St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-12-06
Hereafter the Ordinance Will Be
RigidIy Enforced.

RigidIy Enforced.
The cupidity of man is the bone of
law. 1t is a pr0clivity that always de-
mands legislative shrewdnesS and adj
minlstrative vigilance. To protect the
unwary public, scale of weights and
measures is fixed to govern all sorts of
traffic, and it requires a Watchful eye to
see that all conditions and restrictions
are honestly observed. This pertains
to every marketable commodity.
1T seems that the law governing the
sale of bIead-the staff of life-has not
been enforced in the past with that
rigid discipline that has characterized
certain other branches of trade. True,
few families purchase anything like
very large amounts of bread; but, none
the less, tire traffic as a whole is quite
extensive. One would be surprised
were he to read the total number OF
lOaves of bread sold in st. Paul in one
day. Then, while short weight in an
individual case would not cut very
serious figure, in the aggregate it com
prises an important item.
The sale of bread is made an Ordi-
nance regulation i'll st. Paul. This is
the common method. however, in vogue
in every city in the Union. A shortage
in bread, as is the case in all trade
1lduuS. WOlhS lIlG SItdleSb udIuSlllp S
upon the poorer clasSeS-the very ones
who can least afford TO be imposed upon.
This is true of the Shoddy cloths, paper
sOled shoes, adulterated foods. and all
kinds of necesSarieS of life placed upon
the market tor the use and assumption
OF the people at moderate prices. They
are the wares of houses that represent
that they are selling away below cost
and the like, that are ingeniOuSly con-
trived to swindle the purchaser.
As intimated, there is at least an i'm
piled laXity in enforcing the bread Or
dInance. Its emphasized by the notice
given by the market master. who is
specifically charged with the enforce
ment of the ordinance, that OH and
alter Dec. the law will be enforced in
st. Paul. The ordinance is not a new
departure. but has been "in force and
effect" for long time, but it was only
until recently that the market master
has taken active steps to see that its
provisions are strictly complied with.
This ordinance reads:i
Section THAT all bread manufactured
by any person N said city. for sale or offered
for sale. or sold in said city. shall be made Of
good wholesome flour, or meal, into IOaves
of one or two pounds ayoirdupOis weight
and each loaf shall be marked with the NUM-
Der indicating the weight of said loaf, and
thereof.
Sec. 2-That the market master shall be
inspector of bread, and it is hereby made his
duty at ali seasons and hours and not less
than once in each month, to enter and ex-
anime each baker shop or other building in
said city where bread IS baked deposited or
offered for sale, and also to stop and exam
inc any person or vehicle carrying bread for
sale in said city. And if. on such examina-
ton, he shall find person guilty of violating
any provision of the first section of this Or
dinance. he shall take him before the Judge
of the municipal court with the bread made
in violation of said section, and if said per-
son shall be found guilty by said Judge. said
bread shall become forfeited to the use of the
city. No person shall resist the inspector
of bread in the discharge Of any duty i'm
posed by said ordinance.
Sec. 3.--Any person violating any proYis-
ion of this ordinance shall, on conviction
thereof, be punished by q fine not exceeding
S25.
There are fifty bakeries in the city
or were at the time the last city direct
tory was published, and it is probable
that the number has been increased
since that date. Hence it is an easy
matter to conceive that the daily man
ufacture of bread is quite an item. But
who has seen loaf OF bread in st. Paul
that has been put upon the market in
exact compliance with the law as de-
clared in the above? Who has pur-
chased bread with the weight stamped
upon the loaf alongside of the initials
of the baker as required? Some, of
course; but there are more who have
never observed that these restrictions
have been observed in the least.
The market master has been given
strict directions by the mayer to go out
among the dealers, as contemplated i'll
the ordinance, and make a careful in-
spection of all bread offered for sale.
and the market master has accepted the
duty, and he has sent out notice to every
body that hereafter the baker and the
grocer and all other dealers must toe the
mark. When he finds bread that is
either short weight or made of damaged
or unwhOlesOme materials, or that is
not properly stamped, will be confIs-
Gated to the purposes of the city. and
the offenders will be straightway ar
raigned in the municipal court charged
with violations of the bread ordinance.
In way, this is an industry that
comes within the province of the state
food law. also. but the state commission
has apparently about all it can do to
enforce the dairy laws and the inspec-
ton of vinegarS and baking powders.
The annual reports OF the commission
indicates this, and, therefore, the work
of protecting the consumer from the
schemes of the avaricious manufacturer
or dealer.