The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-08-12
ORDINANCE VETOED.
Mayor Hoos Does Not APP
prove Of the Scales and
Weights Supplement-
MERCHANTS OPPOSE THE TAX
Think it Unjust and Oppres-
sive--Aldermen Contend
it is a Safeguard.

Mayor Hoos has decided to send to the
Board of Aldermen a veto to the supple
mentary ordinance for the government
and duties of the inspector of scales,
weights and measures. passed at the July
&c meeting of the Board. The supple
ment is to the old ordinance passed April
Is, 1880.
When the new supplement was made
public a how arose among the merchants
and businessmen from Hudson City to
G~reenville, and every protective associa-
ton in the city sent delegates to visit
Mayor Hoos and beg of him not to sign
an ordinance which, to the merchants,
was unjust and oppressive. The grava-
nen of their complaint was that the
ordinance shifted the tax on their shout
ders instead of on the broad back of the
city at large, and that every time the
inspector chose to visit them they would
nave to pay fees. and there was no tell
ing how many visits the terrible inspec-
tor might make.
HI Aldermen, on the other hand. con-
tended that the stamp of two cents on
every measure, weight or other c%ontriv-
ance used by merchants would make the
scales and weights inspectors depart
ment self-sustaining, and at the same
time stop the practice of selling goods
with short weights.
So far as the merchants are concerned,
they do not object to the inspector in
specting their weights and scales as
often as he pleases. but they do object
to having to pay for these visits. The
Objectionable part of the ned ordinance
to the merchants lies in these words
4The inspector shall inspect and Exam
inc, at least once in each year, and as
much oftener as he may think prop
e~."
The fees for each scale, weight Or
measure are
Every 10-pound weight or upwards, 2
cents; smaller denominations, / cent
every liquid measure, ] cent; every dry
or yard measure. 2 cents; every instru-
ment used for weighing. 2 cents.
Section 70. Provides any Instrument used
for weighing found so that it cannot be
adjusted shall be enclosed: This is to
| certifv that this-- has been tested
and found Incorrect. n its use is hereby
forbidden until it shall be made to con-
form to the authorized standard.
Section IS. Provides a penalty Of 500 for
any person using such Instrument after
the notice has been attached, and a PEN
atty of $40 for any person removing the
tag.
Section Il. Provides fees as follows
An instrument gauged to weigh 100
pounds or under, 6 cents; from 1G0 to $50
ponds, 10 cents: from go to 500 pounds,
25 cents; from 500 to 1000 pounds, 50
cents. and oyer 1000, 81; for marking yard
measures, 70 cents, and for a addition
Al yard with its subdivisions. 6 cents; for
sealing and marking all other measures
of extension. 6 cents: for scaling every
weight. 2 cents; for scaling liquid and dry
measures, under one gallon, 2 cents; for
one gallon and over, 3 cents; for half
bushel measure, 5 cents; one bushel or
over, 70 cents.
In Section Is it is provided that the fees
shall be bald by the owners of weights
and measures. and on their refusal the
inspector is empowered to sue in the
proper courts.
Section l6. Provides that the Inspector
shall give receipts for all moneys re-
ceived and shall file a periodical statement
with the City Comptroller
Section II. Provides that the Inspector
shall test. inspect and seal in May and
November of each year all platforms.
scales weighing LEGO pounds; while Sec
ton IS provides that the Inspector shall
have q horse and wagon, to be paid for
out of the fees received.
Section 10. Provides that all peddlers
must only keep dry measures. duly sealed
and inspected by the Inspector, under a