Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-26
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE sEALER
SUBMITTED TO COMMISSIONERS.
Strong Resemrsendation for Annual
Inspccfion-Thc MeasurinE of
6ssteE Mt Present.

The annual report of Mr.. W. c. Haskell.
the DistrifN seaier of weights and meas
ures, covering the fiscal year ended June 30.
1900, was submitted to the Commissioners
today. 4
The receipts of the office during the year
amounted to S5,GIS.7 3, which receipts, states
Mr.. Haskeh while somewhat less than in
1899. are still over 20 per cent above the
receipts for the fiscal year 1897. and fully
cover all expenses of the department. This
decrease Is accounted for by the loss of
the inspection Of ice cream measures. In
1899 nearly 5000 of these measures were
inspected, which appear to have received,
says Mr.. Haskell. little. If any, attention
from his predecessor in office. Under direc-
ton of the Commissioners, measures of any
KIND are inspected and sealed but once.
Although there has been a very material
decrease In tampering with scales and
measures, Mr.. Haskell Is still of the opin-
ion that the public would be better served
by an annual inspection of them. and that
small fee should be charged therefor.
II THIS annual inspection. says Mr. Has
kell, Is adopted our attention will be called
10 the condition of all measures annually,
while now, after measure has been sealed
II Is apt to pass from our notice during the
ire OF Such measure. We frequently hnd
that false bottoms have been placed in
measures, also new ones put in, which ne
cessltates the cutting away of the measure.
This condition is not always observed under
the present system, We find the seal Of
the former inspection and only very close
examination of the measure would reveal
that II mad been tempered with or a new
bottom put in. but testing 1t again would
Immediately show its true capacity"
Number of Inspections.
During the year $50 liquid and 1.024 dry
measures were inspected and scaled. while
81 liquid and 81 dry measures We're seized
and destroyed. From December l. 1897, to
June so. 1898 1.024 liquid and dry measures
were condemned and destroyed; in 1879 426,
and during the fiscal year ended June 30,
lgO. only JOB measures.
Should the annual inspection Of measures
referred to and which Is earnestly recon-
mended by this department be adopted, Mr..
Haskell says he would suggest that a fee
OF only 3 cents each per annum be charged
for measures up to one gallon capacity and
for all above that capacity cents each.
The present fee is 10 and 25 cents each, re-
spectively.
Oyster Measures.
In Mr.. Haskell's judgment the meas
ures used by oyster dealers are entire
ly inadequate to properly protect all parties
concerned Being of solid form and Of
wood. the action of the shells and accumu-
lation Of dirt, soon cuts away the wood at
the top and fills the bottom. so that the
MEASURES are SI1OTt OI INC ItQuiieu
ard. They also become filthy. He recon-
mends that measure of metal be adopted;
the measure to have open meshes at the
bottom, which would he thinks, do away
with the trouble above mentioned.
Many complaints having been made Of
short measure In milk bottles Mr.. Haskell
Inspected bottles used by three of the lead
ing milk dealers here. with the result that
they were found TO be generally correct.
Mr.. Haskell believes. however, there
should be an inspection and sealing OF all
milk bottles usedzin the District. He thinks
a tolerance of half an ounce to quart
should be allowed In the event of his
recommendations being adopted MIR. Haskell
says fee OF 3 cents each for all bottles IN
spected and sealed up to half-gallon ones
should be charged.
He also ss,ys the appointment OF clerk
at S720 per annufn would in such case be
necessary. 81 "i
Mr.. Haskell urges more vigorous en-
forcement OF the law requiring potatoes to
be sold by weight. sixty pounds to bushel
Coal carts have been carefully examined,
with good results to purchasers of fuel.