The Washington times., 1902-07-18
Bakers and Local Dealers
Assert His Tenure of Of
flee Has Expired.
INVESTIGATION TO BE MADE
Representation Made to Commissioners
That Mr. WEIGH Has Been Acting
Without Authority for Over a Year
Refuse TO Pay Fees.

The District Commissioners have con-
cluded to investigate the validity OF MIR.
Welch's tenure of office as flour inspec-
tor OF this city at once, and have in
this connection requested the opinion
OF the Corporation Counsel
The bakers and local flour dealers
positively refuse 10 pay any more fees
TO Mr.. WeIch until he has established
his legal right to the Office, which, the
bakers say, he has occupiedswithout au-
thority of law for over year.
The question of the tenure Of MIR.
James H. Welch, acting as District -four
inspector, is TO be considered immedi-
ately by the District Commissioners.
The petition of the local bakers and
flour dealers, charging that AIr. Welch
has no right to his Office. has been for
titled by other official opinions 10 the
same effect, and the Commissioners
have decided that this matter must be
given attention at once.
The Commissioners are especially i'm
pressed with the charge that Mr..
Welch's term of office has expired, and
spector and demands inspection fees,
Notwithstanding his on-Teapp0intment
to the office. The act of December 81,
1898, explicitly says: THAT the Commits
sioners of the District of Columbia shall
appoint for said District two inspectors
OF flour, who shall be competent judges
of flour; said inspectors to hold said
offices two years, unless sooner removed
by the said Commissioners.
Letter of Acting Auditor.
In connection with this section of the
act and the charges of the bakers and
dealers, Mr.. A. NJ. Kenzie, acting audit
or for the District of Columbia, has
written the following letter to Mr.. L.
H. Poole, in which il is shown, appar-
emily, that the office Of flour inspector
is extinct:
"Mr. L. H. Poole.
Dear Sir: Agreeable TO your verbal
request, approved by the City Solicitor,
in regard TO the bonds of the -four in
=spectur / would hereby state, that the
bonds and oaths of Office are as follows:
James H. Welch: bond, January II. 1899;
oath of office, January IS. 1899 Francis
D. Shoemaker: bond. January %. 1899;
oath of office. January 25. 1899. No ap-
pointments have been made since the
above date. Yours truly,
"A NJ KENZIE.
Acting Auditor, d. c.
1t is a question with the District Com
missioners whether it would be advisable
to ask the District Attorney to prose-
cute the person who has been acting as
flour inspector without having legal au-
thority to do so. 1t is said that Mr.. Welch |
has been requested not to continue With |
his inspections until the matter has been |
definitely settled.
The Law is Unjust.
Another very important point in the
petition of the bakers and dealers is the |
charge that section 13 of the act pro-
tects flour adulterators. The section |
says: That all flour blended in the Dis
trict of Columbia shall not be liable 10
q second inspection; but the inspectors
of flour shall, free of charge, brand bar
rels and half-barrels or sacks of such |
-four with mark designating the grade
or quality of the same" According 10
this proviso the -four blenders may free
ly, without interference OF the law, mix
flour which has been inspected with all
sorts OF adulterants and put this mix
ture on the market as first-class flour
The petitioners claim that this clause
of the act is the most obnoxious OF the
whole law, inasmuch as it protects flour
edulterators in the security of their
trade. They are immune from the law.
whereas flour agents and dealers who
sell the pure article as it comes from
the Western mills are subject to the
dictum of a man who, the petitioners
say, does not know the A b C's about
-four.
The matter is attracting the attention
of bakers and -four dealers all over the
country, as this city is the only one TO
boast OF -four inspection law. The pc
titioners, whose ranks have been aug
mented by almost every baker and flour
agent In this city, are determined TO
have the law either changed or taken
from the statute books altogether.