Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1882-04-25
TTESBAT. APhlL rs, 1852.
short Measure an d : light Weights

TIESDAY. APhlL rs, 1854.
short Measure an Il ix mt w Gig hit
There are plenty of short measures
and short weights in the markets an,
in the stores now, but there will b
more when the berry season commences
1t is quite enough for our people to sui
fer the intliction of eXorbitant prices o.
living, for which there is no real neces
sity, without being subjected to the i'm,
position OF short measures and short
weights. This cheatery is one eft the
crying evils of the times, and appeals
loudly to justice for redress. There
are honest storekeepers, honest butch
ers and honest hucksters, but where
there are such dishonest ones amongst
adistrust upon all. 1t must be very
unpleasant thing for seller to rest I'M
with whom he is dealing is watching
him with a suspicious eye, and 1t is
equally unpleasant for customer to
stand and deal with a seller who he
fears needs watching. Nearly every
day comes complaints of short meas
nres by potato and apple dealers and
light weight by butchers and butter
sellers. AL this has tendency to
make the community look upon market
produce dealers as com bination of
dishonest people, which is doing the
honest ones among them great injus-
tice. How long is this state of things
to continue? There is an inspector of
weights and meas ures but he lives in 1
Middletown, away from the place he is |
needed, and the misery beggared pit
lance of SIS salary will not allow him
10 travel back and forwards, paying
railroad fares and remaining at consid-
cradle expense in the city. He regu'
larly issues his notices every year call
ing upon all who have weights ana
IN easures to come to this or that ho-
tel with them to see that they are cor
rect. OF course, but few go to him.
Those who are selling with short meas.
ures and light weights have no particu-
lar desire t.. see him, and those who
are dealing honestly, have no need to
see him. Between the two, no weights
and measures are adjusted, the officer
spends two or three days pleasantly
chatting with friends at hotel, and
reading the papers, and then goes home
and pockets his salary. The dishonest
dealers laugh in their sleeves and keep
on fleeing the people, who submit to
the monstrous swindle with but pass.
ing complaint. The evil can be rene
died. 1t has been met aud kept under
control in other cities, and why not in
Wilmington ? The City Council has
the same right to regulate weights and
measures according to the wording of
the law that it has to regulate the mar
kets and. names the places and the
manner in which produce shall be sold.
What is to hinder the City Council from
creating the office Of market inspector,
or making it the duty of the clerk f
the market TO inspect and regulate
weights and measures. A good salary
paid to acompetent inspector of weights
and measures would not be objected to
by an outraged and cheated people.
The citizens should at once commence
to petition Council for redress from
this growing imposition. We have no
doubt whatever that the City Council
would regard petition of that sort
with favor and pass an ordinance to
n eet the case. Let the people com
mence Immediately to send in their Pc
titions to Council, asking for the ordi-
nance.