Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-22
REGULATING SAlEOF FLOUR
Bill Submitted to Congress by the District
Commissioners.
Provides for Appointment of Inspec-
tors and Commissioners of Inspec-
tors-Penalties for Violations.

The DIR ift OF a bill which, should 1t be-
come a law. would, in the opinion of the
District Commissioners, prevent the sale In
the District of impure flour has been sub
mitted to Congress. The measure regulates
the inspection of flour and provides for the
appointment of inspectors.
The proposed law has received the con-
past several weeks and has the approval
of the flour inspector and of a number of
flour manufacturers and dealers. Under the
bill two inspectors are to be appointed, who
shall be competent judges of flour. have a
technical knowledge of II and of its purity.
serve for a period of two years, and to be
appointed by the Commissioners. subject to
removal by them
The uniformity of barrels and half bar
rels brought within the confines of the Dis
trict is provided for. the bill stipulating
specifically that they shall be constructed
of good. clean material. ard frightened with
ten or twelve hoops. sufficiently nailed. with
four nails in the chine hoop, and shall be of
the following dimensions: Slaves of all bar
rels to be in length not less than % inches.
the diameter at the head TO be IL inches
and the slaves of the half barrels to be ~
inches in length and the diameter at the
top ID inches Empty flour barrels weigh
ing not less than sixteen pounds. tarred or
marked on the branded head. are to be con-
sidered merchantable.
FGrbids False Packing.
1t is further provided that every barrel,
half barrel and sack of flour brought into
the District for sale or manufactured there
in shall be made merchantabie by the man
ufacturer and of due ineness. without
false packing or mixing, and in the event
that there shall be found any false mixing
or packing. the manufacturer or person
offering 1t for sale shall. upon inspection.
forfeit to the District fine of not less than
81 nor more than 81 for each and every bar
rel, half barrel and sack.
The bill specifies that the miller or
better shall put into each barrel 1876
POUNDS and into half barrels Is pounds.
and that If such is not the weight found
by the inspector and it Is one pound de-
fcient a forfeit of 10 cents for the first
pound and % cents for every pound above
that shall be paid The inspectors. if
they suspect either the quality or the
weight. shall have the privilege of hav-
ing all barrels. half barrels and sacks
opened and weighed. If is is discovered
that the barrels are falsely tarred. then
the miller is again made to forfeit 10
cents for every pound after the first and
p cents for each and every barrel and
Ealf barrel that fails to reach the proper
weight. and if it is found that the inspect
Crs have erred the charges must be paid
by them
Mode of Inspection.
The inspectors shall have the right to
not exceeding five-eighths of an inch for
barrels and half barrels and one-quarter
inch for jute or cotton sacks, and when
they shall have thoroughly satisfied them
selves that the flour is of the proper quail
ty they shall mark it Washington in let
tiers of not less than one-half inch in length
and an inscription relative to its fineness.
The proposed law provides for several
grades. family. extra. superfine. fine. and
middlings. The grades of rye -four are to
be first and seconds. The inspectors are to
receive their compensation from the own
ers of the flour under inspection, and will
be allowed for barrels and half barrels
cent and one drawing of flour and on all
sacks of flour 1 cent for 1856 pounds with
out drawings The -four which is not up to
the required standard is to be marked with
a broad arrow. and if dealers should sell or
attempt to sell il they would be liable to
fine of 81 for each sale or attempted sale.
The Commissioners are authorized to Sc
lect three Judges. who shall be known as
commissioners of -four inspectors. and shall
be practical milers, bakers or -four mer-
chants of standing. two to come from
Georgetown and one from Washington
proper. and they shall select the standard
for each grade of flour on the list OF Sep
TENDER. 1925 and monthly thereafter.
Any aggrieved person who does not think
the inspectors have treated him with fair
ness may appeal to the commissioners of
inspectors, who will personally make an in
vestigation and determine the quality of
the flour The commissioners are permit
ted to charge s. each for such review. In
spectOrs and commissioners are forbidden
TO buy flour except for their own use, I'M
der penalty of so for each barrel bought
otherwise. The erasing or obliteration of
the inspectors marks or signs is punish
able by fine The inspectors are compelled
TO furnish a bond of 81 100 for the faithful
performance of their duties.