get at the truth beneath, as distinguished from that which is purely on the surface above.

And so I value this conference, and I value your going from this

conference. Now, in a word of welcome, it may seem strange to

you that I should say that I value your going, bu.t I do; because I

look at you gentlemen, collectively and individually, as the antenna}

by which from here we reach out into communities all over the

land, and through which, in your own particular communities, this

bureau reaches down into practical usefulness. You are the wires

the live wires—-by which we convey the currents of our activities.

We need you in our business. Our business would not be thoroughly

well done without you to carry it down into the little places as

Avell as the large places, and translate into business honor and practice the fundamental truths of science which here are taught.

That is a high conxmission; that is a fine thing. It means that

the work of thoughtful, tmselfish, and able men is by you translated

into honorable dealing for the humblest citizen. That is a good

job; that is a man's job, and infinitely well worth doing. So you

are preachers, all of you; you are preaching the gospel of plain

truth and a square deal. That is a good gospel to believe in; it

is a good gospel to preach, and the world is a better place and men

and women are better off for what is here taught and what is by

you conveyed throughout our beloved land.

I thank" you, gentlemen.

ADDKESS BY THE PRESIDENT, DR. S. W. STRATTOTT, DIRECTOR OF

THE BUREAU OP STANDARDS.

Gentlemen, there is little that I can say, after the splendid address of the secretary, that will add to your welcome here. It gives

me great pleasure, however, to note the new faces. My mind goes

back to the early conferences, when we had but a baker's dozen or
NINTH ANNUAL CONFEEENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 13

less. I thought we were exceedingly fortunate last year in our conference, and I know now that the present conference is going to

exceed that.

During the past year the bureau has been keenly alive to your

interests. We have looked forward to this meeting and have made

preparations for it. Some things have happened during the year

which may be of interest to note in passing.

One of the events was the Fifth International Conference of

Weights and Measures. I presume that most of you know that the

international standards are preserved at Paris, at the International

Bureau of Weights and Measures, and that all of the countries con- tributing to the support of that institution send representatives once

in every six years to the international conference. It is true that

that has primarily to do with the metric system of weights and

measures, but thatpi itself is very far-reaching, because most of our modern weights and measures, our units and standards of all kinds, are referred to the metric standards as reference standards.

Furthermore, the international bureau itself is talring a greater

interest in affairs such as you are interested in. The smaller countries are appealing to this bureau for assistance. At this conference

there was reported the new weights and measures law for the Republic of China. The international bureau gave to that Republic

all the assistance possible in the formulating of the new laws. The

French Republic is modifying its weights and measures laws; the

international bureau gave great assistance to the French Republic,

and their new weights and measures law was reported upon.

Hence this international bureau, besides being our reference

bureau for the physical standards of mass and length and some of

the thermometric standards, is acting in an advisory capacity in

the common weights and measures to all of the countries of the

world. Even those that do not subscribe to its maintenance can

secure information and benefit by applying to the International

Bureau of Weights and Measures. The affairs of the bureau are administered by a committee of 17. This committee meets every

two years, but the conference meets every six years.

During the past summer I was very much surprised and gratified

to receive an invitation from the Wholesale Grocers' Association to

address them at their annual meeting at Atlantic City, upon the subject of the metric system. A few months ago I received a similar

invitation to address the Retail Grocers' Association on the same subject, at Louisville last week. At both of these conferences I was

especially pleased with two things. The first was their interest in

the metric system; and I made it perfectly clear that I came, not

to advocate the metric system, but to make them familiar with it. They showed a desire to know more about the metric system, and

that was the object of my lecture at both places.. The second was

that in both of these meetings the attitude of all present was suchmany of the speakers referred to weights and measures affairs—that

there was no doubt whatever in my mind that the members of both

associations are keenly alive to the importance of correct weights

and measures, and I had no doubt in my own mind that the members of both associations are just as interested in bringing about correct conditions regarding weights and measures as you are. It was a
14 BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

great surprise to me that they had taken these measures into account

to the extent that they have. At the Louisville meeting, one of the

representatives from a western State said that the grocers in his

commimity had joined together and purchased a set of standard

weights and measures, and that this was in continual use; that it

was passed about from one to the other, and that one had to make

an application weeks ahead to get the use of that set of standards.

Now, those associations can be of the greatest assistance to us. I

pointed out to them that this was not necessary ; that the association

should demand, in every city in which they have a branch, a weights

and measures official equipped with all of the apparatus necessary

for making it possible for them to have honest weights and measures. At both of these meetings I was surprised to find the keen interest

that the members took in the metric system and its operations. I

understand that the Wholesale Grocers' Association has a committee

looking into the merits of the system, and Mr. Drake is with us

to-da}^ and will address us on that subject. At the meeting of the

retail grocers in Louisville it was proposed to pass some resolution

favoring it, but I cautioned them against it. I think it would have

been unwise for them to have taken that premature action. I merely

wanted to have them investigate the subject, to look into it thoroughly, which I think is the preliminary step.

There is another point which will interest you, and that is that

the retail grocers were pleased to know that this convention had

taken a stand for the sale of commodities by weight only. They had

not heard of your action at the last meeting, and were pleased to

hear of it, and they passed a similar resolution at their meeting, and

I am sure you will have the support of that very large association

in your efforts to bring about the sale of commodities by weight only.

I believe that that association would join you in recommending the

abolishment of the various bushels as capacity measures.

I had hoped to have with us to-day a gentleman who is one of the

most distinguished scientists of Germany. He is president of the

international conference, and also chairman of the International

Committee of Weights and Measures—Prof. Forster, of Berlin.

For many years he was director of the Normal -Eichungs Kommission, which is the institution in Germany having to do with weights

and measures, and held this position when the metric system was

adopted in Germany. He is now connected with the University of

Berlin. But Prof. Forster was here for only a few hours, and sails

this morning on the Vaterland for Germany. He was in this country but five days. I have often heard him speak of what he went

through during the adoption of the metric system in Germany. He

has often said that it presented no very great difficulties so far as the ordinary commodities are concerned, and I have listened to him

many times with .a great deal of interest in regard to that matter.

1 am sorry that he could not be with us a few hours longer and talk

to us this morning. He is 84 years old, is still actively engaged in

weights and measures work, and takes the keenest interest in weights

and measures affairs all over the world.
NIKTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASUBES. 15

REPOE.T or THE SECRETARY, MR. L. A. FISCHER, CHIEF, DIVISION

OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

Mr. President and members of the National Conference on Weights

and Measures, it is my privilege as secretary of the conference to

review briefly the general progress of weights and measures throughout the country, mentioning only such matters as are likely to be of

interest to the conference as a whole.

In regard to the tolerances and specifications which were adopted

at the last conference it might be said that they have been adopted

and put into effect during the past year by the following States:

Indiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Washington, and partially by Michigan and Kansas. The island of Porto Rico and the

city of Chicago have also adopted them. On the whole they have

proved to be very satisfactory indeed, although as was well known

when they were adopted by the conference, there were a number of

provisions which would undoubtedly have to be modified to some

extent.

A splendid opportunity was offered during the year to put them

into effect in a place where it was not necessary to consider past laws

and methods. I refer to the island of Porto Rico, where Mr. Holbrook, as a representative of this bureau, prepared rules and regulations for the enforcement, of the new weights and measures law,

and also organized an inspection department and administered the

law for a short period. Since Mr. Holbrook is on the program to

give an account of his work on the island, I shall leave it to him to go

into the details.

In regard to the report of the last conference which we had hoped

to get out promptly, I will say that it was absolutely impossible to do

this without neglecting work which seemed to be more urgent. The

report is of great volume and contains more technical papers than

the report of any previous conference, and these two items were

largely responsible for the delay. In addition to this, the railway

track scale testing investigations of the bureau, which had to be

inaugurated, for the while absorbed the larger part of the time of

the force devoted to weights and measures work. I believe, however, that the majority of the members will agree with me that the

report is a credit to the conference. I do not myself know of any

single weights and measures report, either in this country or any

other, that contains as much real information as will be found in

this report. Furthermore, it contains information that will be

appreciated more and more as the weights and measures work

develops.

Anticipating that it might be decided to hold the conference next

year at San Francisco, the manager of the bureau of conventions

and societies of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition was

asked to reserve the dates of Jime 16, 17, 18, and 19 for our conference. If the conference is held at San Francisco at those dates,

June 17 will be known at the exposition as national conference on

weights and measures day. I do not wish it to be understood by

the members of the conference that I am advocating that the next

meeting be held at San Francisco, for I can, as a matter of fact, see grave objections, not the least of which is that it would be very diffi- cult, indeed, for members of this conference from the East to have

their States and cities appropriate money for the purposes of send-
16 BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

mg them to an international exposition. Also, it is the general con- sensus of opinion of those whom I have consulted that conventions

held at such expositions transact very little business on account of

the divers attractions with which they are surrounded. On the other

hand, the Western States have recently become quite active, and have

every reason to feel, and some of them do feel, that the conference

should occasionally be held at some place convenient of access to

them. This matter will come up later and the members of the con- ference will have an opportunity to express their views.

Under the so-called net-weight amendment to the national food

and drugs act the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Agriculture are required to draw up

rules and regulations for the administration of this law, which is to be enforced by the Department of Agriculture. The committee

appointed to represent the three Secretaries in this matter had a, great many hearings and conferences and finally agreed upon cer- tain regulations, which were within the present month approved

and promulgated by the Secretaries. Dr. Alsberg, Chief of the Bureau of Chemistry, who is charged with the enforcement of this act

and who, as chairman of the committee which drew up the rules and

regulations referred to, is on the program and will no doubt tell

you what they are and how to interpret them.

The net-weight law referred to has been supplemented by similar

legislation in the following States, and thus a distinct advancement

has been made in practicable weights and measures, which is" due

in no small measure to the activity of this conference and to its

members individually: California, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana,

Iowa, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, New York, Pennsylvania,

South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, while a few other States have passed laws of this character which apply only

to some certain commodities or classes of products. So far as national legislation subsequent to the enactment of the net-weight

amendment to the food and drugs act is concerned, there is very little

to report.

The so-called Tuttle bill to establish a standard barrel for dry

commodities received the unanimous indorsement by the Committee

on Coinage, Weights, and Measures of the last Congress and was

reported to the House, but it failed of passage because of the pressure

of other business. It was not introduced at all in the Senate during

the last Congress. Soon after the present Congress met the same

bill was again introduced by Mr. Tuttle in the House and by Senator

Weeks in the Senate. The present status is that the bUl has been

passed by the Senate and is now pending in the House, where it has

met with considerable opposition from some of the newer Members

of Congress unfamiliar with the necessity of such legislation. The

prospects are, however, very favorable that it will pass the House.

This measure has been indorsed by the last conference and by practically every weights and measures official in the United States.

During the year the Bureau of Standards acquired an equipment

for testing railroad track scales, the operation of which will be

demonstrated for the benefit of the members of the conference at

the navy yard to-morrow afternoon. The appropriation for this

equipment became available the 1st of last July and the equipment

was completed the following September. The first tests made with
NINTH ANNUAL CONFEEENCE ON "WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 17

this equipment was on the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad at Bridgeport and Meriden, Conn., for the purpose of trying it out. After this a number of tests were made in the State of Vermont

at the request of the State commissioner of weights and measures,

Mr. Henry, and later the track scales used by the customs service

in the vicinity of New York were tested. In all, 34 tests were made

on this tour, of which 25 scales, or 73.54 per cent, would fail to pass

if the tolerance was placed at 2 pounds per thousand; 19, or 55.8

per cent, would fail to pass if this tolerance is doubled ; 10 scales, or

29.4 per cent, would fail to pass if the tolerance is fixed at 1 per cent, or 10 pounds, per thousand. In arriving at these results test loads

of less than 25,000 pounds were not considered.

After completing the tests in the vicinity of New York the equipment was shipped to the Washington Navy Yard, where two scales

were tested for the Naval Gun Factory and where the equipment

has since remained, except for a period of a couple of days, when a

scale was tested at Eelee, Va., to settle a dispute between a shipper

in South Carolina and the consignee in Virginia.

Numerous requests for tests have been received from various State

and city officials, and it is hoped that during the coming season many

of these requests will be complied with. Manifestly one equipment

can not be expected to satisfy all the demands of this vast country

for such tests, and in order to provide additional equipment the

bureau has asked for an increase in its appropriation for this work

the coming year.

The results obtained thus far amply demonstrate the necessity

for the inspection of railroad track scales, and they also furnish exact

data which will be extremely valuable in drawing up specifications

for the construction and operation of such scales.

Your executive committee had one meeting in Washington on

April 15 for the purpose of making final arrangements regarding

the program and to discuss a number of other matters in connection

with the present conference.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Stratton, Mr. Waldron, Mr.

Henry, Mr. Mikesell, Dr. Hand, and the secretary, and suggestions

were also obtained from those members of the committee who were

unable to attend. The present program is a compromise of the

extreme views of those who wished to devote the whole time to work

and those who believe that about one half of the time should be

devoted to social features. The program also represents an attempt

to meet the conflicting views of those who believe that the subjects

selected should be so elementary as to be readily comprehended by

the most inexperienced official and those who feel that the subjects

should be more technical in character.

Your secretary does not believe that the papers are by any means

the most important thing in connection with the conference, but the

informal discussions among members and the opportunity afforded

to get acquainted are of vastly more value.

The growing interest in weights and measures throughout the

country was very forcibly brought to the attention of your secretary

by the increased correspondence in connection with the present conference. More than 350 special letters were sent out, about 3,700

circular letters, and 150 stencil copies of the program were made.

90371°—15 2
18 BUREAU OP STANDAEDS.

THE NET-WEIGHT AMIENDMENT TO THE NATIONAL FOOD AND

DRUGS ACT.

By Dr. Gael L. Ai-sbebg, Chief, Bureau of Chemistry, Washington, D. G.

Mr. President and gentlemen, in coming before you to talk on this

matter I feel more or less as a beginner, because the Bureau of

Chemistry has not in the past had a great deal to do with the enforcement of any laws like those with the enforcement of which you

gentlemen have been charged. We had a regulation, as you are probably well aware—those of you who also are in touch with the

lood and drugs acts of your respective States—which provided that

if a man stated the weight on a package, or described the contents

in any way, it had to be correct. Beyond that we had nothing in

the food and drugs act which had to do with weights and measures

or with protecting the consumer in so far as short weighting or short measuring was concerned.

During the past years, however, we have had more or less to do

with enforcing weights-and-measures legislation, because a number

of States had passed laws. Many manufacturers were putting the

contents on their packages, no matter where their packages went, so

as to avoid the accident that a package which was not marked might

reach a State where there was such a law. So, we were getting a

little experience in that matter.

When this amendment to the food and drugs act was passed it

became necessary for us to look into the question more thoroughly.

In studying the matter it became apparent that the enforcement of

this amendment, so far as the Federal Government is concerned, is

on rather a different basis from the enforcement of a similar law

inside the States. It is a far less simple matter than to enforce a

net weight and measure act which applies to a State. As you are probably aware, the control that the Federal Government exercises over food and drugs goes back to Chief Justice Marshall's interpretation of interstate commerce. We simply have jurisdiction over

those articles of food and drugs which pass into interstate commerce.

We have not any jurisdiction over any articles before they are offered

for shipment in interstate commerce.

Now, because the Federal Government has jurisdiction only over

that which goes into interstate commerce, it is very much more diffi- cult for us in practice to enforce an act such as this than it is for

you gentlemen. The offense is the offering for shipment or the shipping in interstate commerce; and, therefore, as we can not catch the

goods in most cases exactly at the time they go into interstate commerce, we must be prepared to meet in court a defense based on

alleged changes subsequent to shipment in interstate commerce.

This made it apparent that we would have to study in the Bureau

of Chemistry the question of shrinkages, the question of variations

due to moisture changes during shipment, to subsequent storage, to

sifting, and whatnot, in a way that is entirely unnecessary for you

gentlemen in the States. You have the goods in your States, and

your laws are such that in many cases you need not worry concerning

the history of those goods. We have to be concerned not merely with

the status of the goods, but with their history. Let me give an ex- ample. Some years ago the Bureau of Chemistry endeavored to
NINTH ANNUAL CONFEEENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 19

prosecute a shipper of large-size cheeses, weighing a great many

pounds, for short weight. The bureau was convinced that this con- cern was short-weighting constantly and continuously, but when it came to prosecution it became apparent that we would have to prove

that the shortage in weight was not due to subsequent shrinkage.

So we had to wait awhile and make some experimental shipments of

cheeses to various sections of the country under known and controlled conditions and determine that this plea was merely an excuse. We found that the shrinkage was very slight, and then made some

fresh prosecutions.

That is the sort of difficulty that we are up against that you gentlemen do not encoimter. So, for the purpose of enforcing the Federal act, the Bureau of Chemistry is considering two types of phenomena. For our own use we speak in the bureau—I am not sure that legally and technically our usage of the words is correct—we

speak of tolerances and we speak of variations. Every one of us

in the bureau has a different definition for what a tolerance is and

what a variation is; some of us say there is no difference and some

of us say that a tolerance is a permitted variation, and some say that

there is a difference; and the use of those two words in the act has

given us more difficulty than any one single thing in the act. But

for practical purposes I think we have gotten in the bureau to consider a tolerance and a variation as somewhat different. We are inclined to consider, or at least we are calling, a tolerance such a small

departure from the stated weight as is due to the inevitable error

in packing and putting up the article. Now, automatic machinery

is not absolutely accurate; weighing is not absolutely accurate; sorting, measuring, and packing generally is not absolutely accurate;

and it is quite evident that Congress intended that some allowance

should be made for the unaA^oidable discrepancies from the stated

weight which would take place in honest packing of goods. Congress, it is clear, did not intend that every individual who puts up

goods should weigh them with the accuracy of the scientist, for obvious reasons. It is a question what degree of variation shall be permitted from the stated quantity, and the Bureau of Chemistry has

been at work ever since the passage of the act in studying the packing of various sorts of foods in factories all over the country and in

studying the errors of automatic weighing and packing machinery.

It is a long job, and we are nowhere near through yet. It will be

some time longer before we will have all the data that we need on

all articles.

Many curious facts have come out in connection with that study.

One would think offhand that the weighing of large-size packages—

packages that contain 100 or 200 pounds—would be apt to be less

accurate than the weighing of small packages; that is to say, that

the absolute discrepancy from the stated weight—not the percentage

discrepancy—would be relatively greater; that is to say, that a barrel

of sugar would be pounds out of the way where a "small package

would be not more than ounces out of the way. But, as a matter

of fact, that does not seem to be the case. In such staples as sugar

and flour the manufacturer seems to be weighing the larger packages

with accuracy ; so that we are confronted with the question, in deciding on tolerances, Shall we make them as close as the large manufac-
20 BUKEAU OP STANDAKDS.

turer can weigh, and perhaps handicap the small manufacturer by so doing, or shall we take the chance of giving the large manufacturer

a slight leeway in order not to handicap unnecessarily the small

manufacturer? One sugar refinery from which we have a report

claims to weigh sugar in barrels to ounces, and states that an over- weight of 1 ounce to the barrel means $10,000 to the refinery in one

year, and they have accordingly claimed that they weigh accurately

within an ounce. The same line of reasoning applies to flour.

There is not any question that the millers in the great mills weigh

flour with exceeding accuracy. I have forgotten what the greatest

range that we have noticed was in one of the large mills. If I re- member, it was only about a quarter of a pound—-4, 6, or 8 ounces;

not over that—not over half a pound, which, when you consider an

article like flour, which is weighed in the barrel, of 196 pounds, is

doing pretty well. The problem that the bureau has to struggle

with is : If millers with an output of several thousand barrels a day

can do that, can the small miller do it, and is it fair to demand of

the small miller the same degree of accuracy?

In the tolerances, then, for our own purposes, we have considered

these variations which are due to packing. Another problem, as you know, is the variations in bottles which can not always be made

absolutely accurate ; and for our purposes we have considered variations—I am talking of the Bureau of Chemistrj' and not the committee that drafted the preliminary regulations—that occur in a package of food due to climatic conditions and storage. You can, for

instance, send sharply dried corn meal to the Gulf States and have

it gain in weight, and you can send it to Denver and have it lose in

weight. We have had to make studies of that type of variation, and

we have run into a lot of curious things. We f'^und in studying the

tolerances that on the whole automatic machinery does better work

than hand packing; we have found that the accuracy of hand packing and of machinery vary enormously with the article and with

the condition of the same article. Take spices, for instance. Machine and hand packing varies in accuracy according to the fineness

of the grinding of the spices—according to whether they are fibrous or fine powders.

We found a curious situation in the cracker industry, where it seems to be absolutely impossible for the manufacturer to put up

crackers anywhere near the correct weight. The result is that most

of the cracker concerns understate the weight so as to be sure that

they will not violate the act. We have found that at times packages

of oysterettes, for instance, were understated over 50 per cent, simply

because the manufacturer wanted to be safe. The manufacturer has

to fill the paper carton, and the amount of weight that goes into that

paper carton depends entirely upon whether the yeast feels like working that day or not. Nobody knows exactly how to get a uniform

baking effect with yeast. Some days it seems to be something in

the weather—that at least is what the bakers say; some days they

get a light, fluffy biscuit which is large in volume and low in weight.

They are giving the consumer something which suits him very well,

and which he regards as excellent, yet when they fill their carton

they do not get anywhere near as much weight into it as they do on

another day when the conditions are such that the dough does not

raise well and they get a hard, rather tough, and smaller cracker.
NINTH ANNUAL CONFEKENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 21

Each one of these weighs more, they occupy less volume, and more

go into the box. So on the days when the factory is putting out

what they call their poorest product they are giving the largest

amount of weight. It is a very peculiar situation and the facts are that man}^ biscuit manufacturers understate certain kinds of

goods as much as 50 per cent so as not to take a chance of being

hauled into court. We have known packages to be understated as much as 56 or 58 per cent.

Then we are confronted with the difficulty, which is one that you

gentlemen have also to consider: What is a package? I am not

going to try to define what a package is. The committee which^drew

up the regulations labored for many months over the question of

what is a package, and finally submitted a definition which all the at- torneys said was not much good, and so it was finally stricken from the

regulations, and the regulations contain no definition, direct or implied, of a package. This was done on the theory that in probably

95 or 98 per cent of the cases, or perhaps 99 per cent of the cases, no one with any common sense would have any difficulty in telling

whether a given food was in package form or not, and that it was

better to leave the decision in the remainder to be settled in each

-individual case on its individual merits.

Then there is the question that has to be considered of the shipping

case. Are you going to require the wholesale grocer or the jobber

who sends a shipment of mixed goods to the retailer—a dozen cans

of this and a dozen boxes of that, and a dozen packages of spices,

and so on, each one of which is labeled in compliance with the

law—to put a statement on the outside of his shipping case stating

exactly what is in the shipping case? In other words, will he have

to duplicate his invoice or his bill of lading on the shipping case?

The committee was of the opinion that Congress did not mean to

define such a shipping case as a package and that there was nothing

to be gained by making that requirement ; that such packages always

went to the wholesaler or jobber, who was well able to protect himself, and that as long as the individual packages in such shipping

cases were marked the consumer was protected, and that that was all

that Congress was apparently concerned with.

Now, gentlemen, I thinly I have covered the two or three points

I wanted to raise, the first of which was that the method of enforcing our law has to be different from that of the States, for the simple

reason that we are limited by the interstate-commerce requirements;

that it is not sufficient for us in every case to take a sample off the

grocer's shelf, even if it has been there for 10 years, and weigh it and find it short weight, but that we have also got to present in such

a case some evidence to show that the short weight was not merely

the result of storage. In this connection, of course, we will have to

consider the normal moisture content of the article. We are obviously not going to allow a man who sells dried fruit and puts 35

per cent of water into it to ship his fruit, figuring the water in as

fruit, and then escape punishment if he short-weights, on the plea

that the short weight was due to shrinkage.

Then, under tolerances, we in the bureau have been considering

such errors as are permissible in good honest packing, and under

variations we have been considering such changes as take place in a package subsequent to its shipment, to decide which changes are
22 BUREAU OF STANDAEDS.

and which are not legitimate. You will see, gentlemen, that a cer- tain amount of shrinkage is legitimate in certain products. Take

some of these old Smithfield hams that have hung for a year or so. They have lost water ; they have lost an enormous quantity of water.

They have not lost anything that is of any food value, and the con- sumer, after all, if he is getting a pound of this desiccated, dried-up

ham, is getting as much food value as though he were getting a larger

quantity with all the moisture in it of the green ham. We have to

consider such questions.

Then we have to consider the wholesale package and the shipping

case, which again is a matter that does not particularly concern you

gentlemen; and we have to consider variations and shrinkages

throughout the country as a whole, which also does not concern you

gentlemen. We have to consider that a package may shrink 1 per

cent in going to a Gulf State, and that a 2 per cent shrinkage when

it goes to Denver or Utah may be the equivalent—the exact equivalent—of a 1 per cent shrinkage at New Orleans, and we have to make

our allowances such, in administering the law, that we will not let

the man who ships to New Orleans get by and punish the man who

ships to Denver, just because he has the misfortune to ship to a dry

climate, whereas the other one who is short-weighting ships to a"

moist climate.

Those are the points I wanted to make, gentlemen. I wanted to

point out that we have in many ways an entirely different problem

from that which you gentlemen have.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Neale. Mr. President, I would like to ask if such marking as

so many pounds, when packed, will be allowed; also, would such a marking as this be allowable : " Not less than 4 pounds," or not less

than 7 or 6?

Mr. ALSBERG. We would not want to permit an undermarking which

is going to be ridiculous and which does not tell the story. We would

not allow a man to take a gallon and mark it " 1 fluid ounce." But

if there is a good, reasonable undermarking, as in this biscuit case, where the man does it to be safe, we are inclined to permit it, but

not to the extent of making the law ridiculous or making it so far

under the actual contents that it ceases to convey any information.

Mr. Neale. Do the words "when packed" have any significance?

Mr. AxsBERG. We are not going to stand for that, as far as we are concerned. We do not care anything about when it is packed; the

only thing we are concerned with is when it goes into interstate commerce and as long as it stays subject to our jurisdiction. The " when

packed " we do not approve of.

Mr. Hanson. Mr. Chairman, T would like to ask Dr. Alsberg this

question : If a ham comes from Chicago and is weighed while there

say the net weight of the ham is 40 pounds—and it is shipped in interstate commerce into Massachusetts, and then the same ham is sold to

a grocer there for 41 pounds; in other words, it is sold by gross

weight and not net weight. Have you any jurisdiction over that?

Mr. Alsbefg. The grocer can buy hams either wrapped or un- wrapped. If he buys them wrapped, he pays for the wrapping at

the same price that he pays for the ham; and the wrapping (as our
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 23

information goes) costs about as much as the equivalent amount of

ham. We have no jurisdiction over the thing after it passes out of

interstate commerce ; that is to say, we can not control it in any way

after the grocer gets it. Mr. Hanson. Do you consider it proper, for instance, in the case of hams, that the grocer should pay 8 or 10 cents a pound for paper

that probably costs 2 or 3 cents a pound ? Mr. Alsberg. I do not know whether that is proper or not. But

what are you going to do with the rulings of the court which indicate

that a ham is not to be regarded as a package ? Mr. Hanson. Well, if you do not regard it as a package, would you

not regard it as under the net-weight law?

Mr. Alsberg. If it is not regarded as a package by the courts, we

can not exercise jurisdiction over it. The only case where that has

been tried out is in the State of Nebraska. The supreme court of the

State ruled, virtually, that a thing was a package where the cover- ing determined the quantity that was in it; that inasmuch as the

covering of the ham did not determine the quantity of the product

and was beyond the control of the man who put it up—as it was sold

by weight and as the man had his choice to buy either the wrapped or the unwrapped ham—he had no cause for grievance and the State

had no jurisdiction, because it was not a package in that sense. Mr. Brown. Are you going to be bound by the decisions handed

down by State courts?

Mr. Alsberg. No ; we are not going to be bound by State decisions

except in so far as the Attorney General thinks we ought. What do

you think about the ham question. Dr. Barnard?

Mr. Barnard, of Indiana. I do not think it is a good decision.

Mr. Van Dutn. Mr. Chairman, if a ham that is marked 22 pounds

and weighs 18 is sold as a package at retail by the grocer to the con- sumer, do the State authorities have a right to prosecute ? Mr. Hanson. Mr. Chairman, if I can answer that question, I will

say that in Massachusetts, for instance, if a grocer sold a ham to a consumer as weighing 22 pounds and the net weight was only 18

pounds, we would prosecute immediately under the net-weight law.

Our law says that all goods sold by weight shall be sold by net

weight.

Mr. McGrady. Mr. Chairman, in Pittsburgh hams, lard, etc., were

marked gross weight. We simply went in and made a purchase;

asked for a ham and the price per pound, weighed it, and laid information against five or six dealers. So it was always net weight

after that time.

But I want to ask something about butter. We have had a great

deal of trouble with print butter from the West. We weighed 10,000 or 16,000 pounds of butter there last month a year ago, and there

were only about 2 brands out of 93 brands that held out. We have

tried every place to get some instructions on shrinkage of butter and

can not get any anywhere.

Mr. Alsberg. We are collecting a lot of information which we

hope to make public. We do not believe that the shrinkage amounts

to anywhere near as much as is ordinarily claimed. In the first

place, you have to remember that all our dairy schools are training

people to put out butter that has the maximum amount of water and

the maximum amount of curd and the maximum amount of salt
24 BUKEAU OF STANDAEDS.

that the law will allow. The way we propose in practice to deal

with a good many of those cases is not merely to weigh the print, but

also to find how much water is in it. We would feel inclined to be

much more lenient with a man who was a quarter of an ounce or so

off in a print of butter if his water and salt content was lower than

the maximum the law allowed, because such a man is really giving

more value than another man who has got his full 16 per cent of

water and 3 per cent of salt, and so on, and may be giving only a very slight shortage. We propose in all these cases to take such

things as the moisture content into consideration. I think you will

have to, and it is another argument for the need of uniform and universal standards. One of the troubles we have to deal with in this

matter is the variation in water content. If we knew just what the

honest water content of everything was, it would be a very simple

matter to overcome a great many of these difficulties.

Mr. CuMMiNGS. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask the doctor

under what conditions a print of butter is considered a package by his

department; whether it would be considered a package if simply

wrapped in paraffin paper, or whether it must be inclosed in a cardboard container?

Mr. Alsberg. I regret to say I am unable to give that information,

because I am not personally carrying on these experiments. I have

turned those experiments over to one of the men in the bureau, and

I have not inquired exactly the conditions that he has been following.

The instructions were to follow the various conditions which are cus- tomary in commercial handling. I do not know how closely he has

complied with that.

Mr. Harris. Mr. Chairman, we had a case in Massachusetts lately

with reference to our package of borax. The commissioner of

weights and measures held up some of our packages, claimijng they

were short weight. I called on him and found that the package in

question was an old 10-ounce package that had been on the market

for four or five years, and had lost about 2 ounces of the water content. Borax contains 47 per cent of water of crystallization. Now,

under certain climatic conditions over which we have no control this

moisture content will evaporate. If the substance is used, however,

in a solution, it will take up the water it has lost. If it lost all of

its water, it would be in an anhydrous condition and would be worth

twice as much as it is with its 47 per cent of moisture content.

The President. It would be a good thing to ship it in that condition, would it not?

Mr. Harris. Well, it would absorb moisture; it would increase in

weight all the time if it was shipped in an anhydrous condition.

The President. Let me ask you a question right there. TVhat do

you want to do about it ? What is your suggestion as to the solution

of that case ? Mr. Harris. Why, we always pack our packages full weight.

The President. But how is the other man going to know it ? He

has just as much right to laiow that as you have.

Mr. Harris. Certainly, he has.

The President. And you ought not to compel him to be in the

position of always taking your word.

Mr. Harris. No.
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 25

The Peesident. Now, how would you solve the problem? It is

easy enough to get up and state an objection to a thing, but that

objection has got to be met. How would you propose to meet it ? Mr. Harris. Why, we are now sending half a dozen packages to

commissioners of weights and measures to let them determine what

the natural evaporation of moisture content in borax is. We do not

know of any way by which we can prevent the moisture from evaporating, and we do not know of any business house that would put in

18 or 20 ounces for 16 ounces to take care of this moisture evaporation.

The President. No; that is quite true, but there must be some

equitable basis for handling those things.

Mr. Harris. There should be a reasonable tolerance permitted

variations according to the articles as packed and according to the

moisture content contained in them.

The President. You do not mean to say that a tolerance would

cover a case of that kind, do you ? Mr. Harris. Ordinarily; yes.

The President. I think a good many of those questions are going

to be taken care of along the line Dr. Alsberg has suggested. Regarding that active principle in borax, the question of how much

water is contained in it is of no concern except that if you are going

to have an equitable arrangement which will be understood by both

the buyer and the seller, we must agree on what that principle is. Mr. Harris. Certainl;/. It would depend, as Dr. Alsberg said,

whether you sent it to Denver or whether you sent it to San Francisco, where fogs are prevalent.

The President. Well, it has got to be sent to both places, and the

extremes are so great that you can not allow for them in a tolerance.

Now, there is one thing there that is constant ; that is, the amoimt of

active principle; and the fault is in trying to measure water when

it is the other thing that should be measured. I believe that all

those cases will be settled in the end along those lines. Don't you

agree with that. Dr. Alsberg? Is it not true that many of those

cases will become simplified if we can make our measurement independent of the water concerned?

Mr. Alsberg. Yes; I think that is true. If we had definite food

standards which said, for instance, that dried fruit shall not contain over 22 per cent of moisture, we could demand that the manufacturer

give his weight on that standard basis. If he had very moist material that was going to shrink, he would have to put that much moi'e

in it and everybody would be buying on the same basis. One of the

most important things agriculturally that this country has got to

come to is buying things the same as they buy coal and steel, on the

actual basis of the value of the thing. Take corn, for instance. I

have seen commercial corn with 33 per cent of moisture in it. It

should not contain over 15 per cent. Now, there ought to be some

definite standard, and the Department of Agriculture is endeavoring to introduce it now, so that the price would be shaded according

to moisture content, and the weight of the bushel would take into

consideration the amount of moisture in the corn. That is the sort

of thing you have in mind, is it ? The President. That is it ; and the gentleman has just brought up

the borax question. I have encouraged the discussion on it because
26 BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

it represents a type of all such cases—that is, water of crystaUization—and to ray mind there is nothing to prevent them from stating

on the package how much there is present of the active principle that

is wanted, regardless of water of crystallization.

Mr. Ar,SBERG. That is to say, so much anhydrous borax.

The President. Exactly, or the equivalent of it. Mr. Downing. Mr. Chairman, I understand that in the marketing

of dry commodities the United States bushel is used. Does that mean

stricken measure or heaped, or are we to take into consideration the

matter of weight?

The President. That is really a Bureau of Standards matter, but

I am very glad that you brought it up.

Mr. Axsberg. Anything like that we want to put up to the Bureau

of Standards.

The President. The Bureau of Standards views the bushel as a capacity measure, as a certain number of cubic inches. The bureau

does not recognize the bushels by weight because the United States

Government has never taken any action in regard to that; it is a State affair. The question you bring up is an exceedinglv important

one, and I would like to have you bring that up again when the

weights and measures officials are discussing that question, as they

undoubtedly will later.

Mr. Brown. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask Dr. Alsberg a

question. He made the suggestion just now that the differences in

large units had been found to be less than in small imits. I would

like to ask what the bureau's experience has been regarding the small

sacks of flour—12, 24, and 48 pounds—as compared with the barrel.

Mr. Axsberg. I can not tell you the exact difference there, but the

percentage error, of course, was greater; the absolute error was, of

course, smaller. I do not remember the exact figures ; but they were

pretty close from the big mills. Unfortunately, we have not got

enough data yet from the little mills and do not know whether the

small men are doing as good work in that respect as the large men.

I think it is something like this : That a 5-pound sack would be right

within about 2 ounces, or something like that; a 196-pound barrel,

within 6 or 8 ounces, or something like that; so that the percentage

of 2 on 5 is, of course, very much greater than 6 on 196. But they

were pretty close. That applies only to the large mills ; we have not

weighed small packages in some of the small minor mills.

Mr. Richardson of Illinois. Gentlemen, we are not so much interested in borax in Illinois as we are in hams and com. and I would

like to ask the doctor one question in regard to the ham proposition.

In regard to a 20-pound ham, I was wondering if we could not ar- range so that in the package it could speak in the way that flour

does, so that it might be imderstood to be a pound or a pound and a

half, or whatever it was, with the wrapper—to be taken away from

the amount sold to the consumer. I ask the doctor's opinion on that.

Mr. Alsberg. This law requires, of course, that the weight of the

contents shall be stated on the package. If you define a ham that is wrapped as a package, then you can demand that the weight of the

contents be stated on the outside of tlie package. If you do not

define it as a package you can not do that. But the great difficulty

there is in the enormous changes and shrinkage which take place subsequently, and which do not really mean much change in food value.
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 27

Mr. Steinel. I would like to ask the doctor what his department

would consider the correct marking of a liquid package. I have seen

it marked, for instance, " 10 fluid ounces," " 10 liquid ounces," or just

"10 oimces." Which would be correct?

Mr. Alsberg. Ten ounces is incorrect, because you do not know

whether it is fluid ounces or avoirdupois. It should be " 10 fluid

ounces." I do not know that would penalize a man who said " 10

liquid ounces," instead of " 10 fluid ounces." I do not think that

makes any particular difference, but to say " ounces " and not state

whether it is avoirdupois or liquid measure, is not correct. There

is one point in that connection that I would like to bring out. It is

on the marking of bottles. A quart of champagne used to be a quart,

and a quart of whisljy used to be a quart ; but it has come down half

an ounce, or an ounce or so, every once in a while, so that now a quart bottle of champagne or a quart bottle of whisky has 28, 29, 30, or 31 ounces, never 32 ounces ; you will notice that in the best hotels

they no longer have on the bill of fare, "Champagne," " Quarts " and

" Pints," but it is " Large bottles " and " Small bottles." Now, since

some of the States require the marking of the contents of bottles,

most of these people who are putting out these short-measure quarts

are labeling them 28, 29, or 30 ounces—fluid ounces, as it should be.

According to these regulations that is no longer permissible, because

if it is 16 ounces or more it has got to be "A pint and so many

oimces." The cormnittee did that purposely, I believe, because we felt

that it penalized the short-measure bottle more than to say "30

ounces." That is to say, " One pint and 10 ounces " tells the man

plainly that it is not a full quart. The average citizen does not know

whether there are 30 ounces, 32 ounces, or 40 ounces, in a full quart.

THE METRIC SYSTEM.

By Fred R. Dbake, of the National Wholesale Grocers' Association.

Mr. President, Mr. Secretary, and members of the Ninth Annual

Conference on the Weights and Measures of the United States, the

National '\Vholesale Grocers' Association of the United States, which

I have the honor to represent, sends greetings and wishes me as the

representative of that organization to express thanks for the cordial

invitation to meet with you and appreciation of your wish to have

me address you on the subject of " The metric system," in which we

are so much interested, and on which we have for two years now

been conducting an educational campaign looking to the eventual

compulsory adoption of the system by congressional enactment.

The National "Wholesale Grocers' Association of the United States,

with membership in 45 States, has been the pioneer as a national

trade organization in advocating uniformity in national and State

legislation in all matters pertaining to the grocery business, and is

wielding great influence for good in its own proper sphere.

One of the first acts of our association at its organization in Buffalo in 1906 was to urge upon Congress the passage of the pure food

and drugs law enacted that year.

We have favored and used every proper effort at our command to

obtain the passage of the net-weight amendment to ^at law passed

March 3, 1913, on Avhich food-inspection decision No. 154 has just
28 BUKEAU OF STANDAEDS.

been issued, and in which the members of our association are vitally

interested.

In this decision under caption (e) we read:

Statements of weight shall be in terms of avoirdupois pounds and ounces;

statements of liquid measure shall be in terms of the United States gallon of

231 cubic inches and its customary subdivisions, i. e., in gallons, quarts, pints, or Quid ounces, and shall expres the volume of the liquid at 68° F. (20° C ) ; and statements of dry measure shall be in tlrms of the United States standard

bushel of 2,150.42 cubic inches and its customary subdivisions, i. e., in bushels,

half bushels, pecks, quarts, pints, or half pints : Provided, That, by like method,

such statements may be in terms of metric weight or measure. The metric provision is the simplest thing in the caption.

When the National ^Vholesale Grocers' Association adopted their

resolution favoring an educational campaign looking to the eventual

compulsory adoption of the metric system for all uses, it was done

with the idea of harmonizing the diversity now existing in the laws

of the various States and simplifying our Federal practice, which

now recognizes three distinct systems of weights and measures in

addition to the metric system, which was made legal by the Thirtyninth Congress in 1866, and has been slowly working its way into

more general use by sheer force of its value as an international

system adapted to our own modern needs.

Our association foresaw the desirability of studying the metric

system in 1912, for the net-weight amendment was at that time being

urged in Congress.

It is not necessary to remind this company of weight and measure

oflicials that the absolute legal standard of measure of the United

States is the international meter, and that the yard, by enactment, is

an integral part of the meter.

To the lay mind this is generally not Iniown, or if known, not re- membered, and it may be therefore not amiss here to review hastily

the history of the meter, which is the basis of the international metric

system of weights and measures, known for many years as.the French

system because of its history and adoption first by France.

Your president. Dr. Stratton, has written a very scholarly article

on the subject for the Encyclopedia Americana, and I have not hesitated to borrow from him, for no one has been more helpful to us

in our investigation of the merits of the system than he and your

secretary, Mr. Fischer.

We are indebted also in this paper to Mr. Alexander Siemens in

his address to the members of the Bradford (England) Textile

Society.

In early times each locality and industry had its own systein of

weights and measures, which crudely served local needs and primitive conditions. With increasing intercourse between communities

this diversity of units and standards proved confusing and intolerable, and for 250 years a simple universal standard has been the subject of scientific thought, legislative action, and public discussion.^

You may say the first person who put it down in black and white

was James'^ Watt. Writing to a friend in 1783, he proposed that they

should agitate for the adoption of an international unit of weights

and measures for scientific purposes.

He wrote also to French savants and the result of the agitation was

that in 1790 Prince Talleyrand brought in a bill before the legisla-
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 29

tive assembly of France proposing that an international commission

should be nominated to deliberate on this subject.

England declined—the royal society would not agree to it because

England and France were at war at that time. Eventually, however, some other countries joined and constituted a commission.

At that time the greatest difficulty was to decide upon a unit that

would be easily reproducible.

Watt had in his mind particularly scientific people and scientific

researches, and so the men nominated to the commission were mostly

scientific men and not very practical, and the idea which they adopted

at last was also not very practical. It was that the quadrant of the

earth should be measured and a ten-millionth part should be the

meter or measure of length.

We laiow that they did not get that. They even went so far as to

make a mistake in their calculations, so that the meter has never

been their meter.

Following the adoption in 1786 by the Continental Congress of tlie

idea of Gouverneur Morris, of Pennsylvania, of a decimal system of

coinage, in 1790 our National House of Representatives referred to

Thomas Jefferson, then Secretary of State, the preparation of a plan

for establishing uniformity in the currency, weights, and measures

of the United States. He made an able report, outlining and favoring a decimal system, but with the English system of measures.

It is regrettable that England and France were at war and that the

means of communication at that time were so inferior to the present,

else we feel sure that the United States would have cooperated with

France and the past century of confusion with our cumbersome system of weights and measures would have been avoided and all our

magnificent country would have been surveyed in the simple metric

S3^stem instead of, as now, in measures of length and area that are constantly passing into disuse, so that it takes a lawyer to understand

a deed of 50 years ago.

Before the French National Assembly took the action in 1790

which culminated in the establishment of the metric system in France

in 1799 and its compulsory use there in 1841, the important elements

and principles of a universal system had already been formulated.

Many of the same points were brought out in masterly fashion by

John Quincy Adams, then Secretary of State, in his classic report

made to the Senate of the United States in 1821, wherein he says:

It is one of those attempts to improve the condition of human kind which,

should it even be destined ultimately to fail, would in its failure deserve

little less admiration than in its success; it is founded upon the following

principles, that the unit of linear measure applied to matter in its three modes

of extension—length, breadth, and thickness—should be the standard of all measures of length, surface, and solidity. That the cubic contents of the

linear measure in distilled water at the temperature of its greatest contraction

should furnish at once the standard weight and measure of capacity; that for

everything susceptible of being measured or weighed there should be only one measure of length, one weight, one measure of contents, with their multiples

and submultiples exclusively in decimal proportions; that the whole system

should be equally suitable to the use of all mankind ; and that the weights and

measures should have the same base ratio throughout.

We are faced by the fact that all people on earth who count,

count by tens, and that has fixed the base ratio for any international

system. Therefore the base ratio of 10 is absolutely essential.
30 BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

We want to remind you how many ratios form part of the English

system. A statute mile has 8 furlongs, a furlong 40 perches, a perch

2| fathoms, a fathom 2 yards, a yard 3 feet, a foot 12 inches, and 1

inch 3 barleycorns. Now, an acre is 4 roods, a rood is 40 rods, a rod

30J square yards, a square yard is 9 square feet, a square foot is 144

square inches.

A barrel has 4 firkins; there are 9 gallons in a firkin, 4 quarts

in a gallon, 2 pints in a quart, and 4 gills in a pint.

The table of weights runs : One ton, 20 hundredweight ; there are four quarters in a hundredweight, 2 stones in a quarter, 14 pounds

in a stone, 16 ounces in a pound, and 16 drams in an ounce, with

27:s4 grains in a dram.

Can anything be more confusing?

We have taken up so much space on these items in order to call to

your attention units that have to be reckoned with that are practically obsolete and very difficult to learn and remember.

It is not necessary to enter into any argument to illustrate the

advantages of the metric system for facility of computation and con- venience of memorizing its inter-relations.

From this point of view the advantages of the system are universally conceded by those who have made an impartial examination of

its merits. It is probably no exaggeration to state that at least one- half of the time involved in the average computations required in

daily life would be saved by the use of this system over what is re- quired hy the existing system of weights and measures.

It is a harmonious and scientific system that is easily comprehended, and once understood, easily memorized.

It is undoubtedly true that it is as simple for all uses compared

to our English system of weights and measures as our United States

system of decimal coinage is simple compared to the cumbersome,

imrelated arbitrary English system of money, Avhere the component

parts bear no decimal or any base relation to the unit of value.

The fundamental unit of the metric system is the meter, or unit

of length divided into 1,000 parts or millimeters, and is the distance

between two marks on the original meter intended at first to be the

ten-millioneth part of a quadrant of the earth's surface.

This meter, made of platinum, is kept in a very secure vault at

the International Bureaii of Weights and Measures, located at Sevres,

France, one of the suburbs of Paris.

Last summer a committee of our association visited the bureau

and had a conference with the director, Dr. Benoit, and we are now

in correspondence with the international bureau through the secre- tary. Dr. Guillaume, and have received the report on the Fifth General Conference, which met last October, and convenes every six

years.

Your president. Dr. Stratton, took part both as a delegate and as a member of the international committee which meets every two years

;

and, be assured, he occupies a very enviable position in the minds of

scientific men throughout the world.

We are in correspondence as well with Mr. G. E. M. Johnston,

secretary of the Decimal Association of Great Britain, advocating

the metric sj'^stem.

Capt. George P. Blow, of La Salle, 111., one of the prominent members of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association, who recently visited
NINTH ANNUAL CONFEBENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASUEES. 31

South America under the auspices of the Chicago Association of

Commerce, thus expressed himself in the Manufacturers' News for

April

I know of nothing which In my opinion is as important in the development

of our trade relations as the adoption of the metric system, and I believe that

the compulsory use of the system in the United States would be the most important industrial advance of the century.

From the fimdamental unit of length, the meter, equal to 39.37

inches, the units of volume or capacity, the liter, and mass, the gram,

are derived. One-tenth of a meter, or 1 decimeter cubed, is the unit

of capacity and is called a liter. A liter of water weighs a kilogram,

and a cubic centimeter a gram.

All other units are decimal subdivisions or multiples of these imits,

the meter, the liter, and the gram.

The metric terms are formed by combining these words with the

six numerical prefixes, three used as multiples from the Greek as, deka-meter, deka-liter, deka-gram, equivalent to 10 meters, 10 liters,

10 grams, and similarly hecto for 100 and kilo for 1,000.

For the submultiples the Latin terms deci for tenth, centi for

hundredth, and milli for thousandth are used.

As our mile, the unit for great distance, is used instead of rods or

furlongs, so 1,000 meters or the kilometer, equal to about five-eighths

of a mile, is used in metric countries for distance, and 1,000 grams,

or the kilogram, for weight, equal to about 2^ poimds avoirdupois;

and for capacity, both liquid and dry measure, a liter, falling between

our liquid and dry quarts.

Now, as regards a little more of the history of the metric system:

In 1861 the old federation of German States instructed a commission to propose a national system of weights and measures, and after

deliberating they said to the federation:

The only thing that would justify the upsetting of the old measures, which were very confusing in Germany at the time—the only reason for disturbing

people and introducing new weights and measures would be to have an inter- national system.

At that time the metric system was not as widely introduced as now, and the commission very carefully went into the question

whether they should adopt the English or the French system.

Great Britain and her colonies and the United States all had the

English system, and this commission, consisting of sensible men,

might have decided "we will go with the majority of the manufacturing people and adopt their weights and measures," but when they

saw the English weights and measures and went into them they

shuddered and unanimously concluded that the metric system was the

only possible international system.

The same justification is applicable to the United States to-day.

As stated above, starting with France, the metric system has been

adopted by nation after nation until practically the whole civilized

world, save ourselves and Great Britain and her colonies, have

adopted it and are using it. And, like ourselves, other nations are so interested in it that 22

nations, the majority of which have adopted the system, sent delefates to the last general conference and support the international

ureau, as follows:

The United States, Great Britain, Germany, Russia, France, Austria-Hungary. Belgium, Argentina, Spain, Italy. Mexico, Peru, Por-
32 BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

tugal, Roumania, Servia, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Venezuela,

Japan, Denmark, Chile, Uruguay, and Siam.

All these countries have received copies of the metric standards

maintained at the international bureau, those of the United States

being now carefully maintained in a vault at the Bureau of Standards, Washington.

Following the legalization of the metric system here in 1866 the

metric standards became by law in 1893 our fundamental standards,

and copies of these standards have been distributed to all the States.

The metric system was made obligatory in Porto Eico in 1899 and

made legal in the Philippines in 1901. The United States has already

adopted it for many purposes. Foreign postal rates are fixed in metric units and the early limit of 11 pounds for the parcel post was

based on the foreign equivalent, or 5 kilograms.

It is used in the scientific investigations of the Government and is

required in the medical work of the War and Navy Departments and

the United States Public Health Service.

In 1904: Congress adopted the international electric units based

on the metric system as the legal units of electrical measures in the

United States.

In July, 1913, the metric carat of 200 milligrams, adopted by the

jewelers and dealers in precious stones, went into effect, and the Secretary of the Treasury issued an order to all collectors of customs recognizing the new standard as the official standard of the United States.

This additional action of the United States Government in con- forming our standards to the metric units of the other nations of the

world shows that the metric system is increasing in usefulness in harmonizing the weights and measures of the world.

In a most interesting paper in the April number of the Popular

Science Monthly on " Recent developments in weights and measures

in the United States " your secretary, Mr. Fischer, says

The founders of our Government evidently realized the necessity of uniform

standards or they would hardly have provided for it in the Constitution in the same clause that gives Congress the power to coin money and to regulate the

value thereof. Under that authority the Government coins all money, and

enforces the severest penalties for counterfeiting. On the other hand, it has

enacted practically no weights and measures legislation, but has left the question entirely to the States. Even the pound, yard, gallon, and bushel in com- mon use have never been adopted by Congress, but owe their use to the fact

that the Government uses them in the collection of revenue and to the fact

that they have voluntarily been adopted by the States. This state of affairs is generally not realized by the public.

Just as was the national food and drugs law necessary to harmonize and make effective legislation on food and drugs so is there a necessity for a national weights and measures law, and when that law

is enacted the National ^^Hiolesale Grocers' Association of the United

States believes the system of weights and measures enacted into the

law of the land should be the international metric system in simplification, not only of our international transactions, now grown so enor- mous, but of our wonderful interstate commerce, where the amount

of time, labor, and annoyance saved would be almost incalculable.

Strictly speaking, we are at the present time not in accord with

any country in the world, our capacity measures being entirely different from those in use in Great Britain and her colonies, including Canada.
NINTH ANNUAL CONTEBENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 33

The National Wholesale Grocers' Association of the United States

does not want to see repeated the late failure to enact Federal legislation on the metric system, due largely, we believe, to unfamiliarity

with the subject by our citizens reflected in many views expressed by

their legislators at the time.

We are endeavoring, therefore, to conduct a campaign of education

on this subject that shall cover not only the wholesale grocer and the

retail grocer, but the ultimate consumer; and we believe that where

the metric system equivalents are used in compliance with food inspection decision No. 154, it will greatly aid in educating the ultimate

consumer with regard to the metric system in the millions of homes

where every package of every kind of food is closely inspected.

Resolutions favoring this campaign have been passed in many

State association meetings of grocers, including Pennsylvania, New

Jersey, Delaware, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska. Various scientific bodies, including

the American Metrological Society, have passed resolutions favorable to the adoption of the metric system ; speeches have been made

on the metric system ; books have been written on the metric system,

the mere bibliography of which would make a respectable volume in

itself ; but the National Wholesale Grocers' Association of the United

States is the first great trade organization to come forward and advocate the needed reform in our weights and measures system by

striking at the root of the trouble and advocate the adoption of the

simplest system known, the metric system. There have been protests by a portion of the machinery trade and a portion of the textile

industry, but these objections have been met in other countries and

will be more easily met in our own country.

Opposition to any reform is not unusual, and the adoption of the

metric system would work some temporary hardships and cause some

necessary expense, but the advantages gained would far outweigh the

temporary annoyances endured. And what a glorious thing it would

be if this were to be brought about by 1916, the fiftieth anniversary

of its legalization by the Thirty-ninth Congress in 1866.

If all the friends of the metric system would join hands in a publicity campaign setting forth the merits of the reform, it could be

done; and you, gentlemen, coming from most of the States of the

Union, are in a position to do more to bring this about than any other

class of citizens who occupy positions under the Federal Government

or the States.

And if all officials and organizations were to give the encouragement your organization has, the metric system would be far on the

road to success, if not an accomplished fact by that time.

Again I thank you for your invitation to be here and for your kind

attention to my remarks.

APPOINTMEITT OF COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS.

The Secretary. Mr. Chairman, before we adjourn I would like to

move that the chairman be authorized and directed to appoint a committee on resolutions. I think we ought to have that committee

working. I make that motion.

(The motion was seconded and agreed to.)

The President. That committee will consist of Messrs. Henry,

Van Duyn, and Sherman.

(Thereupon, at 12.15 p. m., a recess was taken for luncheon.)

90371°—15 ^3
SECOND SESSION (AFTERNOON OF TUESDAY, MAY 26, 1914).

The conference reassembled at 2 p. m.

The President. The first paper of the afternoon will be by Mr.

Neale, of Minnesota, " Demonstration showing the necessity of maintaining scale levers level and lever connections plumb."

DEM01TSTE,ATI03Sr SHOWING THE NECESSITY OF MAINTAINING

SCALE LEVERS LEVEL AND THE LEVEE, CONNECTIONS PLUMB.

By C. C. Neale, Commissioner of Weights and Measures for Minnesota.

Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the convention, this series of ex- periments is not an effort to teach new principles or to advance new

theories pertaining to weighing machines, but it is intended to present

in simple and diagTammatic form certain phenomena having a

direct relation to practical scalework.

The apparatus used is made up of an ordinary 5-ton wagon scale

beam A, ratio 10 to 1, coupled by means of a beam rod B to an intermediate lever C, ratio 2 to 1, said intermediate lever being fulcrumed

by the rod D and being coupled by a connection E to an even arm

lever F, from the opposite end of which depends a pan to receive the

load of 50 pounds applied for loaded condition. (Cut I.)

The lever F is mounted on a horizontally movable pedestal G, the

mobility of said pedestal making it possible to cause a derangement

of the connection E, as to plumb line. The horizontal rod H is used

in connection with this movable pedestal to cause a general derangement as to plumb line of the connections B and E,. one end of this rod

H being formed to insert in the various holes in the plate I.

.

In making these experiments the beam A and the lever F are maintained in a level condition at all times, the intentional derangement

for experiment being confined to the intermediate lever C and the

connections B and D.

When the lever C is level it is possible to make nine different combinations, relating to plumb or out-of-plumb conditions, with the

connections B and E, as shown by the diagrams in Cut II. By deranging the level of the intermediate lever C, for instance,

by raising the short-arm end or by lowering the long-arm end, as the

case may be, it is possible to make nine different combinations, re- lating to out-of-level, plumb, or out-of-plumb conditions of the lever

C, and the connections B and E, respectively, as shown by the diagrams in Cut III.

By throwing the lever C out of level in the opposite direction from

the foregoing example—that this, by lowering the short-arm end or by raising the long-arm end, as the case may be—we find that it is

possible to obtain nine different combinations, relating to out-of-level,

plumb, or out-of-plumb conditions of the leA'er C and the connections

B and E, respectively, as shown by the diagrams in Cut IV.

34


NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASTJBES. 35

IS

<T5 ^ -5-H 5t 5c «,( *a/ 2t

III

•III •

<1>
36 BUREAU OF STANDARDS,

Hence we find that with an intermediate connecting lever and its

two connecting rods it is possible to make 26 combinations, varying

from normal, or 27 in all, counting in the normal condition when all

levers are level and all connections plumb.

However, only one degree of derangement has been considered in

each case ; that is, the infinite number of combinations possible to be

made by varying the angle of the lever or its connections in their

respective derangements has not been taken into account, only one

angle or degree of derangement having been considered in each case. Further, the experiments have been only extended to those derangements of the intermediate lever and the connections thereof effected

in a vertical plane with the beam A, any of the possible effects produced when lever • connections are out of plumb or when the intermediate lever is out of alignment in any direction outside of said

plane, not being treated in this particular experimental series.

The particular apparatus used is of a nature that somewhat approximates the stress on the intermediate lever C and the beam A

that would actually exist in using a 5-ton wagon scale when loaded

to about one-third capacity, and since the experiments were intended

to treat of actual scale conditions as they are found in the field, it

was thought best to use such an apparatus which might be called a

" derangement device," rather than an arrangement of finer detail.

The results arrived at are purely qualitative and not quantitative,

as it would serve no purpose to record the amount of variation from

standard in this particular system of levers, since the amount of

variation from standard would be variable, depending upon the construction or arrangement of various lever systems.

It was not the purpose on this occasion to go into a lengthy discussion as to the reasons for the effects produced by the various

derangements, but I believe that the demonstration plainly shows

the necessity on the part of scale inspector or scale expert of keeping

all levers level and all lever connections pliunb, thereby giving a weighing machine a fair chance to perform its functions under

proper conditions, as was intended by the manufacturer. When

derangements from normal conditions, as to levers and lever connections in a scale, admittedly cause variation from standard in weighing results, the remedy is determined, and the conscientious and

diligent scale inspector or expert will aim to correct the faulty conditions treated of herein, rather than attempt to make adjustments

by changing the lengths of the lever arms themselves, which in the

great majority of cases simply means the application of a wrong

remedy.

Gentlemen, I thank you.

TsjoTE.—The effects produced by the various combinations shown on the following pages are indicated by the signs on each drawing, which signs are explained

in the key shown in the lower right-hand corner of each cut. DISCUSSION.

The President. You have heard this most excellent demonstration

of Mr. Neale's. I have no doubt that Mr. Briggs or Mr. Ferner, of

the bureau, would show you very nicely how the lever arm is

changed, and so on, but I think a demonstration of this kind is much

more effective and brings it home much more forcibly and quickly

than could be done in the other way.
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 37
38 BUEEAU OP STANDAEDS.

--L

O

O

4
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON "WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 39

Are there any questions?

Mr. Beiggs. Mr. Chairman, I think it is only due to Mr. Neale to

testify as to the efficiency of his machine for demonstrating certain

features. He has referred to it as being arranged from the standpoint of the practical man, but for a machine designed to show cer- tain effects I can not conceive of a machine that could be designed

more simply or more effectively to bring out the essential points he

has in mind; and as Mr. Neale has been rather apologetic in presenting the apparatus and in speaking of it as designed only from a

practical standpoint, I think it is due to him to testify as to the completeness of it from a standpoint that he would regard perhaps as an

engineering standpoint or a more scientific standpoint.

creamery, prescription, and JEWELERS' WEIGHIITG AND

MEASURING APPLIANCES.

By F. P. Downing, Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures of Wisconsin.

On first thought it appears to be a rather odd method of procedure

to group together the weighing and measuring appliances used in

such diversified lines of business as the testing of cream, the dispensing of prescriptions, or the weighing of gold, silver, and precious

stones. In each case, however, the balances and graduated measures

used are quite similar in construction and design. As a rule sealers

of weights and measures have neglected to test the appliances found

in these establishments. Reasons for such neglect may be due possibly to lack of time, to lack of proper understanding of the appli- ances found in such places, and to lack of proper equipment. There

is perhaps another reason why prescription scales and graduates in

drug stores have not been tested. Many sealers, as well as other

people, share in the common opinion that scales and weights used

in dispensing poison and expensive drugs are accurate and that

there is slight need of testing the same. The druggist is assumed

to have an expert knowledge of the weighing and measuring appliances he uses and to keep in his possession only standard weights

and measures. A brief examination of the accompanying table will

quickly dispel any such ideas and show that there is as great a need

for testing the weights and measures in drug stores as there is for

doing this work in groceries and meat markets. Not only is the

relative proportion of inaccurate to accurate weights very high, but

the percentage error on individual weights is much greater than that

usually shown in reports of inaccuracies of weights and measures

used by grocers and butchers. In a number of instances errors amounting to from 30 to 40 per cent have been reported.

The table alluded to shows the work done in drug stores of Milwaukee by a thoroughly competent special deputy sealer of weights

and measures for a period of three months. Similar conditions to

those in Milwaukee have been found throughout the State, and no

doubt exist everywhere in the United States where sealers have not

recently tested such weights, scales, and graduates.
40 BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

Investigation of prescription balances, weights, and graduates, city of Miltvau]:ce, months of February, March, and April, 1914.

SCALES.

Scales in use passed 123

Scales in use adjusted 2

Scales in use condemned 33

Total scales inspected 158

Percentage found in error, 22.1.

WEIGHTS.

Weights in use passed 2, 041

Weights in use adjusted 455

Weights in use condemned 1, 125

Total weights in use inspected 3, 621

Percentage of weights in use found in error, 43.6. New weights passed 446

New weights adjusted 165

New weights condemned 26

Total new weights inspected 637

Percentage of new weights found in error, 30.

Total weights inspected 4, 258

Percentage of all weights found in error, 41.8.

GRADUATES.

Graduates in use passed ___ 512

Graduates in use condemned 419

Total graduates in use inspected 931

Percentage of graduates in use in error, 45. New graduates passed ^ 320

New graduates in error — 30

Total new graduates inspected .350 Percentage of new graduates in error, 8.5.

Total graduates inspected 1,281

Percentage of all graduates found in error, 35.

BOTTLES.

Total hottles inspected. .59. Percentage found to be short, 23.7. Maximum shortage, 20.S per cent. Percentage found to be over, 10.2. Maximum overage, 5 per cent. What has been said with regard to the scales and weights used by

the druggists applies with no less force to the scales and weights

found in creameries and in jewelry establishments. In Wisconsin

the creameries of the State have been using types of cream-test scales

that are not at all fitted to the weighing of 9 and 18 gram samples of cream. In many of the jewelry stores cheap, inaccurate beam bal- ances are used in weighing gold and silver. The jeweler will invariably tell you that he only weighs gold and silver on these balances, with the emphasis placed on the " only." It is to be presumed

that he implies by this that the value of gold is very small when com-
NINTH ANNUAL CONFEKENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 41

pared to the value of some of our precious stones, notably the emerald, diamond, and ruby.

About a year ago in a dental-supply house in Wisconsin an entire

set of troy weights in use were found to be light. In some instances

the shortage on individual weights was in excess of 2 grains. The

market price of platinum being about 12 cents a grain, the loss to

purchasers due to the use of this set of weights amounted to a large

sum in the course of a year.

Even in weighing precious stones, jewelers are frequently grossly

careless and use scales that are not accurate. A short time ago a diamond was reweighed in a jewelry store in Wisconsin that was

marked 1.05 carats. This stone was valued at $300. On an accurate

scale and with accurate weights the diamond was found to weigh but

1.01 carats. The difference in weight of 0.0-1 of a carat made a differ- ence in value of approximately $12. The error was due to the use of

a scale that was not in balance and that was not sufficiently sensitive.

The necessity for testing the above weights and measures being

apparent, it remains to suggest the methods and means whereby such

tests can be made. Contrary to the general impression, it is a comparatively easy matter to test both the weighing machines and graduated flasks. It must be borne in mind, however, that we are dealing

with appliances used in weighing or measuring small quantities, and

great care must be exercised in testing the same. In discussing the

subject the question of the proper types of balances used naturally

is first to suggest itself. A balance is a machine devised to record

the measure of the earth's attraction for bodies on or near its surface

in terms of some Imown standard. The m^echanical principles upon

which balances and other weighing machines are based are various,

but in general they all have one characteristic in common, that of

opposing the force of gravity which acts upon the body with some

resistance, the amount of which can be determined or expressed in

units of accepted standard. Eoughly speaking, the different types

of scales used can be divided into two classes : First, those possessing

movable pivots; second, those possessing fixed pivots and commonly

Imown as torsion balances. A very common type of the first class is

the beam balance with hanging pans. Many varieties of balances are now on the market. In general they may be said to consist of the

following parts: Metallic beam, knife-edges and bearings, scale pans

and hangers, arrestment, pointer or index, gravity bob, pillar, and

adjusting screws. The beam is ordinarily made of steel, brass,

aluminum, or various alloys of aluminum, with other metals such as nickel and copper. Owing to the character of the articles to be

weighed and the need of great sensitiveness it should be made as

light as possible, consistent with the property of rigidity. The knife

edges are almost invariably made of steel. The bearings are either

steel or agate. Agate is to be preferred, owing to its superior resist- ance in corrosion. Scale pans are made of brass, usually coated with

lacquer or nickel, of glass, horn, and other substances. The arrestment is a device for lifting the knife edges off the bearings when the

.scale is not in use or while weights are being placed upon the pans.

The pointer enables a close weighing to be made. A gravity bob is frequently placed upon the pointer and is used to increase or decrease

the sensibility of the balance. The pillar supports the beam and
42 BUEEATJ OF STANDAKDS.

other parts. The adjusting screws are used to bring the scale into

balance.

The important factors to be considered in the manufacture of bal- ances are sensitiveness, accuracy, constancy, and speed. A balance in

which a perceptible or appreciable movement of the beam is noticeable when a small weight is placed on one of the loaded pans is said

to be sensitive. The degree of sensitiveness that a balance should possess depends upon the use to which the same is to be put. Some of the

finer analytical balances are sensitive to 1 part in 1,000,000. This, of

course, is not necessary in balances used for ordinary prescription

work. A range in sensitiveness of from 1 part in 5,000 to 1 part in

10,000 makes a balance that is sufficiently delicate for ordinary prescription purposes. Owing to the wide latitude followed by scale

manufacturers and sealers of weights and measures in their interpretation of the term " sensitiveness," the Bureau of Standards has

recommended the use of the term " sensibility reciprocal." In beam

scales the sensibility reciprocal is the weight required to cause a change in the point of rest of the pointer equal to one scale division.

The sensibility of a balance is directly proportional to the length

of the beam and inversely proportional to the weight of the beam and

to the distance between the fulcrum of the balance and its center of

gravity. The exact meaning of this statement can be readily demonstrated by means of the model balance, the essential features of which

are shown in Figure V. This model consists of a wooden beam to

which is securely fastened a long, slender pointer or indicator that

plays over a graduated scale. A movable plumb bob or weight B is

fastened to the pointer. The fulcrum pivot F is midway between

the two end pivots, from which are suspended the loads P and L.

Each arm of the beam is divided into six equal parts by means of

pins or pegs, from which pans can be suspended.

With the scale in perfect balance—that is, with the indicator

pointing at zero—a load of 5 grams is placed at L. The indicator

then comes to rest eight divisions to the left of the zero point on the

graduated scale. If the length of the arms of the balance is now decreased one-half by suspending the pans from the pegs indicated by

3, the scale balanced and the 5-gram weight placed in the pan to the

right, the indicator will no longer come to rest at the eighth, but at

the fourth division. This goes to show that the longer the beam

the more sensitive the balance.

To show that the sensibility of the balance varies inversely with

the weight of the beam, a metallic disk about three-fourths of an

inch in diameter, with an opening or axis through the center, is made

use of. We will infer that the center of gravity of the beam is at the

point indicated by the figure g\ through which a peg projects. If

we place the metallic disk upon this peg, we have increased the

weight of the beam without disturbing its center of gravity. In the

previous experiment we noted that when 5 grams were placed on the

pan L the pointer moved eight divisions. With the metallic disk

placed on the beam at g\ 5 grams will no longer move the pointer to

the eighth division of the scale, but bring it to rest very close to the

seventh division. Were a heavier disk to be used, the indicator would

come to rest still farther to the right. This experiment shows that

increasing the weight of the beam decreases the sensitiveness of the

balance.
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ' ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 43

To show that the sensitiveness of the balance varies inversely with

the distance of the center of gravity from the fulcrum, use is made

of the movable plumb bob B. With the plumb bob at B the center

of gravity of the balance lies directly below the fulcrum at the point

g. By placing a load of 5 grams at L, the pointer moves to the left

and comes to rest at the eighth graduation. If the plumb bob is now

lowered from B to the dotted lines indicated by B', the center of

gravity of the balance has been correspondingly lowered. Instead

of being at g it is now dropped to g' ; that is, the distance between

F and the center of gravity has been increased. If a load of 5 grams

is now placed at L, the indicator comes to rest not at the eighth

graduation as in the previous case, but at the fifth graduation. Were

the plumb bob to be lowered still more, the indicator would come to

rest at a point still nearer the zero of the scale, thus proving that the

sensitiveness of the scale becomes less as the distance from the fulcrum to the center of gravity of the beam.

Inasmuch as there are limits to which the length of the arms of

the beam can be increased we can not go on indefinitely increasing

the sensitiveness of a balance by lengthening the distance between

the fulcrum and the end pivots. Again, the longer the arms of a bal- ance the slower its action becomes.

In balance construction the beam is frequently made with arms

that are comparatively short, the sensitiveness being increased by

introducing a long pointer or indicator. In Figure V, for example,

if the pointer was twice as long and the graduated scale lowered

proportionately, the balance would be more sensitive. If the pointer

was shortened to one-half the length indicated in Figure V and the

graduated scale raised proportionately the balance would become

less sensitive.

In addition to the foregoing the sensitiveness of a balance varies

when the knife-edges are not in the same plane, the sensitiveness

being decreased by raising the fulcrum or central pivot above the

line joining the two other pivots and increased by dropping the

fulcrum below this line.

My understanding can be made clearer by referring to Figures I,

II, and III. In Figure I the fulcrum F and end pivots P and L lie

in the same plane, and let it be assumed that the center of gravity

of the beam without the pan or load is directly below and very close

to the fulcrum pivot F. If equal loads are placed on the pans the

weight of the load may be considered as being centered at the knifeedges P and L. These knife-edges being in the same i)lane with F

the center of gravity of the pans and load will be at the same point

as the center of gravity of the beam. In Figure II, in which the end

knife-edges are below the horizontal plane in which the fulcrum

pivot lies, this is not the case. The center of gravity of the beam is

at or immediately below the fulcrum F. The center of gravity of

the pans and load is midway between the knife-edges P and L and

directly below the fulcrum F at the point x. Being lower than the

center of gravity of the beam alone the center of gravity of the entire

system, including beam, pans, and load, will lie somewhere between

the point F and x. In other words, the distance between the fulcrum

pivot and the center of gravity of the balance has been lowered by

dropping the end knife-edges. This will make the balance less sensitive. In Figure III we have the opposite effect. Here the load acts
44 BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

as though it were centered at the end knife-edges P and L, which lie

in a horizontal plane above the fulcrum F. The center of gravity of

I

IT Fig. I.

the pans and equal loads contained therein lies at the point x' directly

above the fulcrum. The tendency here is to raise the center of

gravity of the balance to a point somewhere between the fulcrum F

and the point x'. A balance so constructed with the center of gravity

above the fulcrum will be in unstable equilibrium. It is an accelerating balance and will not vibrate. The pointer of the balance will

P . L

X

FIG. III.

move either to the right or left of the zero and remain there. Had

the center of gravity of the beam itself been a considerable distance

below F, we might still have a vibrating balance by raising the end

Fig. IV.

knife-edges. This would be the case if the center of gravity of the

beam, load, and pans in the position shown in Figure II still fell below

the fulcrum pivot.
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 45

In Figure I the sensitiveness of the balance is independent of the

load in the pans. In Figures II and III the sensitiveness is not a constant factor and varies with the weight in the pans.

When the three knife-edges of the balance do not lie in the same

plane the constancy of the balance is affected. This can be made

clear by referring to Figure IV. The normal position of the bal- ance at rest is shown by the position of the lever h F When a load is placed on the pan L the balance is deflected to the position

shown by the dotted lines a F a'. The weight distance of a balance

being the perpendicular distance from the fulcrum to the line of

action of the weight, the power distance being the perpendicular

distance from the fulcrum to the line or action of the power, Figure

IV shows that there has been a change in leverage produced by the

tilting of the balance. When in the normal position at rest P /

equals L /. When the balance is tilted the distance P / is increased

L

Pig. V.

as shown by the line P' /', and the distance L / is decreased as shown

by the line L' In other words, the balance in the inclined position is no longer an equal arm balance, a greater load being re- quired to keep the scale in balance when the weight arm of the lever

is moved from the point &' to the point a'. This condition of affairs

may exist in a beam balance if heavier loads are placed upon the

beam so as to produce a deflection -or bending of the lever.

Another very common type of scale is constructed on what is

known as the Roberval principle. Druggist trip scales, bos prescription balances, overhead pan cream scales, and moistiire scales are examples of this type. To make a scale of this sort of a suffi- cient degree of accuracy the pan supports must be at right angles

to the beam and to the connecting rods placed beneath the base of the

scale. Any deviation from the principle of the parallelogram will

result in a variation of weight on different parts of the pan. Scales

of this type can for many purposes be more conveniently used than
46 BUREAU OF STANDAEDS.

equal arm balances that have the scale pans suspended from the beam,

but they have the disqualification of not being as sensitive, hence

they can be used only for what is known as rougher weighing. In

Wisconsin many scales of this type used in weighing cream have been

condemned. In drug stores many prescription balances of this type

are not sufficiently sensitive for the weighing of small loads. In

general it is recommended that for prescription Avork druggists

should be provided with two balances, one used in weighing loads

up to 30 grains. This scale should respond to a change in weight

amounting to 2 o^; 3 milligrams. The other balance should be used

for weighing loads of from 30 grains to 2 or 3 ounces and should

be sensitive to at least one-half grain.

A very common type of balance used both in drug stores and

creameries is what is known as the torsion balance. Torsion counter

scales, torsion prescription balances, torsion cream and moisture

scales, and torsion chemical balances are examples of this type.

Torsion balances possess no knife-edges. The action of the balance

is based upon the resistance offered to the load by the torsion or

twist of steel bands stretched upon frames or trusses. Early at- tempts in the manufacture of this type of scale were unsuccessful

owing to the fact that when the bands were stretched the elasticity

of the steel wires or bands destroyed the sensitiveness of the bal- ance. This difficulty was overcome by making the balance top-heavy

;

that is, by raising its center of gravity above the point of support of

the beam. Many forms of torsion balances are in commercial use. In its essential parts a torsion balance consists of three frames or

trusses, each of which has a steel band tightly stretched about it. The three trusses are connected by means of an upper and lower

beam which are fastened to the steel bands of each truss. The pan

supports are fastened to the upper beam directly above the two end

trusses. The lower Avire of the middle truss, which is fastened to

two supports, acts as a pivot for the whole balance. The sensibility

of such balances is usually affected by placing a movable iron weight

directly above the central pivot or by placing two movable weights, one on either side of the central pivot or the lower beam. Much care must be exercised in adjusting such weights. By raising the weight

too far the balance becomes top-heavy or oversensitive and the

pointer or indicator will not return to the zero mark. This is one

of the defects found in what is known as the 12-bottle torsion cream

balance that has been in very common use in creameries.

Weights.—It is fully as important that the weights used by druggists, jewelers, and dairymen be correct as it is that the scales be

sufficiently sensitive and accurate. In drug stores both metric and

apothecary weights are in use. Wlien doctors prescril^e in the

metric system the druggist as a rule will use his set of metric weights.

It has been found, however, in Wisconsin that by far the majority

of doctors prescribe in the apothecary system, and hence metric

weights are used but very little. Many apothecary weights, particularly those ranging from 10 grains down to one-half grain, have

been found to be very inaccurate. These weights are frequently

stamped from sheet metal and no effort made to adjust the same. Such weights are very cheap and likewise very inaccurate.

Errors in prescription weights are brought about by their constant

exposure to the action of drugs and strong chemicals. Druggists
NINTH ANNUAL CONFEKENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASUEES. 47

frequently polish their weights or clean the same with dilute acetic

acid or ammonia. Each time this is done a portion of the metal is

acted upon and the weight becomes correspondingly light. Inspectors in Wisconsin report instances of weights that have been

used for periods of from 20 to 30 years in drug stores. It is not

necessary to state that such weights have been found very inaccurate.

In some cases the shortage is found to be as much as 40 per cent of

the original value of the weight.

In the making of the Babcock test for cream, metric weights are

used. If the operator is not careful, such weights frequently become

covered with a mixture of dirt and butter fat and weigh heavy. The

only weights used in weighing samples of cream at creameries are

the 9 and 18 gram weights. In the making of the moisture test for

butter a 10-gram weight is used.

In jewelrj' shops sets of troy and carat weights are found. Troy

weights are frequently found in the form known as cup weights.

This is undoubtedly done to distinguish such weights from those in

the avoirdupois system. Troy weights are used in the weighing of

the precious metals, such as gold and silver, whereas carat weights

are used only in determining the size of precious stones. The latter

system of weights should be very accurate, in other words ; but small

tolerances or variations should be permitted. In this connection

attention must be called to the difference between what is known

as the metric carat of 200 milligrams and the old United States carat

which varied in weight from 205.3 to 205.5 milligrams. The new

metric carat has been recognized by the Bureau of Standards since

July 1, 1913. It is rapidly being adopted all over the country by

jewelers. In making the change from the old carat to the metric

many of the jewelers have only sent in the weights from 2 carats

down to one sixty-fourth of a carat to be replaced by the new system.

The larger weights, which are very seldom used, are still the old

variety.

Various methods are in use for indicating the value of weights.

Apothecary weights are designated by means of the symbols representing the ounce, dram, scruple, etc. Frequently the weights are designated by stamping the entire word on the side of the weight.

The smaller weights are often designated by means of dots or numerals. In the case of what are known as rod weights the value is

expressed or designated by the number of sides the weights possess.

Weights found in the above-mentioned places of business are made

of brass, aluminum, platinum, and various alloys. Weights made

of brass should be lacquered or plated with some material, like nickel,

that resists corrosion. Aluminum is less subject to corrosion than

brass, but being a very soft material it wears tapidly. Owing to its

lightness it is especially adapted to the manufacture of small weights.

Platinum makes an ideal material for weights. Its excessive cost,

however, is prohibitive.

Specifications for Babcock glassware have been adopted in a number of States. On March 28, 1911, specifications for. standard

Babcock glassware were proposed and adopted at a meeting held in

Washington, D. C. These specifications can be found in circular

No. 9 of the Bureau of Standards. The specifications prescribed by

the Wisconsin department of weights and measures follow very

closely the specifications formulated by the bureau. The Wisconsin
48 BUKEATJ OF STANDAEDS.

law, however, does not permit the use of the 8 per cent milk test bottle or the 9-gram cream test bottle. These two t^^pes advocated

at the conference in 1911 can not therefore be legally sealed in Wisconsin. One of the most important differences between the Wisconsin and the national specifications is the dimensions specified m the

length of the graduated scale. The graduations should be approximately 1 millimeter apart. This necessitates the specifying of a

definite length for the graduated neck and permitting certain toler- ances both above and beloAv to allow for reasonable variations in the

diameter of the tubing. In reading the percentage of fat in milk

the reading is made to the top of the meniscus. As the shape of the

meniscus varies with the diameter of the tubing, errors result if th6

tubing is not uniform. The standard length for the graduated scale

of milk-test bottles should be 75 millimeters. The bureau has specified a minimum length of graduated scale, but has failed to specify

a maximum.

Graduated glassware.—We now come to a consideration of the

various types of graduated bottles and containers used in creameries and drug stores. Considering first of all the glassware used in

creameries it will be necessary to make a slight explanation of what

is Icnown as the Babcock method of testing milk and cream. In obtaining the percentage of milk fat the operator starts with a Imown

A^olume or weight of the sample, places it in a graduated milk or cream bottle, treats it with sulphviric acid, and then, after cen- trifuging or whirling the bottle a definite period of time in a centrifuge, reads the percentage of fat directly from the graduated neck

of the bottle. In the measuring of milk an 18-gram sample is taken.

This can be arrived at with a sufficient degree of accuracy by taking

a pipette of such a capacity that the same will deliver 17.5 cubic

centimeters of milk. It has been found that a pipette which delivers 17.6 cubic centimeters of water will deliver 17.5 cubic cen- timeters of milk. Therefore in the testing of such pipettes the

amount of water delivered should be taken into consideration. The

graduated neck of both milk and cream bottles, when an 18-gram

charge is taken, is made on the basis of 1 cubic centimeter for each 5

per cent marked on the neck. In the case of the 9-gram bottle,

which, by the way, is not permitted under the laws of Wisconsin,

each 10 per cent on the scale is represented by 1 cubic centimeter.

The inventor of this test. Dr. Babcock, is opposed to the use of a 9-gram bottle, his contention being that there should be but one standard as the basis for the calibrating of the necks of the bottles.

Babcock bottles can be readily tested by two accurate volumetric

methods. The test can be made either with an accurate burette,

preferably one of the capacity of 10 cubic centimeters graduated to

one-twentieth cubic centimeter divisions, or by means of brass plummets. These brass plummets are so devised that the bottle can be

tested at one-half and at full capacity. This method of testing is

now followed almost entirely in the laboratory of the weights and

measures department of Wisconsin. '\Vhen many bottles are to be

tested the use of plummets is a time saver. In testing Babcock

bottles it is necessary to exercise great care. Allowance must be

made for drainage. ^Vhen plummets are used they must be care- fully wiped after each test. The eye must be placed on a level with

the meniscus. The bottom of the meniscus should be read. It is
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 49

best to use alcohol as the fluid for testing, inasmuch as it drains a

great deal faster than water. Owing to the high coef&ciency of ex- pansion of alcohol it should not be allowed to come in contact with

the heat of the hand during the testing; that is, the bottle should

never be taken hold of at the base, but always at the top of the

neck.

For further information concerning specifications for Babcock

glassware reference can be made to a pamphlet issued by the Wisconsin department of weights and measures on March 3, 1914, pertaining to regulations relating to cream test scales and Babcock

milk and cream test bottles and to circular No. 9 of the Bureau of

Standards, relating to the testing of glass volumetric apparatus.

Graduated glassware can be tested either volumetrically or gravimetrically. For the calibration of standards used by sealers it is

best to use the gravimetric method. For testing glassware in the

field, however, this method is impossible, and volumetric methods

should be followed. Glassware as calibrated by manufacturers is made either to contain a definite amount or to deliver the same. There will be a slight difference between the amount a graduate contains and the amount it delivers, owing to a slight film of the liquid

adhering to the side of the vessel after the same has been poured.

Reliable manufacturers of prescription graduates make graduates

to deliver the specified quantity at a temperature of 15° C., which is

the temperature prescribed by the United States Pharmacopoeia. It

has been found that there is not much uniformity among druggists

or even among instructors in pharmaceutical schools with regard

to the method of filling prescription graduates. Some pharmacists

read to the bottom of the meniscus, some to the top, and some one- third of the distance between the top and bottom. It is becoming

more and more common, however, to read the bottom of the meniscus.

In testing graduates the reading should always be the bottom of

the meniscus. Numerous forms of glass graduates are on the market, practically all of which are provided with a pouring lip. Some

of the graduates are cylindrical in form, others conical, and still others tumbler-shaped. In the more accurate varieties of gradu^ates

the graduations are etched in the glass. In the less accurate they

are simply blown in the glass. The latter class of graduates should

not be used for prescription work, it being practically impossible to

make graduates of this type with a sufficient degree of accuracy.

The most accurate type of graduates are cylindrical in form. These,

however, are not used to any great extent, no doubt because of the

difficulty in cleaning. In examining graduates a number of intermediate graduations, as well as the full capacity, should be tested.

In making the test it is advisable to place the graduate on a level

surface. The eye should always be placed in a line with the meniscus

and attention must be given to the nature of the backgroimd used, a

different reading being obtained when the graduate is placed before

a white or a dark background. A clearer-cut reading can be obtained

on a white background. The most reliable practice recommended

by various volumetric works calls for the use of a rectangular slip

of paper, half black and half white. This is placed directly back of

the graduate to be tested, with the black surface at the bottom. The

slip should be placed in such a position that the dividing line between

the black and white will be from 2 to 3 millimeters below the menis90371°—15 4
50 BUBEAU OF STANDAEDS.

cus. A very distinct and clear-cut reading can then be obtained.

The specifications and tolerances advocated by the Wisconsin department of weights and measures in the testing of glass prescription

graduates are given below. In drawing up these tolerances consideration was taken of the fact that such graduates were to be tested

by volumetric methods. The tolerances are fairly liberal, so large,

in fact, that no attention needs to be paid to the matter of temperature.

Commercial glass graduates and apothecary -fluid measures—Spedfications.—Glass graduates must be free from flaws or cracks.

The divisions shall not extend to the top and must be etched into

the portion of the glass not otherwise marked.

The graduation markings shall be at right angles to the longitudinal axis and shall not exceed one sixty-fourth of an inch in width.

Glass graduates shall have a lip or be flared to facilitate pouring.

Glass graduates are tested as pouring measures. The following errors are allowable (readings made to the bottom

of the meniscus) :

Measiires. Tolerances.

1 quart IJ drams or 90 minims.

1 pint 1 dram or 60 minims.

§ pint J dram or 30 minims.

1 sill } dram or 15 minims.

2 fluid ounces fl minims.

1 fluid ounce G minims.

\ fluid ounce or 4 drams 3 minims.

1 dram 1 minim.

lliter 100 minims.

i liter iiO minims.

} liter 30 minims.

100 cubic centimeters 12 minims.

50 cubic centimeters 6 minims.

25 cubic centimeters 4 minims.

10 cubic centimeters 2 minims.

5 cubic centimeters 1 minim.

In addition to the specifications above the following regulations

are being investigated and, if foimd practicable, will be adopted

The material shall be of good quality glass, clear, transparent, of

uniform but not excessive thickness, and free from striae. The greatest inside diameter of conical commercial graduates must

not be more than one-half the graduated length.

The greatest inside diameter of cylindrical commercial graduates

must not be more than one-third the graduated length.

Sealer''s equipment.—In testing the weighing and measuring appli- ances in the various establishments enumerated above, the sealer of

weights and measures should be provided with the following special

equipment

1 small pocket balance sensitive to 1 milligram.

1 set metric weiglits, 50 grams to 1 milligram.

1 set apothecary weights, 2 drams to one-tenth grain.

1 sixty-minim cylindrical graduate.

1 one-hinidred-and-twentieth minim cylindrical graduate.

1 one-fluid ounce cylindrical graduate.

1 two-fluid ounce cylindrical graduate.

1 fifty cubic centimeter burette.

1 one-hundred cubic centimeter cylindrical graduate,

1 one-minim dropper for determining tolerances.

1 one-sixteenth-inch steel die. 1 one-thirty-second-inch steel die. 1 bottle glass ink, with marking pen and pad.
NIKTH ANNUAL CONFEKENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASUKES. 51

This is the minimum equipment necessary for the performance of

accurate work. For testing apothecary or metric weights of greater

value than those indicated in the list, the sealer's set of avoirdupois

weights can be used by resorting to tables of equivalents. In testing

graduates of greater capacity than 2 fluid ounces the sealer can likewise resort to his set of standard liquid measures, provided the same

are used with a slicker plate. The small one-sixteenth-inch die is used for sealing the smaller weights. The small rod weights used

by druggists can be sealed with this die. For sealing carat weights

it will be necessary to use the one-thirty-second-inch steel die. The

glass graduates can be readily sealed by writing on the side of the

graduate with glass ink or hydrofluoric acid. In order to prevent

the ink from running over the surface of the glass the same should be

mixed with a small quantity of some inert powder like barium

sulphate.

DISCUSSION.

The President. I think we are exceedingly fortunate in having the

last two papers, because it indicates that the trend of thought of the

delegates is along the line of understanding what you are dealing

with. In the past you have been largely at the mercy of the manufacturers of scales, who unfortunately have not been following the

scientific and engineering principles as closely as they should; but

the day is not far distant when you will lead rather than be led by

them, and this is an indication of it. I am exceedingly pleased to know that you are looking forward to

this class of papers. Several years ago I predicted that the field of

the city sealer would be greatly broadened in the future. I expect

that within a year or two you will be presenting papers on the testing

of physicians' thermometers. They are just as important as what

we have here. The Bureau of Standards can not handle this for all

of the country, and the time will come when you will handle them,

either direct or in cooperation with the Bureau of Standards. But

some means must be brought about whereby your functions will cover

a much wider field than they do at present.

And again, I am glad to see that you are beginning to look upon

your duties from the other and broader standpoint, namely, that of

enabling the honest man, the man who wants to be honest, to do what

is right. There has been too much of the police aspect in the past

of preventing the dishonest man from doing a dishonest thing. That

is all right, and that is very valuable; but the other side is at least

equally, and, I think, far more important. That is to enable the

man who wants to do the right thing to do it; and he can not do it unless you are prepared at all times to test just such apparatus as

these, and the other apparatus that they have to do with.

Mr. Hanson. Mr. Chairman, possibly those who are here will be

interested to know what the State of Massachusetts has done regarding apothecary weights and measures. When I was appointed to

office I sent a notice to all the local sealers to test the apothecaries

weights and measures, which I thought was one of the most important things we had there. Some two months ago I put five State

inspectors to testing the weights and measures of apothecary stores. I just want to submit the following table showing what one inspector

found.
52 BUREAU OF STAKDAEDS.

Summary of tests of apothecaries' weights by an inspector from Massachusetts

State department of weights and measures, 1914-

store No.

Total number

tested.

Correct within

toler- ance.

Incorrect. Adjust- ed.

Con- demned

and

seized.

Correct.Incorrect.

Createst per

cent of error in any weight.

Denomination of weiiht in which

greatest

error is found. Heavy. Light. Heivy. Light.

1

1 A

4t) 19

829

2220

19303834

21

31

iniu27

198

15

11

119

21

10

14

13

15

2

15 2

4

z

15

oZ

4

P. ct.

58.7

100 10051.7

50

6547.4

70

26.

3

41.2

61.9

48.4

P. ct. CO- 41.3Per :t. 20

18

Per a. Grains

i

15

3

1i

i4

X32

4

3 lA

4 .56

is4

7

6

58

16

5

172

4

4

20

192

11

3

2

6

64

4

16

4

119

3

45

24

192

12

48.3 50

4552.6

30

73.7 58.8

38.1 51.6

22

1220

6

f>

89 6

10 14.7 4

6

40

1112

13

Total. 331 183 72 76 53 95 55. 3 44.7

1

You, gentlemen, can see the importance of this work from the

figures I have given.

In Massachusetts practically all the local sealers now have their

equipment and. are going ahead testing the apothecaries' weights.

What we advocate there is that the sealer should have at least two

sets of weights and that all the testing should be done in the office of

the sealer. For instance, he leaves one set with the apothecary shop

and he brings the apothecary's weights into his office to be tested.

Regarding the graduates, we have not reached that just yet, but

we are advocating the use of burettes; that is to say, the sealers will use burettes instead of graduates in pouring from one to the other.

The Secretart. Mr. Chairman, I am also very glad, indeed, that

Mr. Downing presented a paper of this sort. I think that perhaps

two reasons have contributed to the neglect of this subject, the first

of which, of course, is that the whole subject of weights and measures

is new—that is, the inspection is comparatively new in this country

and it was perfectly natural to look out for those weights and

measures with which the average individual would come in contact.

That, I think, is perhaps the main reason why this particular subject has been neglected. The other one, of course, is the one that Mr.

Downing pointed out, namely, that the sealer had an idea that this

was very delicate apparatus. As a matter of fact, it is almost the

worst kind of apparatus that there is in use. It is the cheapest kind

of apparatus that is made, and we were very much surprised, as everyone else has been, a few years ago, when making tests, to find

the bad condition of these Aveights. Of course, if you talk to a druggist about it, he will tell you that human beings differ very

widely, anyhow, and that a physician never gives a dose that is likely

to kill; he merely guesses about what a man can stand and makes a

liberal tolerance himself, so that if you happen to get twice as much

in as is called for, it makes very little difference. There is something

in that; but, at the same time, if they do not take care of their

weights, it seems to me that they are not going to do very accurate

work anywhere.
NINTH ANNUAL CONFEEENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASUBES. 53

DISCUSSION ON TTJTTLE-WEEKS STANDARD BARSEL BILL.

The Secretary. I was informed a short while ago that the hearing

on the Tuttle bill, which was held this morning, has been extended

that is, there will be another hearing to-morrow at 10 o'clock; and

Mr. Hardwick, the chairman, would like to have this association or conference represented at that hearing. I think perhaps Mr. French

or Mr. Wagner might want to make a little announcement in regard

to that. They have just come from the hearing and perhaps can

tell us the status.

Mr. French. Mr. Chairman, at the hearing accorded us this morning there was representation from all over the country. The report

on the Tuttle- Y/eeks bill was adjourned until to-morrow morning by

reason of the great number of witnesses. We had a very courteous

and very full hearing this morning.

This bill was introduced for the creation of a standard barrel for

all fruits and vegetables and other dry commodities, and it progressed along the usual course, through the Committee on Coinage,

Weights, and Measures, and reached the point where the cranberry

interests injected into that bill a special provision for the cranberry

barrel. The cranberry barrel, as you all know, is practically a universal standard, controlled by custom over a number of years, and in

latter years adopted by the cranberry-producing States. From that

bill a bill was put in the Senate known as the Weeks bill, with the

cranberry specification shown as a separate standard, and this passed

the Senate unanimously in January. The bill then was referred to

the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures of the House, and

after several hearings, which we thought were favorable, was so amended by that committee as practically to destroy its usefulness.

They eliminated the cranberry barrel ; they changed the penaltj'^ provision from a dollar a barrel to $500 and six months' imprisonment,

and made no provision for enforcing the act, and made one or two

other amendments which were not at all acceptable. But we were

successful in having the committee withhold that bill and not report

it, and to give us another hearing, which they have done to-day. The

special feature that has been argued to-day was the cranberry proposition. The cranberry interests came down here very strong, and I

am quite convinced that there are only a few of the committee that

are not favorable. But I do realize the importance of having the

further indorsement from this department, and especially a representation from this convention to appear before this meeting. I

think the committee is fully aware of the fact that the conference

has already given indorsement to the bill as passed by the Senate,

and if they wish to give further indorsement there will be an opportunity at this time.

Mr. CuMMiNGs. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask Mr. French, if

I may be permitted, if the standard cranberry barrel does not contain

100 quarts?

Mr. French. My understanding is that this is not a capacity

measure, but simply a standard barrel of 7,056 cubic inches.

Mr. Wagner. Mr. Chairman, if I may answer that, the cranberry

barrel will measure out 100 quarts. The cranberries are put in under

pressure, and the fruit or vegetable, whichever it may be called, ex- pands, and when the barrel is opened it will rise, so that it will
54 BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

measure, in the disposing of it, more than it measures in its compressed form. I think there is no question but that the standard

cranberry barrel in use will measure a full 100 quarts.

Mr. CuMMiNGS. I made a test on that standard barrel, which failed

to show that.

]\Ir. Wagner. Might I ask the nature of the test?

Mr. Ctjmmings. I made a test with split peas.

Mr. Wagner. In the cranberry you have a commodity that is en

tirely different. In the cranberry you have a commodity which is similar to the sponge. They are put in under pressure and compressed. Your split peas can not do that. If you are filling with a commodity, you might as well use wheat; but with the cranberries

imder pressure, with the opening of the barrel they spring.

The Secretart. Mr. Chairman, I would like to say in regard to

this provision for the cranberry barrel in this bill that the cran- berry people are very well organized indeed, and they have been

unanimous in contending that this barrel was the result of a good

many years' experience in shipping cranberries, and that the larger

size standard would not do. That statement has been made over and over again, positively, by these gentlemen who are engaged in

that business. In addition to that, this particular barrel has been

adopted, I think, in all three of the cranberry States ; and I will say

further that if the exception is not made of the cranberry barrel

there will not be any national standard barrel in the United States

for a good many years. That is my opinion, after three years'

experience with this measure. Mr. Hannaford. Mr. Chairman, I am somewhat interested in this

. bill that is before the House at present, because I am right in the

district where they pick thousands and thousands of bushels of cranberries; and if this bill goes through I will be very much pleased.

I am in hearty accord with everybody on the standard barrel; but

if you will go down on Cape Cod in Massachusetts,, you will see buildings there twice as large as this, filled from cellar to roof with

staves and heads and hoops for the manufacture and putting to- gether of barrels for cranberries. Now, this season cranberries

are pretty well advanced; there is no question about that. Cranberries are the first commodity that is picked in Massachusetts, or

practically the first, although you may not get them until just

before Christmas; and I really and honestly think, gentlemen, that

it is no more than right that if you can get this bill through and

leave the cranberry barrel out, you are justified in doing so. Mr. Brown. Mr. Chairman, I do not know the first thing about

any of these propositions. There has been a good deal said about

cranberry barrels, standard barrels, and so on, and I notice you

asked Mr. French for some statement about the provisions of these

bills. We have failed to get them, so far as I have heard.

The President. I think Mr. French assumed that you were familiar

with the barrel bill that has been discussed heretofore. It provides

for a standard barrel with a certain capacity, with the exception

of the cranberry barrel. My own feeling about that matter is that

we .should allow that to continue, as long as they have adopted a standard package. Cranberries are raised in but four or five States,

and they have a uniform package. Let them continue to use a uniform package ; but there is one thing that we should be very careful
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 55

about, and that is not to have two standard barrels. Change the name

of it, or put it in such form that there is but one standard barrel,

and that is the one you legislate for, but make the exception in the

use of cranberry barrels. Allow the cranberry people to use another

barrel and call it, if you like, a cranberry barrel, but not a standard

barrel. There should be only one United States standard barrel.

Mr. Fischer, will you please answer the question of the last gentleman who spoke?

The Secretary. The standard barrel provided for in this bill is

the same barrel which was established for the apple industry last

year, in the bill known as the Sulzer bill. That bill was passed, providing for the same size barrel that is standardized in practically all

the States where they have a standard. They have that barrel in

New York and quite a number of other States, and that is supposed

to be the standard flour barrel. That was the great argument used in

getting the bill through—that it was the barrel in common use. We

looked it up at the time in a great many coopers' catalogues in order

to find out what sizes they used, and each one of them had that particular standard in it ; so that I do not think there was any doubt

but what the standard created by that law established the standard

which was already in use throughout the United States.

Now, that was only for apples. This particular bill provides the

same standard for all dry commodities except those that are sold by

weight, like cement, lime, and so on, and in that case it is required

that the net weight shall be stamped on the outside; the single ex- ception being the cranberry barrel, for the reasons which have

already been stated.

Mr. EoTLANCE. Mr. Chairman, I am a delegate here in the interest

of the Western Fruit Jobbers' Association, and would like to say

a word along the line of explanation as to why we want this bill

adopted. The Western Fruit Jobbers' Association—which is composed of about 380 members in all the States west of Ohio and about

138 cities, doing an annual business of about $250,000,000 and paying a railroad freight bill of about $82,000,000 per annum—-in con- vention assembled at Kansas City last January, went over the merits

of this bill as proposed by the cranberry growers of Massachusetts,

and unanimously indorsed the bill. For the reasons stated by the

growers themselves, an apple barrel should not be used for cranberries because of its enlarged capacity ; but they do want the cran- berry barrel standardized, not only for the growers themselves, but

in order to make the manufacturers responsible for the size of the

barrel, so that it will come entirely under the head of the department

of weights and measures. So that I am here as the representative

of that organization for the purpose of standardizing weights and

measures, and among other things is this barrel bill; and our committee that was at the hearing this morning was instrumental in

getting the further consideration of the bill postponed until tomorrow morning in order to give this convention a chance to have a

representative there.

The President. Gentlemen, we would like to continue this discussion, and perhaps we may find time for it at some future meeting;

but we have on the program the inspection of manufacturers' exhibits and the laboratories of the Bureau of Standards, and one of

the things we had planned for you to see was the operation of the
56 BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

large Emery testing machine in the north end of the basement of the

building in which you took luncheon. They are testing large steel

columns, for the purpose of getting the law of columns. We have

had them hold back that test in order that you might see it. It is

rather an unusual sight. The large testing machine has a capacity

of two and a half million pounds, and when it is being operated

at its total load you can push it down with the end of your finger

and the increased weight will be indicated by the machine.

APPOINTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.

Mr. BuCHTEL. I move at this time that the chair appoint a committee to appear before the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and

Measures of the House to discuss the Tuttle bill. (The motion was

seconded and agreed to.)

The President. The committee will consist of Messrs. Neale, of

Minnesota; Henry, of Vermont; Van Duyn, of Iowa; Waldron, of

New Jersey; and Brown, of Tennessee; and we hope that this committee will feel at liberty to arrange for as many others as they

see fit. (Thereupon, at 3.50 p. m. the meeting adjourned to meet the morning of May 2S, 1914.)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1914.

The forenoon of Wednesday was set aside for a hearing before

the House Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures at the

Capitol on certain weights-and-measures-legislation pending before

Congress. The committee appointed by the conference the previous

day to represent it at the hearing consisted of Messrs. Neale, of

Minnesota; Henry, of Vermont; Van Duyn, of Iowa; Waldron, of

New Jersey; and Brown, of Tennessee, the committee being authorized to arrange for the assistance of other members as they saw fit. The committee accorded the conference committee a hearing on

H. E. 4899, "To fix the standard barrel for fruits, vegetables, and

other dry commodities"; and in the course of their remarks the

conference committee pointed out the necessity of having a national

standard barrel and the advisability of making the law mandatory.

Messrs. L. A. Fischer, F. Reichmann, Joseph Hartigan, and Charles

Hannaford also addressed the committee in favor of the bill. The afternoon of Wednesday was devoted to an inspection and

demonstration of the railroad track scale-testing equipment of the

Bureau of Standards, at the Naval Gun Factory, Washington, D. C,

the members of the conference being afforded an opportunity to

closely inspect the mechanism of the car and its equipment, after

which they watched the various operations in an actual test of a railroad-track scale belonging to the Gun Factory.

After the completion of the test the members of the conference

were escorted through the Naval Gun Factory by Commander Chester Wells.
THIRD SESSION (MORNING OF THURSDAY. MAY 28, 1914).

The conference reassembled at 10.15 a. m.

REPOBT OF COMMITTEE ON TOLERANCES AND SPECIFICATIONS.

Presented by Mr. John C. Connors.

Your committee on tolerances and specifications respectfully submit

the following report

The committee, realizing that the report as submitted to and

adopted by the last conference was necessarily not final or complete,

have attempted to obtain further information from the manufacturers, the weights and measures officials, and other persons interested.

In furtherance of this purpose requests for criticisms and suggestions

were addressed to the various interests affected, and all replies have

been given very careful consideration. Also meetings were held in

various cities at which the various specifications and tolerances were

thoroughly discussed.

The adoption and enforcement of these tolerances and specifications in Porto Rico and in the States of Indiana, Wisconsin, Washington, Ohio, Massachusetts, and the city of Chicago, and the adoption and enforcement of the major part in the States of Michigan

and Kansas has proved that while the tolerances and specifications are just, equitable, and enforceable on the whole, nevertheless some

changes are advisable.

The following suggestions for revision or addition are the result,

and the committee accordingly recommends their adoption by the

conference.

The committee extends its thanks to Mr. F. S. Holbrook and Mr.

C. A. Briggs, of the Bureau of Standards, for the valuable advice and

assistance which they have freely given. The committee also ex- tends its thanks to the weights and measures officials and the manufacturers of weighing and measuring devices for the valuable suggestions and criticisms offered.

Respectfully submitted.

Loms A. Fischer,

J. C. Connors,

Committee.

LINEAR MEASURES.

Amend the specification reading

Measures of length may be made of any material whose form or dimensions

remain reasonably pei-manent under normal conditions; for example, steel,

brass, hardwood, etc. : Provided, however, That tapes for commercial purposes

may be made of wire-woven cloth

by adding the words

When an actual and sufficient reenforcement and permanency is thereby

obtained.

57
58 BUEEAU OF STANDARDS.

Add a new specification, reading as follows

Folding measures of length shall be so constructed that each section will come

to a definite stop when straightened out to its proper position.

LIQUID CAPACITY MEASURES.

Amend the specification reading

The capacity shall be legibly and permanently indicated on the side of the measure. On enamel and composition measures this marking shall be of a

different color than that of the measure

by adding, after the word " capacity " in the first line, the words

of the measure and the word " Liquid."

Add a new specification, reading as follows

Liquid measures of the customary system shall be of one of the following

capacities only : One gallon, a multiple of the gallon, or a binary submultiple of

the gallon ; i. e., a measure obtained by successively dividing the gallon by two

Provided, however, That nothing in this specification shall be construed to pre- vent the use of forms for ice cream exclusively in 5-pint and 3-pint sizes, or

bottles for milk or cream in the 3-pint size. Amend the specification reading—

The following errors are allowable

to read

The following errors shall be allowed in deficiency and double these errors in excess on liquid capacity measures: Add the following new specifications

MILK BOTTLES.

Bottles used for the sale of milk or cream shall be made only in the sizes

heretofore specified under the heading, " Liquid Capacity Measures."

Each bottle shall have its capacity clearly blown or otherwise clearly and

permanently marked in the side of the bottle, and in the side or bottom the

name, initials, or trade-mark of the manufacturer thereof.

Bottles with an inside diameter immediately below the cap seat or stopple of

not over 2 inches shall hold the correct capacity when filled within one-fourth

inch of this cap seat or stopple; bottles with an inside diameter of over this

amount immediately below the cap seat or stopple shall hold the correct capacity when filled within one-eighth inch of the cap seat or stopple.

The following errors in excess and deficiency may be allowed on individual

bottles, and on the average content of bottles, as noted in the column headings.

The latter figures shall be determined by finding the error on each of not less than 25 bottles selected at random from at least four times the number tested

and taking the average of these errors.

Capacity.

Tolprance on indi- vidual bottles. Tolerance on aver- age content.

Drams. Cubic

inches. Drams. Cubic

inches.

i gallon 6 1.4 1.5 0. 35

5 1.2 1.25 .29

4 .9 1.0 .23 3 .7 .75 .17

2 .5 .5 .12

l-gill 2 .5 .5 .12
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 59

DET MEASURES.

Add a new specification reading as follows

Dry measures with adjustable bottoms shall uot be usedAmend the specification reading

The following errors are allowfible

to read

The following errors shall be allowed in deficiency and double these errors in excess on dry capacity measures

Add a new specification reading as follows

BEBBY BASKETS OE BOXES.

Baskets for berries or small fruits of a capacity of 1 dry quart or less shall be of one of the following sizes : 1 quart, 1 pint, or one-half pint, dry measure. The following errors are allowable in deficiency and double these errors in excess on berry baskets or boxes

Capacity. Tolerances.

Cubic inches.32

1

SCALES.

General specifications.—Add a nev^? specification reading as follows:

When the scale is equipped with a device attached to the scale intended to counterbalance the weight of the scoop, this shall clearly indicate on the

customer's side whether the scoop should be on or off the scale platform.

Amend the specification reading

The normal position of the beam shall be horizontal

to read as follows

When scales are equipped with a beam or beams, the position or oscillation

of which is used to indicate the balance of the scale, the normal position of

this beam or beams must be horizontal.

Add a new specification, reading as follows:

All scales shall be of such construction that they are permanent in their adjustment and will repeat their weight indications correctly, and are not designed

to or may not be used to facilitate the perpetration of fraud.

Add the following to the definition of " sensibility reciprocal : "

In the case of scales provided with a reading face or dial, the sensibility

reciprocal does not apply to the face or dial. PLATFOBM SCALES.

The specification reading

The beam shall have equal play above and below its normal horizontal

position,

should be amended to read—

On scales which are required to have the normal position of the beam horizontal, the beam shall have equal play above and below this normal horizontal

position.
60 BUKEAU OF STANDAEDS.

Amend the following specification by adding italic portion as follows

The sensibility reciprocal of platform scales, except counter lilatform scales, shall not exceed the value of two of the minimum graduations on the beam at the capacity or at any lesser load. Counter platform scales shall &e governed

by the sensibility reciprocals given hereafter for counter balances and scales. Amend the following specification by adding italic portion as follows

The tolerances to be allowed on platform scales, except counter platform

scales, at the loads indicated, shall not exceed the values given in the table

following. Counter platform scales shall be governed by the tolerances given

hereafter for counter balances and scales. COUNTER BALANCES AND SCALES.

Amend the specification readingPendulum scales must be equipped with a device for indicating when the scale

is level

to read as follows:

Counter scales whose weight indications are changed by an amount greater

than one-half the tolerance allowed when set in any position on a surface making an angle of 3°, or approximately 5 per cent with the horizontal, shall be

equipped with a device which will indicate when the scale is level. Provided,

however, that the scale shall be rebalanced each time its position is altered

during this test. Amend the specification readingPendulum scales must be equipped with leveling devices which require the use

of an outside mechanical device for their operation—

•

to read as follows:

When any scale is equipped with a leveling device, this shall be of such con- struction that it is operative or accessible only by the use of some tool or device

M'hich is outside of and entirely separate from the scale itself. Strike out the specifications reading as follows

When a weight equal to one-half the capacity of the scale is placed upon the

weight plate in such a position that the edge of the weight coincides with the

edge of the plate, the allowable error in the scale should not exceed the

allowable error for the scale at its full capacity.

When a weight equal to one-half the capacity of the scale is shifted on the

commodity plate or scoop to a point one-half the distance between the center and

edge of the plate or scoop, the error should not exceed the allowable error for

the scale at its full capacity

and insert in place thereof the following:

When a weight whose body has approximately equal diameter and height and

which represents one-half of the capacity of the scale is shifted on the weight

plate, or the commodity plate or scoop to a point one-half the distance between

the center and the edge of the weight plate, or the commodity plate or scoop, the resulting error in the weight indication shall not exceed the allowable error

for the scale at its full capacity. Provided, however, that in this test the weight

shall not project over the edge of the weight plate or the commodity plate or

scoop. SPRING SCALES. Amend the specification reading—

Where a dish-shaped pan is provided there shall be an opening in said pan to allow for drainage

to read as follows:

Scale pans in which fish or other wet commodities are placed when weighed

shall be so constructed as to provide for drainage.

and transfer this specification to heading

" Scales. General Specifications."
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 61

Add a new specification reading as follows:

Spring scales whose weight indications are changed by an amount greater

than one-half the tolerance allowed, when set in any position on a surface

making an angle of 3° or approximately 5 per cent with the horizontal, shall

be equipped with a device which will indicate when the scale is level : Provided, however, that the scale shall be rebalanced at zero each time its position

is altered during this test. Add a new specification reading as follows:

When spring scales are equipped with devices intended to compensate for

changes in elasticity of the springs due to temperature effects, these devices

shall be automatic in their operation and shall be so constructed or covered that

they can not be readily manipulated.

Add a new specification reading as follows

Spring scales equipped with a device intended to compensate for changes in

elasticity of the springs due to temperature effects, shall be governed by the same allowable errors as heretofore given in the tolerance table under the

heading " Counter Balances and Scales."

COMPUTING SCALES.

Amend the specification reading

The maximum value graduations on the chart must not exceed 2 cents

to read as follows:

The value graduations on all computing charts shall not exceed 1 cent on all prices per pound up to and including 30 cents. At any higher price per pound

the value graduation shall not exceed 2 cents: Provided, however, that nothing

in the above shall be construed to prevent the placing of a special value graduation to represent each 5-cent interval. These special graduations may take the

form of dots, staggered graduations, or similar forms; they shall be so placed

that their meaning and value may be clearly understood, hut they shall not be

placed in the space between the regular graduations.

Strike out the specification reading

The distance between the chart and the reference mark must not exceed 0.06

inch. Reference marks must be present on both the dealer's and customer's

sides, and their width must not exceed the width of the finest graduation on the

chart. Both reference marks must indicate clearly and correctly

and add in place the following new specifications

The distance between the chart and the weight indicators and the distance

between the chart and the value indicator or indicators shall in no case exceed

0.06 inch.

Weight indicators shall be present on both the dealer's and the customer's

sides, and their width shall not exceed 0.015 inch. Both indicators shall reach

to the graduated divisions and shall indicate clearly and correctly.

Amend the specification reading

The maximum value of the weight indications shall be 1 ounce

to read as follows

The maximum value of the weight graduations on computing scales used in the sale of foodstuffs at retail shall be 1 ounce. Amend the specification reading:

The width of the value indicator must not exceed the width of the value

gi'aduations.

to read as follows

A value indicator shall be present on the dealer's side, and its width shall

not exceed 0.015 inch. This indicator shall reach to each value graduation and

shall indicate clearly and correctly.
62 BUEEATJ OF STANDAKDS.

Add a new specification, reading:

The weight graduations and the value graduations shall be clear and distinct,

but in no ease shall their width be less than 0.008 inch.

Amend the specification reading

On scales equipped with a magnifying device the clear interval between the

weight and value graduations shall not be less than 0.02 inch. On scales not

equipped with a magnifying device the clear interval between the weight and

value indications shall not be less than 0.04 inch

to read as follows:

The clear interval between the weight-graduation marks on all computing

scales shall not be less than 0.04 inch. The clear interval between the valuegi-aduation marks on all computing scales shall not be less than 0.02 inch:

Provided, howeiier, that the latter requirement shall not be construed to apply

to the special value graduation denoting the 5-cent interval mentioned heretofore.Add a new specification, reading as follows:

Computing scales, whose weight indications are changed by an amount greater

than one-half the tolerance allowed when set in any position on a surface making an angle of 3° or approximately 5 per cent with the horizontal, shall be

equipped with a device which will indicate when the scale is level: Provided,

I however, that the scale shall be rebalanced at zero each time its position is altered during this test. Add five new specifications, reading as follows:

Computing scales must give correct results, whether the load is being in- creased or decreased.

All devices intended to increase the capacity of computing scales by the

addition of an added weight or weights shall operate properly irrespective of the

speed with which they are manipuL-ited.

Spring computing scales not equipped with a device intended to compensate

for changes in elasticity of the springs, due to temperature effects, shall be

governed by the same allowable errors as heretofore given in the tolerance

table under the heading " Spring Balances."

Spring computing scales equipped with the above-mentioned device and also

all those not operated by springs shall be governed by the same allowable

errors as heretofore given in the tolerance table under the heading " Counter

Balances and Scales."

When spring computing scales are equipped with de\'lces intended to compensate for changes in elasticity of the springs, due to temperature effects,

these devices shall be automatic in their operation and shall be so constructed

or covered that they can not be readily manipulated.

CEEAM TEST AND BUTTEE-FAT TEST SCALES.

The specification reading

The scale shall be provided with leveling screws and an attached level

should be amended to read as follows:

All scales whose weight indications are changed by an amount greater than

one-half of the tolerance allowed, when set in any position on a surface making

an angle of 3° or approximately 5 per cent with the horizontal, shall be

equipped with leveling screws and with a device which will indicate when the

scale is level : Provided, however, That the scale shall be rebalanced at zero each time its position is altered during this test. WEIGHTS.

Amend the specification reading

All holes in which foreign material is placed for adjusting purposes must

be so made that the bottom diameter is larger than the top diameter. The
NINTH ANNUAL CONFEEENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 63

adjusting material must not project beyond tlie surface of the weight and

must be securely held in place

to read as follows:

All holes in which foreign material is to be placed for adjusting purposes

must be of such form that this material will be permanently and securely held

in place. In no case shall this adjusting material project beyond the surface

of the weight.

Add a new specification, to be included under the proper headings,

reading as follows:

The manufacturers' tolerances and sensibility reciprocals or the tolerance and

sensibility reciprocals on all new weights and measures and weighing and

measuring devices shall be one-half of the values given heretofore in the

tolerance tables. Add a new heading and specification reading as follows

METRIC SYSTEM.

Nothing given in the specifications heretofore shall be understood or con- strued to prohibit the sale or use of weights and measui'es or weighing and

measuring devices constructed or graduated in units of the metric system.

RESOLUTION.

The following resolution in relation to certain amendments is recommended

That the committee be empowered and instructed to revise the wording of the

specifications and tolerances without changing their meaning and effect, in

order to clarify them.

DISCUSSION.

The President. Gentlemen, you have heard the report. What shall

we do with it?

Mr. Van Dutn. Mr. Chairman, I move the adoption of this report.

(The motion was seconded.)

The President. Are there any remarks?

(The question was taken, and the report was adopted.)

The Secretary. Mr. Chairman, I think the best way to handle

this proposition would be for Mr. Connors, on behalf of the committee, to read these proposed amendments over one by one, and, if

necessary or desirable, make an explanation as to why the previous

specifications and tolerances have been amended, and then have a vote on each proposed amendment. That, I think, would be the most

satisfactory way of handling this proposition. It looked at one time

as though the adoption of the report of the committee meant the

adoption of the amendments. The committee does not care to have

that done, even if you were willing to do it. We want to have discussion of these amendments.

Mr. Sweeney. Mr. President, this being a new proposition, and a very important one, it strikes me it would be better to let this matter

lay over until the next conference, and let each State representative

take the matter home with him and give it thorough thought, and

not pass upon it so quickly here. I represent a State that has several

millions of people, and they do not know anything at all about this

question. It has never been submitted to them, and I think it would

be a very arbitrary position for me to vote here on a proposition that
64 BUEEAU OF STANDAEDS.

would place me in the light of compelling them to accept something

of which they have no laiowledge at all. I think this matter should

properly be submitted to the different legislatures when they are in

session, and if the legislators of our State decide that this proposition

should come from the National Bureau of Standards and be adopted

by the various States, we can come here and vote and discuss this

question intelligently. As I said in the beginning, it is a very important proposition, and the people ought to be given more time on

it. Why not let the matter lay over for one year, and let the delegates

take these amendments home with them and study them, and they will

be better prepared to vote on them vphen they come here one year

from now. I think questions of such importance should not be submitted so quickly for action, before the people have an opportunity

to study them. I am free to admit, regardless of the merits or demerits of the whole proposition, that I would not like to vote for any

of it unless I consulted our State on this matter. I laiow that there

is no legal enforcement of this, but still it goes back to the people. It

has been passed by the National Bureau of Standards, or at their conference, and the influence that the proposition would carry with it,

from the fact that it has been passed here, will be equal in many cases to a legal enforcement, and it will be adopted by many States,

whereas if we take these amendments home with us our State can

settle the matter for themselves. That is my own opinion on the

proposition.

The President. Are there any further remarks?

Mr. Schwartz. Mr. President, this proposition, as Mr. Sweeney

has stated, is a very important one; but, then, if we do not decide

on tolerances and specifications here, where is our uniformity coming

from? We go back to each State and they discuss this proposition,

and one State says, " We don't like the measure of length amendment

here," and we change it. I think the idea of this conference is to

have uniform tolerances and specifications, so that all of the States

will have the same thing to work on. Now, if each legislature is

going to take this matter up and make changes in it when it comes

before them for consideration and promulgation in that particular

State, we are just in the same position that we are to-day on weights

and measures. I think we ought to pass on this entire matter here

and settle it—have something go out from the bureau that we can

follow specifically in our respective States.

Mr. S"\irEENEY. Mr. Chairman, we will suppose that what this gentleman says is true, and I have no doubt it is true. But I believe

that if we are to have a uniform tolerance the States themselves can

elect delegates to meet at some central place in annual conferences

and draft uniform tolerances. It is a question in my mind whether

this proposition ought to come before the United States or not, and

to be frank and honest about it I am opposed to the United States

regulating this question for the country. I believe each State ought

to regulate this matter for itself. As far as tolerances are concerned,

they ought to be uniform; but this is only an entering wedge, and

if the Bureau of Standards can say to us that we shall adopt certain

tolerances they can also say to us what type of scale we shall use, and place a whole lot of restrictions upon us in time, and perhaps

our presence here as representatives of various States may be used
NINTH ANNUAL CONPEKENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 65

to influence the congressional committee whether we know anything

about it or not, and I am not willing to put myself in that position.

The Secretary. Mr. Chairman, I might state for the benefit of the

delegates here who might be influenced by what Mr. Sweeney has to

say about this matter that this is not being done by the Bureau of

Standards at all. The Bureau of Standards has never adopted any

specifications or tolerances. The present tolerances and specifications

represent the work of this conference. I am a member of the committee appointed by this conference, and these modifications that wo

propose now we think are improvements. These old tolerances will

still stand, if we do not adopt the amendments. Now, it is a question whether we can not improve them. That is the question that we

would like to put up to this conference, and it seem to me that we

ought to get the benefit of the advice and judgment of these men here

when they are all together. You are certainly the most competent

people in the United States to discuss this matter. We are perfectly

willing to defend these particular amendments proposed, and if

anybody has any questions to ask about them we stand here ready to

answer them. I certainly hope that they will be considered.

Mr. Barnard, of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I wish to concur in the

opinion of our friend from New Jersey. I think now is the proper

time to go into this matter. If you put it off for another year, by the

time the next conference comes around there will be differences of

opinion again and a desire to put it off for another year. It seems

to me now is the time to go into it, and I think, out of courtesy to our committee, whicli has undoubtedly spent a great deal of time

in going over the matter, we should go into it right away and get

the opinion of the different members regarding its feasibility.

The PREsmENT. I also want to say a word, Mr. Sweeney, from the

standpoint of the Bureau of Standards. I am very sorry to hear

you take the position that you do regarding the relation between the

Federal Government and the States. The position of the bureau is

pretty clearly defined. We believe that we are here for the assist- ance of the States, to give advice and assistance, and the bureau will

continue to do it. . Not a day goes by in which we are not called

upon to assist some State or city official of weights and measures,

and we consider it not only our duty but a great pleasure to do so, and we are going to do so to the best of our ability ; but it is only in

the nature of advice, Mr. Sweeney. We feel that it is a very great

privilege to have the benefit of your discussion and your advice

you gentlemen who are on the field, who are coming in touch with

these things every day—and it would be a mistake for the bureau to

give advice without taking your experience into account. We want

that experience, and we want this thing discussed. It does not interfere with State rights, nor has the Federal Government any idea

whatever of doing so. Mr. Stimpson. Mr. Chairman, I simply want to remark that this

is about the third year that these things have been up, and so far as our country is concerned, we would like to see something definite

finally thrashed out. I therefore second the motion that we go on

with the discussion of these tolerances.

Mr. Albrecht. I believe, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, that this

is a matter that ought to be settled once and for all, and be settled

90371°—15 5
66 BUREAU OF STANDAEDS.

now. Last year, in Ohio, we were about to adopt the specifications

that were drafted here. We were told by one of the manufacturers

in Ohio, just about the time that we had the specifications ready to

go to the press, that they were, going to be modified. We stopped _ right there, and said we would wait for this conference. Now, I

believe that the gentlemen who have drafted these tolerances and

specifications are more able to say what we ought to have and what

Ave ought not to have than the legislatures of the different States.

I do not think there is a member of the legislature who would know

what we were talking about if we did submit a list of tolerances to

him. I think that we ought to have uniformity, and adopt whatever

the committee of this organization presents to us. Mr. Sweeney. Mr. Chairman, so far as tolerances are concerned,

my position seems to be misunderstood. I am not opposed to a vote

on this or to the discussion of this subject, but I think the delegates

here ought to have more of an opportunity to study it; and it is a great reflection upon the members of the legislature of any State of

this Union if they have no knowledge of a subject that is of so much

importance to the people of this country as this subject is. I do not

mean to say that we should take this subject of tolerances to a legislature; I was speaking of the question in. a general way; but I believe that the members here ought to be permitted to study those

questions, because they are of importance. Now, the gentlemen who

have spoken since I first spoke—every one of them—speak in a tone

that if this was adopted here to-day it would become a tolerance for

their States or cities or towns. Now, while, as I said before, there is no legal way of enforcing that or compelling any State to accept it,

yet the influence of this conference is of such a nature that it would

be just as binding, almost, as if there was a legal enactment; and I

still maintain that these men ought to have an opportunity to study

this question.

Mr. Sherman. Mr. Chairman, there are a good many new members

here, like myself—new since the last meeting. In a great many of

the States and also here in the District the question of tolerance is

left almost entirely up to the local officer in charge. Now, when a new member comes into this work he needs education. His position is very much like that of a young fellow who goes into college. He

needs to be taught first by somebody else with better experience and

better training, and after that he is capable of studying; and the

proposition to send a young fellow like me back to his office to study

this proposition as a new one, without the aid of discussion and

guidance from this body, is a cruel proposition. I do not care to

tackle it. I think that we young men (and by that I mean we men

that are young in the positions we hold) need the guidance of this

body. I feel strongly against any proposition to limit or postpone

discussion for that reason. Such measures as are recommended here

are, as Mr. Sweeney says, liable to become the standards used in the

various States that these delegates come from; and I can say now

that they will become the tolerances used in the District of Columbia

;

and it is because of that that I want to get them thrashed out here

and have something said that I can go by.

Mr. O'RouRKE. Mr. Chairman, in my locality I am confronted

with a most peculiar situation, being located on the State line between

Indiana and Illinois, and we frequently come in conflict with one
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 67

another. I want to say to this conference that if any action you

could take to-day would bring about a uniformity of specifications

I would be more than pleased to go back to the people of my community and say that we are handling all our commodities in Indiana

on exactly the same basis as they are in Illinois ; and I dare say that

the delegates here from Illinois will agree Avith me on that.

We are coming in conflict daily. There is no doubt that there are other sections of this country that are confronted with the same problems that we are, and if the action of this conference will in any way

influence the legislatures of the various States, I say, let us take some

definite action to-day and see that that influence counts for something and is created in as short a time as possible. I believe that

the men represented in this conference have studied this question

long enough. The committee has devoted ample time to it, and I

believe that their recommendations are made after due thought and

consideration given to this subject from every point of view.

What we want is uniformity. We do not want one law in Indiana

and another one in Illinois and another one in Ohio and another

one in New York. We do not want the imaginary State lines dividing the people of this country on this all-important question of buying and selling commodities on an equitable basis throughout this

country. I believe that uniformity is Avhat we are after, and it is for

this conference to take the initiative in that. As Mr. Albrecht, of

Ohio, well said, I do not believe that there is a legislature in the

country that would Imow what we are talking about if we brought

up the question of tolerances for discussion before one of the legislative committees. I am satisfied, after a trial of that with our own

legislature in Indiana a couple of years ago, that the same condition

would prevail in other States that prevailed there. Many members

of the legislature loiew absolutely nothing about what we were discussing, and it would be up to the gentlemen of this conference to

so place this matter before their various legislatures as to bring about

the uniformity that this conference is after.

Now, I believe that the committee has studied this thing for a long time, and the recommendations that they are making now are worthy of our consideration. I think that we ought to go on with

this discussion and adopt some uniform system so that we can go

back to our various States and say, "This is what the gentlemen

assembled in conference at Washington recommend for this country,"

and adopt a uniform law ; and I hope that we will have a free and

open discussion on this whole proposition.

Mr. EiciiARDSON, of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, representing Virginia, I would like to say that we are here as legal representatives

from our State to get any information we can relative to the uniformity of weights and measures, and with the combined wisdom

of the States that are represented we certainly ought to be able to

get something tangible to take back to our people on that subject, and

if we do not they will not be satisfied with our attendance here. So

I am in favor of taking these up and discussing them seriatim, so that we may get something tangible to take back to our people and

show them what the conference is doing.

(Cries of "Question! ")

The President. Question has been called for-

(The question was taken, and the motion was agreed to.)
68 BUREAU OP STANDAEDS.

Mr, Connors. The first amendment is in relation to tapes. We

found that there were so-called wire-woven tapes on the market

which would stretch and which were, as a matter of fact, not wire

woven at all. What the committee had in mind was a tape with

continuous wires passing through it. So we suggested the addition

of the following words after the specification in relation to materials

of which length measures shall be made : " When an actual and suffi- cient reinforcement and permanency is thereby attained." This will

prohibit a tape that will stretch and thus will not hold its accuracy.

The Secretary. Mr. Chairman, I would like to say to the members

that I hope there will not be any discussion of those things that are

obvious, and this, it seems to me, is one of the cases. I do not want

to give the impression that the committee does not want to hear

discussion, but this is a perfectly obvious thing. Some of these tapes

have tinsel woven through them, which adds to them absolutely no

strength whatever, and what we want to require is that if there is a reinforcement it be a continuous wire that has some eilect on the

length. I think, perhaps, if explanations of that sort are made they

will do away with some discussion, and I am sure that we will want

all the time we can get to discuss some of these other things that are not so obvious.

Mr. Stimpson. Mr. Chairman, I move the adoption of this amendment.

(The motion was seconded.)

The President. Are there any remarks?

(The question was taken, and the amendment was adopted.)

Mr. BucHTEL. Mr. President, in order to facilitate the handling of

this matter I would move that unless there is objection to these

amendments as read they be considered adopted by the conference.

(The motion was seconded and agreed to.)

Mr. Connors. The next specification is a new one. At various

times folding rules are presented for test, and as there is nothing

in the present specifications that covers that matter, we suggest a

specification reading : " Folding measures of length shall be so constructed that each section will come to a definite stop when straightened out to its proper position."

We found folding rules that, when they were unfolded, were not

accurate because they were not straight.

The Prestoent. If there is no objection that will be considered

adopted.

Mr. Connors. The next specification relates to liquid capacity measures. In our specification we require that all dry measures

shall be marked " dry " where they contain the words " quart,"

" pint," etc. ; that is, " 1 quart dry," " 1 pint dry," and so on. The

question came up that in the liquid capacity measures we did not

require the word " liquid," so that if a liquid measure was used for

beans it would be marked " 1 quart," and the customer would never know whether it was dry or liquid. Therefore we amend this specification by adding the word " liquid," so that it will read

"The capacity of the measure and the word 'liquid' shall be

legibly and permanently indicated on the side of the measure. On

enamel and composition measures this marking shall be of a different

color from that of the measure."
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 69

The President. You have heard this amendment. Is there any

objection? [After a pause.] If not, it will stand adopted.

Mr. Connors. The next is a new specification. We defined the

sizes of dry measures, but omitted to do so in the case of liquid measures, and thus there is nothing in the specification that prevents the

use of a 6-quart or a 3-pint measure in the trade. But we had to

take into consideration the fact that 3-pint measures are used for

milk, and also that 5-pint and 3-pint are used for ice-cream molds.

So the specification suggested is as follows:

" Liquid measures of the customary system shall be of one of the

following capacities only : One gallon, a multiple of the gallon, or a binary submultiple of the gallon, i. e., a measure obtained by succes- sively dividing the gallon by two. Provided, however, that nothing

in this specification shall be construed to prevent the use of forms

for ice cream exclusively in 5-pint and 3-pint sizes, or bottles for

milk or cream in the 3-pint size."

I would say that all through the country the customary measures

for bricks of ice cream include the 5-pint and the 3-pint. It is an

established custom in the ice-cream trade, and it is also an established custom in the milk trade, to have a 3-pint jar.

Mr. Umstead. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask Mr. Connors

if the 3-pint bottle is a standard measure. Mr. Connors. The 3-pint bottle is made a standard in the States

of Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Mr. Hanson. Did I understand you to say that Massachusetts

legalizes the sale of a 3-pint bottle of milk?

Mr. Connors. I am very sure it does, Mr. Hanson.

Mr. Hanson. No, sir; I think 3^011 are mistaken there. The only

ones that we legalize are the 2-quart, quart, pint, and half-pint bottles. We have our law books right here.

Mr. Umstead. Another question: Is there a real necessity for the

3-pint bottle?

Mr. Connors. I think there is a real necessity. A great many people take 3 pints of milk in the morning and the milkman has to deliver two bottles, unless he has a 3-pint size.

Mr. Umstead. I do not see the necessity of approving a 3-pint bottle. If we have standard measures, we must adhere to the standard

measures. We desire uniformity, and we are deviating from it in

this. I want to make a motion that this size be stricken out.

Mr. Connors. Just a moment, if you will. In the Massachusetts

law you will find that the 3-pint bottle is legalized.

(The motion was seconded.)

The President. It is moved and seconded that this 3-pint bottle be

stricken out. Are there any remarks?

Mr. Buchtel. Mr. Chairman, in Oregon I have no recollection of ever seeing a 3-pint bottle in use, but I can see no good reason why

it should not be legalized. There certainly would be no question of

a person mistaking a 3-pint for a quart or for 2 quarts, and the only

object I can see in not adopting this size would be through the fear

that a dealer who wishes to be unfair might try to put out a 3-pint

bottle in place of a 2-quart. Now, owing to the large difference,

there would be no particular opportunity of getting away with a thing of that kind, and for that reason I shall vote against the

motion.
70 BUREAU OF STAKDAEDS.

Mr. Connors. 1 would say to the members that we have checked

the probability of fraud, inasmuch as we require the capacity to be

marked on the outside; the 3-pint-size milk bottle, especially in the

East here, has been established both by custom and by law.

Mr. ViRDiN. Mr. Chairman, I do not think that Phila»delphia has

any 3-pint bottles, nor do I think we need any, since the quart, the

pint, and the half pint are sufficient.

Mr. Austin. Mr. Chairman, in Detroit there is quite a demand for

a 10-ounce bottle. For the last two years I have permitted the bottle

manufacturers to place a bottle in use for cream and milk, or for

milk at least, for restaurant trade, if the bottle was marked 10 ounces. Their desire was to place a third-of-a-quart bottle upon the market,

and I objected to that, but I did consent to their using a 10-ounce

bottle if it was clearly marked 10 ounces. . This, however, I think, is

confusing and conducive to much trouble to the weight and measure

inspections, and I, for my part, would be very glad to see this con- ference oppose any departure from the usual size and capacity or the

usual subdivisions of the standard quart.

The Secretary. Mr. Chairman, I would like to state that this is

one of the veiy questions on which the committee would like to get

the opinions of the various delegates. This was supposed to provide

for a custom which is now prevalent throughout the United States.

I know I had to be convinced myself that there was a need for a

3-pint bottle before I agreed to this amendment. I was informed

that that was the case—that this bottle had been legalized in a number of the States throughout the country and was in common use, and that there was a real demand for it. I saw no objection to providing for it in these specifications, and so I agreed to the amendment with that understanding. I would not have the slightest objection if the majority of this conference thought that was unnecessary

or undesirable. I would like to say that as a member of the committee.

Mr. ViRDiN. Mr. Chairman, I would state that in Philadelphia we

have never heard of such a thing as a 3-pint measure, and I fail to

find it in any of the books that we have received from the different

States, so if it is adopted by any State I fail to read it in any of their

pamphlets.

Mr. Hannaford. Mr. Chairman, I understand the amendment is

to exclude the 3-pint milk bottle, and I sincerely hope that it will

pass. I have in my district 38,000 milk bottles, just in one small district; and it was drawn to my attention within six weeks that one of

these milk dealers bought 3 gross of 3-pint milk bottles, and he uses them in charging 12 cents for that bottle of milk. It is ridiculous.

The quart, pint, and half-pint are sufficient, and if we get what the

bottle contains we will be mighty fortunate.

Mr. Sherman. Mr. Chairman, I want to ask another question. Is

it our business—-I am asking for information—is it our business to

guarantee to the buyer that he gets good value for his money; or is

it only our business to guarantee to the buyer that he gets what he

buys? Is it our business whether he drives a good bargain with the

seller or not? If he pays more for 3 pints than 3 pints are worth,

is it any of our business, so long as he gets the 3 pints he asks for?

I want to know where our limits are.
NINTH ANNUAL CONrERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 71

Now, if it is only our business to guarantee that he gets 3 pints, it seems to me that the question is simply this : Is the 3-pint bottle well

enough known so that it can be safely left on the market ? The fact

that it is more difficult, as a matter of administration, to take care of

it, due to the greater variety of bottles to keep an eye on, is not a

thing, it seems to me, that ought to affect us in this discussion. My

own department has no right at present to limit the bottles or the

types of scales, or anything else in the market, for its own convenience, but only for the protection of the public. Now, if that is

the case, and if that is the sentiment of this meeting, it seems to me

the discussion ought to hinge entirely on whether the 3-pint bottle is

well enough known to be safely trusted on the market.

Mr. O'RouEKE. Mr. Chairman, there seems to be a misunderstanding on this. In our locality we have a standard pint and quart.

Various States, and the Federal Government as well, have gone on

record as adopting the pint as a Standard unit of measure. It is a question in my mind whether we could legally eliminate a measure

of any number of pints or quarts, provided they conformed with the

standard unit adopted by the Government. If the manufacturers

wished to make a measure that contained 6 pints or 7 pints or 9

pints, there is absolutely no law that would prevent them from making that and using it, provided it was fully 6, 7, or 9 pints, whatever

the capacity stamp on the measure or bottle indicated; and I believe the committee in recommending the passage of this addition to

the specifications took that feature into consideration. I can not

see where there is any objection to the various States using the milk

bottles of the different capacities providing they contain what they

are supposed to in recognized units. I am in favor of the adoption

of this amendment just as presented by the committee.

Mr. Steinel. Mr. Chairman, about four years ago this conference

adopted the so-called model law. In the model law we incorporated

a section on milk bottles. The 3-pint bottle was standardized at the

time, and we incorporated it in our Wisconsin State law, and it

is now in use in our citj' in large quantities. The manufacturer

has put in these bottles. Now, would it be fair to these manufacturers to throw out these bottles? There is no chance to mistake them

for pints or quarts ; they are marked " 3 pints " in large figures

blown into the bottle, the same as the pints and quarts. Would it be fair to the dealers in our State and city to throw out these 3-pint

bottles ? We told them these were adopted in the model weights and

measures law approved by this conference.

Mr. Maroney. Mr. Chairman, I was a member of the committee

that drafted that law several years ago, and had that matter under

consideration ; and in answer to the gentleman's question, if you will

stop and think, they are putting up liquor in fourths and fifths, and

sometimes sixths and sevenths, and how are you going to stop them

if they get to using them? Ninety per cent of liquors are put up in

fifths or sometimes in sixths of a gallon.

Mr. EicHARDSON, of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, people are using

these bottles in our State now, and they have them all stamped on

the outside.

The President. If there is no objection, we will vote on the motion to drop out the 3-pint size. [Putting the question.] There is a division.
72 BUREAU OF STANDAKDS.

Remember that those entitled to vote are State, county, and city

sealers only. There are certain guests here, who are always welcome

and whose opinions are of value, but they are not entitled to a vote.

(A count was taken, resulting in 17 for and 35 against; so the

motion was lost.)

The President. The question is now on the original amendment to

the specifications.

(The question was taken, and the amendment as first read was

adopted.)

Mr. Van Duyn. Mr. Chairman, I would like to bring this one

question to the attention of the gentlemen assembled here to-day, and

that is with regard to the 10-ounce milk bottle that is universally

used in cafes and restaurants all over this country. Now, the sanitary

law in a number of States, of which Ohio is one, requires that milk

served at cafes and restaurants must be served in sealed bottles at your plate, if you please, and opened there. Now, this 10-ounce bottle just fills the glass at your plate. I was wondering whether, while

we are considering this proposition, it would be in order to take up

this matter or whether it was of importance enough to consider it?

Mr. Downing. Mr. Chairman, the question of the 10-ounce bottle

that Mr. Van Duyn speaks of came up in our State in connection

with our milk-bottle law, and the people in charge of restaurants

had brought this same question up to us. Now, I see absolutely no

reason why this bottle should be tolerated at all. They came to us on the plea that 10 ounces was just the amount the people, desired to

drink. Now, how in the world they arrived at such a conclusion I

do not know. It is the same proposition that was put up to us by

the bottlers in the dispensing of liquor, saying that a 12-ounce bottle

was just the proper amount to drink. I have found the ordinary

tumbler holds 8 ounces—a half pint. So, I see no reason why we

should change from the half-pint to the 10-ounce size, just a trifle

larger. I think we ought not to consider this proposition at all. Mr. BucHTEL. Mr. Chairman, as I understand it, this amendment

disallows the recommendation, as it stands now.

The President. There is no motion or recommendation, but re- marks have been permitted regarding the 10-ounce bottle for the sake

of discussion.

Mr. BucHTEL. I think it would be wise to proceed with the next

section.

The President. It is not the purpose of the Chair to cut of£ discussion. In my own mind I think that is a very important question—this

10-ounce bottle. I do not believe in the 10-ounce bottle, because I

happen to know that the average tumbler is 8 ounces. In fact, I

often use for coarse work an ordinary tumbler for an 8-ounce measure. But it is along the line upon which we wish information, and

therefore I permitted discussion which you might say was a little

out of order at the time.

We will proceed to the next section.

Mr. Connors. The next amendment is to the specification reading

"The following errors are allowable." The present specifications

allow the same errros on liquid capacity measures in excess and deficiency, but we find it more equitable to allow double the errors in

excess, because even if you completely fill a correct measure it is

very seldom that you can deliver the full quantity from it. There-
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 73

fore the committee was of the opinion that those errors should be

allowed in deficiency and double those errors in excess. The Secretary. Mr. Chairman, I might state that that is the practice in England at the present time. There are a good many things

that contribute to make a measure (especially a metal measure)

short after it has been in use. Any dent will have that effect; any

distortion of its shape has the effect of making it small, except punching out the bottom. So it seemed to the committee as though that

was a good recommendation to make—to allow larger tolerances in excess than in deficiency.

The President. Are there any further remarks? [After a pause.]

If not, this stands adopted.

Mr. Sharp. Mr. Chairman, I suggest, in this milk-bottle proposition which comes next, that the paragraphs be taken up separately,

so that we can discuss them intelligently.

Mr. Connors. The next jection is a new section relating to milk

bottles. Now we come again to the size proposition, and we recom- mend that:

" Bottles used for the sale of milk or cream shall be made only in

the sizes heretofore specified under the heading ' Liquid Capacity

Measures.'

That is, it provides for the gallon, half-gallon, 3-pint, quart, and

so on down, but does not allow for the 10-ounce bottle.

The President. If there is no objection, this will stand approved.

(There was no objection.)

Mr. Connors. The next paragraph is

" Each bottle shall have its capacity clearly blown or otherwise

clearly and permanently marked in the side of the bottle, and in the

side or bottom the name, initials, or trade-mark of the manufacturer

thereof."

The President. If there is no objection, that paragraph will stand

approved.

(There was no objection.)

Mr. Connors. The next paragraph relates to the correct filling

point. Where shall the bottle be measured to? In some States it

is measured to the bottom of the ca]) or stopple. Now, I think most

of the sealers know that in ordinary practice bottles are not filled to

the bottom of the cap or stopple ; so the committee was of the opinion

that they should be correct when filled to some point below the bottom of the cap or stopple. But when we considered that, we found

that the bottles had varying diameters. For instance, the ordinary

jar is not over 2 inches in diameter, but there are on the market

cylindrical, screw-top jars, for the sale of cream, which have a diameter of about 3 inches. Now, it would be unfair to put them in the

same class with an ordinary milk jar, as we imderstand it; so you

notice that we have prescribed a different point to which the bottle

should be filled. We recommend " Bottles with an inside diameter immediately below the cap seat or stopple of not over 2 inches shall hold

the correct capacity when filled within one-quarter inch of this cap

seat or stopple." That is, on the quart bottle of this kind the point

to measure to would be one-quarter of an inch below the cap seat of

the bottle. In that case the committee is of the opinion that when

the bottle was filled to this point it would deliver a full quart, also

taking into consideration the tolerance. " Bottles with an inside
74 BUEEAU OF STANDARDS.

diameter of over this amount immediately below the cap seat or stopple shall hold the correct capacity when filled within one-eighth inch of

the cap seat or stopple." That is, if the bottle has an inside diameter

of more than 2 inches, the point to be measured to is one-eighth of

an inch below the cap seat, and if the bottle has a diameter of 2

inches or less the point to be measured to is a quarter of an inch

below the cap seat. Mr. ViRDiN. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask what the meaning

of the tolerances is in regard to milk bottles—whether the meaning

is to go below or above ? The President. Tolerance always means allowable errors in either excess or deficiency.

Mr. ViRDiN. Well, if I am rightly informed by people who are

interested in their own welfare, the great trouble has been that people have suffered too miich with what they term " tolerance." The

people to-day are spending about a million dollars or more for the

purpose of having inspectors, like ourselves, who will protect them.

Now, when a jar is marked a quart and it is below a quart I would

feel myself, if I put the stamp of approval on that bottle, that I

was practicing deception, because the people rely on me to know

that that is a quart and that when they purchase it they are going

to get a full quart. Now, if it is below, as I understand the standard,

it should be marked a quart, less so many drams or whatever it may be. If it is not so, then there is no use of having a standard.

First, the manufacturer himself wants a tolerance on his goods.

Then the party who fills the container with the commodity wants a

tolerance, and at the same time it is marked a quart or a pint or whatever it may be, and we seal it, and we are putting our stamp of

approval on it as being something which it is not. Now, I tell you

it is a wrong thing for any of us here to allow a tolerance to be

under the measure, because we yevj seldom get it filled anyhow.

We put out about 3,000,000 bottles in the city of Philadelphia every

morning. Prior to the organization of our bureau we were getting

a bottle sometimes about three-quarters filled up, and some of them

were so bold that they would fill it two-thirds full, and now they are

filling them up to the cap in some cases, and the bottle will not hold

a quart at that.

Now, I think it is the duty of every sealer here to protect every

man, woman, and child in this country in regard to the milk, be- cause I think there is more milk used by the people—that is, by the

poor people—than any other commodity, and they are entitled to

get the full amount. I have heard it said that the glass blower can

not make a bottle to hold a quart. That is ridiculous. Then I have

heard it also said that there is a certain company which can make an

exact bottle, and that would, of course, create a monopoly. Now,

if that is the case and a man can not come up to that, they will have

to regulate themselves so that they can compete with the other class

;

but I am telling you that when a man says he can not do it it is not

true, and there are a lot of mechanics in this room here to-day who

know it is not true. They are making bottles to-day of 3 drams

under. Now, if they make them 3 drams over, we will then get a

full quart. It is just as easy to make them three over as it is three

under. The bottles in Philadelphia, I think, are 85 per cent short.

I had a consultation with glass men, and they say that they can all
NIHTH AKKUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 75

be made to hold a quart, and inasmuch as we are appointed for the

purpose of protecting the pdblic I think that we ought to do it, and

we ought to exact a bottle that will hold a quart.

The President. Would you not make the same statement in re- gard to our money? I presume that every time you get a $5 gold

piece or a silver half dollar, or any coin whatever, you imagine you

are getting full weight and full measure?

Mr. ViRDiN. I am entitled to think that if I do not get it they are cheating me; that is all. The President. But the authorities, recognizing that no mechanical action is perfect, allow a tolerance. Hence, every year, when the

assay commission goes to Philadelphia and tests up the coins from

all over the United States, thay take this little table, and all of the

coins which fall within certain limits they say are right. Now, why ? Some of them are under and some are over. Why should the Government pass coins which are light? Solely for the reason that it is

impossible in mechanical operations to reach exactness. You in your

standardization have a tolerance. You have to allow it. You would

be in an awful fix if you had to say every time, " That is exactly a quart." You could not do it. There never was an exact quart made,

and there never was an exact pound made.

Mr. ViRDiN. I agree with you, Mr. Chairman.

The President. Now, it would not be fair to allow the supplier to

always give over. You would not suggest that, would you?

Mr. ViRDiN. We are not afraid of getting anything over. We very

seldom get that. On our inspections we find that we have a great deal

under and very little over. The President. I think you have the wrong idea of tolerances.

Mr. ViEDiN. I do not think so, Mr. Chairman. When I am paid to

protect the public in that line, I think that when a bottle says a quart it should be a quart, and that if there is any shortage it should

be marked short.

The President. But you can not' measure a quart.

Mr. ViRDiN. But we can have a bottle to hold a quart.

The President. But how are you going to Imow that it holds a quart? Just for one moment, grant that you are right in this matter,

and that you are going to say that the bottle shall hold a quart. How

are you going to tell it?

Mr. ViRDiN. Because we have our standard to go by.

The President. Oh, but you see your error in using that is one- tenth of 1 per cent. You can not use it any more accurately than

that. So you are unconsciously making this mistake all along that

you say you should not do.

Mr. ViRDiN. But we are not making a mistake when we find so many under and so few over. The President. It may be so, but we are trying to set up here a

sort of standard to go by, and we are trying to be reasonable and

make allowances for your own shortcomings, as well as those of

others.

Mr. ViRDiN. No, sir; you are not doing that when you allow tol- erance below a quart.

Mr. Sherman. Mr. Chairman, I wish to speak to the proposition

contained in the third paragraph, which is the paragraph under

discussion and is not the paragraph on tolerances. It seems to me
76 BUEEAU OF STANDARDS.

that before we pass on the question of tolerances, which is in the

fourth paragraph, we should finish up with the third paragraph.

The third paragraph, as I read it, is as to whether we shall grade

the bottle from the level of the stopper or from a point one-quarter

of an inch below, or one-eighth of an inch below, according to the

diameter of the neck of the bottle. I am strongly in favor of that

provision, for the reason that I once drove a milk wagon and I

found that customers would complain bitterly if the bottle was filled

up to the stopper. The ordinary way of taking out the stopper

is to jab something into it, and the milk cap is not popular, and it

is not good for clothes either. A quarter of an inch is about as near

as you can go to the stopper without giving the customer a bath,

• and to provide that the bottle shall hold a quart when filled clear

to the stopper means that the customer must receive short weight or the dealer will lose his customer.

Mr. Richardson, of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask

the gentleman who just preceded me if he allows an eighth or a quarter of an inch from the stopper as the point where the milk

must come, how is anybody going to tell when he gets the milk up

to that eighth or a quarter of an inch of the top, and how can the

casual observer or buyer Imow when his bottle is filled up to within

a quarter or an eighth of an inch of the stopper ? Mr. Sherman. I would answer to that, that if your bottle is re- quired to hold a quart when filled to within one-quarter of an inch of

the stopper, the variation due to the inability of the man who fills the bottle to judge of what is a quarter of an inch would probably,

I should imagine, be well within the limits of any reasonable toler- ance that you might set. It would be a very small percentage, I

am convinced, because it occurs at the narrowest section of the bottle,

and a pretty wide variation at that point of the bottle makes very

little difference in the total cubical content.

Mr. Umstead. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask a question. This

paragraph says the bottle shall hold the correct capacity. What is

it the intent of the committee to convey at that point by the words

" correct capacity " ? Mr. Connors. The word "correct" in the specification always

means within the established tolerance. It does not mean exact;

it moans within the tolerance allowed.

Mr. Wallenmeyer. Mr. Chairman, nearly all of the milk put up

by milk companies in the larger cities is filled by automatic fillers,

and it is absolutely impossible to bring the milk up under the cap.

They usually leave about the variation allowed by this section

about a quarter or an eighth of an inch.

The President. Unless there is objection, this section stands approved.

(There was no objection.)

Mr. Connors. The next paragraph relates to the tolerance. We

provide that the tolerance on an individual 1-quart jar shall be 4

drams. The committee thinks that with the tolerance allowed and

with the liquid measured to this point below the cap the customer

will get a full quart delivered from the bottle. But we also provided that the average error be only one-fourth of that. That is,

on an individual quart bottle the tolerance allowed would be 4

drams, but in making the test a sealer usually takes a number of
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASUEES. 77

bottles; so we say that the total error on 25 1-quart bottles shall

not be over 25 drams, or an average of 1 dram on a quart. Now,

if a customer can get a quart milk bottle and get it within 1 dram

on an average, he is getting as near as the manufacturers can make

them, or as near as the sealers can measure them. So we recom- mended this specification: " The following errors in excess and deficiency may be allowed on

individual bottles, and on the average content of bottles, as noted in

the column headings."

" The latter figure "—which means the average content—" shall be

determined by finding the error on each of not less than 25 bottles

selected at random from at least four times the number tested, and

taking the average of these errors."

That is, on a hundred 1-quart bottles the average errors would not

be over 1 dram apiece.

The tolerances are all given in the table before you.

Mr. Maroney. Why is it, Mr. Connors, that you come in here with

a tolerance, for instance, on a quart bottle of 4 drams, when you

'enow at least three bottle manufacturers that will manufacture a

bottle that will come within a tolerance of 1 dram?

Mr. Connors. A tolerance of 4 drams on an indiAddual jar is

recognized by law in at least four States in the country. I think

the sealers who know anything about glass blowing or making glass

milk jars Imow that it is impossible to get every bottle exact. As I

understand it, a man can get correct jars, but he has to pay a higher

price for them, since they must be selected and tested. So the committee thinks this is a fair tolerance right through. I would like to

hear the expressions of the members on it. Mr. Maroney. Then you stand out to help our friends the glass

blowers rather than the public at large—the fellow who buys ? Mr. Connors. Oh, no. We are helping the public at large, Mr.

Maroney, in this way: That we have changed the point which was

always used to test the bottle, and put it down one-quarter of an inch

below.

Mr. Maroney. But you and I agree that we can have a bottle made

within half a dram. Still, you give them a tolerance of four, from

the fact, according to your own statement, that it is a matter of

expense.

Mr. Filler. Mr. Chairman, this milk-bottle proposition is a serious

affair at this time. My friend from Philadelphia has spoken of the

fraud and deception. We have had that thing going along in New

Hampshire for quite a number of years. Now, as regards the toler- ances that are allowed here, I am against any such thing, for the

simple reason that in our particular State, when our milk dealers contract for milk, they generally contract with the farmers that when

buying 8 quarts of milk they shall receive 8 quarts and a half. So

you see the milk dealer is protected, and I do not Icnow why we should

allow our general public, that we are supposed to protect and aid in

getting what belongs to them, to stand for a tolerance which amounts

to a good deal in volume of business. Our friend Mr. Connors tells us we can get bottles within half a dram. If we can do so, let us get

them that way, and let us establish a standard by which the people can get exactly what they pay for.
78 BUREAU OF STANDAKDS.

In our particular State of New Hampshire we have been used as somewhat of a dumping ground. When they passed the bottle law

in the State of Massachusetts it seems as though quite a number of

the short bottles that were used in Massachusetts began to be dumped

into the State of New Hampshire. We had no bottle law there, but

during my time in office, which is three years, I have got around and

tried to bring things around as near as I possibly could to the satisfaction of both the dealer and the consumer. Mind you, I do not

want to antagonize a dealer ; I do not say that we should antagonize a

dealer. I believe that the dealer should be honest in his dealings, and

that the consumer should pay for everything and get what he pays

for each time ; and, as I said before, I am opposed to any such toler- ance as is called for in this specification.

Mr. Connors. Mr. Chairman, I think the gentleman misunderstood

my remarks. I did not say that all bottles could be made within the

one-half dram. What I did say was this : It is possible to get bottles

within half a dram, by this method. A manufacturer can make up a hundred jars, and out of those hundred jars he may get 10 that are within half a dram, and you can buy those 10 of him for the same

price that he sells a hundred for now. That is what I meant when I said that bottles could be made and are made within half a dram.

I may not have the proportion just right, but in my opinion there

would be about 10 in a hundred, and for the 10 jars you would pay

what they are getting now for a hundred.

Mr. BuCHTEL. Mr. Chairman, the question of cost, as stated by

Mr. Connors, is to my mind very important. The very minute we

begin to try to make milk bottles accurately and perfectly we are going to run the cost up, and the very minute you begin to run the

cost up, then your constituents, the people for whom you are working,

will begin to complain. I had a similar experience in connection

with ice, and I noticed a piece in the paper saying, " Our genial city

sealer of Portland has succeeded in raising the price of ice from 50

cents per hundred to 75 cents per hundred." And that is the position

we are going to place ourselves in on milk bottles if we in?ist on an

absolute bottle.

Mr. Sharp. Mr. Chairman, as I read these amendments. I think

the amendment as to the manufacturers' tolerances on page 10 has

something to do with the question of tolerance on these milk bottles.

That section reads, " The manufacturers' tolerances and sensibility

reciprocals or the tolerances and sensibility reciprocals on all new

weights and measures and weighing and measuring devices shall be

one-half of the values given heretofore in the tolerance tables."

Mr. Connors. I will say this, Mr. Sharp : The committee did not

intend that provision to apply to this table.

Mr. Sharp. The milk bottle is a measure ; that is what I was after.

The Secretary. The milk bottle can not change, and the toler- ances referred to refer to other apparatus liable to change.

Mr. Barnard, of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I wish to indorse this

tolerance that the committee has provided here, and to state that

the average tolerance here is practically the same tolerance that our

ordinances allow in Battle Creek. I think I can explain in a very

few seconds a method that we have used there that has enabled us

to get a bottle that is within 1 dram, on the average. We passed

a bottle ordinance requiring all manufacturers that sold bottles in
NINTH ANNUAL CONFEBENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASUEES. 79

Battle Creek to execute a $1,000 bond to keep these bottles within the

average tolerance allowed, and I wish to say that my experience has

been that there has been a variation of less than 1 dram on the av- erage in our bottles in Battle Creek.

Mr. Downing. Mr. Chairman, I was going to say practically the

same thing as the gentleman that preceded me, but I would add this:

It seems to me that we are splitting hairs. The average tolerance

on 25 bottles, you will notice, is 1 dram. Now, 1 dram is one twohundred-and-fifty-sixth of a quart. Jililk is worth, say, 7 or 8 cents

per quart. That brings the value of that milk down to an extremely

small figure, and our experience in Wisconsin has been that if you

make tolerances any closer than this you can not get the milk-bottle

manufacturers to make bottles that will comply with them. If these

tolerances were the tolerances giAen on individual bottles—say 4

drams on the quart—I would oppose it; but when you get down to

1 dram on a quart you are getting just as close as you can manufacture bottles at the present price.

(Cries of " Question! ")

The President. Question is called for.

(The question was taken, and the paragraph was adopted.)

Mr. Connors. The next specification relates to dry measures. We

found we had not covered certain types of measures which have come

on the market lately, with a bottom that raises up. Out in Indiana

and in Minnesota the committee saw a type of measure which, when

the bottom was on the floor, was a peck measure, and when it was

pushed up halfway was a half peck. So we want to add this specification, reading as follows

" Dry measures with adjustable bottoms shall not be used."

The President. If there is no objection this will stand approved.

(There was no objection.)

Mr. Connors. Then, at the end of the dry-measure section, where

it reads, "The following errors are allowable," we recommend that

that be changed to read : " The following errors shall be allowed in

deficiency and double these errors on dry-capacity measures." That

is, double the errors in excess and use the table in deficiency, the

same as with the liquid-capacity measure, since the same arguments

apply on the dry measures as on the liquid-capacity measures. The President. If there is no objection this paragraph will stand

approved.

(There was no objection.)

Mr. Connors. Then we recommend a new heading and specifications, reading as follows

"berry BASKETS OE BOXES.

" Baskets for berries or small fruits of a capacity of 1 dry quart

or less shall be one of the following sizes

" One quart, one pint, or one-half pint, dry measure."

That is, we did not want to allow the " dinkies "—the three-quarters of a quart, and so on. The President. Unless there is objection this first paragraph will

stand approved.

Mr. CuMMiNGs. Mr. Chaii'man, I would suggest that the text of

that paragraph does not agree with the heading. The word " boxes "
80 BUREAU OF STANDABDS.

should be contained in the text as well as in the heading, so that it

will read, " Baskets or boxes for berries."

The President. That is easy to do. That will be changed.

Mr. CoNNOKS. The next paragraph reads

" The following errors are allowable in deficiency and double these

errors in excess on berry baskets or boxes

Capacity. Tolerances.

Cubic inches.3

2

1

The committee thought that was a fair tolerance. It is double

what the dry-measure tolerance is that was adopted last year.

Mr. Steinel. Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a motion to cut

out the tolerance in deficiency on berry boxes. Berry boxes can be

made exact, or more exact than milk bottles or other containers. We

have no tolerance in deficiency on berry boxes in Wisconsin. We

find that where we allow a tolerance on berry boxes the manufacturer

will invariably try to make the boxes small by this amount. Now, in

the case of a quart, 67 cubic inches, we find those boxes come in con- taining 64 cubic inches when a 3-cubic-inch tolerance is allowed.

They are made for States where they allow this tolerance, and we

find that if we insist of 67 cubic inches we get 67. Now, 3 cubic

inches is quite a percentage, and they take advantage of that.

(The motion was seconded.)

The President. I would like to state, in connection with this, that

there are two principles involved, and we should not lose sight of

them. The inspector, in testing a single box, is really testing the

amount of that sale; but when he wishes to test the accuracy of his

container, then he should take a large number. Take bottles, for

instance. He is testing either the accuracy of those bottles or the

accuracy of the particular contents at that time. So I think that,

granting that the 3 cubic inches might be a tolerance allowable in a

sale, it should never be allowed in the manufacture of boxes; and

that point has been overlooked, to my mind, in this amendment.

That is to say, in a large number of boxes, how much should we allow

for the average variation? That ought to be much smaller than the

other. I may be wrong. That is the point you wished to make ? Mr. Steinel. Yes, sir. The President. The question is. If a manufacturer makes his

berry boxes as nearly alike as he can, how nearly alike will they be ? The Secretary. I would like to say that at a hearing before the

Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures a great many months

ago a Member of Congress from Ohio who was familiar with the situation regarding the packing of berries, stated—and this was afterwards verified—that there were millions of these boxes that were

shipped to the farmer laiocked down, perfectly flat, and he bends

them up. They are rough measures; these are not standard quart

measures or pint measures. They are wooden things that are stamped

out, and they swell and shrink and everything else. They are simply

folded up by the farmer, pins put in them, filled, with berries, and
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 81

sold. Now, these do not always come from a factory, and they are not always where they can be handled by machinery that can be

adjusted so as to turn out a uniform product.

Mr. Downing. Mr. Chairman, I think that Mr. Fischer is absolutely right in what > he says. The only objection I saw to this was

the large tolerance of 3 cubic inches, which, in my opinion, is altogether too much. I think we should cut that down to 1^. If you get

it much closer than that, the boxes could not be made to comply with

it. Take the matter of the shrinkage. We have made a test of the

shrinkage of the wood, and there is a decided shrinkage in some of

the wood from which boxes are made. A dry box would have to have

a much larger tolerance. When the berries are placed in these boxes,

if they are dry they absorb moisture from the berries, so that they

practically come back to the point of their original capacity.

Mr. WallenMETER. Mr. Chairman, we made a special study of

that at Evansville, where they have a big berry-box manufactory,

and we find that it depends a great deal upon whether the veneer

out of which the boxes are manufactured comes from the heart or from the sap. If the box is made out of the veneer from the sap, it

will shrink 3 or 4 cubic inches—4J in one case—per box. The aver- age shrinkage of gnm and poplar wood was 2^ cubic inches.

Mr. Sherman. Mr. Chairman, is it not possible to make a distinction between wooden boxes and boxes of pasteboard? The wood

from which these boxes are made is growing scarcer every year and

the price is going up, and it is only a question of time when they will

have to be made of some other material. In fact, I know that boxes

for such purposes are now being made of pasteboard, and when so made they can be made practically exact and the shrinkage is

negligible. The proposition when dealing with pasteboard or any

kind of metal is entirely different from the proposition when dealing

with wood, and it seems to me we should make a distinction, from

an engineering point of view, between the box made of wood and

the box made of any other material that we now seek to make it of

pasteboard or metal.

Mr. ViEDiN. Mr. Chairman, I can not understand why so many

are anxious to allow tolerances. I may be wrong, gentlemen, in this,

but it grinds on me pretty hard. Here is a gentleman who says that

they can make these boxes accurately and that people can get what

they are purchasing. Now, if that can be done, why do we want to

allow tolerances and deceive the people? Because the manufacturer

will manufacture according to the tolerance, and every man here

knows it that laiows anything about business. They are all working

on tolerance, and that is the way they are making a great deal of

money. Now, we are paid to protect the public, and we ought to

require an exact measure, and if there is any tolerance let it be a

little over. But we are all trying to protect the manufacturer and

allow a little under, and they work under. So the party that puts

out the commodity works on that tolerance and gives you less all

the time. Now, I do not know whether we are paid for that or not.

I think every man here is paid to protect the public and not the

manufacturer ; and I can not get it into my head—and I would like

some of these scientists to try to beat that into my head—where it pays to go below what is marked on a measure, and why we want to

90371°—15 6
82 BUREAU OP STANDABDS.

allow a tolerance to the manufacturer when he will get right down

to that tolerance. Say a quart, say a pint, or whatever it may be, and

make them give it. That is what I think we are here for. The

people have been fooled for years by tolerances, and I am surprised,

here at the seat of Government, that they work out any such thing

as that.

Mr. Albrecht. Mr. President, I would like to ask Mr. Connors

whether a raised bottom is permissible.

Mr. Connors. We have no specifications here as to the manufacture of berry boxes. Some berry boxes are made with a raised bottom, some are round, and some are hexagonal, but we have not included any specifications as to construction, on the ground that the

boxes are flimsy anywaj'', and are used but once, and if we can get

them to contain the proper capacity we are doing pretty well.

Mr. Downing. Mr. Chairman, I believe I can say a word or two

that will help to clear this up. There is a prevailing opinion that if

the bottom of a berry box is raised the box is short. Now, all we are

interested in is that that box shall contain a standard dry quart.

The type of berry box that we manufacture in Wisconsin has a bottom raised about one-half inch. It is raised with a definite purpose

in view, so as to prevent the crushing of the berries in the box below.

There are two or three tiers in a crate, and if we had a flat bottom

there would be crushing of the berries. As they are packed by the

growers they are heaped. By the time they get to the market they

are either level full or about to settle. There is an advantage in

having a raised bottom, provided you have 67 cubic inches above it. Mr. Wallenmeter. It also provides for ventilation for the fruit,

to prevent the fruit from perishing.

Mr. Sherman. Mr. Chairman, referring to the paragraph under

discussion, I move that this paragraph be amended to read

" The following errors are allowable in deficiency and double these errors in excess in boxes constructed of wood."

The same tolerance is not needed for boxes not constructed of wood.

(The motion was seconded.)

The President. Mr. Sherman, have you made any experiments on

the pasteboard boxes with regard to the expansion?

Mr. Sherman. No, sir; I have not, but I know there have been

tests made. In this manufactory that I speak of, the boxes are coated with wax, I think it is paraffin.

The President. Because, if they are not, the paper would expand

almost as much as wood.

Mr. Richardson, of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, in listening to this

talk about tolerance and this matter of the bottle I have been some- what surprised. I would like to say a word from the standpoint of

the general welfare of the country, the interest of honesty, and the

interest of the common masses of the public. When a bottle can be

made within 1 dram of the right amount, why should we give 3

drams for tolerance? In this matter of tolerance if you give some

parties an inch they will take a foot ; and you should be very careful on the tolerance question. Now, on the box question I can see very

clearly how those things can differ, from moisture, and so on, and the

condition of the different parts of the log from which the box is made, but on the bottle it does appear to me, with all the knowledge
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASUEES. 83

of conditions and all the science we have to-day, that we ought to get

closer than 4 drams on the quart.

Mr. Steijjel. Mr. Chairman, the men that put up thousands of

boxes, as these strawberrj' growers do, can tell with the naked eye

whethei' they have got them drawn up too tight, but they try to

crowd them and make them smaller. I can tell a short quart 10 feet

aivay now. I picked out some the other day that were 4 cubic

hiches short; I found they measured 63 cubic inches. These parties

who put out tens of thousands can tell the same as we can, and we

want a chance to get at the man who is selling the berries, not the

manufacturer. I think that tolerance is too large.

Mr. O'EouEKE. Mr. Chairman, I move an amendment to the amendment—that we change this paragraph covering tolerances, split the

tolerances in half on the sale, and eliminate the tolerances entirely

from the manufacturers of berry boxes.

(The motion was seconded.)

Mr. O'RouRKE. My understanding, Mr. Chairman, from the opinions expressed by dilferent gentlemen here, is that there is no question about the pasteboard boxes being manufactured and placed on

the market accurately, but there, seems to be a dilference of opinion on

the wooden boxes. Personally, I feel as though the tolerance on

wooden boxes submitted by the committee is too large, and I am

not in favor of allowing the manufacturers of berry boxes any toler- ance at all. I have had a riot every day this year on this berry-box

question. We do not get any berries in my town that are shipped

from our State; we get them from other States. I am in a battle

all the time, and I have gone so far as to go into the stores and

compel the grocers to make them full quarts and pints—to repack

them after they have received them from the commission men. Now,

I am a little selfish in this. I want to save a little trouble for myself.

I believe that if the Federal Government goes at this and adopts a

specification that gives these manufacturers no leeway whatever the

trouble will be eliminated in all the States.

Mr. Sherman. Mr. Chairman, I would like to explain my amendment. I intended to follow, in case this amendment were passed, with

the suggestion of another paragraph containing an entirely different

set of tolerances for containers made of pasteboard. A pasteboard

container can be easily made which will fall within a tolerance of 1

dram to the pint, easily, under very widely varying climatic conditions. I know. I am speaking here now, not as a weights and measures man, for I know nothing about that end of the work. I am

speaking as an engineer—of what I know can be done with a pasteboard box. I am entirely willing to take the word of the gentleman

who says that these tolerances are correct for the wood box, but I

think it would be a great mistake to omit this opportunity to put a tight restriction on the manufacurer of the pasteboard box. It seems

to me that is a thing we can settle first, before we discuss the general

question of tolerances in this case. The President. There are two entirely distinct principles here,

and before we go too far and get this mixed up I am going to get it straightened out. This amendment to the amendment Avould have the

right of way. It is not the best way to handle it, but if you insist, we

will take that up—the amendment to the amendment.
84 BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

Mr. Steinel. Mr. Chairman, my motion was the first motion—to

cut out the tolerance entirely. I would like to have a vote on that.

Simply as a matter of information, I will say that this tolerance can

be enforced to the letter. For the last two years, in Milwaukee, 98

per cent of the berries came in in full-sized quart boxes. As to the

other 2 per cent, we either made them dump them or we confiscated

them and sent them to hospitals. We have been enforcing this for

two .years. I would like to have a vote on this—to cut out this tol- erance in deficiency on berry boxes entirely.

Mr. Brown. Mr. Chairman, there seem to be three separate questions before the house, and if the movers thereof would agree to

consider them in the order in which they were introduced, I think it would simplify matters. If Mr. Sherman, who introduced the first

amendment, would agree to let that lie over until we dispose of this

one, this gentleman here, I am sure, would agree to let his lie over

until that is done.

Mr. Sherman. I will agree to that.

Mr. O'RouRKE. That will be satisfactory to me. The President. Then both amendments are withdrawn, and re- marks are in order to the original question.

Mr. Waldron. Mr. Chairman, my State makes more baskets than

any other one State in the Union, and we all laiow that baskets can

not be made perfectly exact. It is very foolish for us to expect to

find a common basket as accurate as our standard. "V^Hien a basket

is made and filled with fruit, it will expand instead of getting

smaller.

Mr. Steinel. Mr. Chairman, I would like to mention how we carry

out the enforcement of this law. We have a law, and the shippers

do not dare to ship anything but full standard quarts ; and our dealers in Milwaukee have buyers, and when the buyers run across boxes

the first question they ask is, "Are they full standard capacity ?" If

they are not, they do not touch them. If they find they are short,

the}^ go someAvhere else, and in that way we handle it. Our buyers

do not touch anything but what is 67 cul)ic inches. If they did that

in all States, there would not be any short boxes. They could not

ship them anywhere.

Mr. Hartigan. Mr. Chairman, it seems that the discussion on the

berry box is much more important in the minds of this conference

than the previous discussion on milk bottles. With all due respect

to this committee in charge of the tolerances and specifications,

which has been working honestly for a whole year upon this matter,

it seems unfair to this conference to present at the very last moment

a report containing suggestions and recommendations of very great

value, and ask us on the spur of the moment to take up these most

important problems and pass them off in the heat of a convention.

It is unfair to the manufacturer, to the producer, to the public, and

to ourselves. I recognize that this particular subject of weights and

measures is in its infantile stage, and therefore I think that this

conference might, with further consideration for all the elements

that make up the work under our direction, arrange a program from

year to year, even thoiigh it be 10 years or 15 years, or until such

"time as the Nation is ready to receive Federal legislation on this

matter. We ought to obtain the very best information and grant the

most exact fairness to all elements concerned.
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 85

Mr. Murray. Mr. Chairman, the philosophy advocated by my

friend from Philadelphia may be sound, and mj friend from Milwaukee may be a sound philosopher; but they are dealing with the

impossible. My friend from Milwaukee spoke about berry baskets

being made to contain 67 cubic inches. Now, if I understand rightly,

he has allowed a tolerance there, because it is 67.2 plus. So he has

allowed a tolerance to start with, and a tolerance that should be

allowed. We have got to allow a tolerance. We can not deal with

the impossible; and if we compel the berry-box manufacturer to

make each and every one of his berry boxes absolutely accurate and

perfect, then it all falls back on the poor consumer, whom these gentlemen have been solicitous about during j:his meeting.

Mr. BuCHTEL. Mr. Chairman, I agree Avith the gentleman who has

just spoken. It all goes back to the same thing, the question of the

cost to the consumer ; and the very minute that this convention goes

on record as wanting an absolute box made, that minute we are going

to increase the cost to the consumer, and I doubt very much whether

the consumers that have to pay this additional cost will appreciate

the efforts of the different sealers throughout the country. The

minute that we begin running up the cost, they lose sight of the fact

that they are getting their full weight and measure. They want it measured very closely, but they do not want it hedged in with a lot

of rules that are going to increase the cost to them. I am in favor of

allowing these tolerances as suggested by the committee.

Mr. Steinel. Mr. Chairman, when I said 67 cubic inches I meant

67.2 cubic inches. Another point has occurred to me. You find 90

per cent of the boxes not filled up when you get them. The berries are shaken down, and if you make the tolerance in excess people will

not be getting over a quart. No shipper Vvill lose anything on his

berries, and the consumer will hardly be getting his full quart then.

It is a different commodity from milk, where there is no chance for

shaking down. If you do not allow any deficiency and allow a little

tolerance in excess, the consumers will get the full quart of berries

. to which they are entitled.

The Secretary. Mr. Chairman, let me ask the gentleman this

question : What are we trying to do in this country ? Are we trying

to maintain standards, or do we want to increase every capacity

measure so that it is a little bit larger than the standard ? Now, every

country in the world, and every man who has ever had any experi- ence in the practical application of weights and measures laws,

knows that you have got to have a tolerance. You can not make

things exactly correct; and if the tolerance is placed so small that

a man in attempting to make the thing correct can just keep within

that tolerance—have as many on one side as the other—you have

reached the ideal condition of tolerance. But you must have tolerances, unless you are going to make these things cost a fortune. We

can not make two weights exactly right, with all our facilities and all

the time at our disposal. We can get them to within a certain

amount, and then we stop. Every scale man here, every railroad

track scale man, knows that after he adjusts his scale to a certain

point he has got to stop, otherwise he will keep on adjusting all day,

or a week, or a month, or a year. So you have to have tolerances,

and if you require that all variations shall be above, by and by our

quart will be 1, 2, or 3 per cent above the standard. What we want to
86 BUEBATJ OF STAifDAKDS.

do is to have the consumer, on the average, get a quart ; and the differ- ences above or below, the permissible tolerances, are going to be

extremely small. They are going to be negligible. But if on the

average he is getting the right amount, that is fair to him and it is

fair to the dealer. A good many of the people around here talk as though the dealer or the merchant is not part of the public. He is

part of the public, too, and it is our duty to protect him just as much

as we do the consumer ; and, as Mr. Buchtel has said, every time you

put a restriction on these standards, on boxes, or whatever it may be, so as to increase the cost, it is an unnecessary expense. Wliat we

want to do is to have the average box, the average bottle, or whatever

it may be, correct, so that in the long run the consumer gets the

proper amount.

Now, of course, there is room for a great deal of discussion as to

what .those tolerances should be. If they are made so large that a manufacturer can take advantage of them, then they are too large.

They ought to be so set that if a man tries to get the correct amount

when he makes a box, tries to make it exactly correct, and then finds

that there is an unavoidable error, due to manufacture, this defect

would be allowed for; and that is what we are aiming at. Mr. Richardson, of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, the point I wanted to

bring out is this : To allow a 4-dram tolerance on a quart bottle would

be a little unfair to the consumer. That is the reason why I ask the

question. Could we not get down to a closer margin than the 4 drams

on the bottle, as it does not expand or contract? I realize, on the

other hand, that with a box the matter is very hard to decide, due to

the condition of the weather, and so forth.

The Secretary. I will simply state that as far as these tolerances

are concerned, they were fixed with all the information that we had

at hand. Now, if anybody is more competent to do it or has any

additional information, we would be very glad to Imow it. Mr. EiCHARDSON, of Illinois. That is what we are here for—to decide these matters. As I understand it, we are here to represent the

United States, different quarters and different interests, and for that

reason, gentlemen, if we can arrive at a better conclusion, let us do

so. I think the best conclusions are always drawn out from various

ideas that we get from other men. We can represent the different

conditions in our immediate localities. I think that tolerance is a

little too much, and the question is now. Shall we have some amendments on this or shall we take it just as the committee has recom- mended ? The Secretary. I want the gentleman distinctly to understand that

I am not preventing amendments. We expect to have them ; we want

to entertain them and consider them.

The President. I would like to answer the gentleman's question.

We are here, for exactly that purpose. The motion before us is to

abolish this altogether, and if you think it is right, vote it down.

We have had a lot of talk and discussion. Now, the thing to avoid

is both extremes. When a man gets up and says you can not have a tolerance and you must always have it exact, he simply does not know

what he is talking about, because the very weights he uses have a tolerance, and he does not Imow it. Now, as Mr. Fischer says, what

we want to get is your experience.

(Cries of " Question ! ")
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 87

(The question was taken, and the motion was lost.)

Mr. Wallenmetee. Mr. Chairman, I would regret very much to

see any of these tolerances changed, because we had a conference out

in Indiana in February, and Mr. Connors and Mr. Fischer were present, and they fixed these tolerances after granting hearings to all the

interests involved, and I believe they are more competent to fix these

tolerances than men who live in communities where these boxes are not manufactured. We have adopted the specifications out there

just as they are, and we are working under them very satisfactorily

now.

The President. The first amendment, made by Mr. Sherman, is

now in order.

Mr. Sherman. Mr. Chairman, in order that the intention of my

amendment may not be misunderstood, let me say that my proposed

amendment reads: "The following errors are allowable in deficiency and double these errors in excess in boxes constructed of

wood." If that amendment is passed, I shall immediately move

another table of tolerances in the case of pasteboard boxes. I state

that so that that question may not enter into the discussion of the

present amendment, which is simply the insertion of the words " in

boxes constructed of wood " in this paragraph.

(The motion was seconded.)

The President. You have heard the motion and the second with

regard to the insertion of the words " in boxes constructed of wood."

(The question was taken, and the amendment was adopted.)

Mr. Sherman. I move to add a third paragraph reading

" The following errors are allowable in deficiency and double these errors in excess for containers constructed of pasteboard or fiber:

One quart, 1 cubic inch'; 1 pint, one-half cubic inch; one-half pint,

one-quarter cubic inch."

(The motion was seconded.)

The President. Are there any remarks?

Mr. O'Rourke. Mr. President, we had another amendment that we

agreed to consider before we considered anything else.

The President. I admitted this, because it referred to the same

question of boxes, and the other will come next.

(The question was taken, and the amendment was adopted.)

The President. Now your amendment is in order.

Mr. O'Rourke. Mr. Chairman, I do not know that that is quite

clear to all the delegates assembled here, and in order that we may

have our records correct, and that there may be no misunderstanding

on this matter, I move that we rescind all action taken on this berrybox proposition, and that we appoint a committee of five to confer

with the standing committee, and to report back a new set of specifications covering this proposition, to be considered later in the day.

(The motion was seconded.)

Mr. Virdin. Mr. Chairman, I move you that we amend that by

adding the milk bottle also.

The President. Is there a second to that amendment?

(The motion was seconded.)

The President. Are there any remarks?

Mr. Virdin. The reason I am putting that in is that there seems

to be so much discussion over what I term a luxury ; something which

is like the migrating birds—it comes and it goes. The milk stays
88 BUEEAU OF STANDABDS.

with you 365 days in the year, and you gave that very little consideration as to tolerances, and so forth, and you are discussing something here which lasts only a short time.

Mr. Sherman. Mr. Chairman, the amendment is made apparently

on the ground that more attention has been given in this meeting to

strawberry boxes than to milk containers, and that milk containers

are more important than berry boxes. It seems to me that is entirely beside the question. The length of time given to a question

in this meeting appears to be determined by the amount of division

of opinion that exists as to the motion made ; and if milk containers

got less consideration than berry boxes it must evidently be because

the meeting was pretty well of one mind on the question of the milk

container.

Mr. GoDDu. Mr. Chairman, I wish to speak on the motion. If we

rescind all the action we have taken and start over again, we will be

here next week. We have done some work already, and if we have

to go all over that again we will never get through. So I hope the

men here will vote against the motion and the amendment.

Mr. EiCHARDSON, of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, answering , the last

speaker, I think that if we were to stay here a month more we would

not be spending too much time. This question of tolerance is a very

vital one to the people of the United States to-day, and especially on

the milk question, and I think if the tolerances are left as they are

it would be the biggest mistake that has been made along this line in

years.

Mr. O'RouRKE. My motion was to rescind the action that we had

taken. We seemed to have a misunderstanding here on account of

the number of motions that were put, amendments, etc., and my idea

was to eliminate the thing entirely and give the committee a chance

to draft something new and submit it to us here after lunch, so that

we will know just where we stand.

The President. The amendment to include the milk bottle is before

the house, and the question is called for.

(The question was taken, and the amendment was lost.)

The President. The question is now on the original motion.

(The question was taken, and the motion was lost.)

Mr. GoDDu. Mr. Chairman, I move we adjourn for lunch.

(The motion was seconded and agreed to.)

Thereupon, at 12.60 p. m., a recess was taken for luncheon.
FOURTH SESSION (AFTERNOON OF THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1914).

The conference reassembled at 2.10 p. m.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Mr. WiLLETT. Mr. Chairman, I move that a committee on nominations to consist of three members be appointed by the Chair.

The motion was seconded and agreed to. The President. The Chair will appoint Mr. Van Duyn, of Iowa;

Mr. Schwartz, of New Jersey; and Mr. Brown, of Tennessee.

A number have asked as to the time and place of meeting to-morrow morning. The place will be the District Building—the municipal building of the city of Washington—at 9.30 a. m. It is necessary

to meet down town to-morrow morning in order that we may get

luncheon and go promptly to the President's reception, which is at

2 o'clock sharp. This reception will not interfere much with the

business ; it shifts the hour a little, that is all.

DISCUSSION ON TOLERANCES AND SPECIFICATIONS, CONTINUED.

The President. Before we start this afternoon I want to say just

one word in regard to the order of procedure. While it is true the

conference is for the purpose of bringing together tlae experience of

men and getting good advice, it is appropriate, I think, that those

who are new listen rather than speak. While we welcome anything

that they have to say to the point, I am afraid that some of the new

members feel that this is a fixed thing and that this ends it; that

they must go home with some definite action that is lasting. This

conference will meet every year and we hope to improve all of these

things every year, and my advice to the new man is, if he has not had

experience in any of these things from either the manufacturing or

the other side, to listen and get all the good points that he can, go

home and try it out for a year, and then come back and give advice

afterwards—not before. Now, this morning we wasted a lot of time,

and yet it came from the very best of spirit. People were anxious

to know, and it is very difficult for the Chair to be arbitrary in a ruling; but we can facilitate business if we leave the suggestions to

those who have given these matters attention. We have now with

us many sealers who have gone into these things very carefully and

can speak from extended experience. I do not mean this as personal,

because I have not anybody in mind ; I am speaking to all of the new

men. While they are enthusiastic, and naturally so, their attitude

should be more that of learning, and then to take home with them

what we enact as the best that these men who have had experience can advise, and come back to us next year and say to us, " That is

good," or " It is not good, because I have tried it and found out."

89
90 BUEEAU OP STANDARDS.

We will proceed with the next paragraph, Mr. Connors.

Mr. Steinel. Mr. Chairman, I have another amendment to make

on berry boxes. I have talked with a number of members this afternoon—some who voted against the proposition to cut out the toler- ance entirely—and a lot of them are of the opinion that 3 cubic

inches on a quart is too large a tolerance. I therefore now offer an

amendment to reduce the tolerances on wood berry boxes to one-half

what they are stated in this paper that we have, making the quart

an inch and a half, the pint one inch, and the half pint one-half

inch.

(The motion was seconded.)

Mr. Egan. Mr. Chairman, I want to make a statement on this

proposition. As it strikes me it is this: We had a motion on this

subject before that, and an amendment to it. The amendment was

lost and the motion was carried. A movement was then made to

rescind, and the motion was lost. It appears to me that that was

similar to a motion to reconsider. Now, the motion to reconsider

was lost, and I doubt if we can at this meeting open this question.

The President. I think it is entirely in order; it will take but a moment to take a vote on it. Mr. Egan. All right.

The President. It only opens the question in regard to the wooden

boXGS.

(Cries of "Question!")

(The question was taken, and the motion was agreed to.)

Mr. Connors. The next specification relates to scales. These are the general specifications applying to all scales. We found that we

had not covered a type of scale which I might describe as a counter

platform scale with a removable scoop, and with a latch or poise on

the short arm of the beam which is to be moved back and forth

according as the scoop is on or off. We feel that that scale should

have some representation on the customer's side to show whether the

scoop should be on or off. So Ave introduce this specification which,

if it is approved by the body, will force the manufacturers to put on

the scale a representation showing the customer that the scoop is to

be used on or off the platform. This specification reads as follows:

" When the scale is equipped with a device attached to the scale

intended to counterbalance the weight of the scoop, this shall clearly

indicate on the customer's side whether the scoop should be on or off

the scale platform."

I think you sealers laiow the type which indicates " scoop on

or " scoop off," and this regulation requires that to be plainly on the

customer's side. I think we all are agreed that it is a very good idea

to represent to the customer whether the scoop should be on the platform or off. Mr. Henry. Mr. Chairman, I have one interrogation to make.

That is, whether we are to confine this to the regulation to which

this is an addition. If my memory is right, the other regulation

includes all scales which have a removable weight.

Mr. Connors. This is not an amendment to any specification. We

have a specification which forbids the use of any scale which has a removable poise or weight to counterbalance a removable scoop.

The President. If there is no objection this addition to the specification will stand.
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 91

Mr. Connors. The next specification is an amendment to the specification reading, " The normal position of the beam shall be horizontal." Scales have recently been placed on the markfet, usually of

the pendulum type—some counter scales and some large platform

scales—in which the normal position of the beam is not horizontal.

That is the only way it can be made, as far as I imow. Now, we do

not want to throw this scale out, because there were some features

about it that are very good. So we propose that " when scales are equipped with a beam or beams, the position or oscillation of which

is used to indicate the balance of the scale, the normal position of this

beam or beams must be horizontal." That is, where it is equipped

with a beam only, and where the beam determines the reading, then

the beam should be horizontal ; but where the reading is made on the

face then the beam may take another position.

The PiiESiDENT. If there is no objection to this it will stand.

[After a pause.] We will proceed to the next paragraph.

Mr. Connors. The next is a new specification. We found we had

not covered some points, and I think you will agree that this specification is necessary : " All scales shall be of such construction that

they are permanent in their adjustment "—that is, if it is a reading

face thej must return to zero when unloaded—" and will repeat their

weight indications correctly, and are not designed to, or may not be

used to, facilitate the perpetration of fraud."

Mr. Barnard of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I would like to understand what is meant by " to facilitate the perpetration of fraud."

The President. Certain scales are manufactured so that it is easy

to adjust them in a fraudulent manner. A spring balance, for instance, may have its face made so as to slide up or down. Are there

any other questions? If not, we will proceed to the next paragraph.

Mr. Connors. If a scale had a reading face or dial, the sensibility

reciprocal does not and should not apply, because when the weight is

placed on the scale the indicator or pointer should give the reading

within the allowable error, irrespective of any sensibility. In order

to make this clear we add the following words to the definition : " In

the case of scales provided with a reading face or dial the sensibility

reciprocal does not apply to the face or dial."

The Secretary. Sensibility reciprocal, as a matter of fact, never

did apply ; but this simply makes that clear to the sealer who is trying to follow his instructions.

The President. If there is no objection this paragraph will stand

approved.

(There was no objection.)

Mr. Connors. It is necessary to change the specification for platform scales reading, " The beam shall have equal play above and

below its normal horizontal position," because in the case of the

scales I referred to before we no longer require the normal position

to be horizontal. So we propose an amendment to read, " On scales

which are required to have the normal position of the beam horizontal the beam shall have equal play above and below this normal

horizontal position." That is simply to make it conform to the general specification as amended.

The President. If there are no questions or objections, this paragraph will stand approved.
92 BUEEAU OF STANDARDS,

Mr. Connors, In the next specification we wish to include counter

platform scales; that is, require counter platform scales to have the

same tolerances and sensibilities as counter scales; and we suggest

that the specification be amended to read this way

" The sensibility reciprocal of platform scales except counter platform scales shall not exceed the value of two of the minimum graduations on the beam at the capacity or at any lesser load. Counter

platform scales shall be governed by the sensibility reciprocals given

hereafter for counter scales and balances."

The specifications are indefinite in that counter platform scales are not mentioned, and the sealers who started to enforce them were

not sure whether they should be included in the counter-scale class;

and we had intended that the counter-scale tolerance should apply.

The President. You have heard the proposed amendment. If

there is no objection, it will stand approved.

Mr. Connors. The next specification is along the same line; it is

necessary to clear the matter again

"The tolerances to be allowed on platform scales, except counter

platform scales, at the loads indicated, shall not exceed the values

given in the table following. Counter platform scales shall be governed by the tolerances given hereafter for counter balances and

scales."

That simply throws the coimter platform scales into the class for

counter balances and scales in regard to the sensibility reciprocal

and the tolerance.

The President. If there are no questions or objections, it will

stand approved.

Mr. Eeichmann. Mr. Chairman, I am a very new man in this

business and I do not exactly understand what this refers to. Will

that make any difference in that tolerance between platform scales

and counter scales of the same capacity, or even-arm scales or scales

of various types? I always thought a platform scale was a scale

which had a platform superimposed on multiple levers which are connected to a connecting rod or beam or some other indicating

device, and I always, in the ordinary language of the street, called a trip scale a scale which had two pans on it, either above the beam

or below the beam. Now the question I ask is, Does this change

the tolerances of, for instance, a hundred-pound capacity platform

scale and a hundred-pound capacity even-arm scale? Do they have

different tolerances under this specification?

Mr. Connors. No. Any scale known to the trade as a counter

platform scale would have the same sensibility reciprocal and toler- ance as a trip scale or counter balance.

Mr. Eeichmann. You do not define " counter platform scale

anywhere, do you ? Mr. Connors. We do not define it ; no. Mr. Brown. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask Mr. Connors a question myself. I do not think I see what Dr. Eeichmann is driving at. and, being a new man myself, I would like to know how the

trade distinguishes between a counter platform scale and an ordinary

floor platform scale. In other words, how would a green inspector

Icnow which he was dealing with, provided the man had a pretty

big platform scale elevated on his counter above the floor?
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 93

Mr. Connors. The counter platform scale is a recognized trade

name. They are called counter platform scales, and they are usually

below 400 pounds capacity. We are of the opinion that most of the

sealers here, or anybody that goes out to inspect weights and measures,

knows what a counter platform scale means, and therefore we do not

define it. It is perfectly clear in the minds of most people that I

Imow.

Mr. Brown. But, Mr. Chairman, these trade observations are very

often confusing. It confused me in that particular case, and that is

the reason I raised the point ; because there is nothing definite to go

by in that particular matter. Your trade specification is the only

thing that governs.

Mr. Connors. But the counter platform scale usually has a short

pillar, designed to use on a counter the same as the ordinary portable

scale equipped as you see here [indicating] ; and, on the other hand,

there are the scales with the tall pillar, designed to be used on the

floor and having a higher capacity.

Mr. Reichmann. Mr. Chairman, I seriously object to the proposition of saying " which is ordinarily used in trade," and so on. There

have been various discussions about trade customs, things " understood by the trade," and so on. In my very limited experience it is

not a well-recognized fact what a platform scale is and what a counter platform scale is, and so on. I think it would be well to

define what a counter platform scale is, in some form or other. I

have no objection whatsoever to these specifications. I think they

are most admirable, unless the amendments have been changed since

this morning; I do not know whether they have or not.

The PresidejSit. Very few. Amendments are in order, if you have

in mind some pai-ticular definition.

Mr. Reichmann. I have no amendment. If there is a difference

in the amount of error allowed upon different types of scales, then the

specification, it seems to me. to be logical, must very clearly indicate

what the distinction and difference between those scales is, without

simply saying, " Why, the trade generally recognizes what is so-andso, and so-and-so." In other words, it makes the sealer rely upon the

judgment of the particular man whose scale he is trying to seal. We

ought to absolutely define what is and what is not, if you are going to

allow a different degree of error on different types of scales. My

personal position has always been this—I am undoubtedly in error,

because I have been overruled by the majority, and being an American citizen I believe in the majority—that we care not what the internal workings of a scale are or what its construction may be; if it is of a certain capacity and divided in a certain way, we want to

have a certain amount of error in the result. What the interior construction is ought to be immaterial to us as weights and measures

officials, because that is a technical proposition : and along that very

line I intend to make a suggestion to-morrow at the business meeting. Therefore, if you will pardon me, I would suggest that in the

specification be incorporated a very specific definition of what the

kinds and types of scales are ; because it is a very difficult matter to

regulate by saying that everybody with common sense recognizes it. It would he very much clearer to me to define those specifically, if

the logical purpose of the specification is to be carried out. I submit
94 BUEEAU OF STANDAEDS.

that to the chairman as a question or I submit it to the tolerance committee. I do not care to have a vote on it. I do not care to delay the

action on this particular tolerance.

The President. I think, Dr. Eeichmann, that it was stated, to begin with, that these were for discussion, and Ave invite the fullest

discussion from those who have had experience. We do not quite

agree as to the extent of your experience that you place upon yourself, but if you have in mind any definite suggestion here, I think it

would be quite in order, and the conference would be very glad to

have it. Mr. Eeichmann. Mr. Chairman, in order to present the matter

to the conference, I move that the tolerance committee be appointed

to define specifically the distinction between the different kinds of

scales.

The President. Then your request would be that the tolerance

committee be more explicit in defining the tj'^pes of scales.

Mr. Reichmann. Yes. Well, no ; not more explicit, because I want

to make some argument about mandatory legislation and explicit

legislation. I want to make this a mandatory provision—that they

shall.

The Secretary. Mr. Chairman, perhaps Mr. Connors was not particularly fortunate when he said that everybody understood it. As

a matter of fact, most of the catalogues of the manufacturers do list

what are known as counter platform scales, and they, I think, invariably have a short column. That is the main distinction between

them. But I quite agree with Dr. Reichmann that the thing ought

to be perfectly explicit, and if it is not perfectly explicit it ought

to be made so. I did not feel myself when we drafted this particular specification that it was explicit, but I think as a general thing

the platform scale of the counter type has this low column.

(The motion was seconded.)

Mr. Neale. Mr. Chairman, I wonder if the tolerance committee

found it expedient to consider the size of the scale—the capacity.

As I understand it, the larger and heavier working scales are given

a greater error because of their inferior sensibility. It seems to me

that that could have been clarified somewhat by simply adding after " except counter platform scales," a limit as to capacity. Now, in

different kinds of trade there are very heavy scales on counters; for

instance, in the meat-packing business and salt scales of certain

kinds. It seems to me that it could have been worked out following

their own lines just as they proposed, but making a cut-off as to

capacity; because there are certain times when we find a scale of

about 500 pounds capacity up on a counter for the purpose of checkweighing flour. in large bakeries. Now, of course, we recognize that

scale as the ordinary portable scale, for which the proper place was

on the floor.

This is only a suggestion that I thought would clear it up some

simply making a cut-off as to the" capacity, because in my mind it

is the capacity that determines what error is going to appear there.

A small delicate scale requires less error allowance than a large

scale.

Mr. Connors. I will say the committee considered that and con- sidered some lines to be drawn. It was suggested that 400 pounds

be the line to be drawn, because 400 pounds is the smallest portable
NINTH ANNUAL CONFEEENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASUEES. 95

scale which the committee has seen, but it would be necessary in that

case to except bathroom scales of 300 pounds capacity and personal

weighing scales, and it would be necessary to except some of the

penny-in-the-slot scales of 250 and 300 pounds capacity. So we

thought that if we let it go this time the sealers would understand

it and we could round it out into shape some other time.

The President. You have heard the motion and second. Are

there any further remarks?

Mr. Eeichmann. Yes, sir; I want to speak to the motion, please,

sir. Mr. Fischer raised the point that I think is the very error that

the committee has fallen into—the very error that everybod}'^ falls

into—that of attempting to make a general specification in a case of

this kind, namely, the catalogues. Everybody will admit—the manufacturers themselves will admit—that their catalogues are, as a rule,

abominably classified. As a matter of fact, in very many cases a person has to go and see the scale rather than go by the description

in the catalogue. Now, why not follow the suggestion of my motion ? If the committee does make a broad, general distinction, then they

will arrive at the conclusion, I think, that it is better to have a broad

general rule than try to do jiist exactly as the distinguished member

of the committee who just sat down said—try to change this evevj

time to fit the conditions, because the conditions will change eA^ery

hour of the year.

The President. Are there any further remarks?

(The question was taken, and the motion was agreed to.)

Mr. Connors. The next specification is an amendment under the

heading " Counter balances and scales." We said in the specification

that " pendulum scales must be equipped with a device for indicating

when the scale is level." Further investigation during the past year

convinced the committee that there are other scales besides pendulum

computing scales which should have an attached level. So we propose that if the scale is placed on an angle of 3°, or 5 per cent, with

the horizontal, and if the indication on that scale is changed by an amount greater than one-half of the tolerance, then it must be

equipped with a level. So it reads this way: " Counter scales whose

weight indications are changed by an amount greater than one-half

the tolerance allowed when set in any position on a surface making

an angle of 3°, or approximately 5 per cent with the horizontal,

shall be equipped with a device which will indicate when the scale

is level: Provided, however, That the scale shall be rebalanced each

time its position is altered during this test." That is, placing the

scale on an angle will change the zero reading. The scale should be

rebalanced. Then, if the weight indications are changed by an

amount greater than one-half of the tolerance, the scale should be

equipped with a level. Now, that is not a regulation that the sealer

will follow out very much in actual work ; but the question has come

up several times during the past year whether this scale or that scale

should be equipped with a leveling device or an attached level, and

we thought this was very fair to everyone.

Mr. Eeichmann. This provides that a pendulum scale shall be

equipped with a level?

Mr. Connors. " Equipped with a device which will indicate when

the scale is level."
96 BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

Mr. Eeichmann. The pendulum itself is a leveling device, as every

bricklayer and mason Icnows. I used to be a bricklayer. And, in

addition to that, they have to have a spirit level?

Mr. Connors. Not necessarily ; " a device which will indicate when

the scale is level."

Mr. Reichmank. The pendulum itself indicates when it is level.

Every pendulum is a plumb bob. I submit that as a general physical proposition.

The Secretary. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Eeichmann is mistaken in that.

The scale can be thrown out of level and then a weight can be added

to the platform so as to bring the zero so that it reads just as it did

before, and the indications after that will not be what they were in

the first case. That is possible with the pendulum scale. So that

the pendulum does not necessarily indicate when the scale is level.

If the scale is properly made in the first place, and is always kept

that way, it will do so. Mr. Eeichmann. And the pendulum itself will show when it is

level.

The Secretary. No; it simply indicates an initial j)osition; that

is all. Mr. Eeichmann. In other words, the pendulum itself would not be

allowed under this specification ? The Secretary. No.

Mr. Eeichmann. Mr. Chairman, I make a motion that it be

specifically embodied in this specification that in no case shall the

pendulum operating the scale be considered a leveling deface.

(The motion was seconded.)

The Secretary. Mr. Chairman, that was the object of it; this

leveling device was intended to be something other than the

pendulum.

Mr. Eeichmann. To make it perfectly clear, I am, in hearty ac- cord with this, but I want it to be absolutely explicit. That very

point has been raised innumerable times and on a broad physical

basis. Of course, on the face of it, taking out of consideration other

factors, it is absolutely saying that the pendulum itself is a leveling

device.

(The question was taken and the amendment was agreed to.)

The President. Unless there is objection, the paragraph as amended

will stand without further vote.

Mr. Connors. The next is an amendment to the specification reading : " Pendulum scales must be equipped with leveling devices which

require," etc., making it read as follows: "When any scale is

equipped with a leveling device this shall be of such construction

that it is operative or accessible only by the use of some tool or device

which is outside of and entirely separate from the scale itself." That

was to clear the atmosphere, because the question came up during

the year whether or not a screw driver hanging to a chain on the

scale would come within the meaning of the regulation. It is simply

to clarify the meaning.

Mr. Eeichmann. Does this take the screw driver off? I think it

ought to be so clear that one could tell immediately.

The President. Would this require it to be off of it or not ? Mr. Eeichmann. Absolutely, if it is entirely separate. If it is

tied to it with a chain or string, it is not entirely separate.
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 97

The President. But you asked the question if it took it off. Mr. Eeichmann. I asked the question because in our conversation

they said, " No ; you can hang it on there," and it seems to me a person ought to have the right to tie a string to a screw driver to

hang it on his scale if he wants to. Mr. Connors, There is no question but what the screw driver at- tached to the scale is all right.

Mr. Eeichmann. May I ask the committee to make a distinction

for my own personal information, as it is a matter I may run across some time. If the screw driver is attached with a string to the post

or pillar of a scale, which string is 13f inches long, attached thereto

by means of a No. 8 double-pointed carpet tack, would or would not

that be allowed under the specifications? If there was a shelf at- tached to the platform of the scale, and on that shelf were laid the

identical screw driver with a string attached to said screw driver,

but without the said string attached to said carpet tack and the pillar

of the scale, would that be nonattached and would that be allowed?

I ask for informaion, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. HoLBROOK. Mr. Chairman, I will introduce an amendment to

this specification saying that the tool or device must be outside of and

entirely separate from the mechanism of the scale itself ; introducing

the words " mechanism of the " before the word " scale." I believe

those words were in there at first and were stricken out as unnecessary

by the committee.

(The amendment was seconded.)

The President. You have heard the amendment and the second;

are there any remarks?

Mr. Eeichmann. Mr. Chairman, while it is customary for the

mover of the original motion to accept the amendment—and I accept

the amendment—I submit that there ought to be something else

besides the word "mechanism." I submit that Mr. Holbrook's idea

is the right one, but if it is the opinion of the members here that the

pillar should not be construed to be part of the mechanism, then I

suggest that the word " movable " be inserted before the word

" mechanism."

The President. Is that acceptable to you, Mr. Holbrook?

Mr. Holbrook. I think so. The President. You have heard the amendment as modified.

Are there any further remarks?

(The question was taken, and the amendment as amended was

agreed to.)

Mr, Connors, The next is to strike out the two specifications m

regard to the shift test. Now, the regulations adopted last year proAdded that on the weight pan, when the edge of the test weight was

coincident with the edge of the plate, the tolerance at half load

should not exceed the allowable error at its full capacity. The question has come up during the past year that weights of variable

diameter are used, which would make a variable test by different

sealers ; and the same thing on the commodity plate or scoop. Some

scales have, as you know, two plates, either one of which is used for

the commodity or either one of which is used for the weights. They

are reversible. So we recommended that both those specifications in

90371°—15 7
98 BUEEATJ OF STANDAKDS.

regard to the shifting of the weights on the weight plate, or the commodity plate or scoop, be stricken out and the following inserted

" "WTien a weight whose body has approximately equal diameter

and height, and which represents one-half of the capacity of the scale,

is shifted on the weight plate, or the commodity plate or scoop to a

point one-half the distance between the center and the edge of the

weight plate, or the commodity plate or scoop, the resulting error in

the weight indication shall not exceed the allowable error for the

scale at its full capacity: Provided, however, That in this test the

weight shall not project over the edge of the weight plate or the commodity plate or scoop."

It simply clears it up this way : That using a weight equal to half

the capacity of the scale, a weight whose body has approximately

equal diameter and height, and shifting it to a point where the center of the weight will be one-half the distance between the center of

the plate and the outside edge, the error allowed on that test would

be what would be allowed for the scale at its full capacity if the

weight were placed in the center of the weight plate or the scoop.

In that way we get away from the inaccuracy or the nonuniformity

of testing with variable weights. In this test it represents the

weight as a body approximately of equal diameter and height.

The President. You have heard this paragraph as read. Are

there any questions or objections?

Mr. Reichmann. Yes, sir. I would suggest that we amend that

to read " a weight whose body has a diameter approximately equal

to or not more than twice the height of the weight." It is a very

minor objection. My reason for doing that is this: Very often in

roughly testing scales one will pick up a weight the diameter of

which may be about twice the height. The only thing to avoid, as a matter of fairness, is a weight which is excessively flat or taking a stone and standing it on end. I thought—not having had any practical experience—that from the technical standpoint of the sealer in

the field it might be of some assistance if he had more latitude in his

weight. I make that as a motion to amend.

(The amendment was seconded.)

Mr. HoLBRooK. Mr. Chairman, it seems to me that the purpose of

this specification is to obtain a similar test on every scale which has

a similar pan or weight plate. The objection to the old specification

which might be raised was that the accuracy of the scale would depend upon the diameter of a variable weight, inasmuch as we provide that the edge of the weight shall not project over the edge of

the plate. Now, an ordinary sealer's test weight, I suppose, has been

taken as the standard, inasmuch as the diameter of the body is

usually equal to the height in such a weight. Now, if we should

amend that specification as Dr. Eeichmann proposes we would have

a condition where, if a man used a flat weight, he would have the

center of the weight and the center of gravity yf the weight much

nearer the center of the pan than if he used a weight such as that

specified here. Therefore the whole purpose of the specification—

that is, obtaining the center of gravity of the weight in the same

place on every scale—would fall to the ground, because the center of

gravity would in reality be in different places over this weight plate.

Mr. Eeichmann. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Holbrook says that he supposed they took a standard test weight. I do not Imow ; he ought to
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 99

know. The variation due to change in making that test is not

excessive and comes well within the tolerance. It is easily ascer- tained by test and calculation. Furthermore, we know that in a great many cases it is very convenient to use weights which are not

cylindrical and in which the diameter is not approximate to the

height. Different forms of weights are going to come up more and

more; in fact, in some there is no such a thing as the diameter, and

there ought to be sufficient latitude so that a man is not held down to

a certain weight. I will withdraw my motion if Mr. Holbrook, who

represents the bureau in this matter, thinks it is best to do so; but

I submit that just as a common-sense proposition.

The Secretary. Mr. Chairman, I might state for the benefit of Dr.

Eeichmann, as I said for the benefit of the other gentlemen here this

morning, that these are not the Bureau of Standards specifications.

The Bureau of Standards has never adopted any specifications. The

only connection between the Bureau of Standards and these specifications is that I happen to be on the committee on tolerances and

specifications, and I might add that Mr. Holbrook's familiarity with

them is that he has assisted the committee in drafting them. He

had considerable experience in putting into effect the old specifications in Porto Eico, and as a result of that experience he made a

great many valuable suggestions to this committee. But the conomittee does not represent the bureau.

Mr. Eeichmann. Then I am against them.

Mr. Holbrook. I might say at this time that I am not representing

the Bureau of Standards at this conference, but that I am representing the island of Porto Eico. I am at present a delegate from

the island of Porto Eico.

The President. Are there any further remarks ? [After a pause.]

The amendment is before you.

(The question was taken, and the amendment was lost.)

Mr. Connors. The next specification comes under the heading of

" Spring scales." We adopted a specification at the last meeting

that where a dish-shaped pan is provided there shall be an opening

in such pan to allow for drainage. We found that there were a number of dish-shaped pans on scales that were used in weighing

dry commodities, and the question came up as to whether or not those

should be provided with holes for drainage, as well as those used

for weighing fish and other wet commodities, and, further, that the

specification was indefinite, because a dish-shaped pan might be in

any of several different shapes. So to clarify it we recommend the

following : " Scale pans in which fish or other wet commodities are placed when weighed shall be so constructed as to provide for drainage." We also transfer this specification to the " general specifications " on scales, to apply to all scales.

The President. You have heard the paragraph. Are there any

questions or objections? If not, it will stand approved.

Mr. Connors. " Spring scales whose weight indications are changed

by an amount greater than one-half the tolerance allowed when set in

any position on a surface making an angle of 3°, or approximately

5 per cent, with the horizontal shall be equipped with a device which

will indicate when the scale is level, provided, however, that the

scale shall be rebalanced at zero each time its position is altered

during this test."
100 BUREAU OF STAND.A.KDS.

The same argument would apply to spring scales as applies to

counter scales for which this specification has been already adopted.

The President. You have heard this paragraph. Are there any

questions to ask of the committee or any objections?

Mr. Eeichmann. Does that apply to hanging spring scales also?

Mr. CoNNOKS. No.

We also recommend a new specification reading as follows : " When

spring scales are equipped with devices intended to compensate for

changes in elasticity of the springs due to temperature enects, these

devices shall be automatic in their operation and shall be so constructed or covered that they can not be readily manipulated." That

is, the committee is of the opinion that a hand-operated device for

compensating for temperature effects will facilitate the perpetration

of fraud, and any device on a scale which will compensate or is

intended to compensate for these temperature changes should be

automatic.

Mr. Barnaed, of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, it appears to me that

this particular paragraph is discriminating.

The President. In what respect?

Mr. Barnard, of Michigan. Well, if my understanding is correct,

there is a certain kind of spring scale that has a patent covering this

particular specification here, and this would bar these other scales.

Mr. Connors. I can clear that question up. You understand that

we say : " When spring scales are equipped with devices intended to

compensate for changes in elasticity of the springs due to temperature effects, these devices must be automatic." You get the distinction there—that it is not mandatory that they shall be so equipped?

But we say that when they are equipped with such a device it shall be

automatic.

Mr. Austin. Mr. President, I am not quite sure that this Conference on Weights and Measures cares to go upon record as recom- mending the enactment of laws that will specify how the compensating device shall be operated—whether it shall be operated by hand

or by an automatic adjustment. While I am not here as a representative of any scale industry or any other equipment industry, it is my position to be from a part or a section of this country which

is manufacturing a scale containing a compensating device for taking

care of the temperature and also a balancing device for the same

machine. In our section of the country there are many hundreds of

these scales that are in use, and have been in use for a number of

years, giving equally as good service and apparently as much protection to the consumer as any other scale upon the market; and I

am not willing to go on record here, without being heard, as recom- mending the adoption of any recommendation from this conference

that will disbar, if you please, an organization or manufacturing

industry of my section of the country simply because they are prevented from using an automatic device by reason of some patents

which may be existing, and it is claimed do exist. Upon the adoption by this organization of this recommendation, no doubt, many

States, by virtue of the influence of these recommendations, would

pass laws forbidding the use of this particular scale or any other

scale which had not an automatic device, and I think it would work

a decided harm and a decided injustice upon commercial interests.

I would be glad to hear, of course, and undoubtedly will, of any-
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 101

thing that would be unfavorable or discreditable to this class of

scale; but I fail to see where any service or any protection to the

public would be accomplished by the passage of this amendment,

and to bring the matter before this convention I would recommend

that this new added specification be stricken from the report.

Mr. Eeichmann. Mr. Chairman, in rising to second that motion,

I do so for two reasons. In the first place, I come here as a representative from the State of New York, having been appointed, together with the superintendent of weights and measures of the State

of New York, the Hon. Mr. Farrell, by his excellency the governor.

Gov. Glynn not only is a man who believes in equity and fairness,

but, aside from that, he is also a personal friend of both Mr. Farrell

and myself, and I know he would be against any proposition which

would start any kind of a discussion which would disrupt the great

benefits of a conference of this kind by drawing up lines and sides;

and there have certainly been many mutterings as to that particular

feature. Now, I take it for granted, of course, that the committee

has investigated carefully and would not tolerate a specification that

would give a monopoly to any particular scale concern. I do not

think there is any question about that. The matter of its being a permissive feature is a matter of absolutely no moment. It is almost

as bad as being mandatory, for this particular reason: Because it serves as an advertising asset, and an advertising asset is as good as

capital.

I therefore second the motion, so as not to bring any unfortunate

discussion at this time, because I personally have the greatest faith

m the outcome of the great good work that is going to come from

this conference under the direction of the Bureau of Standards ; and

I say advisedly " under the direction of the Bureau of Standards,"

because it should and always shall be xmder the direction of the

Bureau of Standards.

The President. You have heard the motion and the second. Are

there any further remarks?

Mr. Neale. Mr. Chairman, in support of that motion, it seems to

me that our tolerance committee have taken care of this poposition

where they say that " all scales shall be of such construction that

they are permanent in their adjustment and will repeat their weight

indications correctly and are not designed to Q.r may not be used to

facilitate the perpetration of fraud." I take it from Mr. Connors's

readings that one of the main principles involved was to prevent the

perpetration of fraud. Now, if the sealer's province is to devise

weighing and measuring devices and to know at announced times or unannounced times when they are right and used correctly, it seems

to me his business is to know that the user of the scale is using it correctly, the way it was intended to be used, and then punish him if

he uses it in the perpetration of fraud ; and I think the best scale on

the market can be used to perpetrate a fraud by the user. Mr. Henry. Mr. Chairman, it seems to me that if any interpretation

of the amendment is correct and legally correct—and I feel rather

certain that it is

1 would say, without absolutely knowing, that it will exclude about 90 per cent of the spring scales we have already

sealed in the State of Vermont and the spring scales used by all the

peddlers. I am very sure I am right about it. Those scales have to

be adjusted on account of changes in temperature. They are taken
102 BUREAU OF STANDAEDS.

care of, as Mr. Neale says, under the previous amendment, and I

think the proper legal interpretation of this proposed amendment

excludes those scales. If that is so, then it would be practically a physical impossibility to carry out our weight-per-bushel law. It

would be the same way all over the country; it would be a practical

impossibility to carry out the recommendations of this conference one

year ago, that dry commodities be sold by weight. I do not know

whether that is the intention of this amendment or not, but it would

take some persuading to show me that that is not the result ; and if

it is, it is a very impracticable amendment for us to pass.

Mr. HoLBROOK. Mr. Chairman, I would call attention to two features of this specification which it seems to me Mr. Henry has over- looked. First, it is permissive. It applies only to those spring

scales which are equipped with a device intended to compensate for

certain changes. The peddler's scales which he talks about are cer- tainly not equipped with such a device and therefore do not fall

under Mr. Henry's objections. Second, his point that the scales will

change in balance at the zero point, and can not be adjusted except

by means of such a device as is prohibited here, also is not well

taken, since it says here " Devices intended to compensate for changes

in elasticity." That does not refer to changes in the length of the

spring itself.

The Secretary. Mr. Chairman, I would like also to state to this

conference just why this particular specification was put in here, and

then they can use their own judgment as to whether they want it there or not. The one particular device that has a hand compensating temperature arrangement has the same objection that was re- ferred to in one of these previous specifications, namely, you can put

a weight on the platform or under the platform, thereby changing the

balance, and then set the zero of your scale, and the scale after that

will not indicate correctly, because in changing the zero you change

the length of your leverage. Now, you can throw your scale out of

balance by putting a, weight on or taking a weight off of the platform, and then set your zero, and your scale no longer indicates the

correct Aveight, and the elimination of that was our object in putting

in this clause.

Mr. Eeichmann. Can you do that only with a hand-operated compensating device, or is it with an adjusting screw which raises or lowers the support of the spring? There is such a multiplicity of

scale construction that some of them have various adjustments. Do

you mean to refer to the scale which has only one adjustment ? The Secretary. I simply wanted to demonstrate what can be done

in one type of scale that has not an automatic temperature adjustment. I simply cited that as an instance. It is not automatic. It

is hand regulated, and if it is used in a perfectly honest way, and the

way it comes from the factory, and if it is made right, to begin with,

it will give correct weight; but you can throw the balance out, and

then readjust your zero, and your weight indications are thrown off

completely. Now, it seems to me that a device of that sort is such

as to facilitate the perpetration of fraud.

Mr. Henry. Mr. Chairman, just one word more in regard to the

reply Mr. Holbrook made to my statement. Of course that is a matter of judgment, legal judgment, legal interpretation, for each

member of this conference ; but I am not in the least persuaded that
NIKTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 103

his explanation changes the legal effect of this amendment at all. All the spring scales—I am referring to the peddler's scales—are equipped with a set screw, or something of that sort, to change the

zero indication of the scale, and it is there that they change the

zero indication on account of the change of temperature ; and it will

not make any difference with the legal interpretation of this amendment whether there is a placard on the scale or not that states that

is the purpose of that adjustment. The adjustment is there for that

purpose, and is included in this amendment.

Mr. Austin. Mr. Chairman, inasmuch as there has been reference

to the hand-regulated compensating device, if it is not a set rule that

no one outside of the regular weight and measure delegates can be

permitted to speak upon any of these subjects, I would like to ask

permission that Mr. King, a citizen of my city, be permitted to

answer those objections. I am not sure, Mr. Chairman, whether that

ruling has been made here and whether they have permitted any

outside deliberations; but if so, I would be glad to have you call on

Mr. King.

Mr. Eeichmann. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman is out of order.

There is a motion before the house, and I would personally like to

make one more remark.

The President. You are quite right. I thought the last gentleman was speaking to the question.

Mr. Eeichmann. It would be a most deplorable thing to allow

the various computing-scale interests to come here and argue their

cases before this court, if you please. Let them argue their case on

the outside. Let them sell their devices on the merits of the proposition, and do not let us have anything injected into this discussion

which might, by implication, give some one an advantage. We do

not want to have one side without the other, and if we comply with

that, we will stay here until next January. We do not want to

listen to a computing-scale fight. I was in hopes that those fights,

such as we had three or four years ago were a thing of the past.

Do not let the conference go on record and start them up again.

(Cries of "Question! ")

The President. You have heard the motion and the second. Before putting the motion I want to say, for the benefit of the last

speaker, that I agree with him heartily, and that he need have no

fear; that that fight will not be projected into this conference.

Mr. Eeichmann. Thank you, sir. (The question was taken, and the motion was agreed to.)

Mr. Connors. The committee recommends that a new specification

be adopted, reading as follows : " Spring scales equipped with a device intended to compensate for changes in elasticity of the springs

due to temperature effects shall be governed by the same allowable

errors as heretofore given in the tolerance table under the heading

' Counter balances and scales.' " The committee is of the opinion that if a spring scale is equipped

with a device intended to compensate for temperature changes, it should not be allowed any more error than the counter scale.

The President. Are there any questions or objections? If not,

this paragraph is approved.

(There was no objection.)
104 BUEEATJ OF STANDARDS.

Mr. Connors. The next amendment is under the headmg " Computing scales." The conference adopted last year a specification

reading : " The maximum value graduations on the chart must not

exceed 2 cents." The committee were of the opinion that up to a

certain point 1-cent graduations should be used, and higher than

that a 2-cent graduation could be used, but they are of the opinion

that a 5-cent graduation on a chart is too large, inasmuch as a dealer

has to guess at it to get his proper values ; but they also were of the

opinion that a chart could be made with a 5-cent dot or a staggered

graduation, or something representing 5 cents on a chart where the

2-cent graduation is used. So they recommend the adoption of this

specification : " The value graduations on all computing charts shall

not exceed 1 cent on all prices per pound up to and including 30 cents. At any higher price per pound the value graduation shall not exceed

2 cents: Provided, however, That nothing in the above shall be con- strued to prevent the placing of a special-value graduation to represent each 5-cent interval. These special graduations may take the

form of dots, staggered graduations, or similar forms ; they shall be

so placed that their meaning and value may be clearly understood,

but they shall not be placed in the space between the regular graduations."

The President. If there are no questions or objections, this amendment will stand approved.

(There was no objection.)

Mr. Connors. The next specification refers to the width of the

indicator. Last year the committee recommended, and the confer- ence adopted, a specification saying that the width of the value indicator must not be any greater than that of the finest graduation on

the chart. During the past year our attention was called to the fact

that if that was so, the wire—assuming that it was a wire that indicated the values—would be of such small diameter that it would be

practically unreadable. So we recommend that this specification be

stricken out and that the following two specifications be added in

place of it. The first one is : " The distance between the chart and

the weight indicators and the distance between the chart and the

value indicator or indicators shall in no case exceed 0.06 inch." That

is practically the same as adopted last year.

The PREsroENT. You have heard this suggestion. If there are no

questions or objections, the committee's action stands approved.

(There was no objection.)''

Mr. Connors. We also recommend this specification : " Weight indicators shall be present on both the dealer's and the customer's side

and their width shall not exceed 0.015 inch. Both indicators shall

reach to the graduated divisions and shall indicate clearly and correctly."

The PREsroENT. Is there any objection to this ? If not, it will stand

approved.

(There was no objection.)

Mr. Connors. In regard to the maximum value of the weight indications, the committee last year recommended and the conference

adopted a specification, reading : " The maximum value of the weight

indications shall be 1 ounce."

There are computing scales now—if they are not made now, they

are intended to be made—to be used for wholesale weighing, and the
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 105

committee are of the opinion that large-capacity scales used for

wholesale weighing may be graduated to something higher than 1

oimce. In the spring-scale regulations we say that the maximum

value of the weight graduations in the sale of foodstuffs at retail

shall not be more than 1 ounce. The committee is of the opinion that

this specification should be adopted : " The maximum value of the

weight graduations on computing scales used in the sale of foodstuffs

at retail shall be 1 ounce."

The committee believes that no scale used in the sale of foodstuffs

at retail should have a higher graduation than 1 ounce ; but there are

certain scales used for wholesale weighing, which we think might be

graduated to 2 or 4 ounces, depending on their capacity and the use

to which they are put.

Mr. Reichmann. Mr. Chairman, I personally can not see the real

necessity for that specification. A man who is going to use a scale

is going to use some discrimination, if he is any kind of a merchant,

to find out how fine he wants his scale graduated. Now, if he wants

a 2-ounce or a 3-ounce graduation, why not let him have it? What is

the difference? I can not see the necessity for that on a computing

scale, because you already have the other graduations, you know.

Mr. Neale. Mr. Chairman, it seems to me rather an unhappy proposition to put this in, because our great retail trade in this country

would not understand all the complications that exist in the minds

of the tolerance committee, and they would properly say : " Well, you

prescribe scales of a certain fineness for us and let our friend, the big

wholesaler, use a coarser weighing machine." I think we should

let the future take care of itself, if, as Mr. Connors has said, these

other scales are intended to be made; but I would not want to go

home and tell my retail people that they must have a scale with a graduation of 1 ounce, while the wholesalers can weight on a 3 or 4

ounce scale. I believe it is unfortunate to discriminate between the

retail and the wholesale trade.

The President. I notice you use the word " maximum " instead of

" minimum."

The Secretary. By " maximum " we mean that the value shall

not be greater than an ounce. That means that the maximum value

of a graduation shall not be greater than an ounce. I think that is

perfectly clear.

Now, I think perhaps there is something in what Mr. Neale has

just said. It seems to me that if we require that the maximum value

shall be an ounce in scales used in retail trade we might stop right

there ; but I think that an ounce is about as large as ought to be permitted on a scale used for retail trade.

Mr. Reichmann. It is entirely too large on some commodities. A

man has to use his discretion, anyway.

The Secretary. It seems to me that if we restrict that merelj'' to

scales used in retail work, there is no more objection to that particular specification.

Mr. Reichmann. I move you, sir, that we omit this specification.

(The motion was seconded.)

The President. Are there any further remarks?

Mr. HoLBROOK. Mr. Chairman, it seems to be the impression of

some of the delegates that this specification is leveled exclusively at

computing scales. I would call attention to the fact that in the report
106 BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

of the committee submitted last year, and adopted by the conference,

the maximum value of the weight graduations on spring scales used

for the sale of foodstuffs at retail was made 1 ounce. Now, that

specification really was intended, I believe, to apply to all scales with

a reading face, and inasmuch as it was so intended to apply, this

specification was put in here to make computing scales conform to

the same maximum value of the graduation as is required of spring

scales by the present specifications.

Mr. Keichmann. Mr. Chairman, I withdraw my objection. I

thought this did refer to computing scales.

Mr. CoNNOKs. This particular one does; but there was another,

under the heading " Spring balances," which was adopted last year.

This does apply to computing scales, but a similar regulation was

adopted last year in the case of spring scales. What the committee

wanted to get away from was the use by retail dealers, such as sell a half pound of butter and small quantities of meat, of a scale

graduated at 2 ounces. Most of you gentlemen have been up against

that, in going into stores where they would weigh a quarter of a pound or a half a pound on a scale weighing 60 pounds, graduated

to 2 ounces. The committee is of the opinion that that is not a fair

scale to use for small commodities, inasmuch as you can not get

anywhere near a correct determination of weight. Now, we say the

maximum value of the weight graduations in weighings made at

retail shall be 1 ounce. But there is use for a scale—-either a spring

scale or, as I understand, a computing scale—in large places where

they weigh out 50, 75, 100, or 200 pounds at a time.

Mr. Eeichmann. They are not made at present, are they?

Mr. Connors. I understand. Doctor, they are in process of being

made; and as a fair provision, if we make the same pro'\dsion for

spring scales, why should not that apply to computing scales ? Mr. Neale. Mr. Chairman, may I ask what is the status of this

now ? Is there a motion to strike this out ? The President. The motion to strike out has been seconded. Do

I understand that you withdraw that [addressing Dr. Reiclimann] ? Mr. Eeichmann. No, sir; I do not withdraw it. I thought I

might have been in error. I understood Mr. Holbrook to say this

did not refer to computing scales, and I was under the impression

that it did. So I stick to my original motion, on account of the

difiiculties raised by Mr. Neale.

Mr. Sherman. Mr. Chairman, as I understand it, this regulation

is already in force in the case of spring scales. As I understand it,

the gentleman from New York wishes not to enforce it in the case of computing scales. I would like to hear an explanation of the reasons why we should continue to enforce it in one class of scales

and not in the other.

Mr. Eeichmann. It is the simplest explanation in the world, sir. In one case you have a weight dial and no other indication. In the

other case you have primarily a value-computing chart and a supplemental set of weight indications. Now, let this second set be at the

discretion of the man who is going to use it. The reason for this, as explained by the chairman of the committee, was that there might

in the future be some computing scales for wholesalers, and that the

committee want to exempt those. Now, I say, do not let us cross a
NINTH ANNUAL CONFEEENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, 107

bridge until we come to it. You have got the biggest competition

in the world among the scale salesmen themselves, and I do not think

it would be fair to allow one man a 2-ounce graduation when the

'other man is limited to 1 ounce. The objection which Mr. Neale

voiced I had in mind. It simply brings about a difficulty when you

go home and tell the retailer " You have got to do this, but the wholesaler does not have to do this." Now, do not forget that these specifications are going to be taken and rehashed and revamped and put in

the hands of retailers and wholesalers by scale salesmen themselves

and everybody else. If I were in the scale business, I would have

about 1,000,000 copies of them struck off, and have those that applied

particularly to my product printed in red. They do it. There is

nothing original about that. I do not blame them. Of course, the

matter is so unimportant, really, that I will withdraw my motion,

if it will raise any discussion, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. HoLBRooK. Mr. Chairman, one point Dr. Eeichmann brought

out was that the weight graduation is only supplementary to the

value graduation.

Mr. Eeichmann. Absolutely.

Mr. HoLBKOOK. But I would call Dr. Reichmann's attention to the

fact that the purchaser can not see the value graduation. The only

thing the purchaser has to check his commodity by is the weight

graduation. Now, the more difficult you make it for the purchaser

to read how much he is getting and to figure out the price for himself

the easier it is going to be for a merchant to overcharge him by a cent or two on every purchase.

Mr. Sherman. Mr. Chairman, I am appointed to see to it, as far

as may be, that both the purchaser and the seller in the District of

Columbia get fair and square dealing. To my mind, then, the fact

that the weight indication is connected up with the price indication

is all the more reason why we should require more exactness in the

weight-indicating mechanism. It seems to me that stands out without any question of doubt. It is the very fact that the machine is

computing the price that makes us want the closer indication on

the weight-computing part of the mechanism.

The President. The question is on the motion to strike out this last

specification.

(The question was taken, and the Chair being in doubt, a count

was ordered, resulting in 13 for and 27 against. So the motion was

lost.)

Mr. Neale. Mr. Chairman, it seems to me that inasmuch as the

gentlemen have voted not to strike this out, I might waste time

enough to make this motion ; that the words " at retail " be stricken

out, letting the rest of the sentence stand as it is. Mr. Eeichmann. Mr. Chairman, I second that motion.

The President, Are there any remarks?

Mr. Eeichmann. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask what the

specification in this matter covering the spring scales says?

Mr. Connors. The spring scale regulations say that the maximum

value of the weight graduations in the sale of foodstuffs at retail

shall be 1 ounce; provided, however, that that shall not apply to

the sale of vegetables, such as on a peddler's cart in some cases, where

the law requires sale by weight; we allow them to be of a higher

value.
108 BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

Mr. Eeichmann. I do not see any reason then why we should

strike out any of this paragraph. If the specification on spring scales

is the same as this, why not let this stand as it is, and make the specification read the same for computing scales as for spring scales ? Mr. Sherman. It seems to me then that if the words " at retail

occur in the spring scale specification that the answer to the charge

that we are favoring the wholesalers is pretty well made. But it seems to me also that the advantage of the words " at retail " is that

they enable us to provide for the possible introduction of a scale for

heavier weights which has engineering advantages over scales now

on the market. In that case, would it not be well to replace the words

" at retail "—if we desire to avoid them—by some specification as

to the range for which the sale is to be used, and in that way make

a distinction between the small weight and the larger one, without

the appearance of favoritism toward any class, and at the same time

keep the way open for new scales which contain distinct engineering

advantages? It seems to me it is a great mistake to close the door

to any new invention that promises a saving in this field.

Mr. Reichmann. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman forgets that a gram

of radium is a wholesale amount of radium now, but a ton of coal or of hay is a small quantity.

Mr. Sherman. Mr. Chairman, I have no idea that radium or hay

is going to be weighed on computing scales that figure to the ounce

of weight and 2 cents of value. I have never seen anything to indicate it, and it seems to me unfortunate that such objection should

be made. There has been a good deal of effort this afternoon to turn

the discussion into a farce. I think that is a pity. It seems to me

that we are up against a simple proposition here—either to leave the

words " at retail " in, or to change the wording of the paragraph to

limit the range of the scales to which this paragraph shall apply.

Mr. Connors. Mr. Chairman, if we apply that to the range, the

whole force of this will be lost. What we are trying to do is to

force the use of a scale with 1-ounce graduations or less for weighing

small commodities in retail stores. Now, if we apply this to the

range, a man can buy a high-range scale and still weigh small

amounts of commodities on it. We have a case now with which most

of the sealers are familiar. You take a dial scale of 60 pounds

marked with 2-oimce graduations. Sealers find them in iise right

along in small corner groceries and corner meat shops where 10 cents'

worth is a whole lot, where half a pound or a quarter of a pound is

weighed out. It is impossible to give correct weight with that scale

within any allowable tolerance on a small quantity, and that is what

the committee is trying to do with this. Personally I still think " at

retail " covers the whole thing.

Mr. Si-iERMAN. Personally I prefer to keep in the words " at

retail." I was merely suggesting a substitute for those words.

The President. The motion before the house is to strike out the

words " at retail."

(The question was taken, and the motion was lost.)

Mr. Connors. Last year the conference adopted a specification

reading : " The width of the value indicator must not exceed the

width of the value graduations."

The same remarks made on the weight indicator apply to the value

graduations. It seems to be impossible to get a wire, if a wire is
NIKTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASTJEES. 109

used, of small enough diameter so that it will not exceed the width

of the value graduations ; and if such a thing were possible it would

be practically unreadable. Therefore the committee recommends

that this specification be adopted

"A value indicator shall be present on the dealer's side, and its

width shall not exceed 0.015 inch. This indicator shall reach to each

value graduation and shall indicate clearly and correctly.'"

The President. You have heard this paragraph. If there is no

objection, the action of the committee will stand approved.

(There was no objection.)

Mr. CoNNOES. Now, having adopted those specifications, it will be

necessary also to check the width of the value graduations. So the

committee recommends this specification: "The weight graduations

and the value graduations shall be clear and distinct, but in no case

shall their width be less than 0.008 inch." When you check the

diameter of your reading wire it is also necessary to check the width

of the value graduation.

Mr. Stimpson. Mr. Chairman, just for information, I should like

to ask Mr. Connors if that is approximately the width of the graduations on a good chart ? Mr. Connors. That is the width of the graduations on a good

chart.

The President. How does the sealer test them in this case ? Mr. Connors. They are generally tested in the laboratory by the

State sealer, and he informs the local sealers of his findings.

The President. Is there any objection to this paragraph? If not,

it will stand approved.

(There was no objection.)

Mr. Connors. The committee recommended and the conference

adopted last year a specification reading as follows : " On scales

equipped with a magnifying device the clear interval between the

weight and value graduations shall not be less than 0.02 inch. On

scales not equipped with a magnifying device the clear interval between the weight and value indications shall not be less than 0.04

inch."

After conferring with sealers and various manufacturers of computing scales, the committee recommends this specification : " The

clear interval between the weight graduation marks on all computing

scales shall not be less than 0.04 inch." That, I may say here, is the

same as on the spring scales. Spring scales are required to have

four one-hundredths of an inch clear space between the weight indications. (Continuing:) " The clear interval between the value graduation marks on all computing scales shall not be less than 0.02 inch

Provided, however, That the latter requirement shall not be construed

to apply to the special value graduation denoting the 5-cent interval

mentioned heretofore."

The President. You have heard this paragraph. If there are no

objections, it will stand approved.

(There was no objection.)

Mr. Connors. Another specification which the committee recom- mends has already been adopted in the case of counter scales and

spring scales. It reads as follows : " Computing scales whose weight

indicators are changed by an amount greater than one-half the tol- erance allowed, when set in any position on a surface making an
110 BUEEAU OF STANDAKDS,

angle of 3°, or approximately 5 per cent with the horizontal, shall be

equipped with a device which will indicate when the scale is level:

Provided^ however^ That the scale shall be rebalanced at zero each

time its position is altered during this test." That is the same as adopted before in the two other classes of

scales.

Now, the committee recommends that the following specifications

be added : " Computing scales must give correct results, whether the

load is being increased or decreased."

It is the committee's opinion that the scale should give correct

results, whether you are taking weight off or putting it on, because

that is the way it is used. A butcher selling chipped beef or hamburger steak or butter decreases the load in certain emergencies; he

puts on too much and has to take off some. So the scale should give

correct results whether the load is decreased or increased.

The President. You have heard these specifications. If there is no

objection, they will be approved.

(There was no objection.)

Mr. Connors. The next specification which the committee recom- mends is that " All devices intended to increase the capacity of computing scales by the addition of an added weight or weights shall

operate properly, irrespective of the speed with which they are manipulated." That is, if there is a Imob to turn or a lever to pull

which will increase the capacity of the scale, it ought to act correctly,

irrespective of whether it is turned fast or slow or at medium speed.

Mr. Reichmann. Is not that pretty broad, Mr. Chairman ? The President. I do not know. Mr. Connors, have you run across devices where the opposite is true?

Mr. Connors. We have. The committee has seen devices where the

opposite is true.

Mr. Reichmann, What scale is that? Mention the name of it. Mr. Connors. The device on the market sometimes operates incorrectly when the Imob is turned slowly.

Mr. Reichmann. What kind is it?

The Secretary. Mr. Chairman, I object. I do not think that we

ought to place the names of particular scales or manufacturers in our

record.

Mr. Reichmann. If it is a well-recognized scale, I do not think of

it offhand. I was just asking for information, not for the record. I

will ask afterwards.

Mr. Neale. Mr. President, let me say that I personally saw the

test, which brought out just what Mr. Connors has mentioned.

The President. I think that is all we want to know. If there are no objections, that will stand approved.

(There was no objection.)

Mr. Connors. The next specification reads : " Spring computing

scales not equipped with a device intended to compensate for changes

in elasticity of the springs due to temperature effects shall be governed by the same allowable errors as heretofore given in the toler- ance table under the heading ' Spring balances.' " That is simply

clearing the specifications up, so that there wUl be no difficulty in

Imowing what tolerance to use. It was inferred in the regulations

last year, but it was not clear.
NINTH ANNUAL CONFEEENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. Ill

The President. Are there any questions or objections? If not, this

will stand approved.

Mr. Connors. (Reading:)

Spring computing scales equipped with the above-mentioned device and also

all those not operated by springs shall be governed by the same allowable errors as heretofore given in the tolerance table under the heading " Counter balances

and scales." The committee's opinion is that if a scale is equipped with a compensating device it should be allowed the same error as given for

counter scales.

Mr. Eeichmann. Those errors are different? I just ask for information. If a computing scale is equipped with a compensating device—say of 30 pounds capacity—the allowable error is different

from that on a scale which is not equipped with a compensating device?

Mr. Connors. Yes; the allowable error is smaller if the scale is

equipped with a compensating device.

Mr. Reichmann. Why is that?

Mr. Connors. Because the object of the compensating device is to

reduce the errors. Mr. Reichmann. It is not a matter of equity but of mechanical

necessity ? Mr. Connors. Mechanical necessity.

The President. If there are no objections, we will proceed to the

next paragraph.

Mr. Connors. The next paragraph refers to the specification which

the conference voted to strike out. I will read it over

When spring computing scales are used, equipped with devices intended to compensate for changes in elasticity of the springs due to temperature effects,

these devices must be automatic in their operation and must be so constructed

or covered that they can not be readily manipulated.

The discussion on that device should have come up here instead of

on the spring scales. That is the specification that the conference

voted to strike out on spring balances.

The President. Inasmuch as this is a separate paragraph, I think

some action should be taken on this.

Mr. Connors. To be consistent, it should be taken out here also.

Mr. Stimpson. Mr. Chairman, I move that this section be stricken

out.

(The motion was seconded and agreed to.)

Mr. Connors. The next specification relates to cream test and

butter-fat test scales. The committee reported and the conference

adopted last year a specification to the effect that these scales should

be provided with leveling screws and an attached level. The committee recommends now the following ; and I may say that this specification is almost the same as has been adopted in the case of counter

scales, computing scales, and spring scales:

"All scales whose weight indications are changed by an amount

greater than one-half the tolerance allowed, when set in any position

on a surface making an angle of 3°, or approximately 5 per cent,

with the horizontal, shall be equipped with leveling screws and with

a device which will indicate when the scale is level. Provided, however, that the scale shall be rebalanced at zero each time its position

is altered during this test."
112 BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

The President. Is there any objection to this paragraph? I

want to ask just one question—if that " 5 per cent " is clear. Is that

always understood by sealers ? The Secretary. Mr. Chairman, that is the reason it is stated in

two ways. We say 3° or 5 per cent. We had a good deal of discussion about that. My feeling was that 3° was much clearer to the

average sealer than 5 per cent; but we have a good many engineers

around here, and they seem to think that with inclinations expressed

in per cent it was very much clearer ; and in order that there might

be no doubt about it, we put in both.

_Mr. Neale. To make that more plain, how much would that be,

with an ordinary computing scale? Would it be three-eighths of

an inch, or half an inch, or what ? The Secretart. It is 1 inch in 20.

Mr Connors. The next specification is under the heading of

"Weights." The committee reported and the conference adopted

last year a specification in which they defined the way to make holes

in weights to contain adjusting material; and they thought this year

that they would recommend, after an investigation, that they might

make a hole in a weight anyway, as long as it would hold the material securely instead of requiring a cast hole of a certain shape or an undercut hole.

The committee recommends that this specification be amended to

read as follows

" All holes in which foreign material is to be placed for adjusting

purposes must be of such form that this material will be permanently and securely held in place. In no case shall this adjusting

material project beyond the surface of the weight."

The President. You have heard this pararaph. Are there any

objections to this or any questions? If not, it will be approved.

(There was no objection.)

Mr. Connors. We recommend the adoption of a new general specification, as follows : " The manufacturers' tolerances and sensibility

reciprocals or the tolerances and sensibility reciprocals on all new

weights and measures and weighing and measuring devices shall be

one-half of the values given heretofore in the tolerance tables."

That means that new scales or scales just from the factory, which

have never been in use, should have half the sensibility reciprocal

and half the tolerance allowed in the case of scales or weighing and

measuring devices which have been in use for some time. The committee felt that that was a fair recommendation to make, and the con- ference adopted last year a precedent for that, since the manufacturer's tolerances or tolerances on new weights are specified as one- half of those given in the table.

I would recommend that that be amended in some way so that that

section shall not apply to milk jars, because a milk jar never changes,

and we decided this morning tliat the tolerance on the milk jar was

equitable and fair, and it was adopted. There is no reason why the

manufacturer's tolerance should be one-half of that.

Mr. Reichmann. Mr. Chairman, I move you, sir, that the committee be instructed to change that paragraph to enumerate weights,

scales, and so on, instead of making an all-inclusive statement with

an exception. That will make it perfectly clear, and the committee
NINTH ANNUAL CONFEEENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 113

having this in hand can do that more readily than we can do it on the

floor. Mr. Connors's point is well taken there.

(The motion was seconded and agreed to.)

Mr. Connors. The next specification which the committee recommends is something that must be done. The metric system must be

recognized since it is legalized by a United States law. " Nothing given in the specifications heretofore shall be understood

or construed to prohibit the sale or use of weights and measures or weighing and measuring devices constructed or graduated in units

of the metric system."

The Presbjent. If there is no objection, this will stand approved.

(There was no objection.)

Mr. Connors. The remaining paragraph is as follows

" The committee recommends that it be empowered and instructed

to revise the wording of the specifications and tolerances without

changing their meaning and effect, in order to clarify them."

That is, during the year we have had different people' come along

and say, " What does this mean ? " or " What does that mean ? " We

found that the wording could be improved in a great many cases. The President. Is there any objection to this paragraph? If not,

it stands approved.

(There was no objection.)

Mr. Eeichmann. I think, Mr. Chairman, there should be a paragraph in the specifications relating to a special milk bottle in which

a greater distance from the cap to the surface of the milk should be

allowed if there is a clear indicating mark on the bottle, showing

to what point the capacity is to be measured, and the bottle is

marked " Pasteurized in the bottle." The same tolerances as heretofore specified should apply to these bottles also. It is an exceedingly

important proposition at the present time, especially with the great

amount of discussion on pasteurized milk, and one of the methods

used in distributing millions of bottles of milk weekly is to pasteurize

the milk in the bottle. Now, it is very evident that if you pasteurize

the milk in the bottle, the expansion of the liquid being considerably

greater than that of the glass, you have to allow a space above the

graduated mark. Furthermore, it would be impracticable to pasteurize it and then pour it into the bottle, because that would not be

pasteurized in the bottle. You imderstand that pasteurizing in the

bottle is simply to avoid reinfection by pouring. I laiow this is

exceedingly important in the city of New York. I have just consulted Mr. Hartigan, and I Imow he is heartily in accord with that.

The Presidejn't. In your experience, do jou think this quarter of

an inch is insufficient?

Mr. Eeichmann. I think it is insufficient. I think it will take

half an inch. It would do no injury if the bottle were particularly

marked " Pasteurized in the bottle." That could be blown in the

bottle with no additional cost to the manufacturer. I know it is a matter that the milk committee of New York, and also the milk

committee appointed by his excellency Gov. Glynn, have taken up,

and I know that they would be rather chagrined if we cut that sort

of proposition out.

90371°—15 8
114 BTJBEAtr OF STANDAEDS,

Mr. Haetigan. Mr. President, if Dr. Eeichmarm. will frame a

resolution along those lines, I will be very glad to second that resolution.

Mr. Reichmann. I just wanted to put it in this informal way and

let the committee, on the authority conferred upon them by the

resolution just passed, draft it. I will state it briefly in this way:

That where milk bottles are used for the purpose of pasteurizing

milk in the bottle, they shall be provided with a mark or graduation

blown into the bottle, showing to what point the capacity of the

bottle is indicated ; also, that it shall be clearly marked on the bottle

that that bottle is intended for milk pasteurized in the bottle.

The President. Why that last provision, if you have the mark ? Mr. Reichmann. Because otherwise it would be a bottle that

would be over a quart, and would not agree with the tolerance.

The President. Yes ; but the mark is there. That is the point I

was making.

Mr. Reichmann. Or, opposite that mark shall be the wording . "1 quart " or "1 pint," as the case may be, " to this mark."

The President. That is right.

Mr. Reichmann. Yes; the other might lead to advertising milk

pasteurized in the bottle.

Mr. Hartigan. Mr. Chairman, I am very glad to accept that as a motion, and to second it. The President. You are willing. Dr. Reichmann, to put that in

the form of a motion?

Mr. Reichmann. Yes, sir. (The question was taken, and the motion was agreed to.)

The President. Is there any further business for this afternoon?

Mr. Waldron. Mr. Chairman, I move that a vote of thanks be

extended to the committee on specifications for the time and patience

they have given to the preparation of these specifications.

(The motion was seconded and agreed to.)

The Secretary. Mr. President, before this meeting adjourns I

want to have it clearly understood where we are to meet to-morrow.

Before Col. Haskell died he obtained permission from the commissioners' office to hold the meeting in the District Building, and many

of the members seemed to think that it would save some time and be

more convenient to meet down there to-morrow, the last day. They

have a room there with a seating capacity of 150, and unless there is

objection the meeting will be held to-morrow morning at 9.30 in the

District Building in that room. Mr. Sherman. I move we adjourn, Mr. Chairman.

(The motion was seconded and agreed to.)

Thereupon, at 4.30 p. m., an adjournment was taken imtil May 29,

1914, at 9.30 a. m.
FIFTH SESSION (MORNING OF FRIDAY, MAY 29. 1914).

The conference assembled at the District Building at 10 a. m., the

vice president, Mr. Waldron, presiding.

REPOKTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES.

The Presiding OrFiCER. Gentlemen, the first number on the program this morning is the reports of standing committees, and we

will call on Mr. Rinehart, the chairman of the committee on by-laws.

The Secretary. Gentlemen, I would like to make a report for

Mr. Rinehart, who is out of voice at the present time. He has caught

a bad cold and is unable to speak, and he has asked me to submit

what has been done by his committee.

The committee has not finished its work. It has corresponded

with quite a number of people throughout the country and looked

at the constitutions of various organizations, but Mr. Rinehart and

the other members of the committee did not feel as though they were

competent to settle a good many important questions, and conse- quently they are left open. I will read what has been prepared up

to date.

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

OF "WEIGHTS AND MEASURES OFFICIALS OF THE UNITED

STATES.

Whereas it is necessary in order to secure the highest efficiency, establish uniformity of laws and inspection, and promote the general welfare of weights

and measures departments in all the cities and States of the United States; and

Whereas we are all agreed that systematic organization is the keynote of success in accomplishing these results : Therefore

We do constitute ourselves the National Association of Weights and Measures

Officials of the United States, and have adopted for our guidance and government the following constitution and by-laws

CONSTITUTION.

Abticle I.

This association shall be known as the National Association of Weights and

Measures Officials of the United States.

Aetiole II.

The objects of this association shall be : First, to promote interest and harmony in the departments of weights and measures of the various cities and

States of the United States ; second, to hold conferences from time to time for

mutual exchange of views on matters of importance to the officials; third, to secure uniform legislation throughout the United States; fourth, for the advancement of the work of the National, State, and city departments of the

United States, and for social intercourse of its members.

Article III.

115
116 BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

Abticle IV.

The oflScers of this association shall be a president, vice president, secretarytreasurer, sergeant at arms, and committees, executive, legislative .

Aeticu; V.

It shall be the duty of the president to preside at all meetings of the association ; to enforce a due observance of the constitution and by-laws ; to decide all questions of order; to offer for consideration aU motions regularly made; to

call special meetings, appoint all committees, and to perform such other duties

of his office as it may require. He shall make no motion or amendment, nor

vote on any question or motion, unless the association be equally divided, when

it shall be his privilege to cast the deciding ballot. Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the vice president to preside in the absence

of the president and perform the duties of that office. Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the secretary-treasurer to keep the minutes

and records of the association ; to inform candidates of their election ; to notify

them of dismissal; register the names of the members; issue all notices re- quired ; and perform all other duties pertaining to his office as may be required

of him by this association. He shall receive all moneys and keep a written

account of all receipts and disbursements.

Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the sergeant at arms to preserve order at all meetings of the association and to perform other duties pertaining to his office as may be required of him by this association. Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of the executive committee to

Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of the legislative committee to acquaint itself with legislation that would directly benefit the United States, State, or city

departments of the various States of the United States; to draft, or have

drafted by the Attornisy General of the United States or of the various States,

all legislation needed; and to assist in all other ways that may be deemed

necessary to promote the best interests of weights and measures.

Sec. 7. It shall be the duty of the membership committee to pass upon the

eligibility of members making application to this association and to report

their findings to the association.

Article VI.

election of OFFICEEa.

Article VII.

AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION.

Every proposed alteration, amendment, or addition to this constitution or the

by-laws, hereto annexed, must be submitted in writing to the secretary of the

association, who shall notify the members present at the next regular meeting,

at which time the said amendment, alteration, or addition may be adopted by

a two-thirds vote of all members present.

Article VIII.

SUSPENSION OF BY-LAWS.

A by-law may be suspended, in case of an emergency, by a two-thirds vote of all members present.
NINTH ANNUAL CONFEEENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASUEES. 117

BY-LAWS.

Aeticle I.

MEETINGS.

This association shall hold its meetings

Sec. 2. members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum.

Sec. 3. At the written request of members the president will call a

special meeting. No bills shall be presented nor shall any new members be

admitted at a special meeting.

Article II.

INAUGURATION OF OFFICEES.

At the inauguration of each officer he shall make the following affirmation:

" I do hereby solemnly swear that I will faithfully and impartially discharge

the duties of my office to the best of my ability and knowledge."

Article III.

The election of members shall be by ballot subject to the provisions of

Article III of the constitution. A majority vote shall constitute an election of a member.

Article IV.

The dues of this association shall be dollars per year, payable in

advance, with no initiation fee. Should it become necessary, however, to raise

additional funds to defray expenses, the association shall vote the amount of same and a tax imposed upon each member.

Aeticle V.

Any member of this association may be suspended by a two-thirds vote of

all the members present at any regular meeting. Members may be suspended

for unbecoming conduct, refusal to pay dues or assessments, or other misde- meanor. Members suspended may be given a hearing by appealing to the

executive committee in writing, and a two-thirds vote is necessary to restore any suspended member to the asssociation.

Article VI.

Should any controversy arise which is not included in the rules of order

hereto attached, general parliamentai-y law shall govern the presiding officer.

Article VII.

Amendments to the by-laws may be made in accordance with the rules laid

down In Article VII of the constitution.

RULES OF ORDER.

1. The president, or in his absence the vice president, shall preside at all meetings of the association.

2. The president shall have the right to take the floor in any debate on any

subject under discussion after calling to the chair the vice president or some

other member he may select.

3. After a meeting has been called to order members shall be seated and

shall not speak or otherwise interrupt the proceedings till given permission

by the presiding officer.

4. No member shall speak on any motion more than twice without permission

from the Chair, nor shall any member speak more than five minutes at any one

time unless given permission by a majority vote of the members present.

5. Should two or more members address the Chair at the same time the

Chair shall choose the one who, in his judgment, is first entitled to the floor.
118 BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

6. When a member is called to order by the president or by any other member he shall at once resume his seat pending the decision on the point of order

raised. Every question of order shall be decided by the president, subject to the appeal to the sense of the meeting.

7. No motion shall be debatable until it has been seconded.

8. Appeals and motions to reconsider or to adjourn are not debatable. , 9. When a question is under debate no motion shall be received, except to lay on the table, postpone, commit, or to amend.

10. No member shall interrupt another when speaking, except to call to order

as prescribed in rule 6, or, with the permission of the member speaking, to ask

a question relevant to the subject

11. A motion to adjourn shall always be in order, except when another motion is being voted upon, provided the member moving adjournment has

properly secured the floor. 12. When a motion shall be made and seconded the mover thereof may be

called upon by the president or any member to reduce the same to writing,

from which it will be read by the secretary.

13. The mover of a motion shall be at liberty to accept an amendment thereof,

but if an amendment be offered and not accepted, yet duly seconded, the asso- ciation shall pass upon it before voting upon the original motion.

14. When a motion to adjourn is carried no member shall leave his seat until

the president shall have left his. 15. Every officer, at the end of his term of office or service, shall deliver to his successor any moneys, papers, documents, books, or any other records under

his charge and belonging to the association.

ORDER OF BUSINESS.

1. Call to order by the president.

2. Roll call by the secretary.

3. Reading of minutes of previous meeting by secretary.

4. Election of officers.

5. Propositions for membership.

6. Report of committee on membership.

7. Election of members.

8. Report of executive committee.

9. Report of legislative committee.

10. Report of other committees.

11. Report of officers. 12. Unfinished business.

13. Business of the day.

14. New business.

15. Adjournment.

The presiding officer shall announce the order of business, each subject In Its proper turn. DISCUSSION.

The Presiding Officer. Gentlemen, you have heard the report of

the committee on by-laws. What is your pleasure ? Mr. WnxETT. Mr. Chairman, I move that the committee be given

another year to complete their report.

(The motion was seconded.)

The Presiding Officer. The motion is made and seconded that

the committee continue for another year. Are there any questions

on the motion?

(The question was taken, and the motion was agreed to.)

The Secretary. I might state that in that event this constitution

as presented at this time will be printed, so that the members will

have an opportunity to see it and perhaps make suggestions more

intelligently at the nest meeting.

Mr. Reichmann. Mr. Chairman, if I may, I would like to make

a suggestion. In listening to this constitution it appears that it
KINTH ANNUAL CONFEKENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASUBES. 119

provides for an association of weights and measures officials of the

United States, for an election of members, and so on. I would like

to find out what the sense of this conference is on this point ; instead

of calling it an association of weights and measures officials, to call

it a weights and measures association, and have every person who is

an active weights and measures official, by virtue of such fact, a member of the association, and entitled to a vote if he pays his dues

and also to have a subsection of that association, namely, Section B,

of you please, composed of representatives from civic bodies, who

may be delegated or asked to come, or representatives of manufacturers or ex-officers of States, cities, counties, or districts. It does

not seem to me quite proper to have a weights and measures association of officials, with a great many representatives and ex-weights

and measures officials having also a vote in the active management

of that association. I will put that as a motion in this form : That

it is the sense of this conference that the weights and measures asso- ciation should be divided into two sections, one section being weights

and measures officials who are in active service and the second sec- tion composed of all other representatives who may come here or be

invited here or delegated here ; the second section not to have a vote.

I think I am in a position where I have a right to make that suggestion, because having been a weights and measures official, and not

being now a weights and measures official, but being delegated by the

governor to come here, I think I really ought not to have any right,

in any manner, shape, or form, to a vote on matters of the association. That is simply an ethical question, I think.

Mr. WiLLETT. Mr. President, I would like to ask Dr. Reichmann

if he intends that the members composing Section B shall have the

privilege of debating any question that comes up.

Mr. E.EICHMANN. That is a matter that the active members should

decide—whether they want to give them the privilege of the floor.

Personally I feel that they should not have a right to speak except

by the consent of the association.

(The motion was seconded.)

The PnEsroiNG Officer. Are there any remarks ? Mr. Brown. Mr. Chairman, does Dr. Reichmann mean that members of section B shall be, we will say, any persons interested sufficiently in weights and measures to go to the trouble of coming down

here and attending these meetings ; for instance, members of women's

clubs, and so on? Is that your idea, Dr. Reichmann.

Mr. Reichmann. Yes. Suppose the conference passed a resolution inviting a member of a women's club here; then certainly she

would naturally come under section B, because she is not an active

weights-and-measures official—unless, of course, she has been elected

a superintendent of weights and measures in Colorado or some other

place.

Mr. Brown. My reason for asking that question was in order to

know just how far we should extend this field. The sentiment in

favor of regulation of weights and measures is fast growing in the

United States, and it is to be imagined that' it will continue to grow

at an increasing rate, and that it will assume phases which we do

not now see ; such, for instance, as a sentiment in favor of the metric

system, if you choose, or matters of like moment. Now, the question

is whether this organization shall invite all persons thus interested
120 BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

in the general subject, and in any of its phases, to become, we will

say, associate members under section B, as suggested, or whether we

shall confine that to persons having an official or a quasi-official standing. It seems to me that it might be just as well to take those questions under consideration. I am not sure that I am not anticipating

matters just a little in making this suggestion; possibly I may be

anticipating the trend of the sentiment at this time ; but it is a thing

we will have to consider sooner or later.

Mr. Reichmann. Mr. Chairman, I agree absolutely with Mr.

Brown. That was exactly the reason I ventured to ask the opinion

of the conference—^because the sentiment is growing all the time, and

as it grows the association should actually and always be in the control of the active weights-and-measures officials. Otherwise you may

have the same effect that is brought about in so many other associations which are killed by the fact of a looseness of statement as to

who are the active members and have the vote. Many others come in

and they practically run the thing, you might say, to the detriment

of those who are primarily interested. I was anticipating that very

thing. As I am now out myself, I make this suggestion. It does

not affect me one way or the other ; it does not help me and it does

not hurt me, except that it shuts me out of section A, and I would

like to be in section A.

The Seceetaet. Mr. Chairman and members of the association,

I agree with what Dr. Reichmann and Mr. Brown have said in regard

to this matter. I believe that we ought to anticipate the fact that

we are going to have many people here by and by, resulting in discussions such as we had yesterday, that the weights and measures

officials will have to get together. We will have to be able to discuss

those questions and settle them without having a lot of people unfamiliar with such technical matters given the right to vote on them.

On the other hand, we have to make some provision for those people

who are interested. We have that question coming up, and nobody

realizes that more than I do ; a number of people have been invited

to come here and be present at this conference, and they really have

very little status. Most of the manufacturers, for example, are invited to come here and exhibit. I do not feel that their status is

very much in doubt, because they are here as exhibitors ; but there are

a gi-eat many members representing other associations who have

practically no status at this time at all, and it seems to me that we

have to have two sections or two associations or something to handle

that situation. Those people are going to be extremely valuable to

this movement; perhaps they will have even more influence than the

officials will have; and that, I think, ought to be considered by the

committee on constitution and by-laws very carefully.

Mr. Egan. Mr. Chairman, I would like to inquire what the effect

of this motion will be if it is passed ; whether it will be a suggestion

to the committee on constitution and by-laws, or whether, if passed

in the present form, it is adopted finally. I think Dr. Reichmann

can explain what his purpose is. Mr. Reici-imann. My purpose in making the motion as it is stated

is simply that it is a suggestion to the committee on by-laws that that

is the sentiment of this conference; and, of course, as a committee of

the conference, they would naturally respect the wishes of the con- ference and word the thing upon investigation as it seems best fitted
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 121

to them. It is in just the same spirit that Mr. Fischer mentions.

There are so many thousands of illustrations—every one of you

knows them—where, instead of having all the people interested in a similar line of work, they may be interested in different angles of it

then they go and form a separate association, and the first thing you

know you have a clash, and just as soon as you have a clash you are pulling at cross purposes. What all of us want is, above all, to be

pulling together. We do not want any of the others who are interested to form a separate organization, but we want them to come into

this as a part of it. In other words, if they get out and form a separate association, then they are insurgents, and you Imow what

insurgents are. Mr. Schwartz. Mr. Chairman, I am in accord with the sentiment

as expressed by both Dr. Reichmann and Mr. Brown regarding the

scope that the membership should assume. But I feel this: I think

that the definition should be placed on record or the suggestion made

to the committee on constitution and by-laws. As I understand it,

this committee is continued for a year, and naturally will have to

work it out after we receive the printed copies, which will give each

member of the conference an opportunity of studying the different

sections and coming down next year and voting intelligently on them

as they are presented. But I feel that this section A and section B

should be eliminated. State your membership as active, associate, or honorary members. The active members constitute the working

force. They have the ruling, the government of your conference in

hand. The associate member, or honorary member, as you may see

fit to create the term, is simply so by sufferance. We appreciate the

fact that we want to get all of the information, and we want to bring

all of the different scale people, manufacturers, and those interested

in the subject of weights and measures together. That is Dr. Reichmann's idea, as I understand it. Now, define what an active member

is, and then define what an associate member is. The associate members, as I take it, should not have the right of control of a meeting

of this conference. The active members are the ones to do that.

Then if by invitation an associate member is asked to take the floor,

and is given permission to talk on a subject, he is under the control

of the active members of the association. He does not come here, if

I may use the term, to " hog " the conference. We might have a number of scale men come in, and if their standing as to membership

in the conference is not clearly defined, they might take up all the

time of the conference, when we have other matters to consider. I

think that definition should be made. Make the term " active " and

" associate," if you please, but say what an associate member is

what his membership consists of ; vvhat rights he has in the association; and define it in that way. I think that would be the proper

way of doing it. Mr. Reichmann. Mr. Chairman. I am in hearty accord with what

the gentleman has said, and therefore 1 specifically made the state- ment that this would simply be a suggestion to the committee. "A"

and " B " are simply one term. I thought of associate and active

members; as a matter of fact, had written out a resolution on this

matter with active and associate members. But I fear the bringing

in of honorary members, becaiise, in the nature of honorary members,

a great many men want to show their friendship for some one, some
122 BUBEAU OF STANDAKDS.

particular Congressman, or some one else, and the first thing you

know you are littered up with honorary members. It is just the same

as we have in the association of the State of New York. We have

the term " honorary members," and we have more honorary members

than active members. Why? Some man will say, "This man is a

particular friend of mine," and the other fellow will say, of course,

" We want to help him out," and we get a very long list of honorary

members; whereas my original intention was to confine it to State

oflBcials and members of the bureau. That is how such things go;

and so, personally, I think it would be better not to make a definite

mandatory amendment to the constitution as suggested by the committee at this time, but simply leave the question to them, suggesting

that it is the sentiment that some distinction should be made, and

leaving it to their judgment to work that out.

Mr. Schwartz. Mr. Chairman, not to take up any more time than

necessary, I would suggest to the doctor that we could limit that by

placing a limitation on the number of honorary members. Then we

would not have that long list. You could have, say, twenty-five or ten or one. Mr. Brown. Mr. Chairman, in order to get the matter in the

record, I want to suggest that Mr. Schwartz's idea of the limitation

of the number of members is an excellent one, but I would also further limit it by prescribing the qualifications for honorary membership ; that an honorary member should only be some person who has

either through his scientific attainments or through his legislative

actions helped the cause of metrology materially, and this honorary

membership to be conferred upon him simply as a recognition of his

services along those lines.

The Presiding Officer. Are there any other remarks?

(Cries of "Question!")

(The question was taken and the motion was agreed to.)

The Presidng Officer. The next number on the program, gentlemen, is the demonstration of testing of various types of scales, by

Mr. O. Evans Mikesell.

Mr. Mikesell. Mr. Chairman, inasmuch as this subject has been

fully developed from every angle and every phase in reference to

scales, I cheerfully yield my time to the distinguished gentlemen who

follow me upon this program—in particular, Mr. Holbrook.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS.

Mr. Henry. Mr. Chairman, is it the pleasure of the house that I

make a report for the committee on resolutions at this time? At the

present time there are only two of us here.

The Presiding Officer. If there are no objections, I think it will

be perfectly proper.

Mr. Henry. We have here four resolutions, and it would seem to

me that unless there is objection these had better be taken up separately, to avoid confusion and save time. The first one is

We, the National Conference on Weights and Measures, assembled in our

ninth annual session, express and record our deep regret at the death of our

former colleague, Col. William C. Haskell, of the District of Columbia.

We esteemed him as a man and friend ; we admired his zeal and ability ; and

respected him for his kindness and fairness.

We extend our heartfelt sympathy to those he has left behind, and direct that

a copy of these resolutions be sent to his family.
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASUKES. 123

Introduced by J. H. Sherman and unanimously recommended by

the committee.

Mr. Schwartz. Mr. Chairman, I move the adoption of the resolution by a rising vote,

(The motion was duly seconded, and was carried unanimously by

a rising vote.)

Mr. Henry. The second resolution reads:

Resolved, That a standing committee of tliree be appointed by tlie president

of tbe conference as a national committee of reference for the purpose of secur- ing information of importance relative to weights and measures for the benefit

of all members of the conference; and to cooperate with the National Bureau

of Standards in the securing of such information.

That was introduced by myself, and imanimously recommended

by the committee ; and I would like to say a word to explain that.

This is a matter which I wanted to put in the form of a resolution,

after some talk with the Bureau of Standards; that is, I made the

suggestion to the bureau some time ago of something of this sort,

for the reason that I thought it might be of some assistance if this

conference, by part of its members, would be a committee to assist

the bureau in obtaining this information. Now, we all know that

the bureau obtains a great deal of information in all lines relative

to weights and measures; but there is other information which they

do not get. That is probably our own fault; but it would bring it

more directly to us if we had a committee of our own to which to

refer any important matter in our State or city.

Then this committee would act in conjunction with the Bureau of

Standards. You understand, it is not any attempt to usurp any of

the functions of the bureau, and that is the reason why I submitted

it to the bureau first; and I understand they will not be jealous in . the least of any committee of this sort. It is simply a committee to

gather information, for the reason that they have not sufficient men

to take care of some of these details; and it can do no harm, and I

thinly may do some good, if the members of the committee are active

and if all the members from the different States and cities will call

these matters to the attention of the committee.

(The question was taken, and the resolution was adopted.)

Mr. Henry. The third resolution:

Whereas, it is evident that deception is being practiced in the stenciling of the

capacity of range boilers, hot-water storage tanks, and expansion tanks for

hot-water heating plants, and in the representation of the surface measure of

radiators

Whereas, the housebuilder and the house owner are thus being daily defrauded

and

Whereas, it is the desire of the commissioners and sealers of weights and

measures here assembled to prevent all deception of such character : Therefore, be it Resolved, That the conference of weights and measures ofBcials condemn such

practices, and that this conference and the individual members use such powers

and authority as they have under State, county, or municipal laws, or use

their influence to acquire such powers and authority, to stop the sale in their

State, county, city, or district of all such commodities that are under the

capacity marked.

This resolution was introduced by me, by request, and I trust the

purpose of the resolution is plain. It has been unanimously recom- mended by the committee. It is to do away with, as far as possible,

the practice of overmarking hot-water boilers and overmarking the
124 BUBEAU OP STANDAKDS,

surface of radiators, etc. I have had a little experience in this line

myself ; I have had some severe complaints of that kind, and presume

some of the rest of you have run into that proposition.

Mr. BucHTEL. Mr. Chairman, with reference to the adoption of

this resolution, while I think that it would be a good thing for the

sealers of the various States and counties to look into it, still I do not

believe that it would be well for this convention, acting as a convention, to single out any one particular wrong and act upon it alone.

If we are going to pass resolutions on all the things that we have

reason to believe are fraudulent or not right, we will be passing

resolutions here for the next six months. I think it is well enough

to call a matter of that kind to the attention of the convention, but

not in the way of a resolution asking a specific action on it. Mr. Sherman. Mr. Chairman, as a member of the resolutions committee I want to say a word about this resolution. It was called to our attention, and so I have put in all my spare minutes for two or

three daj^s in looking into it as much as I could. It simply comes

down to the question of expressing the opinion of this conference

that the actual capacity of a receptacle should be the capacity which

is marked on the receptacle. It is not specifically provided for anywhere else in any of the proceedings of the conference, and it appeared too late to get it provided for, it seemed to us, in any other

place than this. But there is nothing in it that confers any special

privilege or any special advantage upon any one manufacturer. It

involves no patents or anything of that sort. It is simply that the

resolutions committee believes, as a committee, that this conference

ought to express its opinion on this subject—that a container should

contain the amount that the label on it states it contains. That is

all it boils down to; that is all the point there is for discussion, as far as the committee can see. Mr. Faeeell. Mr. Chairman, it seems to me that it is the sealer's

duty to see that every container is properly marked. It seems to me

that the sealer has certain particular duties to perform, and the one

thing above all others which he must do is to see that the consumer

receives what he pays for. I would therefore move, as an amendment to this resolution, that it read : ^^Besolved, That the sealers are requested to do their duty."

Mr. Heney. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to say a word of

explanation. I do not think the gentleman who last spoke has ever been called upon to exercise his authority, perhaps, on this particular

subject as I have been. I had to go through the whole prosecuting

department, and then found that I could not do a thing after I got

all through. You may have every desire to exercise your duty and

then not be able to exercise your moral duty on account of lack of

legal support from your laws; and I believe that there are at least

half the sealers here—State, county, and city—who would find, if

they tried to prosecute a case of this kind, that they could not do it. And that was my particular idea in putting my name to this resolution. It was submitted by an outsider, but I would have put it in

myself if I had thought of it for that very reason. That is why I

was anxious to have it discussed and adopted or rejected, as the con- vention sees fit. I did not know but what it might help each one of us somewhat in overcoming our difficulties along this line, perhaps

by calling it to the attention of these dealers who overmark their
NINTH AKFUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 125

boilers; and if you have studied that at all you know how nicely

that is done. For instance, a man building his house may order

30-gallon boilers, and 9 times out of 10, or a little more than that,

he gets a 25-gallon boiler, which looks exactly like a 30-gallon boiler,

because the diameter is reduced and not the length. It has the berry

basket beaten a mile. And then on the radiators, which is a thing

that has been called more particularly to my attention in my own

State, I have found that tremendous fraud is practiced in practically

every heating plant put in in the State. Now, a man has an idea

how much heating surface he ought to have in his house and how

much he ought to pay for it. He orders it and pays for it, and then

may find that he has been cheated out of anywhere from 2 to 3 to 20

per cent of that heating surface. He freezes all winter long; he has

paid for material which he did not get, and he is cheated not only

in the first instance, but all the time he is using it. And it is the

same way with the hot-water boiler. Not only is he cheated in the

amount of material and amount of workmanship, but he never has

more than 25 gallons of hot water at his disposal when he ought to

have 30 gallons. It is an absolute fraud. If we could contend

against it without any special attention being called to it, there

would be no need of the resolution. Perhaps this resolution does not

accomplish what I have in mind, but it seems to me that it would

enable me personally to call this matter to the attention of my own

legislature, and I do not know why it would not apply to every one

of us in the same way and give us some standing to get legislation

along that line. It is absolutely necessary, I believe, in 75 per cent

of the States and cities to have specific legislation in order to do anything at all in this matter ; and I would say for Mr. Van Duyn—I am

sure that I am at liberty to speak for him on this, as another member

of the committee—that he has been a contractor and builder, as I

understand, for a great many years, and he told me that he was very

much in favor of the passage of this resolution, becaiise he knew

exactly what it meant.

Mr. Stimpson. Mr. Chairman, with reference to the statement

that Mr. Sherman has just made, would it not be better to word this

resolution so as to cut out reference to specific articles, and leave it in

reference to any such articles which may be misbranded, if you

please, to purport to give a larger capacity than what is really there ? It seems to me that that would be a better way of handling it. Mr. KiCHAKDSON of Virginia. Would not the proper construction

and heating surface for radiators and boilers more properly come

under the province of an architect of a building than it would under

a superintendent of weights and measui*es?

Mr. Henet. Why, it comes under the architect or it comes under

the builder, but it is not his official duty—at least, he does not exercise it in that way—to protect the man with whom he has a contract.

That is our business. His business is to obtain his money and give

what he thinks he ought to give, or else give what he can give and get

away with it. Mr. MiKESELL. Mr. Chairman, I move you that this resolution be

turned over to the tolerance committee, to become finally a part of

the specifications.

(The motion was seconded.)
126 BUEEAU OF STANDARDS.

The Presiding Officer. Are there any remarks?

(Cries of "Question.")

The motion was agreed to. Mr. Henry. The fourth and last resolution:

Resolved, That this conference petition Congress through its secretary for an amendment to the Federal net weight law for food packages; that the net weights of all packages be 2, 4, 8, 12, or 16 ounces, and in cases of those larger

than 1 pound be of even pounds, half pounds, or quarter pounds; and that no

food packages shall be put up in fractional parts of a pound other than 2, 4, 8, or 12 ounces ; and be it further

Resolved, That the president of this conference appoint a committee of three

to draft such a law to be presented to Congress with this petition for consideration.Mr. RoxKANCE. Mr. Chairman, for information, do we understand

that that would cover potatoes, cabbages, onions, and commodities of

that sort? Under the reading of the resolution, it would, I take it;

and if so, I do not think it is fair.

Mr. Maroney. Mr. Chairman, just a question for information.

Even though we passed on it, is not that imconstitutional ? In other

words, if I wanted to put up 13 ounces, and the law said 12, what

are you going to do about it ? Mr. Reicpimann. Mr. Chairman, I move that the resolution be

referred to the executive committee for final action.

(The motion was seconded and agreed to.)

The Presiding Officer. The next thing on the program is a paper

by Mr. H. W. Bearce, of the Bureau of Standards, on Glass Graduates Suitable for Weights and Measures Officials.

GLASS GKADUATES SUITABLE FOR WEIGHTS AND MEASTTKES

OFFICIALS.

By H. W. Beaece, Bureau of Standards.

Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, the question of glass graduates is one with which weights and measures officials are directly concerned,

since graduates are likely to be used by them in testing all sorts of

small-capacity measures. Though used for many purposes, the chief

considerations in the use of graduates are always the same, namely,

accuracy and convenience of use. The degree of accuracy required

will, of course, to some extent depend upon the use to which the

graduates are to be put.

The graduates in common use are of two kinds, cylindrical and

cone, the name being taken from the shape of the graduate. The

cone graduates are the ones ordinarily used in drug stores, while

the cylinders are of the type commonly known as precision graduates.

The cylindrical graduates can, as a rule, be used with greater ac- curacy than can cone graduates. The relatively large diameter of cone gradutes, and the variable diameter, makes it difficult to estimate

the fractional parts of a subdivision, and makes it also impossible to

tell by inspection whether the spacing of the graduations is approximately what it should be. Cone graduates, however, are largely

used in certain lines of trade. For example, in drug stores they are almost universally used in compounding prescriptions. They are, of

course, somewhat easier to pour into and much easier to clean than
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 127

cylinders, and for that reason are more convenient. If accurately

graduated and carefully used, they are probably sufficiently accurate

for the purpose. Cone graduates, however, should not be used by

weights and measures officials in comparisons of other graduates.

For this purpose only cylindrical graduates of the highest obtainable

accuracy are suitable.

In the time at my disposal I shall attempt to show the essential

points of cylindrical graduates and show how a good graduate can

be distinguished from a poor one; also how the graduate should be

used.

Glass graduates in metric units are covered in a circular published

by the Bureau of Standards, but the graduates in English units

customary units, fluid ounces, or cubic inches—are not covered in

this circular. Up to within a few months these graduates had not

been considered by the bureau. Within the past few months specifications for cylindrical graduates in the customary units have been

prepared. These specifications will be sent to the different delegates

as soon as they are ready for distribution. We would like your

examination and criticism.

Graduates for the use of weights and measures inspectors should

meet the following conditions

First. The error in the indicated capacity at any point of the

graduate should be so small as to be negligible in comparison with

the accidental and unavoidable errors of use. That is, you do not

want to have to stop to apply a correction to your standard graduate

before you know whether the one you are testing is within or without

the tolerance.

Second. The lines should be fine but clear-cut and distinct, and

should be of sufficient length to allow accurate settings to be made.

To illustrate that, on graduates of this kind [indicating] all the lines

should extend at least half way around, so that when you put the

graduate on the table or when you hold it up and look at it you can

look across from the end of one line to the other end of the same

line, and in that way tell whether you are tipping it one way or the

other. I can, of course, when holding it in the hand, tell that I am

not tipping it to the right or left by looking at it, but I can not

possibly tell whether I am tipping it front or back. Some of you

over there probably can. In regard to the actual lines, the width of the lines may be a matter of personal judgment. For myself, I like the etched and filled

lines much better than the engraved ; you can see them much better.

Engraved lines sometimes have to be filled with black lead from a

lead pencil, or something of that sort, before they are clearly visible.

Third. The glass of the graduate should be clear and free from

bubbles and streaks, so that the surface of the water will not be

obscured or distorted.

Fourth. The distance between adjacent lines should be such as to

permit accurate estimation of the position of the water surface when

between two lines. This distance should usually be from 2 to 5

millimeters. It should never be less than 1 millimeter. If they are

too close together it is confusing; if they are too far apart you can

not estimate any better.
128 BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

Fifth. The base of the cylinder should be at right angles to the.

long axis, and of sufficient size to make the cylinder reasonably

stable. The base should be an integral part of the graduate.

Sixth. The height of the graduated poi'tion of the cylinder should

be at least five times the inside diameter. The relation of the height

to the diameter should be such that the volume of water will be

spread out to a reasonable amount. If you put it in a short, thick

cylinder, any slight variation in the height of a line will make sev- eral times as great an error, of course—Avith the square of the diameter—as it would if it were taller and slimmer. The height, however,

should of course be kept within reasonable limits. If it is too tall,

it tips over too easily. A cylinder like that [indicating], a mixing

cylinder, would probably be too tall for convenient use for many

purposes.

Seventh. Each graduate should be marked with an identification

number and with a standard temperature and with the method of

use—that is, whether to contain or to deliver. That is a point which

I will take up more at length later.

Having indicated the conditions which should be fulfilled by a

cylindrical graduate, it is equally important to consider the precautions that must be taken in order that the graduates may give results

which are not in error. Correct results require the fulfillment of two

conditions—first, correct apparatus, and, second, correct use of the

apparatus.

Assuming that the graduate is correct, the errors which may arise

in its use may be classified as follows

First : Errors caused by failure to bring the water surface exactly

to the graduation mark. That is, in filling a graduate you of course

set the water surface as close to the mark as you can. How close you

can do that will depend upon the care exercised and also upon the

man who is doing the filling and the methods by which he is making

the adjustment.

Second. Errors due to uncertainty of drainage—that is, the amoimt

of water adhering to the inside of the graduate when the water is poured out. That is a point which I think is often overlooked. A

man thinks a graduate is correct, and many times does not consider

whether it is to be used to measure in or measure out. Perhaps it has not occurred to him that there is a difference. It is evident, however, that if you pour water into a dry measure and then pour it out

the amount that sticks on the cylinder is lost ; that is, it contains more

than it delivers. The quantity of this water adhering to the side I

will call attention to later.

Third. Errors due to uncertainty of temperature.

-First, in regard to bringing the water surface exactly to the re- quired line, it will be foimd that several things must be taken into

account. The cylinder should be placed on a solid and level surface,

in a well-lighted position. The question of proper lighting is one which is very important and very often overlooked. The difference

between the settings when made under different conditions of lighting may amount to considerable quantities. Settings made in a poor

light are invariably too low; that is, the graduate is not filled full

enough. This error is caused by the disappearance of the extreme
HTITTH ANNUAL CONFEEENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASUEES. 129

lower edge of the meniscus—that is, the water surface—when viewed

in a poor light. What is seen is not the lower surface, but a point

somewhere between this lower surface of the meniscus and the top.

If you take it in a good light, with a proper background, this surface

comes out perfectly definite and clear-cut. You can set it on a line

with perfect accuracy if you take sufficient pains. Xow, as soon as you get that in a bad light and try to set it, this lower edge, which

under good conditions is perfectly sharp, disappears. You see not

the meniscus, which you should set on the line, but a point somewhere between this meniscus and the top. T\Tiat is seen as the

meniscus is actually the reflection from the table, or from the bottom

of the graduate, or from your hand—something which makes a black

reflection near the top of the meniscus. Xow, these graduates are

all cahbrated for the lower edge, and in filling them tlais curved sur- face should be brought directly on a line. For this reason a graduate filled in a poor light will not be filled quite up to the graduation

mark, and if tested by weighing will appear to be too small.

The difficulty of setting the water surface accurately on the mark

may be overcome, as explained by Mr. Downing the other day, by

using a background of two colors. TVe at the Bureau of Standards

do not use quite that method, but that works all right. We use a black collar—a strip of black paper which should be wrapped

aroimd the cylinder immediately below the mark on which you want

to set: then a white background behind. For convenience we place

a piece of tracing cloth across the window or anything with a good

matte surface : a plaster wall would be all right, so long as you get a good light which is not glaring in your eyes.

It sometimes happens that the glass of a cylinder has a faint trace

of color in it. so that the meniscus is brought out Avithout the use of

any shade. In this particular cylinder [indicating] we have enough

green apparently in the glass, so that we get an accurate setting;

using it with a collar and without a collar, we get it at the same

point. The meniscus comes out clear-cut in either case. That, however, is not often found.

In order that you may appreciate the magnitude of the difference

in setting the water surface on a given line when the settings are made with and without the use of a collar, the following table is

given. The results shown in the table were obtained by experiments

recently carried on at the Bureau of Standards. The work was done

be experienced observers and the differences here shown are imdoubtedly less than would be foimd by observers less expert in making the

settings.

It will be seen from the table that the difference in capacity varies

from 0.05 cubic centimeter to 1.8 cubic centimeters, and that the difference in height varies from 0.13 millimeter to 0.66 millimeter.

These differences are of about the same order as the tolerance allowed

for the different graduates.

90371°—15 9
130 BTJKEAU OF STANDAEDS.

Table 1.

Capacity of cylindrical

graduate.

100 cubic centimeters..

2 liquid ounces.

4 liquid ounces.

250 cubic centimeters..

10 cubic inches.

8 liquid ounces.

500 cubic centimeters.

16 liquid ounces.

32 liquid ounces.

Inside diameter.

Centi- meters.2.2

2.3

2.9

3.1

3.4

3.6

4.4

4.8

6.1

DiTerenee between

settings with and

without

collar.

centimeters. 0.05

.05 .04

.05

.05

.06

.10

.10

.09

.20

.11

.10

.20

.15

.10

.23 .11

.15

.30 .30

.27

.22

.25

.27

.21 .20

.22

1.11

.93

1.00

.90 .64

.7<!

.77

2. 10 1.70

1.70

1.8

Difference

in height between

setting with and

without

collar.

Milli- meter.

0.13

.22

.23

.20

.31

.22

.66

.43

.62

Remajeks.—The settings with collar were made by placing a black paper shade immediately below

the line on which the settings were to be made. This rendered the profile of the meniscus sharply defined and clearly visible against a light background. The settings made without the eoUar were in all cases lower than those made with the collar. The second source of error noted was the error in drainage. In

regard to this question it should be pointed out that cylinders are graduated either to contain or to deliver their indicated volumes.

It is evident that a graduate will deliver less than it contains on

account of the quantity that adheres to the inside of the graduate

when the water is poured out. For that reason, if a graduate is

intended to deliver an indicated volume, it should be made larger

than the graduate to contain. If the amomit retained on the walls
NIKTH ANNUAL CONFEEENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 131

of the graduate is a definite quantity, or a definite percentage of the

total vohime. then the graduate to deliver should be made larger

than the graduate to contain by this definite amount. But it is found

in practice that the amount is not quite definite. The amount re- tained will depend on the particular graduate in question, to a slight

extent upon the temperature, upon the rate at which it is poured

out, and upon the cleanness of the graduate—more than anything

else on this last point.

Now, I have some data on the amount retained; this is shown in

detail in Table 2. I will state briefly the results for some of the

different sizes—the 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 ounce. The amount retained

is in general slightly less for distilled water than for tap water ; and

for greasy water, under bad conditions, the amount retained is still

greater. I will take for a mean value the tap water, which for practical purposes is very nearly the same as distilled, and will read off

the amounts retained in the order of graduates

The 2-ounce retains thirteen one-hundredths of a cubic centimeter

the 4-ounce, twenty-seven one-hundredths; the 8-ounce, thirty-eight

one-hundredths ; the 16-ounce, sixty-two one-hundredths ; and the 32-

ounce, eighty-two one-hundredths. That is, practically a cubic centimeter. Since there are approximately a thousand cubic centimeters

in a quart, this graduate retains nearly one one-thousandth of its

volume. In percentages, the amount retained will perhaps mean

more, running through this in the same way. The 2-ounce graduate

retains twenty-three one-hundredths of 1 per cent ; the 4-ounce, twentytwo one-hundredths of 1 per cent; the 8-ounce, sixteen one-hundredths; the 16-ounce, thirteen one-hundredths; and the 32-ounce,

nine one-hundredths. That is practically one-tenth of 1 per cent

1 cubic centimeter on a thousand.

Table 2. Average amount of water retained in cylindrical graduates of different capacities under varying conditions of cleanness.

Capacity of graduate.

Number of graduates used in observations.

Average amount retained. Average per cent retained.

Distilled water. Tap water. Greasy

water.

Distilled water. Tap

water. Greasywater.

Cubic centi- Cubic centi- Cubic centi- 3 cubic inches

meters. meters. meters.

49.162 cubic centi- meters 1 0.11 0.11 0.13 0.22 0.22 0.27

2 liquid ounces

49.147 cubic centi- meters 3 .12 .13 .14 .21 .23 .23

4 liquid ounces=

118.295 cubic centi- meters 2 .26 .27 .24 .22 .22 .20

10 cubic inches=

163.872 cubic centi1 .34 .32 .36 .21 .20 .22

8 liquid ounces=

236.590 cubic centi- meters 2 .38 .38 .41 .16 .16 .17 16 liquid oimces=

473.18 cubic centi- meters 2 .58 .62 .60 .12 .13 .13

1 dry pint=550.6

cubic centimeters.. 1 .56 .58 .66 .10 .11 .12 35 cubic inches=

573.55 cubic centi- meters 2 .64 .70 .69 .11 .12 .12 32 liquid ounces=

946.30 cubic centi- meters 3 .80 .82 .83 .08 .09 .00
132 BUEEAU OF STAjSTDAEDS.

The results shown in the above table exhibit certain slight inconsistencies, but in general they are not far from the truth.

In connection with the question of drainage, I might refer to

something I have heard about the way inspectors sometimes test milk

bottles. I have been told that at times they pour from the measure

into a milk bottle, pour from that bottle into another bottle, and

from that into another bottle, and so on for some time. Now, it is

evident that if they do that the bottles will very soon appear too

large; that is, they have used up one cubic centimeter on every bottle.

In the course of 950 bottles they would not have any water left. In emptying from a cylinder which is used to deliver, the cylinder

should be always tilted gradually, letting the liquid pour out at a uniform rate. Then it should be, for accurate work, held in that

inclined position for half a minute to allow drainage, then the tip

touched to the wet surface of the receiving vessel to touch off that

last drop. If used in that way, the amount retained will be very

much more definite than you might think. We have some data,

which I will not stop to present, which shows just about how much

variation can be expected ; and the variation between distilled water

and greasy water for different cylinders of different sizes, under different trials, was to me surprisingly small. (See Table II for aver- age results.) That being the case, it seems to me that graduates to

deliver should be made practically as accurate as graduates to contain. In other words, the amount retained being pretty definite, the ones to deliver should be made that much larger than the ones to

contain. That being done, those graduated to deliver and used to

deliver will be very nearly as accurate as those graduated to contain

and used to contain.

The results shown in Table II make it apparent that if accurate

results are to be obtained by the use of graduates, the graduates

themselves must be accurate, and they must be used in the way they

were intended—that is, if a graduate is calibrated to contain, it should be used to contain; and if calibrated to deliver, it should be

used to deliver.

It is possible, however, by proper manipulation, to use a graduate

correctly in 'a way it was not intended to be used. For example, a graduate that has been calibrated to deliver can be used to contain

if it is first filled and emptied before the amount to be measured is

poured into it. After the first filling and emptying, the graduate

will deliver the same as the amount poured into it. " To deliver "

is therefore seen to be the same as " to contain wet." It is evident,

then, that graduates that are to be used to pour out, or that are to

be used successively without drying, should be calibrated "to deliver," while graduates that are to be used dry to contain the liquid

to be measured should be calibrated " to contain."

The bureau is sometimes asked by dealers in apparatus whether

the graduates to be supplied to weights-and-measures officials should

be calibrated " to contain " or " to deliver." We can not, of course,

tell without knowing how the graduate is to be used ; but for general

purposes it would seem that they should be calibrated to deliver, as

it is likely that the inspector would in general use them to deliver,

or, in case he used one to contain, he would probably not stop to dry

it after each filling.
NINTH ANNUAL CONFEEENCE OK WEIGHTS AND MEASUKES. 133

In regard to the errors due to uncertainty of the temperature at

which graduates are used, it will be recalled that it has already been

stated that each graduate should be marked with a standard temperature. This is important in order that the graduates may be

accurately tested both by the manufacturer and the testing laboratory.

In actual practice, however, it is not important that the graduates

be used at the standard temperature. For example, since the cubical

coefficient of expansion of glass is about 0.000025 per degree centigrade, the change in the capacity of a graduate will be about

0.000025 cubic centimeter per cubic centimeter per degree centigrade.

A change of 10° C. either way from the standard temperature 20° C.

will cause a change on a 1,000 cubic centimeter graduate of 0.000025 X

10X1,000=0.25 cubic centimeter. That is, 0.25 cubic centimeter on

1,000 cubic centimeters, or 1 part in 4,000. This extreme temperature change would be unusual. The errors due to ordinary changes

of room temperature would not exceed 1 part in from 8,000 to 12,000.

It will be seen, therefore, that a graduate which is correct at its

standard temperature can be used at other ordinary room temperatures without serious error. Another point which should be borne in mind when considering

the accuracy of graduates is that the smallest graduate capable of

holding the amount to be measured should be used in each case. For example, if accuracy is required, a 32-ounce graduate should not

be used for measuring 8 ounces. The 8-ounce graduate is subdivided

to one-eighth ounce and can easily be read to one-thirty-second

ounce, while the 32-ounce graduate, which is subdivided only to

one-half ounce, can, with the same care, be used accurately only

to one-eighth ounce. That is, the error in the use of the large graduate would be four times as great as in the use of the small one. This

is simply an application of the same principle that is used in regard

to scales; that is, you would not use a hundred-ton track scale to

weigh a pound of sugar.

TOLERANCES.

The question of tolerances is one which needs careful consideration,

but I hesitate to take it up in detail at this time. It is, of course,

impossible for a manufacturer to make his graduates absolutely correct, but just how much variation he should be allowed it is difficult

to say. Even the proper basis for fixing the tolerance is open to

differences of opinion. The question of tolerance really comes down

to this: How accurate can graduates be made without an unreasonable increase in cost ? The accuracy attained will to a great extent depend upon the

methods employed and the care exercised by the manufacturer. If

suitable methods of calibration are employed, it seems to me that

the accidental and unavoidable errors will be very largely due to

mechanical difficulties. That is to sa}', the difficulty in getting a

line correctly placed will be not in getting the correct amount of

water into the graduate, but in getting the line exactly in the plane

of the water surface. The errors of graduation will therefore result

from inability to put a line in a given plane, and the allowable error

in a graduate might well be considered in terms of the allowable

variation of a line up or down from its correct position. On this
134 BUREAU OF STANDAEDS.

basis a table has been prepared showing the error introduced in

cylinders of various diameters when the lines are misplaced by

various amounts. If it is assumed that it is practicable to fix a

limit for the allowable variation of a line above or below its correct

position, then the tolerance on this basis can be taken directly from

the table. For example, if the allowable variation in the position of

a line on a 32-ounce cylinder is fixed at 0.5 millimeter, then the tol- erance is automatically fixed at 1.51 cubic centimeter. This would

be the tolerance for a 32-ounce cylinder graduate to contain. If

graduated to deliver, the tolerance in each case should be increased

by the amount of the uncertainty of the quantity of water retained

on the walls of the cylmder when the water is poured out. The

magnitude of this uncertainty has already been considered in con- nection with Table 2. Working on the basis of a certain allowable variation in the position of a line on a graduate, a set of tolerances was prepared; these

were then compared with the tolerances allowed on metric graduates

of the nearest equivalent size and were found to be in reasonable

agreement. The variations in the position of a line were found to

range from 0.2 or 0.3 of a millimeter for the small graduates up to

0.5 or 0.6 for the larger ones. That is, a line may be out of its

correct position by about that amount.

The tolerances for graduates in customary units, interpolated from

the tolerances for metric graduates (circular No. 9, seventh edition), are shown in the following table (Table 3), and following that the

tolerances for metric cylinders of the usual capacities (Table 4)

Tables.—TOLERANCES FOR STANDARD CYLINDRICAL GRADUATES.

[United States customary units.]

Capacity.

Limit of error of total or partial capacity.

To containTo deliver

Cubic centi- Dram. Cubic centi- Dram.

1 liquid oance=29.57 cubic centi- meters. meters. 0.07 0.02 0.11 0.03

2 liquid ounc6S=59.15 cubic centi- .12 .03 .18 .05

4 liquid ounces=118.30 cubic centi-

.24 .06 .36 .10

8 liquid ouiices=236.59 cubic centi- metere .45 .12 .68 .18

16 liquid ounces=473.18 cubic centi- .80 .22 1.20 .33 32 liquid ounces=946.36 cubic centi1. 50 .40 2.25 .60

3 cubic inches =49. 16 cubic centi- Cubic inch. Cubic inch. .10 0. 006 .15 0.009

10 cubic inclies=163.87 cubic centi- meters .33 .02 .50 .03 35 cubic inches=673.55 cubic centi- 1.00 .06 1.50 .09

1 dry pint =550.6 cubic centimeters.. 1.00 .06 1.50 .09
NINTH ANNUAL CONFEEENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 135

Table 4Tolerances for standard cylindrical graduates.

(Metric units.)

Capacity.

Limit of error of total

or partial capacity

To containTo de- liver—

Cubic centi- Cubic centi- Cubic centi- meter. meter. meter. 10 0. 04 0.07

25 .06 .10 30 .07 .11 50 .10 .15

100 .20 .30 200 .40 .60 250 .45 .70 500 .85 1.30 1,000 1.6 2.4 2,000 3.0 4.5

It is customary in this country and in other countries to give to

apparatus which is calibrated to deliver a tolerance twice as great as that allowed on apparatus to contain. This, in the case of graduates

at least, it seems to me, is entirely too liberal. We have seen from

the tabulated results on drainage that the uncertainty in the amount

of water retained in a graduate is not great. It seems to me, therefore, that the tolerance for graduates to deliver should not be more

than 25 per cent greater than that for graduates to contain ; certainly

not as much as 50 per cent greater.

In regard to the question of testing apothecaries' prescription graduates, it would seem to me impracticable to use cylindrical graduates

of less than 2-ounce or possibly 1-ounce capacity. Cylindrical graduates smaller than this would have a diameter so small that they

would be inconvenient to use and difficult to clean. On that account

it will, in my opinion, be found desirable to devise some method for

testing the very small graduates other than by direct comparison by

means of standard cylindrical graduates. If the test of these small

graduates could be carried out in the laboratory or office of the

inspector, it could be conveniently and accurately done by means of a balance or a finely graduated burette. But either of these methods

would no doubt be found to offer difficulties when applied to conditions in the field.

Since the subject of my paper is Glass Graduates Suitable for

"Weights and Measures Officials, I should perhaps not mention commercial graduates, but the question has already come up for consideration in certain States—Massachusetts, New York, and Wisconsin, at

least—and will very soon demand attention in other States. It is

therefore very desirable that this conference consider the question of

commercial glass graduates and that suitable specifications and toler- ances be drawn up and adopted. Uniform requirements by the different States in regard to design and accuracy of graduates is very

greatly needed and would give the manufacturer something defijiite

to work toward. Under the present system the manufacturer is

hampered by unreasonable requirements in one State and allowed in

some other State to put on the market any sort of a graduate that

the public will buy.
136 BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

If this conference, or a committee of this conference, can determine

what qualities are essential in a graduate for commercial use and can

present those qualities in the form of specifications which shall be

accepted by the various States, it will then be possible for a manufacturer to make graduates to meet the requirements. If it is not,

then such a manufacturer should be obliged to close his factory.

There is no possible excuse for allowing a graduate to be used in one

State if it is unfit for use in another. Surely a graduate that is

incorrect in Wisconsin will be incorrect in Tennessee and one that is

correct in California will be correct in New York.

I would therefore strongly urge that uniform specifications be

drawn up and adopted.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

Mr. Schwartz. Mr. President, at this time I would ask the privilege of the conference to present the report of the committee on

nominations. I Imow it is out of the regular order, inasmuch as Mr.

Holbrook's paper comes next on the program; but a large number

of the members of the conference are present now, and if we waited

until after lunch and the visit to the President, probably we would

not have such a large gathering at the afternoon session.

The Presiding Officer. If there is no objection, I do not see why

the committee should not make a report.

Mr. Schwartz. Gentlemen, your committee on nominations present the following : For president, Dr. S. W. Stratton ; for vice president, Mr. William L. Waldron, of New Jersey; for secretary, Mr.

Louis A. Fischer ; for treasurer, Mr. C. C. Neale. The executive committee (to include the four above-mentioned officers with the following added) : Mr. H. H. Henry, of Vermont; Mr. J. T. Willett, of

Indiana ; Mr. F. G. Buchtel, of Oregon ; Mr. F. P. Downing, of Wisconsin; Mr. A. W. Einehart, of Washington; Mr. Thomas F. Egan,

of Connecticut; Mr. F. C. Albrecht, of Ohio; Mr. Joseph Hartigan,

of New York; Mr. Lucius P. Brown, of Tennessee; and Mr. E. W.

Van Duyn, of Iowa.

The Presiding Officer. You have heard the report of the nominating committee. What is your pleasure?

Mr. Maroney. Mr. Chairman, I move you, sir, that the recom- mendations of the nominations committee he accepted, and that the

secretary be instructed to cast the unanimous ballot of the confer- ence for them collectively, if that is legal ; if not, individually.

(The motion was seconded.)

The Presiding Officer. Are there any remarks?

Mr. Mikesell. Mr. Chairman, I represent Pennsylvania, one of

the leading States in the Union of States. In this conference Pennsylvania has a representation of 17, I believe the largest representation of any State in the Union. I believe New Jersey comes next.

Pennsylvania also has the largest number of sealers of any State in

the Union. I find in looking over this list that there are just 14 on

the executive committee. Now, as you readily see, there could be a

tie, with all the members present. I believe there should be 15. Now,

inasmuch as Pennsylvania holds the position it does in the world. of

weights and measures, I believe that Pennsylvania ought to be
KIKTH ANNUAL CONFEKENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASUKES. 137

represented on this committee. Pennsylvania is close to Washington,

where you hold your conferences. I believe that a member of the

executive committee from Pennsylvania would be ready and willing

to come to Washington to attend any meeting of the executive committee, aside from the national conference. Now, upon this list you

will notice we have men who can not afford to attend, and I believe

that no State can afford to send them to an executive committee

meeting. We have gentlemen here from the Pacific coast. It may

be that those gentlemen would feel bound to come here personally

or the States will feel bound to send them ; but having been a member

of the committee myself, during the year just closing, I attended a meeting of this executive committee and we found upon reaching

Washington that a great number of these gentlemen were not present.

Understand, I am not finding fault at all, because I realize and appreciate the fact that distance is some consideration in attending a mere meeting of the executive committee to formulate a program for

this conference. But I would feel that I was not doing my duty

representing the great State of Pennsylvania, first in a great many

things in the Union, if I did not call attention to this, and I believe

that Pennsylvania will not accept second place in the Union in the

matter of weights and measures; and inasmuch as I represent the

State of Pennsjdvania I would ask this conference to add one more

member to this executive committee, making 15, and select some member from the Pennsylvania delegation—but not me—for the committee.

Mr. Eeichmann. I would like to amend the motion to adopt that

list by adding the name of Mr. Mikesell, if the maker of the motion

will accept it. (The motion was seconded.)

Mr. Maeoney. I accept the amendment.

Mr. Mikesell. Mr. Chairman, I would much rather, inasmuch as I made this suggestion, have some one else.

Mr. Maeoney. Mr. President, in view of the discord in the Pennsylvania delegation, and as it seems to be the opinion of all the

representatives here that there should be representation from Pennsylvania, I would suggest that the Pennsylvania delegation retire

to the hall and bring in a name, and I hope it will be unanimous.

Mr. EiCHAEDSON, of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, there are 25 States

represented here. According to my count, the Southern States are about one-third or not quite one-third of the representation, with

only one representative on the committee. While I have no objection

to Pennsylvania, that great big State above us here, having representation, I think the South ought to have more representation than

one member on this committee.

The Peesiding Officer. Mr. Brown, of Tennessee, has just been

nominated a member of that committee, and he is from one of the

Southern States.

Mr. EiCHARDsoN, of Virginia. Yes; that is what I said—only one from the Southern States.

The Peesiding Officer. You make the motion to add one more to

that committee, Mr. Mikesell?

Mr. Mikesell. Yes ; I made a motion to add one more. Mr. Maroney. Dr. Eeichmann moved an amendment to my original motion, and I accepted the amendment.
138 BUREAU OF STANDAEDS.

Ms. Keichmajstn. The motion is that we accept the report of the

committee and add the name of Mr. Mikesell.

(The question was taken, and the motion agreed to.)

The Secketaey. Mr. Chairman and members, the secretary takes

great pleasure in casting the unanimous ballot of this conference for

the list of officers just mentioned by the chairman of the committee

on nominations, plus the addition made thereto in accordance with

the resolution of Dr. Eeichmann.

Mr. Mikesell. Mr. Chairman, I believe it is due me to make an

explanation. This is not a matter personal with me, as the gentlemen

of the bureau and the other gentlemen who Imow me will attest. Since I have been a weights and measures official in Washington

County my heart and my interest have been in the work. I have

made every eifort along honorable lines to advance the cause. I believe that 80 per cent of the success of the weights and measures cause

in this country is due to publicity and education. We must educate

the jjeople. As you will remember, during the conference gentleman

after gentleman got up upon the floor and made the statement that

their own legislatures at home would not give them any legislation

because they did not understand the question. Now, we must educate

the people; and while I would much rather have some one else representing the State of Pennsylvania than myself—because it is a great expense and it involves time and worry—yet I would feel that

I was failing in my duty to the great State of Pennsylvania to go

back home and have them say to me that the executive committee

stopped at 14 when it should have been 15 under all ethical customs,

and yet Pennsylvania, the greatest State in the Union, second only

to New York, was without representation.

Mr. EiCHAEDsoN, of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, following the re- marks of the brother from Pennsjdvania, I wish to state that I was

one of the charter members of this organization, and one of the few

representatives from the Southern States at that time—that is, in

official capacity. I am not in this organization for office or for committee work. I am here to help out my people as much as I can in

the waj'' of weights and measures and getting the best laws that we

can for our State. I do not want any office in the conference except

the humble position of a delegate from my State. I am not aslring

anything, but I do think that seven Southern States ought to have

more representation on that committee than one member.

Tiie Presiding Officer. Before calling on the next number, I will

announce that any member present who has not received a copy of

the report of the last conference may procure one after the meeting.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES OF PORTO RICO.

By F. S. HoLBROOK, Associate PJiysicist, Bureau of Standards.

In August, 1913, at an extraordinary session of the Legislature of

the Island of Porto Rico there was passed a weights and measures

law, and this was signed by Hon. George Colton, governor of the

island, who had taken a very great interest in this legislation and

who had been largely responsible for its passage.

Learning that the government of Porto Rico was looking for

some one experienced in weights and measures work to inaugurate
KXtTTH AITKUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 139

the law, the Bureau of Standards, through the Bureau of Insular

Affairs, War Department, offered to cooperate. This offer was

promptly accepted, and I was selected to undertake the work, and

left for the island in September of last year.

Perhaps at this time it may be of advantage to tell something of

former laws on this subject. Before the occupation of the island, in

1898, it is reported that there was a law on the statute books, but

that it was never competently enforced. This law probably required

the exclusive use of the metric system, but the old Spanish units,

nevertheless, still continued in very common use. Four years after

the occupation of the island—that is, in 1902—the political code was

passed which established the metric system as the sole standard of

weights and measures; and the penal code of the same date provided penalties for using false weights or measures, which were

described as those not conforming to the standard established by

law; for giving short weight or measure; for falsely branding casks

or packages, etc. As has formerly been the case in so many States,

no machinery for enforcing the law was provided, however, and as a

result the law was entirely ignored, and the use of various miscellaneous standards continued.

This then, was the condition of affairs when the work was commenced. The kilogram, the United States pound, and the Spanish

libre or pound for weight; the liter, the quart, and the cuartillo for

liquid measure ; the meter, the yard, and the vara for length measure

and the hectare, the acre, and the cuerda^ for land measure, were all

in use side by side, resulting in the most profound confusion. When

I add that the cuartillo was a local measure, with no certain value,

but probably based in a general way upon the size of bottles containing wines and liquors received from Spain and other continental

countries and from the United States; that the length of the warahad

been altered by the promulgation of a royal decree by the King of

Spain, in 1888, and that consequently there was an old and a new

vara; that there were two size cuerdas^ based on the old and the new

varas; and that the value of the Spanish pound was not universally

rmderstood, you may perhaps realize some of the difficulties of the

situation encountered.

It is not deemed necessary at the present time to analyze the provisions of the Porto Rico law. Suffice it is to say that it is, in the

main, a fairly satisfactory one. At the time the law was introduced it provided for only the same

standards that were legalized up to that time, i. e., those of the

metric system. The majority of the merchants strenuously objected

to this. They were loath to see an enforceable law, and one that was

intended to be enforced, passed containing this provision. They

pointed out that the great bulk of the trade of the island was with

the United States and it would be a great hardship upon them to use a system that was not in use there. Their protests were backed

up by the attitude of the lower house, and as a result the bill was

amended to put the metric system and that portion of the system used

in the United States which was specifically mentioned in the Act upon

an equal basis. The bushel and its subdivisions were purposely

omitted so these dry measures are not legal there. Two other units

were also introduced, the cuerda for land measurement and the
140 BUEEAU OF STANDAilDS,

cuartUlo for liquid, measure, this latter being defined as the one-fifth

part of the gallon.

One other provision of the law is of special interest. Evidently

realizing that the law was not a complete one, a clause was inserted

requiring the Secretary of Porto Rico to prescribe rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of the law, providing for

the periodical inspection, examination, testing and regulating, and

the sealing, marking, or approving, when correct, of all weights and

measures used or adapted for use in ascertaining weight or measure

in &nj industrial or commercial transaction, and for the performance

of such other duties as may, in his judgment, be required for the

enforcement of the law. This authorization was sufficiently broad

to enable one to work out an efficient system of enforcement and also

to strengthen some of the provisions, especially in relation to the

sale of special commodities. It also legalized the promulgation and

enforcement of specifications and tolerances on commercial apparatus

to which so much attention has recently been given.

Upon my arrival in the island my first attention was given to the

kind of apparatus in use and its general condition, such information

being necessary for the efficient purchase of standards and apparatus and for the framing of such rules and regulations as should be

found to be proper and necessary. Perhaps a few figures showing

the first conditions thus found might be of interest.

A little over 50 per cent of the weights found in use were of the

Spanish system, the remainder being about equally divided between

weights of the metric system and of our customary system.

The Spanish pound contains 460.09 grams as against 453.59 grams

for our pound, the former thus being 1.4 per cent larger than the

latter. That is, of course, the standard was larger than ours. The

weights in use speak for themselves. Ninety-one per cent were

incorrect, 98 per cent of these being light. The errors on about 75

per cent of these weights were so large that they were lighter than

the corresponding American weights. Manj'^ of the errors were in excess of 9 per cent, the lightest pound containing only 410 grams.

Of the metric weights in use 44 per cent were incorrect, and all of

these were light by various amounts ranging up to 7 per cent. Of the weights of our system 69 per cent were incorrect, about 90

per cent of these being light by errors ranging up to 17 per cent, the

lightest pound containing only 376 grams.

It may be said that in obtaining these percentages of accuracy a

tolerance of one-half per cent on the larger weights and 1 gram on

the smaller weights was allowed, which is about five times as large as the conference tolerances.

Of the liquid measures tested the very great majority were cuartillos or subdivisions thereof, this having been the measure almost

universally used. Eighty per cent of those found were incorrect,

only 40 per cent of them being small, however. Half of those small

had errors ranging from 9 to 15 per cent. Of the measures of our

system in use about one-half were correct.

The tolerance used in determining the percentage of accuracy was

3 per cent, or several times as large as the tolerances of this conference. The scales were in general of very poor construction and in

very poor condition. Many platform scales had beams graduated

in the Spanish system.
NIKTH ANNUAL CONFEEENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 141

Such, then, were the conditions that were found to exist at the

inception of putting the new weights and measures law into force

and effect. Although we have had the opportunity of doing verymuch work in this country before many of the inspection services

now existing were organized, we have rarely found a more chaotic

state of affairs to exist.

After the preliminar-y survey, some of the results of which have

been given above, standards and apparatus were ordered to meet the

needs of the situation as presented, and the work of drafting the

rules and regulations was then begun.

The machinery for the enforcement of the law was in part prescribed by the terms of the law itself. The alcaldes or mayors of

the A'-arious municipalities were required to do the work of testing

and sealing apparatus, and the district chiefs of police were also

required to see that certain portions of the law were enforced. All

this work was to be done under the direction of the Secretary of

Porto Rico and he was charged with the general duty of super\dsing

the enforcement of the Act. This included the performance of vari- ous duties when they were neglected by the other officials primarily

responsible.

These duties presupposed a force of trained men in the office of

the Secretary of Porto Rico. Accordingly, in the rules and regulations a bureau of weights and measures in the office of the secretary

was created, consisting of a chief inspector and several inspectors

of weights and measures. Their powers and duties were in general

to take charge of the primary standards of the island and to compare

the field standards with them at regular intervals, to super-\dse the

enforcement of the law, to educate and assist the mayors of the municipalities and the police in the performance of their duties, to test and seal or condenm all new apparatus manufactured in the island

or imported or brought into the island, and to obtain a complete

enforcement of the weights and measures act. In the performance

of these duties they were clothed Avitli all necessary powers. Thus

it will be seen that the machinery of enforcement differs very little

from that laid down in Form No. 3 of the model law; i. e., enforcement by local men with a small central force for supervision, education, and special work. In addition to prescribing the machinery of

enforcement, the rules and regulations also went into the details of

the manner and frequency of sealing or condemning ; the classification

of apparatus, to lay a foundation for the enforcement of specifications and tolerances; provided for the certification of each type of

apparatus before it could be sold; included a provision making it illegal to sell b}'^ any other weight than net weight ; prescribed special

conditions for the sale of coal and coke and bread similar to those

laid down in the model law ; required all dry commodities to be sold

by weight or linear measure only; and made the collection of fees

specifically illegal.

The tolerances and specifications adopted were based upon those

adopted by this conference at its meeting last year. The specifications Avere nearly the same in all cases ; the tolerances in the case of

'old apparatus were made twice those applying to apparatus not

yet put into use, since it was realized that the same figures could not

be made to appty to both of these classes on account of the deterioration which is boimd to occur through use. This scheme was adopted
142 BUREAU OF STANDAEDS.

yesterday by this conference, and I believe by this method the toler- ances will be made very much more practicable and workable than

they were before. In adopting the tolerances it was necessary to in- crease them somewhat on account of the very rapid deterioration of

all kinds of instruments, due to the excessive humidity of the climate.

The conditions in this respect were much worse than are encoxmtered

in any section of the United States, and it was therefore imperative

that this be taken into consideration here.

In reference to the specifications, the question has often arisen

whether these should or should not be retroactive. On careful ex- amination it appears that some should be retroactive and others

should not be. Therefore we classified all apparatus and divided the

list of specifications into two parts, making one set retroactive and

the other set not. The manner in which this was done can best be

described by quoting part of the " Description of Tolerances and

Specifications" contained in our publication of "Instructions for

Weights and Measures Officials." This stated

" In the set of specifications promulgated herewith a number of

paragraphs have been limited to apply only to new apparatus in

order that the weights and measures act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder may be put into force and effect without imnecessary hardship and without wholesale condemnation of

apparatus which, while not of the best construction, is nevertheless

fairly satisfactory and may be used for some time without greatly

prejudicing the rights of the purchasing public. The specifications

taken as a whole are designed to improve the general types of apparatus and render possible the most efficient enforcement of the law.

As old aparatus is replaced only that of satisfactory construction

will be allowed to be put into use ; and at some future date, when the

gradual process of elimination has been going on for some time, the

limitations on the application of some of the specifications will be re- called and all apparatus in use will be required to be of satisfactory

construction. The specifications which have been applied to both

old and new apparatus are those which are most urgently required;

the specifications which have been limited to affect new apparatus

are those which, while clearly necessary, can best be postponed for

general enforcement until the general provisions of the law and of

the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and of these specifications have been put into effect and have come to be understood,

respected, and observed throughout the island. " The object of all of these is not only for the benefit and the protection of the consumer but for the benefit of the honest merchant

and manufacturer as well, in assisting them to carry on their busi- ness free from the unjust competition of a dishonest and unscrupulous or an ignorant class."

I believe that in the near future this conference should and will

adopt a classification of apparatus into new and old and apply the

specifications in somewhat the manner described above.

Wlien these specifications and tolerances were promulgated and

printed there was included with them a description of the methods

to be employed in the inspecting and testing and the sealing or con- demning of all classes and kinds of apparatus. A description of

general duties of weights and measures officials, methods of convert-
NXN'TH ANNUAL CONFEEEKTCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 143

ing scales from the illegal Spanish system into the customary system, conversion tables, and other information of use was also included. This book was issued in both Spanish and English.

Shortly after the decision to establish a bureau of weights and

measures was arrived at, Mr. Eduardo Saldana, a native Porto Eican,

was appointed to the position of chief inspector. Mr. Saldana had

held several governmental positions, the last of which was private

secretary to Gov. George Colton. He is known to be unbiased and is

an excellent executive, and his appointment was thus a most auspicious one to put the weights and measures law into effect.

After the promulgation of the rules and regulations and the tol- erances and specifications, it became necessary to train a corps of men

to act as insular inspectors, since, of course, there were no men on the

island who had had any experience along the lines of testing weights

and measures. The men selected were appointed probationally until

a civil-service list could be obtained, and other candidates were given

desk room and allowed to be present when the instructions were given

and demonstrations conducted. Various inspectors were appointed

in the municipalities also, and some 16 of these men came to San

Juan for instruction at headquarters. In this way a competent set of men was obtained with which to begin the enforcement of the law.

All the preliminary work of these inspectors was done in the capital

city, San Juan, in order that the inspectors might be able to report

any difficulties at once to the central office and receive further instructions. No man was allowed to do any work in the field until

he had demonstrated that he had had sufficient instruction in the

office to have grasped the essentials of the work. At first, also, the

insular inspectors were sent out in pairs. As they gained experience

they were separated and each was delegated to accompany a mimicipal inspector sent to learn the work. When these latter were able

to perform their duties in a satisfactory manner they were given the

proper apparatus and returned to their districts to inaugurate the

work there. One by one, also, the insular men were assigned to districts to start the work in those municipalities which had failed to

send men to the central office. From time to time I took trips to various portions of the island,

accompanied by the chief inspector or his deputy, to investigate conditions at some of the larger industrial concerns, such as tobacco

factories, sugar centrals, importing firms, and the like. One of the

first of these was a visit to the Caguas branch of the Porto Rico Leaf

Tobacco Co., one of the largest on the island. It was found that

this concern was following the usual practice and was employing

Spanish weights in its purchases. As a result of this visit and upon

our instructions, this company converted almost a hundred dormant

scales of about 5,000 pounds capacity from the Spanish to the cus- tomary system. These scales were located all over the tobacco-producing section. Upon these trips also complaints were investigated

and merchants and others instructed in the requirements of the law.

One of the most useful and valuable of the rules and regulations

was that requiring that all new weights and measures should be

sealed before being sold. The hardware stores and importers had

on hand large numbers of pieces of exceedingly inaccurate apparatus.

The work in these places and in the places where apparatus was in
144 BUREAU OF STANDAEDS.

use was begun simultaneously, and therefore when a brisk sale of apparatus began following condemnations in the stores the hardware

dealers had some stock of sealed apparatus on hand and, moreover,

were informed as to what stock could not be sold. This stock was

not condemned if removed from the island within 30 days. Had the

bureau neglected to test the apparatus before it was sold great hardships would have arisen, since merchants, purchasing it in good faith,

would inevitably have had the new apparatvis procured condemned

as soon as it was inspected and tested.

A very great deal of this apparatus condemned had been imported

from England and Germany. The former country especially contributed weights which had evidently never been adjusted or probably even tested after casting; the latter country contributed a very

large number of even-arm balances, both of the hanging pan and

stabilized pan types, which were of very poor construction and ex- ceedingly inaccurate. It is undoubtedly a fact that all of these were

constructed for export only, as none would be allowed in the country

of their origin. A number of straight-front spring scales and family

spring scales made in this country were also condemned before being

sold on account of lack of conformability with the specifications and

tolerances.

The following tables are presented showing the results found in

one complete inspection in the city of San Juan and a partial re- inspection of stores in which condemnations were made when they

were first visited:

Sealed.

Kind. Grand

total. Total. Correct. Corrected.

Number. Per cent. Number. Per cent. Number. Per cent.

New apparatus:

847 100 11.8 99 11.7 1 0.1

189

51 36 19.0 36 19.017 33.3 17 33.3 Weights 5, 875 4,018 68.4 3,933 67.0 85 1.4

148 88 59.5 88 59.5

7,110 4,259 59.9 4,173 58.8 86 1.1

Old apparatus:

450 222 49.3 210 46.7 12 2.6

170 90 52.9 76 44.7 14 8.2

227 78 34.4 74 32.6 4 1.8

5, 461 2,209 40.4 2,193 40.2 16 .2 216 99 45.8 99 45.8

6,524 2,698 41.4 2,652 40.6 46 .8

All apparatus:

1,297 322 24.8 309 23.8 13 1.0

359 126 35.1 112 31.2 14 3.9 278 95 34.1 91 32.7 4 1.4

11,336 6,227 54.9 6,126 54.0 101 .9 364 187 51.4 187 51.4

Total 13,634 6,957 51.0 6,825 50.0 132 1.0
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 145

Grand

total.

Condemned.

Total. For repairs. Confiscated.

Number. Per cent. Number. Per cent. Number. Per cent.

New apparatus:

847

189

51

5, 875

148

747

15334

1,857

60

88.2 81.0

66.7

31.6 40.5

747

153

34 1,81360

88.2

81.0

66.7

30.9

40.5

Platform scales 44 0.7

Total

Old apparatus:

Platform scales

Total

All apparatus: Counter scales

Platform scales Weights

Total

7,110 2,851 40.1 2,807 39.5 44 .6

450

170 227

5,461

216

228

80

149 3,252

117

50.7

47.1 65.6

59.6

54.2

196

60 147 2,374

68

43.6

35.3 64.6

43.5 31.5

3220

2 878

49

7.1 11.8

1.0

16.1 22.7

6, 524 3,826 58.6 2,845 43.6 981 15.0

1,297

359 278

11,336 364

975

233

183

5,109

177

75.2

64.9

65.9

45.1 48.6

943

213

181 4,187 128

72.7

59.3

65.1

36.9 35.2

32

20

2 922

49

2.5

5.6

.8 8.2 13.4

13,634 6,677 49.0 5,652 41.5 1,025 7.5

Briefly summarizing this table, we find that of the new apparatus

ready to be sold only 12 per cent of the counter scales, 19 per cent

of the spring scales, 33 per cent of the platform scales, 68 per cent

of the weights, and 59 per cent of the linear measures were sealed.

These very_ small percentages were partly due to the fact that the

apparatus in stock was of very poor quality and partly to the fact

that some of it was graduated or adjusted in the illegal Spanish

system.

In the case of old apparatus we find somewhat larger percentages

of scales approved, on account of the fact that larger tolerances were

allowed, as explained heretofore. Only 40 per cent of the weights

and 46 per cent of the linear measures were approved, however, the

condemnations falling into the same classes as previously noted.

Summarizing 13,634 pieces of apparatus, we find a total of 6,957, or 51 per cent, sealed, of which 50 per cent was correct as found and

1 per cent was adjusted before sealing. Of the 6,677 pieces con- demned, 5,652 were " condemned for repairs " and 1,025 were at once

confiscated. This percentage of those condemned for repairs and not

confiscated is very much greater on the first inspection than it will be

hereafter, since it was necessary in many cases to leave the apparatus in the stores for some time until new apparatus could be procured from the United States, the supply on the island falling far

behind the demand.

The newspapers on the island, as a rule, assisted greatly in the education of the people by printing from time to time news articles and

editorial comment on the features of the law and of the rules and

regulations, the progress made in its enforcement, etc. In conclusion, it may be said that Porto Eico has taken an advanced stand in the matter of honest weights and measures; that

90371°—15 10
146 BUKEAU OF STANDARDS.

the law is as efficient as that of any of the States of the Union ; that

a splendid start toward thorough enforcement has been made; and

that within a reasonable time fraudulent weights and measures and

the fraudulent use of weights and measures should be almost wholly

suppressed.

ANSWERS TO QUESTION'S.

Mr. Wallenmeyer. Mr. Chairman, what is the tolerance on beer

bottles? We have had that up in Indiana. We have a large beerbottle industry. I have a letter from a brewing concern there that

quotes the Federal board, and they would like to know what the

tolerance is, in order to settle that question.

Mr. Hanson. Mr. Chairman, I am very much interested in the

brewing proposition. Some time last October we made a test of

some 13 of the large breweries of Massachusetts and we found that

the barrel which is supposed to contain 31^ gallons, according to our

State law, contained all the way from 30 gallons down to 27. We did

not bring any prosecutions; we simply went to the breweries and

tested the capacity of the barrels. Shortly after that we had a con- ference with all the brewery men in the State, and in going over the

situation we found that while the Massachusetts law said that the

barrel shall contain 31^ gallons, the brewers have to pay an internal revenue tax of $1 for 31 gallons. In other words, if they put 31^

gallons in the barrel they have to pay $2. Now, I did not think it

was just for them to pay a dollar for the extra half gallon. I investi-

> gated ^he matter. I came down and had a conference with our two

Senators from Massachusetts. I went down to Louisville, where the

barrels are made. I went up to the great State of Wisconsin, which

is made famous by its different brands of beer, and I found out there

that the Wisconsin department had several prosecutions on beer

barrels. I came back to Massachusetts with all the data which I had

received and again had a conference with several members of the

brewers' association. They then decided to put in a bill in the legislature which would take care of this particular thing- They drafted

three bills. One bill was to have a tolerance of 6 per cent ; the sec- ond bill I can not quite remember ; and the third bill was to give me

authority to allow a certain amount of tolerance. I objected to the

last bill, and objected also to the 6 per cent bill. At the hearing

which was given before the committee on mercantile affairs I presented a fact to show that if they were allowed a tolerance of about

2 per cent they could easily come within the law. Of course, the

brewers argued for 6 per cent on account of this revenue requirement,

I showed the coimnittee that the revenue law, the 31-gallon law, was

for revenue only and should not be considered. Well, the committee

reported giving the brewers a 6 per cent tolerance, and only a week

ago that bill was enacted ; so now in Massachusetts they are allowed

a tolerance of 6 per cent.

Mr. Keichmann. Mr. Chairman, I move that this matter be re- ferred to the tolerance committee.

(The motion was seconded and agreed to.)

Mr. Richardson, of Virginia. Mr. President and gentlemen of the

conference, shortly subsequent to the adjournment of the conference

of 1913, I drafted a weights and measures bill on the basis of the
NINTH ANNUAL CONFEEENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 147

uniform law and the resolutions adopted by that conference, and also

of local conditions all over the State, such as treatment of sealers,

salaries, and things of that kind. Senator Smith introduced the bill soon after the convening of the general assembly. It was referred

to the committee on general laws ; but that committee referred it to a subcommittee which took it up with myself and a number of county

sealers and city sealers; was recommended back to the senate and

passed by the senate. Then it went over to the house committee and

was considered by it, was passed by the house committee, and placed

on the house calendar. When the bill came up in the house for consideration, a wholesale merchant in my city and a large retail grocer

came up to the capitol and interviewed their local representative, and

asked him to stop the passage of the bill, or at least to have it passed

by at the next calling. That was very nearly at the tail end of our

session. The bill was called and this representative objected. This

objection put it to the foot of the calendar, and there being only two

days more to get it through it failed.

Now, the question I want to ask of you is, whether these gentlemen

had any grounds for asking the passing by of that bill—the wholesaler on the ground that Ave had no right to make him mark the net

contents on wholesale packages, the retail dealer on the ground that

he had his shelves stocked with canned goods that were not marked,

and he would have to go to work and ascertain the weight of all the

containers to get at the net contents before he could sell his goods;

that it would take him 18 months to clear his shelves of that kind of

goods. What I want this conference to tell me is, whether that law

is in conflict with the national law. Now, our legislature does not

meet again until 1916, and I want to get all the information on that

line, so that I can meet these wholesale people and retail people down

there, and if any of the delegates have any suggestions to make in

the meantime I will be glad to have them send them to me. We mean

business down there, and we are going to have a good law.

The Secretary. I think perhaps I might be able to answer that

question in so far as concerns the question as to what is going to

become of foods put up in package form which do not comply with

the net weight law. When that law goes into effect—it has been in

effect since March 3, 1913, but the penalty will not be imposed until

the 3d of next September—those goods can not be sold after that date

without being marked.

Mr. KiCHARDsoN, of Virginia. I will say, Mr. Fischer, that these

gentlemen claim that under the national law they had 18 months in

which to adjust themselves to any law that might be passed.

The Secretary. And that expires the 3d of next September ; so far

as the national law is concerned, that goes into effect at that time.

Mr. Griffin. Mr. Chairman, may I ask what has been done about

the adoption of the pound standard bill—selling by weight? Was

it referred to the executive committee?

The Presiding Officer. That was adopted last year by the conference. It was not referred to the executive committee. Some of

the States, I understand, have adopted that ; a great many have not.

Mr. Mikesell. Mr. Chairman, I do not believe the Chair just understood Mr. Griffin's question. I think he had reference to that clause

in the resolutions adopted at the last conference asking for net

weight, or sale by weight, in particular. Now, he probably wanted
148 BUREAU or STANDARDS.

to know whether or not any legislation had been drafted by our

executive committee, or by the conference, and submitted to Congress. Am I right?

Mr. Griffin. That is it. The Secretary. Mr. Chairman, I might say that a copy of that

resolution was sent to each member of the Conunittee on Coinage,

Weights, and Measures of the House and the members of the Committee on Standards of the Senate, and an attempt was made by Dr.

Stratton to have the proposition to assess the duty on imports by

weight rather than by measure incorporated in the tai'iff bill ; but, so far as I know, the thing had at that time gone so far that it was

impossible to have that done, and I can not report that there are any

results from that action except so far as it has been taken by the

States, and I think some of the States have adopted that. Mr. Van

Duyn is attempting to put that through.

Mr. Richardson, of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, as I understand Mr.

Fischer, Congress has taken no action on our resolution which we

passed a year ago recommending sales of dry commodities by net

weight or numerical count. Has it ? The Secretary. I wish you gentlemen had a little experience

along this line here in Washington, and you would not ask questions

like that. Resolutions have very little effect on Congress. Congress

has not acted on that.

Mr. Richardson, of Virginia. Where are we going to get uniformity among the States unless Congress does? What is the use

of our passing a law in Virginia if it is not a law in Maryland and

these other States?

Mr. AiiBRECHT. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the convention,

I would like to state that we passed a law in Ohio that required 94

different commodities to be sold by weight, by numerical count, or by

contract in writing. A man could sell otherwise than by count or weight only if he entered into a written contract. The bill was introduced by a weights and measures official, one of our city sealers in

Columbus, Mr. King. It was passed in the house without a dissenting vote, and it went to the senate and was passed there very

easily. It went into effect 90 days from that time. The commissioner of weights and measures extended that time for 15 days, and

there seemed to be none of the city sealers enforcing it ; so the State

department went out, and we filed some 42 or 43 affidavits and made

some arrests. The first man placed on trial pleaded not guilty. He

was fined in the justices' courts, after the evidence was submitted by

the State, but he refused to pay his fine, and consequently was at once remanded to the county jail. The case from there was taken into the

common pleas court and the act was declared unconstitutional. It

was then appealed and taken to the circuit court of appeals, and was

also declared unconstitutional. I might state that it was submitted

on briefs, without oral arguments. It is now pending in the supreme

court, and I was very much in hopes that I would be able to make

a favorable report at this meeting as to the outcome of that bill, but

as yet I can not do so. But we feel confident that the law will be

declared valid in the supreme court.

I might also add that the only people that are fighting this law are the commission men and the market men—peddlers and hucksters.

I think we had some twenty-odd indorsements from the larger cities,
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 149

from the grocers' and butchers' associations, favoring this bill; and,

as I stated, I feel that we will win out at least within the next 10 days

or so. I thank you, gentlemen.

The President. In regard to the last question before us, the sell- ing of goods by weight, I will state that last week it was my privilege

to address the National Retail Grocers' Association at Louisville,

Ky., a very large association. The convention was very well at- tended—I think there were four or five hundred delegates there—and

to my great surprise they passed a resolution unanimously favoring

this selling of commodities by weight ; and I can assure you that the

Bureau of Standards will do all it can to help that along, and that

during the coming session of Congress we will endeavor to secure some sort of legislation. We will at least see that a proper bill is

prepared and introduced in Congress.

Mr. RoTL,ANCE. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, the gentleman from

Ohio referred to the commission men, and for that reason brought

me to my feet. You understand I am a representative of the Westem Fruit Jobbers' Association of America and chairman of its committee on weights and measures, as well as its treasurer, and I am

sorry to hear the gentleman say that the only opposition that came to

the sale of products in Ohio by weight was from the commission

man. I want to say that the Western Fruit Jobbers' Association, as I explained before, is a very large organization of wholesale jobbers,

comprising all the States west of Ohio, including Illinois and all the

States bordering on the Mississippi River on the east, as well as all

on the west, and we are a unit for the sale of all commodities by

weight, or numerical count on the orange and the apple boxes. Let me

illustrate one of the reasons why we are in favor of it : Onions in the

State of Indiana are only 48 pounds to the bushel; in Illinois they

are 57 pounds per bushel. Suppose, for illustration, the Chicago

merchant should buy from the Indiana merchant 50 carloads of

onions —which is often done—at a specified price per bushel. According to the adopted custom of the East, he only gets about fivesixths of the amount of onions he purchases. Taking as a basis

30,000 pounds per car, he would get only about 24,000 pounds of

onions instead of 30,000 pounds of onions per car, which, taking the

price of onions last spring—3 cents per pound—would amount to

about $180. So we want the Western Fruit Jobbers' Association put

on record as in favor of and recommending the adoption of a standard for the sale of all farm commodities or vegetables by the weight

instead of by the bushel or other measure. Mr. Albrecht. Mr. Chairman, I might state that when I made that

remark about the commission men I did not have reference to the

western shippers, but to our local commission men in the cities of

Columbus, Toledo, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton, and other cities.

They opposed the measure very strongly, and were, in fact, the

instigators of this suit being brought.

Mr. Byrne. Mr. President and gentlemen, I realize that a law

requiring the sale of vegetables by Aveight is a hard matter to obtain

by the National Government until a number of States adopt it first. I have here an indorsement from the Retail Grocers' Protective Association of my city which I received in the mail this morning, and I

would like to have it put in the record.
150 BUEEAU OF STANDARDS.

The Presiding Officer. If there is no objection, that will be

inserted.

Grand Rapids, Mich., May 25, 1914.

Resolved iy the Grand Rapids Retail Grocers^ Protective Association, That

the selling of all root vegetables by weight is a necessity for the protection of

both consumer and retail grocers: Therefore be it Resolved, That we ask our city sealer of weights and measures to urge a

national law governing same at a national convention of sealers of weights and

measures held at Washington this week.

W. A. Wood,

President. A. A. Stevenson,

Secretary.

Mr. Haseman. Mr. Chairman, I have come a long way to attend

this convention—from the State of Oklahoma. I am not informed

as to the true state of affairs in Oklahoma concerning weights and

measures. I wrote the governor after receiving the appointment,

and I failed to hear from him before leaving, as to what legislation

had been passed as to regulating weights and measures. I am not a weights and measures man, although I am thoroughly interested in

the standards of weights and measures. I am in university work;

and the question I want to ask the delegates to this conference, especially the delegates from States maintaining State universities, is

simply this : What relations do you have with your State universities, or what relations do they have with you ? Is there any effort on your

part to get advice or instruction from your State university? Does

your State university make any effort to serve you? Your work is

that of public servants ; the university work is that of public servants

also. In the early stages of the medical profession the doctor's work

was to cure diseases; to-day it is to prevent diseases as well as to cure

diseases. Now, in this weights and measures proposition the curing

stage and the prevention stage, I think, ought to go hand in hand.

As I see it, the National Bureau of Standards is in a way the instrument to furnish the information to prevent incorrect weights and

measures, and there are officials who are to cure those things when

they are discovered. So I believe there is a place for the State

universities in the States that maintain State universities; there is a type of service ; there is a chance for cooperation between the State

university and the sealers of weights and measures of the various

States ; and what I want to know is whether there is any relation.

Now, understand, I do not expect ever to be a sealer or_ a weights

and measures man. But I do hope to institute in the University of

Oklahoma a type of public service that will enable any weightman

or sealer in any county or city in the State of Oklahoma to carry out

his work with a high degree of efficiency. In other words, I am in

the educational phase of it, and, as I understand it, you men are on

the administrative side. You can not administer the laws that are passed by the legislature if you do not have your public properly informed; and, as I understand it, it is the business of the State university, in States that maintain such institutions, to inform the public so that you can administer your laws efficiently.

Mr. Brown. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman from Oklahoma recognizes two great principles which are gathering force as time passes,

namely, the cooperation of every force under the purview and direc-
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 151

tion of the State government, and the fact thattthey all are organized for the purpose of service to the public. Now, I can best answer

his question by giving him a statement of our very limited experi- ence in Tennessee, because we have just started there. I might say

that in Tennessee the weights and measures work is divided into two

divisions, into which it naturally falls. One is the enforcement of

the act from the police standpoint, under the direction of the superintendent of weights and measures. It is a State department, represented by me. The other is the sealing end—the scientific end, we

will call it; and it is scientific—which is taken care of by the president of the State imiversity. Now, it so happens that with us the

president of the State imiversity is one of the foremost physicists in

the cormtry, but on account of his executive and administrative

duties he naturally has not time to give to the details of this matter,

so our law provides that he may appoint one of his staff of professors as an assistant sealer, and that gentleman has charge of the

details. He is also at this conference representing his end of the

work.

Now, there is an opportunity for cooperation, and very effective

cooperation, between your State university and your officials more

directly concerned with the enforcement of the law. The same

arrangement or a similar arrangement prevails in Kansas. It may

prevail in other States that I do not know about at this time. So

far, in Tennessee it is working very nicely, and I have no idea that

it will ever work in any other way, because I believe we can handle

it in such a way as to secure a maximum of efficiency from both ends

of the work, the two ends of the work being somewhat distinct in

their character, and working along lines which, while they are

closely related, are not exactly alike. That may help to answer the

gentleman's question to a certain degree.

Mr. Green. Mr. Chairman, with reference to the question raised

by the gentleman from Oklahoma I wanted to call attention to the

fact that at the last session of the legislature in West Virginia a bill

was introduced providing that the director of the physical laboratory

of the State university should be the custodian of the standards supplied by the Federal Government and should have charge of the

work of testing and proving the standards used by local officers, and

that the university should cooperate to that extent. Unfortunately,

like much other good legislation provided for the legislature in ad- vance of its session, this got overlooked and lost in the shuffle, and the

bill did not get through. I will be very glad to send a copy of the

bill to the gentleman from Oklahoma and to any other gentlemen

Avho may be interested in the matter.

The Secketaky. Mr. Chairman, I think it would be in order to

state, if that is agTeeable to this conference, that any remarks submitted by members of the conference will be incorporated in the proceedings if presented in writing within a reasonable time.

The Presiding Officer. That applies to the State officials?

The Secretary. To any delegate.

The Presiding Officer. If there is no objection on the part of the

conference, that will be done.
152 BUBEAU OP STANDAKDS.

REPORTS AND MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS SUBMITTED BY

DELEGATES.

ADDRESS

By Thtjee Hanson, Commissioner of Weights and Measures of Massachusetts.

A pleasant duty devolves upon me at this time, one which I hasten

to perform. His excellency, Hon. David I. Walsh, governor of Massachusetts, has requested me to extend to this National Conference on

Weights and Measures his hearty greetings and to offer his active

cooperation in our work of making better and more effective the

planning of new legislation and the enforcement of legislation now

in effect.

Gov. Walsh is deeply interested in the department of weights and

measures in Massachusetts, and he has instructed me to furnish him

with all information obtainable at this conference in the hope that

he may give his good offices toward improvement and advancement

in Massachusetts.

Since I have had the honor to be conamissioner of weights and

measures in Massachusetts I have been in a position to offer many

suggestions which perhaps will improve the work of our department

within our Commonwealth, and I have found that the legislators

have been eager to pass legislation which will improve the work of

this department. In many of the States the effectiveness of the

department of weights and measures is lessened perhaps because its

far-reaching influences are not well known.

Publicity, I believe, will work wonders, but it. must be of the right

kind. There are many matters in connection with our work which

widespread and unlimited publicity will perhaps injure more than it will help.

A general campaign of education would doubtless prove of benefit

to all concerned, especially when it applies to laws, but, as you know,

there are many instances in the performance of our work where tact

and careful judgment are required, and it is concerning these that

we should direct our attention toward letting those directly interested

know just how we are acting.

We should make it our business to let those who sell commodities

by weight and measure, and those who manufacture weighing and

measuring devices, know that we are their friends; that our business

does not require that we shall be forever and eternally biased in favor

of the consumer. There are two sides to this question, and it is our duty to consider both sides.

There are a few matters which I have considered, which I desire

to place before this conference in the hope that eventually we can

bring about national cooperation. I believe the National Government should enact such legislation as will control the type of scales

manufactured and used in this country. New York has such a law

now, but since scales are manufactured in various places and sent to

all States and Territories, it seems to me that this business should

be under the control of the national department of weights and measures, and that they should be given authority to issue serial numbers

for these scales.

Another matter which is of great importance is that of sealing

milk bottles. Massachusetts has a law requiring that all milk bottles

used within the Commonwealth shall be sealed. Maine has another
KIKTH ANNUAL CONFEEENCE' ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 153

law. Some cities of the West have ordinances relative to this. If

there could be enacted a law covering the entire United States, and

distinctive marks be issued from the Washington office, a vast amount

of inconvenience and misunderstanding could be done away with.

In view of the fact that this is my first appearance at this confer- ence since my appointment as commissioner of weights and measures

for Massachusetts, I will not go into detail regarding the scope of our work, but rather will confine myself to a brief summary of laws

enacted in Massachusetts since the last conference. I will mention

these laws in the order in which they were approved by the governor.

A bill was approved April 21, 1913, entitled "An act relative to the

measuring of leather." This provides that the mayor of a city or the

selectmen of a town, upon request of two or more voters thereof,. shall

annually appoint one or more measurers of leather who have been

certified by the commissioner of weights and measures as fit persons

for such appointment, and who shall be sworn to the faithful performance of their duty. The commissioner of weights and measures

may at any time, for cause, revoke such certificate of fitness. A

measurer of leather for one city or town may measure leather for

any other city or town in the Commonwealth.

At the same time a bill was approved providing for the testing

and sealing of mechanical devices for measuring leather, the sealer

being given authority to collect a fee of $1 for each device sealed,

and being allowed to condemn or seize those found incorrect. This

law was necessary on account of the enactment of the one I have just

mentioned.

A shingle law was approved May 2, 1913. This establishes the

unit of measure termed a " thousand." Under this law a thousand

of shingles shall cover an area of 100 square feet when laid with

not more than 5 inches exposed to the weather.

An act approved May 28, 1913, exempts peas and beans for seeding and planting purposes from a law providing for sale by weight.

June 14, 1913, an act to establish tolerances in the sale of commodities by weight was approved. This provides that in respect to

commodities not intended for food or fuel reasonable tolerances or

variations shall be permitted in accordance with established trade

customs. I feel that you will agree with me that this law is open

to criticism.

The present legislature has passed five bills relative to weights

and measures, and there are three now pending. The legislature

has established a standard for weighing diamonds and precious

stones by amending the old law and fixing the carat weight at 200

milligrams.

Another law provides that a sealer or deputy sealer may seize any

weighing or measuring devices which do not conform to the legal

standards or are not sealed as required by law, and any person who

has any such weighing or measiiring device in his possession, with

intent to use same in violation of the law, shall be punished by a

fine of not more than $50 for each offense, and such devices upon

order of any court shall be destroyed. Possession of such devices

shall be prima facie evidence that they are intended to be used in

violation of the law.

An act approved April 17, 1914, gives us more opportimity for

effective work because it provides for prosecution for the use of false
154 BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

weights and measures used in purchase or exchange by junk dealers

and others, so that the law now reads

Whoever uses, or has in his possession with intent to use, a false or con- demned weight, measure, scale, balance, or beam for weighing or measuring

any commodity bought, sold, or exchanged, or for hire or reward, may for each

offense be fined not more than $50.

A law approved the same day provides that complaints and

prosecutions for violations of the statutes relative to the use or giving of false or insufficient weights or measures may also be begun

and prosecuted in the court having jurisdiction over the place to

which the goods concerned are shipped. Heretofore it has been nec- essary for us to pursue prosecutions at the place where delivery was

made; for instance, if the consignee paid the freight, the carrier

was considered his agent, and it was necessary to prosecute wherever the goods were delivered to the carrier. The new law does

away with that hindrance.

The passage of an act relative to the appointment of sealers and

deputy sealers of weights and measures, which was approved April

29, 1914, provides for the establishment of districts over which one

sealer will have authority. Two or more towns and one city, or two

or more towns, may combine under this law into a district, with one

district sealer and one .set of standards. We found this law to be

necessary owing to the fact that in some of the towns of Massachusetts the office of sealer was regarded as a purely perfunctory office,

some of the sealers being paid as low as $1 per year. Under this

law, we expect that men of some degree of proficiency may be

engaged in this most important work, and the expense may be shared

by the various towns combining to foi-m the district.

' Chapter 367, acts of 1914, provides that all fresh food fish sold

at wholesale shall be sold by weight at time of delivery. This will

insure a more equitable return for the Gloucester fishermen, who

almost daily risk their lives in the mackerel fisheries. Heretofore

these fish were classified as No. Is, No. 2s, and " tinkers^" according

to size, and sold by count, the sorting and classification being made

hj the agents of the large wholesale buyers. Thus many were classed

as No. 2s which weighed but an ounce less than No. Is, and were paid

for at the rate of 10 cents each, when the ruling price for No. Is was

twice that figure.

Chapter 525 provides that a variation or tolerance of 6 per cent

shall be permitted in barrels and fractional parts of barrels con- taining malt beverages. This law was enacted, although I argued

before the committee that 2 per cent would be ample, if, indeed, any

tolerance at all was necessary. In this connection, I believe that the

United States internal-revenue law should be amended, as the present

law provides for a barrel containing 31 gallons, while the hogshead,

under the same law, contains 63 gallons. This discrepancy between

the Massachusetts standard barrel and that upon which the internal- revenue tax is based was without doubt the controlling reason for

the success of the brewers in securing the 6 per cent tolerance.

There is pending in the legislature a net-container bill, which provides that all packages containing foodstuffs shall be marked, showing the net contents. This is similar to the national law which goes

into eli'ect September 1, and, of course, applies to interstate trade.

This bill provides that a hearing must be given to all those accused

of violations before prosecutions may be undertaken.
NINTH ANNUAL CONFEEENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 155

There is a bill pending providing for the recodification of the

weights and measures laws of Massachusetts. There are several con -

flicts in the present laws, which we hope to have eliminated.

A bill which is pending provides that the scales and measuring

devices of apothecaries and all others dispensing drugs shall be tested

each year rather than every three years, as under the present law.

Investigation has proved that 44.7 per cent of the apothecaries'

weights are inaccurate. We have found that weights which might

be used for weighing potent poisons were as much as 40 per cent

heavy. In the testing of apothecaries' weights we supply a set to

be used while those owned by the apothecary are being tested. We

have found ^-grain weights that were 40 per cent heavy. One druggist was found using a piece of a suspender buckle for a 3 -grain

weight which weighed nearly 18 grains. Another was using lead

weights which it was stated had been in constant use since 1858.

We have also given attention to the subject of testing the " slashers " and other machines used in textile mills to determine the yardage of the " cuts " upon which basis the compensation of some of

the employees is determined. We have secured a suitable apparatus

for making these tests, and intend to commence this work in the near

future.

In conjunction with the public-service commissioners, our department was making some arrangements for testing the track mileage on

all railroads in Massachusetts, but upon learning that the Interstate

Commerce Commission was about to inaugurate a similar inspection

the matter was dropped so as to avoid a duplication of the work.

In our department we have six inspectors, five of whom work

throughout the Commonwealth, it being divided into five sections.

One inspector is on duty continually in Boston, his work being

largely that of inspecting taxicab meters and other routine work.

We employ three automobiles in the country districts where stores are few and far between. We are planning to put into service an

automobile truck of 2,000 pounds' capacity, so that we can carry

weights necessary for the testing of platform scales.

I consider it a great privilege to be present at this conference. I

realize that nowhere in the United States can one learn more of the

modern meithods relative to weights and measures than here ; and on

behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts I desire to thank those

who are enlightening us relative to our work, our business, which

seems to me to be summed up in the phrase, " Fairness to those who

buy, sell, or exchange by weight or measure."

ADDEESSi

By W. L. Waldron, Superintendent of the Department of Weights and Measures

of Neio Jersey.

Mr. Chairman, I suppose it has occurred to most of us sometime

during the past year or two that the movement for correct weights

and measures has made remarkable progress. New departments are being created and, considering the brief time they have been in existence, are giving a splendid account of themselves. Every section

of the country, from the East to the West and from the North to the

South, seems to be contributing its share to the movement. The

thing that most impresses me in the matter, I think, is that the

growth has been of a steady, healthy kind, the kind that will be last-
156 BUKEAU OF STANDAEDS.

ing and productive of much good. It is pleasing for me to recall

that New Jersey is not negligent in this advance. On the contrary,

the State seems to be trying to make up for time lost. Four years

ago weights-and-measures work in the State was carried on only in

the principal cities. Several officials operated under the fee system.

The law creating the department of weights and measures of the

State of New Jersey changed all this. It abolished the fee system,

which is recognized to-day by all fair-minded officials as being most

unsatisfactory. All the weights-and-measures superintendents in

New Jersey are paid a salary sufficient in itself to enable the recipients to devote their entire time to the work. This is a tremendous

advantage, and it is, to my way of thinking, responsible in a great

measure for the success we have met with so far. The law of New

Jersey on weights and measures contains the principal features found

in the laws of other States and some features of advantage not found

elsewhere. In connection with this statement anent legislation, I

wish to outline briefly the principles embodied in the latest law re- lating to weights and measures.

It is the first law of its kind to be passed, I believe; but it will not

be the last. It standardizes the sizes of baskets and boxes to be

used for the sale of berries, fruits, and vegetables. It permits these

sizes: One pint, 1 quart, 2, 4, 8, 16, 20, and 32 quarts. So far, the

law may not differ from others of a similar nature existing elsewhere. But here is the difference; our law compels the manufacturers to mark the capacity plainly on the outside of each basket

before it leaves the factory. Furthermore, manufacturers must place

a designating mark on their baskets. Their trade-mark will do,

provided our department is furnished with a copy of it ; if they have

no trade-mark, the department is empowered to supply one. Both

of these features are new, but already have given proof of merit.

Manufacturers would hardly dare to put odd-size baskets on the

market. Detection would be certain, which would result in the imposition of a heavy fine. For the first time in the history of the State

consumers are getting all that they pay for. Thousands of odd-size

baskets h;ive been confiscated because of not complying with the law.

The sizes named in the act enable officials promptly to detect incorrect sizes whenever encountered. Manufacturers and consumers

alike, as well as superintendents, are outspoken in praise of the new

law. They state that it places competition on an equal basis. The

law was made necessary because of the many incorrect and conflicting

sizes being used prior to its passage. New Jersey farm and garden

produce finds a ready sale in near-by States. In shipping the fruits,

berries, and vegetables it was • inevitable that many incorrect sizes

would find their way into the State. Some were in use that were

supposed to hold 16 quarts, but tests showed they rarely held more

than 14 quarts—often 11, 12, and 13. The new law effectually rids

the State of these odd sizes and is the medium for the accomplishment of much good. As the act becomes better understood it will

result in the saving of a substantial sum annually to the housewives

of the State.

TVTaile discussing conditions in New Jersey I should like to draw

attention to a peculiar phase of weights and measures work we

were confronted with during the early days of the department's

organization. The State has a coast line extending for 200 miles

along the Atlantic Ocean which is famed throughout the entire coun-
NTSTTH ANNUAL CONFEBENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 157

try. This coast line is dotted with a large number of towns, large

and small, which are known as seaside resorts. During the winter

months the population is small, but beginning in May and continuing until October the population is increased several hundred thousands. The " season," as it is called, is short and those doing business

have not a very long time to realize on their investments. A preliminary tour of inspection brought out the fact that the nierchants

were usually from other States. They always got top-notch prices

for their goods, and in many instances were not overly scrupulous

as to weighing and measuring. After considering how best to deal

with the situation it was decided to assign a superintendent to patrol

the coast line during the summer months. This plan worked out

very satisfactorily and resulted in the confiscation of hundreds of

pieces of faulty equipment. Included in the collection were " doctored " scales, false weights, short measures ; in fact, all kinds of poor

and inadequate equipment were picked up. Of course, there were a number of arrests and convictions. This determined stand on our

part speedily convinced the " shore dealers " that we were very much

in earnest. It was a hard fight at the outset, but by sticking on the

job we were successful. To-day the coast merchants are as honest

as dealers in any other part of the State. The visits of the county

and State men have done much to make permanent the results of the

initial inspections.

Speaking of equipment confiscated brings to my mind the fact that

the wide-awakeness of New Jersey officials has resulted in the detection of some very unusual cheating and defrauding devices. In

most instances the operators had done their work so cleverly that a

superficial examination failed to disclose anything out of the ordinary. Probably the most interesting and most unusual discoveries

were the fake gasoline cans. The wide extent of the automobile

traffic put temptations in the way of some not strong enough to

withstand them. The cans found and confiscated numbered 16.

They were each supposed to hold 5 gallons, but only held 3. The

difference was brought about by placing a smaller can on the inside,

which reduced the capacity to that already mentioned. Nothing like

these cans had ever been seen anywhere before, and their confiscation

caused a great deal of comment. They were shown all over New

Jersey and many other places and caused weights and measures work

to be viewed in a new and favorable light. The users of the cans were all prosecuted and paid heavy fines, and the traffic is now

broken up. In another confiscation campaign, waged in connection

with the law on baskets, our men picked up a number of baskets

that were certainly out of the ordinary. They were so woven that

two baskets were made into one. The weaving was executed so cleverly that it was necessary to look inside the basket to discover

the extent of the fraud. Another unusual fraud detected recently,

which some here may have already been confronted with, was the use of barrels for selling potatoes. A smaller barrel was turned

upside down with potatoes covering it. The peddlers were able to

reduce prices by making use of this ruse and they were doing a thriving business until apprehended. Fines, heavy ones at that, were

imposed, and the judge made the dishonest vendors refund sufficient

cash to reimburse the number of persons defrauded, most of whom

appeared as witnesses in the case. The hucksters were emphatic

in leaving court that they would leave New Jersey alone in the
158 BUEEAU OF STANDAEDS.

future. Detection of frauds of this kind go far in convincing the

public that weights and measures work is taken seriously, and that

by cooperation with officials much can be accomplished.

In conclusion, I would urge upon all superintendents to be vigilant, courteous, and fair toward all. Only by observing these re- quirements can success be permanently attained.

REMARKS

By Me. F. G. Buchtel, Deputy Sealer of Weights and Measures of Oregon.

Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, for the last few years I have re- ceived notice, along with an invitation, to be present at the anntial

conference, but, owing to the fact that it requires a considerable

expenditure to make this trip from Oregon, I have up until the

present time been unable to attend. However, we, through the

courtesy of the bureau, have had the reports of these past conferences, as well as various pamphlets on the subject of .weights and

measures, which haA^e been of benefit and assistance.

Owing to the fact that the report of the committee on tolerances

and specifications was to be taken up and discussed this time, I was

more anxious than ever to be present, in order that I might have

first-hand knowledge of the subject and be in a position to place

before our next legislature in Oregon a law that would cover the

recommendations of the present conference on this subject, as well

as additional amendments that would make our law conform closer

to those of the other States, and thus avoid the confusion that results

in interstate shipments, due to the present lack of uniformity.

The past 3^ear's experience under the present Oregon law has

shown a number of places wherein it is weak. Our system of having

county sealers appointed by the various courts and not under the

direct supervision of the State office often causes confusion, and in

counties of small population and large area needless expense; we

have no standard for berry boxes or small-fruit containers, which

is something that should be remedied, and there are numerous provisions of law dealing directly with weights and measures that are under the supervision of other State officers. I believe that this

conference, as well as the bureau, will agree with me when I say

that this is wrong, for where there is a division of authority there

is a tendency to leave enforcement of law to the " other fellow."

and the best results are not obtained.

If there are any questions relative to weights and measures in

the Northwest which my experience will allow me to answer for

the delegates, I will gladly do so, for, in turn, I expect to take advantage of their knowledge and experience. I also wish to thank

the bureau for their assistance and advice, which, in conjunction with

the visit of Mr. F. S. Holbrook some time ago, has done much in

assisting us in our work.

REPORT.

By J. C. Wallenmeyer, Sealer of Weights and Measures of Evansville, Ind.

Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the Ninth Annual Conference on Weights and Measures, I am very glad to report that the scales,

weights, and measures in southern Indiana are in very good shape

at the present time. The first inspection in 1912 revealed deplor-
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 159

able conditions, 65 per cent being incorrect, as against 6 per cent

incorrect in the 1914 inspection. These conditions were brought

about by practicing the golden-rule policy, advised by former Mayor

Charles A. Heilman.

Evansville is a great dairy center and butter market. A great deal

of the butter made by farmers and weighed on the old-style 99-cent

even-balance scale ran from 13 to 19 ounces to the pound. By con- demning and confiscating this type of scale and compelling farmers

to buy reliable scales all butter now weighs uniformly 16 ounces

to the pound.

A number of new modern railroad track scales have been recently

installed by firms and corporations, who have been paying exorbitant

freight charges, no attention being paid to claims filed with the

Southern Weighing and Inspection Bureau. Investigation revealed

the surprising fact that most of the cars about which there was a controversy were being weighed on an old worn-out 36-foot scale,

although some of the cars were 60 feet long. First one end of the

car was weighed and then the other, and one-half of this combined

weight given as the weight of the car. This method of weighing

resulted in an error of 35 tons on one. carload of jimk sold at $12

per ton. I was asked to report this scale to the Interstate Commerce

Commission, which has been investigating the accuracy of railroad

weights throughout this country.

A test was made of a beer meter, used by a certain brewing association, for the purpose of determining the amount of internal- revenue tax, at the rate of $1 per barrel of 31 gallons, to weigh

258 pounds. The average weight of 40 barrels was only 256.1 pounds.

As the above-named firm bottles 100,000 barrels per year, they paid

the Government $650 per year for tax on beer that did not pass

through the meter, and I was informed this type of meter is in use

in most of the large breweries in the United States.

Gas meters tested out 97 per cent correct, this high average being

due to the fact that our local public utilities commission has an ex- pert working on meters all the time. A number of complaints were

caused by the fact that increased gas bills were due to meters being

within a few feet of the furnace, causing the gas to expand before it entered the meter. I found that for every increase of 5° in temperature over the normal the meter would register 1 per cent fast.

Rice flour imported by a baking company through a New York

firm and billed at 280 pounds per bag net, was found to weigh as low

as 253 pounds, due to the sacks having been torn by ship hooks

and then resewed.

A carload of 500 bags of flour from St. Louis, and billed as' 49,000 pounds, was found to be 849 pounds short, the sacks weighing

from 93 to 99 pounds, showing extreijae carelessness on the part of

the packers. Evansville bakeries use hundreds of cars of Minneapolis spring-wheat flour, which, with very few exceptions, weighs uniformly 98 pounds net to the bag, showing results of the good work

of Commissioner Neale.

I am pleased to report that most commodities in package form are now being marked with the net contents, although a few of the

cereals and breakfast foods made in the East are so marked that a microscope must be used to find them.

I thank you, gentlemen.
160 BUREAU OF STANDAKDS.

REMARKS

By Me. Frank J. O'Roueke, Sealer of Weights and Measures of Hammond, Ind.

Mr. Chairman, these discussions have brought out many views on

the weights and measures proposition that are of great interest to

the delegates assembled here. They all seem to be striving for the

one end. It appears to me that gentlemen come here seeking information, and with their minds fully made up that if any action that

they could take would bring about the vmifoimity necessary throughout this country, they would be glad to take that action. We have

heard the gentlemen speak on the conflicts that they are confronted

with in their respective communities on legislative matters pertaining to weights and measures. We have heard the views expressed

by delegates from different States, and all the trend of thought

seems to be along the same line. Everybody is anxious to have a uniform law prevail on this matter throughout the length and

breadth of this land of ours. Now, I believe—as the gentleman

from NeAV York well said a few moments ago—that this will probably take many years to accomplish, but its accomplishment can be

hurried more by the weights and measures officials through a program of publicity in their respective communities than by any other

single agency that may take hold of this proposition. I think that

with the information we have received here—and the work has been

of an educational nature—we can all go back to our homes and say

to the people that men all over this country, men who have been en- gaged in this work for years, who are intensely interested in the welfare of the general public, are very anxious to bring about a uniform

condition in the buying and selling of all the foodstuffs in the

markets of the United States.

My idea is that our next duty lies with our Congressmen. We have

been successful in bringing about much beneficial and greatly needed

State legislation; but, as Mr. Fischer, of the Bureau of Standards,

says, it is a difficult matter to get anything through the Halls of

Congress. Now, it strikes me that each of us has a message to his Congressman at home, and that we must bring it to his attention that the

people are interested in this subject; that they all are desirous of uniformity throughout this country ; and I hope that each delegate, when

he returns home after this conference, will make it his business to get

in touch with his Congressman and let him know what the views of

the various men are who represent the various States of this country.

I just want to say a little on this question of selling by weight. In

my particular locality I am probably more fortunately situated than

others, from the fact that I have never asked for any legislation or

for any assistance in my work and been refused. Just a short time

ago I called a meeting of the retail men of my town and had them

indorse the proposition to sell everything by weight. At the last

meeting of our council I submitted an ordinance abolishing the dry

measure entirely. It will come up for final passage at the next meeting on next Tuesday night, and I have the assurance of the majority

of the members of the council that it will pass. It has taken two

years to convince the people of my city that they were never treated

fairly when buying by measure, and I believe the same conditions

prevail all over the country. While the measure may be of standard

size, it is an instrument that can be vised in a fraudulent way by a man if he so desires, regardless of whether it is standard or not.
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 161

Now, I hope that the opinions expressed on this question of selling

by weight, as well as the opinions and desires expressed by many

men here to bring about uniformity, will furnish food for thought

for the various delegates when they go home, and that each will consider himself a committee of one to take this matter up with his Congressman or Senator and see if this conference can not bring about

this legislation that we hope for, that will bring about this uniformity in all the States of the Union.

REPORT.

By HEEMA.N F. Adam, Inspector of Weights and Measures of Indianapolis. Ind.

Mr. Chairman, I have a few data here to which I would like to ask

your attention, and being a new member I will be very brief.

I have been in office less than three months, and when I took office

I was confronted with a lot of work which should ha've been taken up

before. These three months have been a campaign of education to me

and my deputies, and also to the various merchants of Indianapolis.

We had to acquaint the grocel" and the butcher with the conditions as to what kind of a scale would pass inspection and could be

sealed. That was quite a big problem, but the obstacle has been

overcome to some extent, and a great deal of good work has been ac- complished. Now and then we come across a scale which we have to

condemn, and the merchant will invariably say he did not know his

scales were wrong. His excuse is that he " never reads the papers."

If it was a case of ignorance on the part of the merchants, I would

use common sense and act accordingly. We have inaugurated quite

a few reforms in Indianapolis during my short time in office. The

grocer and peddler are weighing their potatoes, and eventually will

be weighing all their vegetables. The housewife is now demanding

the weight of almost everything she buys. The following was

clipped from the Indianapolis Star of May 21, showing that I have

the indorsement and the cooperation of the merchants of the city of

Indianapolis.

MEECHANTS TO AID ADAM.

The members of the Indianapolis Business Men's Association have indorsed

the law providing that potatoes and other vegetables must be sold by weight

instead of measure, and also have voted to uphold and assist Herman F. Adam,

inspector of weights and measures, in his effort to enforce the law.

The merchants throughout the city indorse the policy that is being

pursued by my department.

Department and dry-goods stores have eliminated the brass tacks

and installed the standard yardstick. This has also been indorsed by

the heads of the large department stores. The ice dealers all have scales on their wagons, and the ice must

be weighed, and the ice peddler caught without an ice scale on his

wagon and failing to weigh his ice will be arrested. I adopted the

policy when I took office of giving an offender a second chance, believing I could accomplish much good out of court, and I find that I

have had good success. Hence, up to date we have only made 10

arrests. One merchant had sold 10 bags of potatoes with a total of

190 pounds short, an average of 19 pounds to a bag, equivalent in

cash to $2.25; another 4 bags 42 pounds short, 60 cents in cash;

another sold 3 pecks for a bushel, 18 cents short. These were convicted and each fined $10 and costs, making a total of $20 apiece.

90371°—15 11
162 BUBEAU OF STANDAKDS.

Eeviewing my department since I have taken office, I find in the 10

weeks' time that we sealed 1,485 scales and confiscated 92 scales;

sealed 4,570 dry measures and confiscated 254 dry and liquid measures. We have only received 35 complaints, which have been trivial

and satisfactorily adjusted to both dealer and merchant. In summing up the conditions as they exist, I consider that the merchants

are giving the public a square deal.

REPORT.

By John S. Burke, City Superintendent of Weights and Measures of Jersey

City, N. J.

Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I have been sent here to be among

you to-day by a man who is very much interested in the cause of

honest weights and measures and the securing of full quantity to the

purchasing public. This man is the Hon. Frank Hag-ue, director of

public safety of Jersey City, imder whose supervision my department is operated, and who has given me all possible assistance and

encouragement.

In former years I was obliged, by city ordinance, to charge fees

for the tests made, and this was one of the greatest handicaps I en- countered, for under this system it was not possible to have the cooperation of the honest merchants. However, when the State department was established all fees were abolished, and I am now happy to

say that the honest tradespeople of Jersey City welcome the visit of

the inspector.

The city of Jersey City is the second largest in the State of New

Jersey, with a population of approximately 300,000 people, composed

largely of the laboring classes. The stores, as a rule, are small, and

it requires constant effort to educate the proprietors of these stores

to equip themselves with weighing and measuring instruments of a type that will weigh and measure accurately at all times. I think

that the National Bureau of Standards should use its best efforts to cause a law to be enacted by Congress that will prevent the manufacture and sale of these inaccurate instruments throughout the

country, and allow none unless it be of a type which is approved by

the bureau. If a law of this kind were passed, it would be possible

for a dealer to purchase any weighing or measuring instrument with

the knowledge that it would be accurate at all times and that it would

not be such as to facilitate the perpetration of fraud.

I earnestly recommend to the conference that legislation along

these lines be sought, and I think that if the conference did nothing

else at this convention but cause this legislation to be enacted that

in itself would be sufficient recompense to our States and municipalities for the money expended to send us here.

REPORT.

By John H. Sttllivan, City Sealer of Weights and Measures of 'Newark, N. J. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, as the representative of the city of

Newark, N. J., I desire first to express my appreciation of the honor

conferred upon me by the city of Newark, which I represent in part,

and my thanks for membership in this great body of men interested

in the problem of weights and measures.
NINTH ANNUAL CONFEEENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASUEES. 163

Id submitting a report for Newark your attention is respectfully

directed to one of the laws regulating weights and measures now in

force in the State of New Jersey, commonly known as the basket

law, the provisions of which practically eliminate all odd-size

baskets and measures from use in our State.

Many useful city ordinances are now in force in the city of Newark. In the many cases we have prosecuted within the past year or more not one point has been raised by any defendant that has not

been satisfactorily covered by the ordinances. One section of our

ordinance provides that it shall be unlawful for anyone to sell or

give away any instrument that is to be used for weighing or selling

purposes unless the same shall have been tested and sealed by the

department of weights and measures. For a violation of this sec- tion I prosecuted the representative in our city of one of the largest

scale companies in the United States, and after a fair and impartial

trial by jury the defendant was found guilty. Five other like

charges are now pending. I believe that every instrument should

be tested and sealed before it is allowed to be purchased or sold

and that every scale so mechanically constructed that the moving

of it from place to place will cause a change in its correctness should

be tested by the proper authority each and every time it is moved.

I have known scales that have been tested and sealed in my office as correct to be found incorrect when placed on the counter of a merchant within a few blocks of the office, and through some change to

go fast or slow from 1 to 3 ounces. The type of scale that I have in mind should be tested or inspected

as often as possible for the benefit of the merchant and the purchaser.

These scales are not of one particular make, but to the best of my

knowledge are made and sold by six or eight different companies.

Another section of our city ordinance provides that no person shall use for weighing or measuring any commodity to be purchased or

sold or used for weighing or measuring any work of employees in

factories any instrument that has not been tested and sealed by the

department of weights and measures; also that all commodities,

goods, or merchandise mvTst be sold either by weight or measure. These two sections are very important, as they require the use of

either an accurate scale or measure in the sale or purchase of all

goods, and are also a pretty good guaranty of protection both for

the employer and employee where scales or other instruments are used for the purpose of weighing or measuring work.

I would like to describe the mode of procedure followed by this

office where violations of the laws governing weights and measures

are found or brought to the attention of this department.

The person accused is first summoned to the office and is asked to

show cause why he or she should not be prosecuted. If I find that

the person accused committed the violation through ignorance or through innocence—this being shown to my satisfaction—the offender is allowed to go after a warning has been given, and the per- son is provided with a copy of the laws on weights and measures,

with the distinct understanding that any further violation of same

will mean a heavy fine. I have found this manner of handling cases

to be very good and very effective.

During the past year this department has secured 28 convictions

for violations, the fines collected from same amounting to $1,175.
164 BUREAU OF STANDAEDS.

Of this number, 17 convictions were secured from coal peddlers, who

sell by the hundred pounds, their j&nes amounting to $850.

In conclusion, I desire to express my sincere thanks to Dr. S. W.

Stratton, Director of the Bureau of Standards, also to Mr. Louis A.

Fischer, for the useful information they have supplied us with during

the past year, and for their willingness at all times to lend their

assistance to our department, the same having been of untold benefit

to us.

The secretary presented a letter from Mr. Charles B. Woolley, city

sealer of Boston, Mass., expressing his regrets at not being able to

be present at the conference, and inclosing a press clipping describing the manner in which confiscated apparatus is destroyed by the

Boston department, and several photographs showing large numbers

of faulty weighing and measuring devices condemned in that city.

SEKIAIilZATION OF TYPE.

By Joseph Haetigan, Commissioner of the Mayor's Bureau of Weights and

Measures of the City of New York.

Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, this conference, national in scope,

prompted by desires of mutual understanding for the betterment of

conditions and the solution of problems that confront all those interested in the subject of weights and measures, might direct its attention to the cause of establishing ways and means for the formulation

and adoption of uniform specifications and tolerances for the regulation and use of weighing and measuring devices.

This conference could with profit and credit to itself devote considerable of its time to the creation of a broad and constructive

policy that will be so far-reaching in effect as to be a guide to all

officials of weights and measures throughout the United States to

follow the specifications and tolerances adopted.

To present at this time a program for uniformity of action

throughout the United States on the part of officials of weights and

measures would be another and great step forward in the history

of the development of this subject.

This conference should select a group of officials, mature in experi- ence and judgment and versed in knowledge of the subject of weights

and measures, for the purpose of establishing as a permanent part

of this work a national board of examiners, the duties and responsibilities of this board to embrace the general subject of weights and

measures, with the object in view of securing a more ready response

from weight and measure officials in the United States for the promulgation of -uniform specifications and tolerances; this board to

receive suggestions and recommendations from weight and measure

officials, such suggestions and recommendations to be considered in

conjunction with an opportunity to be offered the manufacturers of

weighing and measuring apparatus to be heard on the subject before

adoption, and when a determination has been reached to acquaint

weight and measure officials with the decision of the board.

This board, assuming the character of a clearing house of ideas,

will take on the more important role of encouraging the building

up of rules and regulations that may be subscribed to by weight and

measure officials, zealous in the performance of their duties, in a manner that will promote equity and justice.
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 165

By reason of the influence and importance of this board, the procedure established will tend to advise weight and measure officials

of a proper and uniform conduct in the discharge of their duties.

In addition, it promises the elimination of the opinions, various and

diverse, among weight and measure officials throughout the United

States, and which, as you know from knowledge and experience in

the matter, is of grave concern to the manufacturer; without the

manufacturers of weighing and measuring appartus, I venture to

say, we would have no weight and measure officials and no work of

this kind to deliberate upon.

No statement made herein is directed at any weight and measure

official; the condition is likely to arise in the minds of numerous

individuals.

We in the city of New York, sincere and honest in our motives for

the betterment of weights and measures apparatus for the benefit of

the consumer, and in consonance with the advanced spirit of the age,

have adopted rules and regulations to apply to the conditions of our

metropolis, so significant in its cosmopolitan character.

By way of illustration, and for the consideration of this conference, the mayor's bureau of weights and measures has a regulation,

perhaps the first of its kind in the United States, formulated on the

opinion that all spring- actuated weighing machines show a considerable error, due to variations in springs subjected to changes in temperature. Carrying the opinion to fulfillment, provision was made

and known as regulation No. 9 of the mayor's bureau of weights

and measures of the city of New York, which reads as follows

Mayor's Bueeatt of Weights and Measures.

Mechanical division, 244 West Forty-ninth Street, city of New Yorlc.

OFFICIAL BULLETIN.

(Regulation No. 9, adopted by the board of examiners June T, 1913.)

Automatic compensating devices: Combined spring and lever weighing machines which indicate value of commodities weighed must be equipped with

automatic compensating devices to control variations in springs due to changes

in temperature.

Joseph Hartigan, Commissioner.

As to the merits concerned in the determination for the adoption

of this regulation, comment affirmative and negative is not absent

it remains a subject for further discussion.

Manufacturers of weights and measures apparatus, more particularly, however, of scales, are strangers to me. My principle is to

meet each and every manufacturer on a cormnon ground and deal

with them with full and fair consideration for the respective merits

of their product.

We must give heed to the genius that inspires the inventor, and

which is molded into mechanical form by the talent of the manufacturer. The room for improvement is large, the industry, while

established from time immemorial, in this progressive age is as yet

in its infant stage.

As commissioner of weights and measures for the city of New

York, my duty is to afford the people of that city protection from

the use of instruments (which are to weigh or measure commodities

for man and beast) possessing elements of a nature that facilitate

the perpetration of fraud. Prosecutions under the law, while drastic and oftentimes injurious to many interests, will, in the nature of
166 BUREAU OF STANDABDS.

things, continue until that time when education for the better and

truer has been accomplished.

The mayor's bureau of weights and measures demands that the

weighing and measuring apparatus used in the city of New York

shall be of such caliber as to give honest weight and honest measure

to the people of that city. We will continue to exact from all manufacturers of weighing and measuring apparatus who apply for admission to sell their products in the city of New York instruments

that are inherently honest and true in construction and principle.

When apparatus is discovered in use in the city of New York of

such character as to afford the storekeeper an opportunity, either

deliberate or by accident, to defraud the purchasing public it will be

confiscated and the manufacturer will be disfavored until he has

corrected the faults of his instrument. The manufacturer in such

instances may have his remedy in recourse to the judicial branch of our governmental system, and if the decision of the courts of last

resort rule against the enforcement of the regulations as adopted

the mayor's bureau of weights and measures of the city of New York

will abide by the judgment.

While my principle is to be fair and just to the manufacturer of

weighing and measuring apparatus and to the merchant who uses it,

nevertheless my duty transcends always in the service of protecting

and assisting the consumer in obtaining full value with honest

weight and measure. Weight and measure officials are not created to antagonize and

obstruct the manufacturer or the merchant; their duties should be

so performed as to mutualize understanding, with a view to the en- couragement and promotion of commerce along lines of honest intent

and purpose.

The Mayor's Bureau of Weights and Measures of the City of

New York, in the establishment of its rules and regulations, is not

prompted to arbitrary action, nor does it descend to amusement or

trivial diversion in its conduct toward its communicants. It does,

however, exercise its privilege as an administrative function of the

municipal government to regulate its own affairs and to cause the

avoidance of occasions that facilitate the easy practices that make

for the perpetration of frauds upon the purchasing public.

In view of your understanding of existing conditions and your

desire to further promote the cause of honest weights and conditions,

I urge upon you gentlemen the establishment of a national board of

examiners, with duties and responsibilities as heretofore outlined.

Federal regulation of weighing and measuring apparatus, if not

provided for here, will be prepared for and established within a brief

time. Such regulation, centralized and controlled under national

authority, is the only solution for the problems that confront the

manufacturers of scales and other weighing and measuring apparatus of this country. In the absence of legislation of such a character as to provide for Federal control and regulation, this confer- ence should proceed to advance the proposition of the serialization of

weighing and measuring devices, as begun by the Mayor's Bureau of

Weights and Measures of the City of New York, the pioneer of this

subject in the United States of America.

The Mayor's Bureau of Weights and Measures of the City of New

York invites this and future conferences, and any board of examiners
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 167

established in conjunction with the Bureau of Standards, to utilize

the advantages and facilities of the mechanical division of the

Mayor's Bureau of Weights and Measures of the City of New York

for whatever purpose in the furtherance of this project. Our

mechanical division has on exhibition permanent types of weighing

and measuring devices of every description, which are offered to the

board of examiners a^ objects for research work. Nowhere in the

United States, in a department of weights and measures, housed

under one roof can be found so numerous a variety of weighing and

measuring devices.

As the subject of weights and measures develops, the Bureau of

Standards of the Department of Commerce assumes a position of

inestimable value and importance. This bureau, equipped with

apparatus of the latest and best that science has produced, presided

over by men who have devoted their lives to the study of scientific

principles and their application, will ultimately be the final institution to determine the matter of the construction of weighing and

measuring apparatus, as proposed by the mayor's bureau of weights

and measures of the city of New York.

The Bureau of Standards will be the final arbiter of questions pertaining to construction of weighing and measuring instruments.

Questions are now determined in such a variety of decisions as to

confuse not alone the manufacturers and the officials of weights and

measures, but are puzzling and misleading to the purchasing public.

To illustrate: If the city of New York should require a locked

adjustment on a scale, every other section of the United States should

have a similar requirement. As conditions exist now, the manufacturers of weighing and measuring apparatus are confronted with

the problem of being able to satisfy the weight and measure officials,

after considerable expense and effort (and all manufacturers are willing to comply with reasonable requirements, as it means added

trade), all, however, to the ultimate end that the purchasing public

is obliged to be an unconscious contributor and made to pay for the

increase in values. It is impossible with the present trend of events

for the manufacturer of weighing and measuring apparatus to establish any order from the chaotic situation in which he unfortunately

finds himself.

I venture to predict the day is not far distant when manufacturers

of weighing and measuring apparatus, in a spirit of self-defense for

the protection of their industries, which represent outlays of millions

of dollars and the employment of thousands of Avorkmen, will seek

and have passed legislation of national character, giving Federal

control of the products of their industry to some governmental authority of a kind similar to the one as proposed by the mayor's

bureau of weights and measures of the city of New York. Such

legislation will accrue to the benefit of the honest manufacturer and

be of protection to the honest merchant and the purchasing public.

In the United States to-day the condition respecting the regulation

of weighing and measuring apparatus is deplorable. Thousands and

thousands of weighing and measuring apparatus of inferior grades

are sold and vised in the places of business of our merchants, which

upon inspection and test by sealers of weights and measures are found in serious error, and are consequently seized and confiscated.

The unsuspecting merchant, ignorant of the real cause for such
168 BUEEAU OF STANDARDS,

confiscation, by reason of the demands of his business compelled to

replace the article taken away, forthwith makes purchase of an instrument, of perhaps a different make, but identical in type with

the one confiscated.

Our system for the regulation of weighing and measuring apparatus is radically wrong. The fault lies with the sale of the weighing and measuring instrument, not with the merchant; the latter is not- giA^en adequate protection against the sale of devices of faulty

construction.

To-day there is no semblance of uniform control. The whims,

fancies, and desires of the individual official of weights and measures

in the various parts of the United States prevail. Federal and central control and regulation of the subject, under the supervision of

those qualified by reason of their knowledge, experience, and judgment, should obtain. The scientist, the man of technical parts

versed in the application of scientific principles; the mechanician,

the man possessing the practical knowledge of construction; the practitioner, the man expert from experience and knowledge of existing

conditions —from types of this character composing a national board

of examiners results could be obtained through Federal jurisdiction

which would tend to produce weighing and measuring apparatus

governed by intelligent, equitable, systematic, and honest selection.

On the question of scales, a salient feature of weighing and measuring apparatus, the lock nut, the dial, the chart, and other minor

parts can be fairly dealt with by the lay mind without any corre- sponding injuries to the merits of the scale. The mechanical construction of scale and principles contained therein should be under

the immediate supervision and control of the man possessed of those

elements which make up the mechanical mind.

Federal regulation must come—the sooner the better. It will

satisfy the manufacturer as well as the merchant and protect the

purchasing public ; it will be accepted by eight and measure officials,

and go a considerable distance to uproot evils that are now causing

hardship and injury.

Legislation should be encouraged, and weight and measure officials

should cooperate for its accomplishment. I shall do my utmost to

help and promote laws being enacted for the cause of honest weights

and measures. A law on the statute books of the Federal Government regulating

and controlling weighing and measuring apparatus will bring forth

simplicity of action and unity of performance.

Manufacturers will, under some procedure to be adopted, file with

the national board of examiners a blue print of their products ; application will be made for the approval of instrument, the article itself or parts thereof may be furnished; the Federal requirements being

complied with, the instrument will be approved as to type, and the

officials of weights and measures, through some form of announcement, will be notified, and they thereupon will follow, and can refuse

to seal an instrument only in those instances where accuracy is a

factor. The approval of the United States Government will extend

into every section of the Nation and be accepted as governing.

The practicability of enforcing the law of regulation and supervision over this subject of weights and measures has been successfully

demonstrated by the mayor's bureau of the city of New York. The
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 169

serialization section of the mechanical division of that bureau has

not only serialized the great majority of the products of the manufacturers of weighing and measuring apparatus of this country, but

has, in addition, by reason of such serialization, automatically regulated dry-capacity measures, scales, and weights in localities where

supervision of weights and measures were practically unknown.

In conclusion, gentlemen, it will be granted by weight and measure

officials of reasonable minds that the subject of weights and measures,

while a component part of the uses of trade for hundreds of years,

and in the United States of America a feature of the Constitution

itself, and a subject for the consideration of public officials in every

part of this Nation, yet with all that, having in consideration the

rapid strides that the work and spirit of modern progress is making

to-day and for some years to come, that subject, although of grave

importance, is comparatively new and may now be termed as in its

infant stage.

Scientific research, mechanical genius, the complexities which arise

with the variety of our population, trade customs, secrets of merchants, and the multitude of things to be considered as in our sphere

of activity require an understanding among us in the treatment to be

accorded the subject that will be equitable to all that are concerned.

As far as it can be undertaken there should be mutualization of the

interests who have in conmion the advancement of the cause of honest

weights and measures. The United States having passed through its period of origin, followed by tense times of political, commercial, and financial periods,

is now at the beginning of its scientific period. It is a scientific age,

and the United States and its scientists are affected thereby. In the

enthusiasm of the early times of this awakening from the lethargy

from which our country has suffered, zealousness of the scientist is

apt, although sincere and honest, to exact too immediate results from

the mechanician and the manufacturer. Science will predominate

in the last analysis ; it must of necessity, for the furtherance of the

industrial progress and prosperity of our Nation, be a little removed

from the severity of its exactions and extend a leniency until that

time, not far distant, when science, coupled with industry, will be

just as profitable as industry has been without the strict application

of scientific principles.

Customs and habits the outgrowth of scores of years can not be

eliminated at a single stroke. If in the space of 10 years the subject

of weights and measures is nearing a finished state, much will be

accomplished.

Permit no occasion to arise that will discredit and discount the

value of the scientist in relation to the manufacturer or the administrator; harmony of purpose should control all three interests on

this subject. Unhappy disagreement and absence of mutuality will

retard progress; it will delay for just so long reasonably complete

protection to the purchasing public.

The manufacturer, his industry, his employees, his reputation, and

the values represented by the outlay of financial capital is a paramount desideratum.

The administrator, the judge of conditions, the receiver of impressions, the observer, the director of the agencies at his command for

the enforcement of the law, the arbitrator, the barometer of human

conditions, possesses superior attainments from experience and
170 BUBEAU OP STANDARDS.

knowledge of conditions as they actually are to cooperate with the

scientist and the manufacturer in the settlement of this matter and

in the solution of the problem before us. Each to endeavor to discern

the viewpoint of the other, each to have the vision of his associate,

will accomplish much to alleviate the deplorable state of affairs

existing on the subject of weights and measures without Federal

regulation.

Let us have uniformity of action in the performance of the duties

of weights and measures officials. Let us, in the absence of Federal

laws on the subject, put our house in order and arrange in the interim between now and enactment of legislation for Federal control

and regulation a plan and agree upon a program to unite upon the use of apparatus for weights and measures which, while only for

guidance, will be the unwritten law until that day when it will be

written into the statutes of the United States.

REPORT

By John Virdin, Supervisor of Weights and Measures of Philadelphia, Pa.

Mr. Chairman, and gentlemen, the Philadelphia County Commissioners' Bureau of Weights and Measures is perhaps the youngest

bureau in point of service represented at this convention. The

delegates, therefore, have come here for information and enlightment

upon the ramifications connected with the subjects of weights and

measures. Philadelphia has had no supervision over weights and measures

since 1883, and the city has therefore been a dumping ground for

weighing and measuring devices which were not permitted in other

States which had effective weights and measures laws and ordinances.

And so when the inspectors began their systematic inspection of the

grocery stores, meat markets, dry goods stores, etc., much evidence

of the great need of a systematic and periodical inspection was found.

It was found that the following conditions existed: linear measures, 58 per cent were short; dry measures, 92 per cent were short,

not marked, etc.; groceries, 70 per cent short weighing; meat, 60

per cent short; coal, 8 out of 10 scales condemned; dry goods, 58

per cent short measure; candy, 60 per cent short measure; city

markets, 60 per cent short weighing; gasoline, total number of gallons lost to consumers per year by use of short measures 1,824,270 or $273,640.50.

The County Commissioners' Bureau of Weights and Measures

have 35 inspectors. These inspectors are detailed in crews, two men

to each crew, and each crew is provided with a horse, wagon, and

full inspecting equipment. The crews and wagons are lettered in

alphabetical order and assigned to districts bearing these same let- ters. Special inspectors also work in pairs. The bureau is also

equipped with an automobile and an automobile truck, together with

all modern standards and equipment for any kind of a test requested.

This bureau began operations about March 1, 1914, and up to date

more than 15,000 inspections have been made, and more than 4,000

pieces of weighing and measuring devices have been confiscated as

illegal and not fit for repairs. More than 5,000 devices have been

condemned for repairs.

Very few liquid and dry measures have thus far been found correct. Hereafter manufacturers of these measures must mark them
NIKTH ANNUAL CONFEEENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 171

with their respective capacities and they must be of the proper number of cubic inches, etc., to pass inspection.

Many large wagon scales upon which coal, hay, straw, etc., are weighed, have been condemned. Many of these scales were found

to be short weighing 30 to 40 pounds to every wagon load. A large

number of these scales have been replaced with new scales by the owners. The cheap, round-bearing scales were found to be universally

used by the smaller merchants, and were likewise found in a large

number of chain grocery stores throughout the city. These were

regulated in such manner that this type of scale can not be manipulated by the shifting of weights and pressure against the weight pan.

In the large dry goods stores, customs in vogue for at least 30 years

were corrected. Yardsticks were found in these stores which were

cut and round at the ends, sticks with indistinguishable figures and

graduations, advertising sticks, warped sticks, short sticks, etc. The

rulings of this bureau required that the defective measuring sticks

be replaced with metal-tipped sticks which would pass the standard

inspections. The importance of these corrections is apparent when

it is known that with these defective yardsticks, counter tacks, and

short-measuring devices, high-priced laces and silks selling from $3

to $15 per yard were measured. The custom of selling goods by the

fold instead of by the standard yard was abolished in this city.

It is estimated by the bureau that approximately 3,000,000 milk

bottles and jars are daily used in the city of Philadelphia. Very few

of these bottles and jars are in accordance with the weights and measures laws. Investigations show the average shortage to be 4 drams,

and then if the bottles or jars are not filled to the cap or stopple a greater shortage is received by the consumer. Manufacturers of milk

bottles and 85 per cent of the milk dealers in Philadelphia have been

in conferences with officials of this bureau and important corrections

in the manufacture and distribution of these milk bottles are under

way. These corrections it is estimated will save at least $27,000 per

week to the consumers in Philadelphia.

So far, the work of the county commissioners' bureau of weights

and measures has been of a corrective nature, realizing that because

no supervision or inspection had been made for so many years, the

incorrect or defective scales, weights, and measures were not even thought of or if given any consideration as to their accuracy, were

allowed to remain in defective condition because there was no one,

except the customer, to check up their accuracy.

Violations have been filed against every person, firm, or corporation, from whom the inspectors confiscated weighing and measuring

devices, but no arrests so far have been made. But_ if upon another

visit to the individual, firm, or corporation by the inspector similar

conditions are found, then additional violations will be filed against

him and arrest will be made upon all violations and fines imposed.

Philadelphia has almost 130 square miles area, all sections being

thickly dotted with tradesmen affected by the weights and measures

laws. The task is big and interesting, but the results are so important in the saving of hundreds of thousands of dollars per year to

the merchants and consumers of the city that all are cooperating

with the inspectors and the previous astounding conditions are being

corrected as quickly and accurately as can be.
172 BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

The press as a unit have given many columns to our work, and

this has been of the utmost importance in getting the cooperation

of householders, merchants, trade bodies, and all classes of associations.

The bureau has issued 60,000 pamphlets with which it is endeavoring to educate the public as to the buying and selling of commodities, etc. Philadelphia desires to go on record as firmly approving national

specifications for the various types of scales, and the regulation and

marking of commodities.

There are too many conflicting State laws governing weighing

and measuring apparatus; too many unfair city, county, and State

rulings concerning what shall and what shall not pass inspection.

Political party changes in the various States likewise change the

heads of weights and measure departments, and in every such instance new and radical specifications and rulings are made, so that

to-day there does not appear to have been much serious eifort made

toward uniformity of interstate legislation, the adoption of sane

rulings, or the concentration of ideas leading up to national specifications and regulations which would permit the manufacturer to

market his product in any city or State in the United States and not

be compelled to expend large sums of money upon unnecessary devices, or be compelled to manufacture a different style or type of

instrument for each State in the United States.

DISCUSSION AS TO PLACE OF NEXT MEETING.

The Secretary. Mr. Chairman, we have not a great deal of time

left. Everything has been disposed of except one very important

matter, and it seems to me we ought to get that out of the way and

then devote what time we have to any other business that comes up.

That is in regard to the place of meeting. I do not think that the

executive committee wants to have the responsibility of fixing that

without first obtaining some idea as to what is desired by the members. I have a number of letters here—invitations, all of them

from Ohio ; one from the governor and one from the Columbus Convention and Publicity Association. Also some of the members from

the West have a desire that the next meeting shall be held in a Western State, and I think that we ought to discuss that before we take up

any other question.

Mr. Reichmann. Mr. Chairman, I think that can be disposed of

very rapidly. I think there is only one place to hold this meeting,

as I think most of the delegates will agree, and that is in Washington. I think it would be a matter of the constitution that it should

be held in Washington, for a very practical reason, namely, that if

any official of a State, city, or county gets a letter from an official

bureau of the Govei-nment in Washington announcing a meeting to

be held in Washington, that sounds good to him, and he says, " We

will appropriate the money; we will appoint a delegate." If it is held in any other place, they will immediately say, " That is another

junket trip." Mr. Chairman, I move that the next meeting be held

in Washington.

(The motion was seconded.)

Mr. Ort. Mr. Chairman, I represent Columbus, Ohio. Last year

thft city council would not allow me to come to the city of Washing-
NIKTH ANNUAL CONFEEENCE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 173

ton to attend the conference of the sealers of weights and measures,

for the reason that they did not take enough interest in it. I want

to say to you that we need you fellows down there. Columbus is centrally located, more than two-thirds of the population of the country

is within 500-mile radius, and almost any remote point can be touched

within one night's ride. There are many reasons why we should

have the convention out there, or in some other locality. In the first

place, do you not think, if the officers should send that invitation to

have this national convention in Columbus, Milwaukee, or some other

place, that the call would be answered just the same as if it were

Washington? I go on record as saying that we have offered all inducements possible. Now, the other night we all enjoyed our little

banquet, but we do not ask the boys when they come to Columbus

town to put up for the banquet. As to street car service, we guarantee that if the men come down there, even if there are a thousand

delegates, they will all have their transportation free of charge while

in our city. As to hotel service, if it is $5 a day it will be cut in half

to accommodate the boys first, so that the boys can be centrally

located. Moreover, all the material that is necessary, that we have

seen here, will be thei"e, with the exception of the great big 2,000,000-

pound test outfit. We have not enough trains to pull that over, but

we are affiliated to a certain extent with the Pennsylvania Railroad

and others, and with the assistance of the national body I am satisfied they would meet us half way on the other tests. Now, I have

no object personally in suggesting a change, because if I am city

sealer next year I surely would like to come here again, because I

have enjoyed myself and have been greatly helped, but I am only

asking this : If the convention is ever taken away from Washington,

Columbus would like to be considered first. Mr. EiCHARDSON, of Virginia. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the

conference, I feel that I would be derelict in my duty to the capital

city of my State were I not to extend to you an invitation to hold the

next conference in the city of Eichmond. I have by them been re- quested to extend to you that invitation, which I now do; and I

want to state in that connection that we have as fine hotel facilities in

Eichmond as any city south of Mason and Dixon's line. We can give

you reasonable rates. We have large auditoriums in three of our

hotels there ; larger than this, and well equipped, which we will give

you free for an audience room. We will furnish you low rates, and

we can assure you more points of historic interest than any other city

in the United States, and we will be very glad to have you come

down there. If you should accept our invitation, and any of the

members wanted to come up to Washington and shake hands with

the President, or see their Congressmen, it is only a little run from

there up here. They can come up on their way home from the conference or on their way to the conference. We extend you a hearty

invitation.

Mr. Sherman. Mr. Chairman, as representing the Washington

delegation here, I would like also to offer one or two arguments in

extending an invitation to the conference to meet in Washington

next year. Aside from the fact that the Bureau of Standards can

give better facilities for scientific demonstration, and so forth, and

also that we are more accessible to our Congressmen here, I would

add that Washington will offer you one other advantage that will
174 BUBEAU OF STANDABDS.

more than counterbalance the various advantages suggested for

Columbus and Richmond, and, I imagine, other towns that may be

suggested, in that Washington will give you a crack, bang-up good

baseball game.

NEW BUSINESS.

Mr. Hartigan. Mr. Chairman, I would like to offer a resolution

touching upon the metric system

Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed by the president, to be called

the committee on the metric system, the committee to report back at the next

conference and to take up all matters bearing upon the question of the metric

system.

(The motion was seconded and agreed to.)

The Presiding Officer. Is there any further new business?

The Secretary. Mr. Chairman, it is not exactly new business, but

I have one matter that I would like to bring before the conference.

I would like to call attention to the fact that the committee on toler- ances and specifications is minus a member. Mr. Palmer used to be

a member of that committee, and his place has never been filled, so that the only members of that committee at the present time are Mr. Connors and myself, and I would like to make a motion, or have someone else make a motion, to the effect that the president be

authorized to com^plete that committee or appoint a new one if he

sees fit. Mr. Eeichmann. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Chair appoint a third member of that committee or a new committee if he deems it desirable.

(The motion was duly seconded and agi'eed to.)

Mr. MiKESELL, Iklr. Chairman, do I understand that the Chair has

any information from the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and

Measures as to the Tuttle bill? They were to give a final decision

this morning. I understand that Mr. Parry has been in communication with some one at the Capitol who informed him that the committee has decided to report the bill out. The Secretary. I might also add that the bill that we had hoped

to have a hearing on has been introduced. I have not seen a copy

of it, and I do not know its number, but it is the bill to give the

bureau authority to pass on types. Just as soon as we can get copies

of that bill every member will be supplied with one. Mr. MiKESELL. Mr. Chairman, if it is in order, I would like to

offer a resolution extending a vote of thanks to Dr. Stratton, Mr.

Fischer, and all the members of the bureau who have aided us and

shown us so many courtesies during our short stay in Washington.

(The motion was duly seconded, and was carried unanimously

by a rising vote.)

The President. Gentlemen, I want to say, on behalf of my associates and myself, that we appreciate very much your meeting here

and the good advice you have given us. The results of this meeting

are growing very rapidly. It is becoming an exceedingly important

convention. We are accomplishing results in a short time that would

take a very long time without an organization of this kind.

I want to say one word more, and that is that you do not feel that

you are going out of your way if you sometimes give advice or put

people right in weights and measures of a different Idnd—standards
NINTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON "WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 175

of all kinds. At the bureau we are handling a great many different

kinds of standards, standards of measurement, standards of quality of

material, and so on ; and you, in the performance of your local duties,

come in contact especially with your city governments. Now, there

is the gTeatest need in the world for education on the part of the

city officials as to correct standards in other things besides weights

and measures, and I want to assure you that the bureau stands ready

to help your city officials in all of the lines with which it deals.

I want you to feel perfectly free at any time to call upon the bureau

to help your city government in any of its various fields of activity;

or, in case you come in contact yourselves with questions pertaining to

the other fields of measurement, which you do not feel that you can answer yourselves, submit the question to the bureau and we will

gladly help you.

Mr. KoYLANCE. Mr. Chairman, in behalf of the Western Fruit' Jobbers' Association, I want to thank Dr. Stratton and Mr. Fischer for

the excellent work they have done in connection with us and for us with reference to the passage of the Tuttle bill and the other bill

that is now pending on the standard apple box, both of which, I

understand, will be reported out this morning favorably. We maintain an organization with a secretary and headquarters at Denver,

Colo., at an expense to our association of about $1,000 a month. We

are represented in about 28 States of the Union, and have an organization so complete that when we undertake to do anything we Avork, as suggested by the gentleman from Indiana, through our Congressmen. We want to offer the service of our office to all the members of

this organization, and will help you to do anything that will advance

the interests of lessening the cost of handling the product from the

producer to the consumer and that will give the consumer what he

thinks he is getting. If it is a quart of strawberries, we want it to

be a quart ; if it is a pint, we want it to be a pint ; if it is a pound of

onions or a pound of potatoes, we want it to be full weight ; and we

want to offer the services of the offices of the Western Fruit Jobbers' Association to all your members and ask you also to send a

delegate, if possible, to our convention, which meets at Los Angeles

in 1915, about the middle of February. We would like to have a delegate or representation at that convention from this organization.

Mr. Fischer has done us the honor of appearing before our convention at St. Louis two years ago, and has given us an able paper from

time to time, and we expect to have either Dr. Stratton or Mr.

Fischer with us this coming February.

Mr. Eeichmann. Mr. Chairman, just a word. I know it is late, so I will be very brief, though I could talk for hours upon the subject

which I want to speak about. Weights and measures ought to mean

efficiency if it means anything; and the most efficient man in any

weights and measures conference that we have ever had—and he has

been a very valuable man to this conference—is the man who takes

down everything that is said. I understand that Mr. Lewis F.

Caswell is about to leave the public service. It certainly has been a great pleasure and a great profit to every member of the conference

to have known him and to have read the reports that he has taken

down for us, and we know that the Government service will lose a very valuable man, and that wherever he goes he will meet with

great success.