The times., 1899-01-06
TO PROTECT CONSUMERS
Flour Inspectors and Commits.
sioners Appointed.
THE NEW LAW OUTLINED
To Go Into Eject on March 1-AIl
Penalties for Short Weight The
Right of AppeaI-Fines for Defnc-
ing Brands-Merchnnts Selected.

On and after March l. 1899, the people
of the District of Columbia by simply
glancing at the outside of barrel or sack
of -four will be enabled to ascertain the
exact quality of -four contained therein
and the date on which IL was inspected.
On March l the law passed by Congress and
approved by the President on December 81
1898. regulating the inspection of flour, will
go into effect.
The act provides for the size and weight
of the barrels and sacks in which the -four
is packed and the materials of which the
barrels shall be made. 1t also provides
that every barrel shall contain 1876 pounds
and that the half-barrels shall contain 9S
pounds.
If the weight should fall below this mark
the miller or bolter packing the flour shall
be fined 10 cents If the deficiency be found
TO be only one pound, and fer every other
pound or fraction thereof that is lacking
he shall be assessed 25 cents. If the in
spectors have reason to believe that the
barrel has been falsely tagged he is en-
powered to have the -four withdrawn and
weighed to see that il comes to the stand
ard. Should the barrel be found to be
short in weight the same fine shall be i'm
posed.
The section of the act which provides for
the stamping of the barrels and is of most
general interest is as follows:
That each and every barrel and half barrel o.
sacs OF -four manufactured in the District or
brought 10 the same for sale or to be rznufac-
tured into bread, shall he subject TO the exaIn;-
nation OF the Inspector by borngs and searchings
with an instrument not exceeding fve-eighths OF
an inch IN diameter for barrels. and onc-fourih
OF an inch for ute cotton sacks, to be provided
by the inspector for thai purpose, or by opening
the sacks, or By opening sacked -four TO such an
extent as the inspector may deem necessary who
shall aftcward plug up the hole in the barrel or
half barrel with round plug made of soft wood,
so as TO prevent the entrance of water and II the
Inspector shall judge the same TO be merchant
able according To the directions Of this act he
shall, at the time of the inspection. mark brand
or stencil the side OF every barrel or half bar
rel. IN letters one-half inch in length. the name
" asifingtnn, together with word or words
designating the degree of fneness which he shall
at the time OF Inspection determine said -four en-
titled to- with the exception Of the degree Of
superfne, which he shall mark or brand over the
quarter; and the several degrees in quality shall
be distinguished as follows: Family extra, super
fine, fine and first middiings.
And Tor the inspection of each barrel half
harrel Of -four the said Inspector shall have and
receive Of the owner agents of said -four, for
each and every barrel and half barrel. one cent
and one dra wing Of -four, and for all sacks at the
rate OF one cent for JOG pounds without drawings,
except Tor sampiing purposes; and every barrel or
i
examination thereof 70 he unmerchantable ac-
cording 10 the intent and meaning of this
act, said inspector shall mark the head with a
broad arrow; and no barrel or half barrel Of -four
not examined and branded by the inspector, as
aforesaid, shall he sold within the District under
fine of 81 for each and every barrel 10 be collect
ed as ether fines and penalties are collected
The act provides for the appointment of
two inspectors and three commissioners
of inspectors. The duties of the former
provisions are complied with by the mer-
chants. The commissioners are required
TO examine each month the flour exhibited
for sale and TO fix standard by which
all -four is to be adiudged
If merchant thinks that he has been
treated by the inspectors the
act provides that the flour on which II is
alleged the inspectors have attached the
wrong brand shall be examined by the
and. should they decide
that the inspector is in the wrong, his
brand shall be erased and he shall be re-
quired tc re-examine the -four and place
a new brand thereon. The commissioners
shall receive fee of five dollars each for
their services.
The act also provides that any person
who erases or defaces a brand placed by
the inspectors, or who shall mark or brand !
-four that has not been properly inspected.
or who Shall pack flour into barrels half |
barrels, or sacks from which brand pre-
viously placed has not been erased, shall
be liable to fine of one dollar for each
offense, TO be paid when they are ad-
judged guilty in the Police Court of the |
District of Columbia.
The District Commissioners are empow- |
cred to appoint the inspectors, who shall |
serve for two, years, and the COM |
whose term of service is |
The appointments were
made yesterday afternoon. The mer-
chants selected as commissioners are B. |
B. Earnshaw, George w. Cissel. and Theo. |
w. Mayer. The inspectors appointed are: |
James H. Welsh for the Washington dis |
trict. ana F. d. Shoemaker for the George
town district
CAPTAINS CHANGE apo1rr