The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-17
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES,
The Necessity For New Law ReEule-
ting 7 hsna-Tricks OF the Trade.

AC AfCSGoStby Il OF ~ Now Lew IscE Olts-
ting 7hena-Tricks OF the Trade.
Judging from interviews with Clerk of
the Market Maddox and County Inspector
of Weights and Measures j. p White, the
laws and the construction of the laws COM
bine to afford very little protection to the
general community. Mr. White says that
the law provides for the inspection of
weights and measures, but makes no pro-
vision for the inspection of scales, the most
important thing in protective way. The
code of the state, under which be operates,
is silent on the subject of scales. ''Scales,"
Mr.. White says, Frequently get out Of
order, and there's where the cheating Ia"
Mr. White says that the law does not re-
quire MIN to go to dealers place Of bust
ness to inspect the weights and measures,
and should he do so, except when some one
reports to him, he is liable 10 be ordered
out of the shop. Cases of reporting I'M
stamped weights and measures, Mr.. White
says, are very rare, as few want to run the
risk Of mourning enmity by informing
against those who Use uninspected weights
and measures
A bad feature of the law, Mr.. White
says, is that it only requires one inspection
of dealers weights and measures. New
York and other cities require inspection
every six months or annually. He says
for goods sold, and the defendant can prove
that the weights and measures of the dealer
had not been duly inspected and stamped,
the plaintiff will lose the case. This, Mr..
White thinks, is bad feature of the law.
He thinks there should be penalty which
should go to the state and not encourage
man to avoid the payment of an honest
debt.
The inspector says that there are great
w luxyn rba Ia w
and noticeably in the city market, where
the measures are not correct. He cannot
take them up because he has no authority
to do so, except when they are reported to
him. The clerk of the market has the
power under the market ordinance to do so,
but Clerk Maddox says that since the law
went into effect providing for county in
spector under the state law he has consid
cred that it relieved him of the RESPONSE
bility, and while he kes up all measures
that he sees have been cut down, he does
not enforce that provision of the ordinance.
Inspector White says that he has no power
to go into the market and correct the abuses,
but he would do SO if he had authority
from the state or the city. The
abuses. he says, are many. In one
instance q case was brought to his attention
where dealer bad string attached to
pedal under the counter the string passing
up through hole in the counter and con-
Meeting with the counter scales. In weigh
ing an article short weight was insured by
touching the pedal with the foot, which
brought down the balance just as much as
the dealer desired to swindle his customers
Mr.. White says that false bottoms in meas
ures are common, and he cites another COM
mon abuse where liquid measures are used
in the sale Of rice, grits, beans, peas, etc.,
where dry measures should be used. There
is difference of gill in the liquid and dry
measures, and buyers are swindled
to that amount by the use of
the liquid measure when the dry
measure should be used Again, he says
that some dealers have one set of weights
and measures stamped, and use another set
of unstamped weights and measures. If
detected they will exhibit the stamped
weights and measures and hide the others
away. For the better protection of the
consumer Mr.. White thinks that not only
weights and measures, but scales, should be
included, and the inspection should be at
least once year, and 1t should be COM
| pulsory.
Mr.. +. A. Maddox, clerk of the market,
says that at the first inspection
| under the state law, Mr.. Clement
Saussy made a general inspection
and got about all there was in the
office, which is no longer desirable, as the
law provides for but one inspection, and the
present inspectors ices are practically moth
ing. Mr.. White was elected by the county
commissioners to fll the vacancy caused by
Mr.. Saussv's resignation. Mr. Maddox
saws that whenever he sees a measure
in the market that is manifestly under size,
and many are cut down, he takes it up
There has, however, been no inspection of
weights and measures since 1886, and these
were stamped &C. c." near the upper and
outer edge of the measures, with "'S6, Co."
below.
Dealers have their own weight, and pur-
ehasers of coal and buyers of wood must
take whatever weight or measure
is allowed them, as there are no
city weighers, other than a city hay
weigher. There seems to be general desire
for remodeling of the laws, somewhat on
the plan of the cities Of other states, in
which there shall be provisions for city
weigher and measurer, SO that bulky
articles may be weighed by disinterested
party. Also to amend the present state
law so that there may be frequent inspec-
tions of weights and measures, including
the scales which appear to need inspection
more than the weights themselves.
:JuGs BY THE THOUSAND.