Evening star., 1902-08-06
RETIRES FROM OFFICE
F. D. SHOEMAKER, FLOUR IN
sPEcToR, TENDERS RESIGNATION
Statement by Commissioner Macfar-
land Regarding Alleged Optional
Inspections.

F. d. Shoemaker District -four inspector.
has rendered his resignation to the District
Commissioners, in letter dated August 8:
Yours of the Sd of July received, asking
for my yearly report. 1 have to say that /
have no report to render not having in
spected any -four since receiving notice.
through Commissioner Mscfarland. that the
board had decided to allow the inspection
of flour to be optional for an indefinite
period Feeling 1t entirely useless for me,
under the circumstances. to hold the posi-
tion longer. 1 hereby resign the Office Of
flour inspector. Thanking the honorable
Commissioners for their uniform kindness
and consideration while 1 have been in
Office. remain most respectfully,
(SigneD IF. D. SHOEMAKER"
Statement by Commissioner.
In explanation OF Mr. Shoemaker's phrase.
that the board had decided TO allow the
inspection of -four to be optional for an in
definite period" the following statement
was given out from the office of Commis-
sioner Macfarland:
Pending a final decision by the highest
court as to the validity and scope OF the
Hour inspection law, and upon the advice
given with substantial unanimity at pub
lie hearing of all the interests concerned by
the Commissioners a year ago, IL was or
Qereu tnat inspections SnOulu De OptiOHdi
until further orders. 1t was stated at the
hearing that the -four inspections in other
jurisdictions, and notably in great COM
mercial cities. were entirely optional, their
purpose being chiefly to furnish record
and a criterion in cases where disputes
arose between makers and dealers or deal
ers and consignees. The inspection was
said to be intended for wholesale rather
than retail dealers In hour, and not to APP
ply to -four in shops intended for consum-
ers.'
This is new phase of q discussion which
has covered about three years About two
years ago the Commissioners. on advice
from Attorney S. T. Thomas. then the cor
poration counsel, decided to enforce the
flour inspection law more rigidly than had
been done heretofore. This action pro-
duced legal Instructions at once. 1t was
purposed on the part of several local deal
ers to test the law in the courts and see
whether the -four inspection fee could be
legally levied One firm-M. W. Gait &
Co.-continued to pay the fee after many
others had ceased to do so, and finally
wrote the District authorities asking for
some def1nitive ruling in the premises, say
ing that it had no desire to pay a fee
which other firms in the same business
were then escaping.
Inspections Finally Cease.
The course Of the inspector since that
time has been most uncertain. Scattered
inspections were made during the first
year of the discussion, but they grew fewer
and fewer until, as is noted in Mr.. Shoe
makers letter of resignat ton. they ceased
altogether during the past fiscal year.
In many respects the controversy over
the Office resembles that over the post OF
chimney sweep several years ago. In the
remote past the post of flour Inspector was
regarded as one of the most important
In the entire roll of municipal offices. Like
that of chimney sweep, however. Ii has
been minimized by changes in American
city life. Apparently no one at the District
building knew this morning how old the
office of flour inspector really is.