Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-02-09
Drawn by Grant
Thomas to Protect
Consumers
Sale by Short-Meas-
ure ReceptacIes
Orbidden
Madison, Feb. 3.

Madison, Feb. g.
A bill looking to the protection OF
consumers from dishonest dealers and
manufacturers who sell food products
in short-measure 1ecaptacles was in
troduced into the legislature last night
bv Assemblyman NJ 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 nav
ing short-measure receptacles has be-
come so general that dealers seem to
think il perfectly right and business
like to impose upon their customers
by this mild swindle. MI Thomas
has discovered upon investigation that
milk and cream bottles in Madison,
sold for half-pints and quarts, are
often of q capacity much less than the
quantity for which the buyers are
cbarged. 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
travelling salesman for large bottle
frrl was trying to sell to the proprle-
tor Of the store, the inducement beng
that 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-
Mated to be enacted in Wisconsin, Inc
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 its
working so effective that the follow
ing wear Massachusetts passed a SINH
lar act. DR.. Charles Mccarthy, Iegls-
Iative 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 l. All baskets, boxes or
other receptacle used or intended to be
Used in the sale Of strawberries, black
Ferries, bIueberries, gooseberries, cher
les and currants and other small
ruits will be of the capacity of one
uart. one pine or One-half pine, Wis
onsin standard dry measure, and all
rates. cases, or other packages used
r intended to be used in packing, stOr-
lg shipping, handling or selling said
askets, boxes or other receptacles
hall have visibly and Iegibly burned,
tanned or printed on the outside !
hereof. letters or figures not less than
ne-half inch in height designating the |
apacity of the baskets, boxes, or other |
eceptacle contained or intended to be
obtained therein.
Section 2. All casks, barrels, kegs,
ugs, bottles or other receptacles used |
r intended to be used in the sale or
God or drink or other article Of trade
IT. commerce shall be of such capacity !
Is to contain a full pint, quart or gal |
On. or multiple thereof, as the case !
nav be. Wisconsin standard liquid |
Measure. and every such cask, barrel, |
reg, Jug, bottle or other receptacle so
lsed or intended to be so used shall |
AVE visibly and Iegibly burned, print
or stamped thereon or blown |
herein letters or figures not less than
ne-half inch in height designating |
IS actual capacity.
Section 8. Every can, pail, jar, |
eg or other receptacle used or intend |
d to be used in the sale of any canned |
Uits or vegetables or preserves or |
uGI dI IIO4C VI lou VI COILu1C1NS 0I|'AA |
of such size as to contain a full !
1OirdupOis pound of 16 ounces, or a |
IF such pound or a multiple thereof, |
d every such can, pail, jar, key, or |
her receptacle so used or intended |
be so used shall have visible and |
yibIy burned, printed or stamped |
2reon letters or figures not less than |