The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-09-21
INSPECTOR SCORED.
Hudson County Merchants
After the Examiner
of Weights and
Measures.
STRONGLY DEEOUNCE his METHODS
Editor Flynn of Newark Jumps
on the Trading Stamp Evil
Lively Discussions.

PROTECTIVE ASSOcldllOU Oh IluuSoA SouiiS
was held last night in the Avenue House.
The principal business was the proposed
amendment to the ordinance regarding
the powers of the Inspector of Weights
and Measures. A few weeks ago a COM
mittee appointed by President Andrews
waited upon the committee of the Alder
men to hold a conference on the proposed
amendment Thu Aldermen failed to put
in their appearance promptly and the ma
jority of the Merchants Association de-
parted for their homes. The matter was
then dropped until last nights meeting.
The wording of the amendment did not
exactly suit most of the members. es-
pecially the clause, shall cause to be
properly sealed and marked" The mem
hers could not understand whether or
not it meant the inspector or the assoc
citation. The question then to be decided
was: Shall the inspector notify the
merchants of a proposed inspection or
shah the merchant notify the inspector
Secretary Newton arose and made
quite a little address, advising the mem
bers to come to a conclusion as soon as
possible in order to meet with the Alder
men next Tuesday night. He also said
that to his mind the inspector could
keep track of all the new stores started
in this city and that he could make a
thorough investigation. He thought that
some places would be skipped and that
it was the place of the association to help
him locate new stores.
Furthermore" continued Mr., Newton,
81 do not approve of the stamp used by
the inspector, as it is of no possible use.
If your weights are kept clean, the wash
ing will no doubt wash the stamp off. 1t
is of the same style as the stamps placed
in dry goods boxes and is very readily
defaced. The proper idea would be to
stamp the date of inspection on the
weights with a steel stamp"
j. w. Beach said hat the association
should act in this matter. He thought
that Secretary Newton's idea about the
stamp was not exactly good, as in the
case of cast iron weights the steel stamp
could not be used. He said in cases of
brass, lead or some other soft metal the
steel stamp could be successfully used.
He, however, sided with Mr.. Newton
about the paper stamps that. are now
used by the inspector, and suggested that
a metal tag be used. Mr.. Beach also in
sisted that the inspector be compelled to
make an inspection at least once a year.
At this juncture Mr.. Banks arose and
said:-"Gentlemen, / might as well put
my foot in it again. l will take no inter-
est in this business, as 1 feel that this
proposed amendment to the ordinance
will only cause a recurrence of what has
already taken place. Last year the In
spector said that our weights and meas
ures were all right. This year he comes
around and makes forty-three complaints;
six of the parties he complained against
were placed under arrest. This amend
ment gives the inspector too much power.
I will tell you, gentlemen. Inspector
Roede does not do his duty and 1 can
prove it. I will go before the Aldermen
and make this assertion If necessary. The
Aldermen themselves cannot offer any
proof to the contrary. This ordinance,
which in my mind vas dictated by the
inspector himself, only places him in a
position where he can do a great amount
of pounding. Has he taken his stub book
before the Aldermen, as the ordinance
calls for? No, he has not. and / can
swear to it. The amendment should re-
quire him to make a monthly report in
stead of semi-annually.
II feel" continued Mr.. Banks, that if
InlS OTUllldIlCca pdSSSo lax AiClClidIto VIA
be compelled to keep their mouths shut.
Injustice will be heaped upon us and there
will be no help. If a man wants to be
dishonest he will not bring his scales into
play, as there are too many other ways in
which he can play his game"
When Mr.. m had concluded Secre-
tary Newton said that he thought Mr..
Banks was wrong in his ideas that the
office of the inspector was useless, and
said that while the inspector did not do
his duty a worse condition of affairs
would exist if such an office was not in
power.
J. w. Black remarked that as the COM
mittee was not present no action should
be taken in the matter and it be laid over
until the next meeting. He made a mo-
ton to this effect, but it was not
seconded.
James T.. Graft said that he has not
seen the inspector in twelve years. He
says that the only thing that Inspector
Roede inspeets is the payroll.
Mr.. Banks told of how the inspector in
| spected weights belonging to a friend of
his. The inspector, Mr.. Banks said, came
into the store and walked over to the
and offered the proprietor Of the store a
receipt to be signed. The proprietor
looked at the inspector and asked him if
he had competed MS TASK. WneH he Sdlu
he had the proprietor ordered him from
the store. threatening to throw the scales
at his head. This happened a year and
a half ago, continued Mr.. Banks, and the
inspector has not been seen in the neigh
borhood since.
At this point Mr.. Bruins took the floor
and thought 1t advisable to increase the
committee appointed by the president to
walt on the Aldermen to seven members,
as the more men on the committee better
results would be obtained. The motion
was carried and the chairman added the
names of Messrs.. House, Bruins. Shellen-
berger, Beach and Coll to the committee.
Paul ". Flynn. editor of the Trade
| Review of Newark. made a short adj
dress In which he severely criticized the
| trading stamp mode OF doing business.
An inspector of weights and measures or
kdinance, he said, was passed IN Newark
a year and a half ago, after being sub
| mitted to the Newark association for its
| approval. The ordinance gives general
| satisfaction. as it protects both the mer-
| chant and the public. 1t obiiges the in
| spector to make his inspection within a
| specified time. It does not limit the num-
Der of inspections to be made.
Mr.. Flynn said that trading stamps
| were In direct violation of the United
States coinage act. the banking act and
! the postal laws. which prohibit the issue
| of any cash coupon under the value of one
interested in the issue. after depositing
10 per cent. of the amount with the
Government.
President Anderson asked If the matter
was to b. discussed. He said he thought
1t would home up at the next meeting.
that it would help to kill the system by
agitating 1t. He knew several people who
had entered into the scheme and would
now like to get out of it,. One he knew