The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-07-17
District Auditor Shows
Records of HIS Office.
TERM EXPIRED LAST YEAR
Commissioners May Prosecute Nh.
WEIGH for Acting Without Author
i5y-Requested Not 10 Continue His
Work Until Investigation is Made.

The question OF the tenure OF Mr.
James H. Weioh. acting as District -four
inspector, IS 10 be considered immcdi-
aJely b. the District Commissioners
The petition Of the local bakers and
-four dealers. charging that Mr.. WeIch
has no right 10 his ol1ce, has been for
titled by ether Official opinions to the
same eject. and the Commissioners
have decided that this matter must be
given attention at once
The Commissioners are especially in
pressed with the charge that Mr.
Welch's term of Office has expired, and
that he continues to act as -four in
spector and demands inspection fees.
notwithstanding his uCn-reapp ointment
10 the Office. The act Of December q,
1893, explicitly says: THAT the Commits
sioners Of the District Of Columbia shall
appoint for said District two inspectors
of -four. 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.. Z.
H. Poole. in which II IS shown, appar-
emily. that the Office o. -four inspector
is extinct.
''Mr L H. Poole.
Dear Sir: Agreeable 10 your verbal
request. approved by the City Solicitor
IN regard 10 the bonds OF the -four in
spector, I 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 %. 1893;
oath of Office, January %, 1888 No ap-
pOiHJments have been made since the
above date. Yours truly,
"a N KENZIE.
Acting Auditor, .. c.
Il is z question with the District Com
missioners whether !. would be advisable
Is ask the District Attorney to prose-
cute the person who has been acting as
-four Inspector without having legal au-
thority to do So Il is said that Mr. WeIch
has been requested not 10 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 Is Of the act pro-
tects flour adulterators. The section
says; That all -four blended il the Dis
trict Of Columbia shall not be liable 10
second inspection, but the inspectors
OF -four shall. free Of charge. brand lar
rels and half barrels or sacks OF such
Hour with a mark designating the grade
or quality Of the ssme- According 10
this proviso the -four blenders may free
". without Interference OF the Law, mix
-four which has been inspected with all
sorts Of aduiteraBts and put this mix
ture on The market as frst-class -four.
Inc petitioners claim that this clause
Of The act is the most obnoxious Of the.
whole law. inasmuch as Il protects -four
Hdulterators in the security OF their
trade They are immune from the law.
whereas -four agents and dealers wno
sell the pure article as Il cones from
the Western mills are subject 10 the
GicIUm OF a man who. the petitioners
say. does not know the a 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 10
boast of q -four inspection Law The pc
tfuoners. whose ranks have been aug
menJed by almost every baker and nogrI
agent IN this city are determined 70
have The law either changed or taken
from ne statute books altogether