Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-14
AN EXTINCT OFFICE.
A Cry for the Recreation of the Old
and Honest Institution of
WEIGHT AND MEASURE SEALER.
How Consumers are Cheated Even Per.
haps by Honest Sellers.
MoLAsSEs AND EGGS BY THE POUND.

do not like. A considerable number are
averse to paying taxes, and will dodge the
assessor every time, even to the hazard of
losing their votes. They don't like any,
thing inquisitorial in its nature, and for
this reason probably more than for any 9TH
er, some of them did not mourn the official
demise of several score of inspectors, or seal
ers of weights and measures, some five years
ago.
At the same time there are eases in which
honest men will have their scru-
Piles, and submit to inspection. For
instance, when a pickpocket in a
crowded room plies his trade and a
proposition is made to bolt the doors and
have the entire crowd searched, every honest
man votes "Aye," for he likes to be vindi-
Gated, and believes that no guilty wretch
should escape.
When the aforesaid citizens are buying
goods, also, they like to have yardsticks So
inches long, and measures of all kinds of the
full, legal size, and scales or balances hon
estly adjusted. In fact, when the boot is on
this foot, deceitful balance is as much of
an abomlnation to them as to the Lord.
SOMETHING RADICALLY WRONG.
For this reason there is a growing desire
on the part of some to have the Legislature
revive the Office of Sealer of Weights and
Measures, as it is said there are enough
crooked dealers in the State to seriously dis
organize that feeling of confidence one would
like to have in his dfvgoods man, butcher,
baker, grocer, etc.
One man states that ne is persuaded there
are people who, to draw custom, advertise
by various means to sell certain things for
less than profitable price and then adjust
scales 50 that IA ounces do duty for pound,
making the offer delusion.
Considerations of this character cause the
proposition to re-create the Office, and it is
alleged that had it not become haven for
some political workers, who did not always
perform their duty, it would be in existence
to-day. 1t is said that while some inspectors
would attend closely to their duties while
scales and measures were within easy reach,
they did not trouble themselves overly much
when they happened to be several miles out
of the usual track, and though a man in
the outskirts of the county might be honest,
he might be careless, or thoughtless, and if
he were dishonest he would not press the IT,
spector to make a visit, and as the fee for
travelling several miles was no greater than
tor the same number of rods, inducement to
travel was lacking.
1t has been suggested that if the Office is
restored it should be salaried one (though
to this proposition there are obiections), and
care taken to select men who would do their
duty. The argument in favor of this plan
is that all people are equally interested. 1t
may be of more importance to some than to
hnf ha &c
favor of the poor, as they are less able to
bear their loss from short weight. 1t is said
there is a strong desire among coal miners
for the restoration of the Office.
Mr.. Philip Reyner is an ardent advocate
of restoration, and he gives some sound reat
sons for his advocacy, arising not only out
of the exigencies of his own business, but
that of others.
HONESTY IS INSURED.
He states that an official inspection not
only contributes to honesty, but saves much
time and trouble to people in business who
must now depend on scale makers or their |
agents to keep scales in order. Very fire. |
quently man cheats himself by having his |
scales work against him, and man that is
dishonest has the constant temptation to do |
evil, as there would be trouble to punish |
him for rascality, were he caught, as he can |
plead ignorance with safety.
Then as to measures, the same trouble |
arises, and it is perhaps a more crying |
wrong than the possibilities of rascality in |
weight, as more or less sleight can be at
tanned in measuring in dry measures. Mr..
Reymer suggests that with just balances
much more satisfaction could be secured BY
selling everything by weight For instance,
if a person is buying eggs, and
has the power to select them, he
is tempted to pick out the largest.
as they cost no more than the smallest, and
the next purchaser suffers. Again. the great
er the hog, the greater would be the in
justice, providing the porker got first choice.
Those who have bought molasses when the
is at zero, know how ad-
vantangeous the cold is to thrifty dealer,
when a large portion of the contents of
measure adheres to it. Were such fluids
sold by weight the buyer would get what
he paid for. The discussion that has been
going on for a considerable time in favor of
the adoption of the GENITAL system shows
that the business public is largely coming
to favor the weighing project.
Prolonged consideration widens the vista
immensely, showing that even in a repub-
lie, much that appears inquisitorial and
vexatiously meddling, must be submitted to
for the general veal, and that much espion-
age. which is resented as savoring of des-
potic interference, or paternal old-fogyism,
is really the result of legislative wisdom
deduced from wide generalization and ex-
perience.
DANGEROUS ADULTERATIoN.
For instance, under the present lax sys-
tenn, babies and sick people may be, and
doubtless are, often starved to death by dis
honest milk dealers, a doctor prescribing
the amount of nourishment necessary, and
the supposed nourishment furnished being
Is or 80 per cent water. Medicines fail of
effect and sick people die because dishonest
do not make drugs of adveE-
Used strength. Even barrel house topers
are entitled to pure whisky, though their
Heath from cofiu varnish may not be great
loss to the community. In the first two
cases mentioned, he is certainly a very
Jealous and ignorant Democrat, who would
object to honest governmental inquisition.
Such an objector should certainly be put to
.he test by an intelligence qualification be-
lore being allowed to vote.
An idea of the petty extortions possible
10 practice, and really extensively prac-
heed, may be gained by consideration of
some suggestions made by Mr.. William
Paul, the last man who filed the Office in
his county. For instance, thousands of
people daily buy beans, peas and various
,ther vegetables which are measured to
hem in liquid instead of dry measures. By {
his means the seller gains and the buyer
oses about 20 per cent, even if the measure
De of correct size and properly filled. A
person agrees to sell another ten bushels of
potatoes, apples or tomatoes, or some other
and in performance delivers ten
baskets which hold about three pecks each,
25 per cent deviation. Gases have been
Known which, when the sellers were brought
O hook they defended hv savinr they con-