Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-30
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Services of q Clerk Required and n
New Wagon Asked for
Other, Items.

Mr.. w. C.. Haskell, ,isealsr of weights and
measures has subnntted to the District
Commissioners an estimate Of the appro-
priation required fot his department for the
fiscal year ending June 60 1900. as follows:
Sealar. $500; assistant sealer, 81 ,200 clerk,
$1.OO0; laborer, $500; one new wagon, SIG.
Contingent expenses. including livery Of
horse TOOLS SEALS etc, are estimated at
S425 for the year, the total of the estimate
being 1858.
Mr.. Haskell states that the amount asked
for clerk hire is III accordance with the la
bors and responsibilities attached to the po-
sition, and that the Importance of such an
assistant for this department has hereto
Tore been fully explained to the honorable
board or Commissioners. Having met with
approval. Mr.. Haskell thinks there is no
need OF further details at this time, except
perhaps, to add that the employment of the
clerk has largely increased the receipts by
enabling the sealer and assistant sealer to
give more of their time. and attention to the
outside business and field work connected
with the Office, and making 1t possible for
them to cover thu territory of the District
ana take up the sealing and inspection of
measures and scales which should receive
attent1on, and also in accommodating those
desiring to transact any business at the Of
nee by having the assistant there at all
times during business hours. By this thor
ousn covering of the territory 1t Is felt that
1NSNAN~ 40 ooiiS oilu tft are u S1teu dHhS
The SeaIer's Comments.
we have found that a large number"
continues Mr.. Haskell, land I might say,
In fact, all the wholesale and large retail
dealers in milk and ice cream have not been
caiied upon heretofore, but in justice to the
smaller dealers we feel that the hundreds
OF measures owned by one large firm should
receive the same attention as the measures
used and owned by dealer who may have
but one measure"
A table is appended which shows that
during the year 1S96-07 the total receipts of
the office were s2,565.O3, while in the year
issf-lS9S the receipts wers $4,3O9.19 Con-
tinu1ng. Mr.. Haskell says:
There Is no doubt that there was a
misunderstanding when the amount of $500
was allowed this department for contin-
gent expenses. The keeping of a horse
very nearly exhaust this amount leaving
comparatively nothing for necessary sup
pHes the way of stationery, record books
Tools, lead SEALS etc, that are required
1or this Office and which are necessarily
quite large.
Wagon Very Much Needed.
The wagon asked for is very much need
ed. The one We are now using is old and
very heavy for the one horse allowed US,
and is quite expensive to keep in repair.
The need of so heavy a wagon is confined
to not over two months in the year, when
we are inspecting and testing heavy wagon
scales, at which time we are obliged to
carry one two tons of standard weights
in making tests. At all other times we
carry only two to five hundred pounds, SO
that to overload the horse with SO cumber-
some a wagon we now have takes too
much time in getting over the territory and
keeps the horse in an unsatisfactory con-
dition. Our Investigations satisfy US that
we can secure such a wagon will fully
meet our wants for $40.
I'm conclusion 1 wish to say that our
receipts will fully cover the amount asked
for, as is required by the act of Congress-,
and the allowance of the same will place
the department in such a condition as it's
needs fully require"