The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-08
Tho Retail Grocers' Union.

Tho Retail Grocers' Union.
That useful and powerful organization.
the Retail Grocers' Union OF this city. has
renewed its appeal to the Board OF Alder
men to adopt an ordinance requiring that
all fruit and vegetable products shall be
sold here by weight instead OF by measure.
The officers Of the Union. who are striving
to secure the adoption Of this ordi-
nance. maintain that 1t Is possible to
get definite quantities Of these products
only by weight. rs there Ia no fixed
standard OF measure in universal use;
and that the custom OF buying or selling by
the measure system does not admit OF the
gertrude which is provided by the weight
system. It Is alleged that there are dealers
in fruit and vegetable products who take
advantage OF the incertitude OF the measure
system. and that the retailers suffer by the
manipuations OF the jobbers who obtain
their supplies from the wholesale receivers.
by whom the trade Is in large measure
controlled. 1t is but fair to say that
no charges are brought against the re-
ceivers or the shippers by the Retail
Grocers' Union. 1t Is the jobbers who are
brought under accusation. It Is alleged.
for example. that there arc jobbers who
know how to fill four barrels. In fashion.
with potatoes that came to them in three
barrels, and who are able to handle other
vegetables. as we'll as some kinds OF
fruits. with equal dizziness and loose
ness. This is very bad business. by which
both the retailers and the consumers
suffer loss. 1t could not be carried on
under the weight system. The retailer.
standing at his scales. would Immediately
tell whether he was fairly dealt with.
as he thus tells in the case OF other
kinds Of goods that he may purchase.
The Retail Grocers' Union does not
deny that there may be some retail
ers who are in connivanoe with those
OF the jobbers or midd!emen who IRE
accused OF resorting to dishonest prac-
tees and profit thereby to the disadvan-
tage Of customers: but tho Union is never
theless determined to secure fair play for
the fair dealers.
We must now remark that tho change
which Is desired so strongly by the Retail
Grocers' Union is not favored by the mem-
bers Of the Fruit and Produce Trade Asso-
citation. The receivers and jobbers who be-
long to this association allege that the
adoption Of the weight system would in
volve a loss Of more time than can be spared;
that the average amount Of fruit brought
to our markets daily runs up to between
q, 900 and $4,000 packages or barrels. and
that it would be very hard job to weigh
such a volume Of material at the
wharves and freight stations. They held a
meeting the other day to consider the ques-
lions at issue. and, after giving them due
consideration, it was determined that the
change demanded by the Retail Grocers'
Union Is impracticable. They finally adopt
ed resolution prepared by a committee.
providing that all Southern fruits and vege-
tables consigned to this market be put up.
properly packed. in packages. barrels. or
crates OF fixed sizes. according to the stand
ard set up in the circular which has already
been mailed to producers and shippers.
| This decision OF the receivers is not salts
factory to the Retail Grocers' Union. The
Union will now bring pressure to bear upon
| the Board Of Aldermen to secure the adop-
| ton OF an ordinance for the establishment
Of tho weight standard, which, they say,
| has been found both practicable and advan-
| tageous in many American cities as we'll as
| In Europe.
1t does not seem to us that any action
on the part OF the Board Of Aldermen is
needed In this case. The business ought to
be regulated by mutual agreement between
| tho parties in interest, the Retail Gro
GERS Union and the Fruit and Prod
uco Trade Association. Both OF these
bodies are assuredy in favor Of the adop-
ton of an honest. honorable. and practical
| hs,I ~ oarr<,ipn nm fhnir fro6n
which Is now OF gigantic proportions. The
membership OF both bodies Is made mp Of
sensible. fair-dealing. and practical men.
We think that. by conference between
them. it will be possible to reach salts
factory settlement OF the question In dis
pute without outside interference. and with
out invoking the aid OF the Board OF Alder
men In the management Of their business.