New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-18
TALKING ABOUT WEIGHTS.
COAL, DEALERS DISAGREE AS TO TIE
MERITS OF THE ELLIOTT PLAN.

DISHONEST MEN ~ THE TRADE WHO OBJECT
TO ANY SUPERVISION OF THEIR WEIGHTS
OPINIONS or DEALERS.
The action OF the Retail Coal Dealers Exchange
at its meeting Friday night the subjec, OF
much discussion in coal circles yesterday ana
many merchants were OF the opinion that the
adon,Ion OF the resolutions offered by the party
which has steadily opposed the old plan OF weigh
INK will do much toward dsrupting the Exchanse
The resolution which adopted after muoh de-
bate reads as follows
.'ResolvcI That the president appoint com
mittee OF five members OF the Exchange. with
mower 70 engage counsel to draft an amendment TO
ex senator McCarrcn's Weight Inspectors BILL 50
az to include New-York CITY; sail amendment 70
include a provision for one Inspector Tor every
10000 inhabitants.
The committee 20 submit the amendment 10
correction II any. and final approval ~ the hrst
regular meeting Of the Exchange In March
THE vote on this question OF approval 20 be-
taken by ballot: that on the approval u the Elk
change Of such GmenImen, said committee be
empowered to have the same presented - the
State Legislature. and take such steps As VIII Sc
cure It's passage.
THAT in the mean time the Exchange postpone
the consideration OF any and all other pans FOR
the detection Of short weight until the final re-
port OF the committee before mentioned.
The members who attempted to have the old p.an
revived. and who were ouivoted 10y the friends
Of this and other plans which postpone Inspection
ned 81 action might be taken at once ana ne hil
presented the Legislature IN time for action at
One mrmber said: why not adopt Mr.. Guests
plan and be done with ii-that is what 1t means.
that all action on this or any other weisnt pan
be by a sealed ballot. The manner OF voting
these questions has played an important part. ana
IL would appear that for some reason A number OF
coal weighed should be kept secret. The men who
favored the old plan known az No. ! ana No. were
all willing and anxious 10 vote openly.
1T SHOULD BE EASY TO VERIFY WEIGHTS.
ut is an easy matter" said a coal merchant 80
measure your drygoods after you get them home.
and 1t Is great task TO keep n check on the
butcher and the grocer but how are you 10 know
about the coal unless some system Ike the
one Just voted out OF existence Is enforced? II
Is II sad confession TO make. but there are men In
this business who give short weight. and Is 1t any
wonder they outsell the honest dealer? 1t Is
self.preservation as much as anything else that
Peter De Witt said: Il was always in favor OF
the pa. the WORKINGS OF Eafh We and sT s s
impra cticabnity 81 the Elliott plan. | know that
this new measure means postponement. and that
1T has defects but ! voted for 1t at last. because
any plan Is better than none"
old plan when asked Ms opinion as to the pro,
opinion on that point? Any business man can see
that II there bad men in a branch OF the trade
measures should be taken 10 make them harmless
There large and highly respectable coal dealers
In this city who do not join the Retail Coal Dealers
Exchange simply because they do not wish 10 be
placed In category with who
be- watched. yet 1t IL only Just and proper that
those dishonest men should he watched and that
their patrons well as their competitors SHOULD
added. "and have eight inspectors appointed by
Tammany Hail. eight men In the selection ~ whom
the coal people have no say and what would be
the result? Or. Parkhurst Is watching the police:
he IL looking into the matter OF giving and taking
hush money; other sclf-constuted reformcrs are
having an uphill task at wping out abuses winkcI
by the powerful political ring. and the creation
OF these coal inspectors would only increase their
task People would get 300 pounds of coal for "A
ton lust the same saloons kept closed when
they should be: correct weight would be as certain
as the many Otncr things which We pay n city
government TO secure for us. but which we do not
get"
THE MCARREN SYSTEM IN BROOKLYN
Many are opposed TO the measure because IL is
defective. As now In operation in BROOKLYN. no
mans coal can be reweighed lest he consents to
have IL done, and Joseph Greason, the president OF
the brooklyn Exchange. says that dealer there
does object In this city many do object and hence
the McCnrren system would fall short of the
I'm New York. That there coal dealers here
who try to cvade scrutiny to their weights the
minutes read at the last exchange meeting will
demonstrate, land those are the men cannot get
at unless we have law something like our old
plan No 2 which puts the Weighing under such
circumstances in the hands Of the purchaser who
NAYS nominal for having IL said "A