Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-02-05
HOMES 7
WEIGH T
Bill Is Introduced by
AssembIyman
Dudgeon
Drawn by Grant
Thc~.as to Protect
Consumers
Sale by Short-Meas-
ure ReCeptaCIes
F Orbidden
Madison, Feb. 3

n jill IOOhIhS W the pIOIeCLIOu Vi
consumers from dishonest dealers and
manufacturers who sell food products
in shOrt-meaSure leceptacles was in
trOduced into the legislature last night
by Assemblyman M. S. Dudgeon of
Madison TWAS drawn byGrant Thomas
Of Madison, recently a candidate for
chief clerk of the senate. Mr.. Thomas
has made a study of such protective
legislation and has found that in the
retail business almost everywhere
there is much dishonesty in short
weight and shOrt-measure packages,
bottles and other receptacles which
works to the profit of dealers and to
the loss of the retail buyer. In fact,
he has found that the practice of hav-
ing shOrt-measure receptacles has be-
come so general that dealers seem to
think it perfectly right and business
like to impose upon their customers
by this mild swindle. Mr.. Thomas
has discovered upon investigation that
milk and cream bottles in Madison,
sold for half-pints and quarts, are
often Of a capacity much less than the
quantity for which the buyers are
charged. He carried his investigations
into drugstores, groceries and other
departments of retail trade and learn
ed that similar conditions prevailed.
In one drugstore he was present while
a travelling salesman for a large bottle
firm was trying to sell to the proprie-
tor of the store. the inducement being
thar, while the bottles were each
marked full measure they were
enough short of the labeled capacity
to pay the retailer in saving Of the
commodities sold enough to make up
for the cost Of the bottle.
In New York and Massachusetts
there are laws providing against
shortmeasure fruit boxes, but these
laws do no go as far as that contem-
plated to be enacted in Wisconsin. The
laws of the two eastern states are
found to work we'll. New York was
the first state to take legislative action
of this kind. This was in 1899. The
provision was so equitable and it's
working so effective that the follow
ing year Massachusetts passed a SINH
lar act Dr. Charles Mccarthy, legis-
latiVe statistician in the department of
documents at the capitol, has ascer-
aimed in his inquiries that the laws in
the east limited as they are in their
provisions, are effective.
The bill as drawn by Mr.. Thomas
and introduced by Mr.. Dudgeon is as
follows:
Section ] All baskets. boxes or
other RECEPTACLE used or intended to be
used in the sale of strawberries. black
berries, blueberries, gooseberries, cher
ries and currants and other small
fruits will be of the capacity of one
quart one pine or One-half pine, Wis
consin standard dry measure, and all
crates, cases, or other packages used
or intended to be used in packing. stor-
ing shipping, handling or selling said
baskets, boxes or other receptacles
shall have visibly and legibly burned,
stamped or printed on the outside
thereof, letters or figures not less than
one-half inch in height designating the
capacity of the baskets, boxes, or other
receptacle contained or intended to be
contained therein.
Section ,. All casks. barrels. kegs. |
jugs, bottles or other receptacIes used
or intended to be used in the sale OF |
food or drink or other article of trade |
or commerce shall be of such capacity !
as to contain full pint, quart or gal |
ION, or multiple thereof. as the case |
may be, Wisconsin standard Iouid |
and every such cask, barrel |
keg. jug. bottle or other receDtacle 50
used or intended to be so used shall |
have visibly and legibly burned. print
ed or stamped thereon or blown
therein letters or figures not less than
inch in height DESIGNATING
its actual capacity.
Section s. Every can. nail lar
keg or other receptacle used or intend
ed 10 be used in the sale of any canned
fruits or vegetables or preserves or
other article of food or commerce shall
pc OF such size as to contain a full
aVolrdupols pound of 16 ounces. or a
halt such pound Or a multiple thereof.
and every such can, pail lar. key or
other receptacle so used or intended
to be so used shall have visible and
'egibly burned, printed or slammed
thereon letters or figures not less than
one-half inch in height DESIGNATING
their true capacity.
Section 4. Every barrel used or in
tended to be used for the sale of an
pies shall be of such size as to contain
.hree full bushels, Wisconsin standard
Try measure, and every such barrel so
lsed or intended to be so used shall
nave visibly and legibly burned. or
or printed on the outside
hereof letters or figures not less than
'ne-half inch in height designating the
actual capacity thereof
Section 5. Whoever sells or offers
or sale a basket, box, cask, barrel.
Re 'g, bottle, pail, can, jar or other