The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-08-15
ST. PAUL CITIZENS
ARE BEING ROBBED
BY SHORT WEIGHTS
Market Master Bevans Makes
Startling Charges ina Plea
for Strlcter Ordinances Con-
trolling Weights and Meas
ures in the City.

"This city is being robbed systemat-
ically by short weights" says Market
Master Bevans.
DAILY people come to me complain
ing of short weights, but I can do
nothing. I am powerless."
"a prominent official of the North
western Fuel company continued Mr..
Bevans, speaking before the joint
council committee on markets yester-
day afternoon, ts'.told me that it is a
common practice for small fuel dealers
to buy 1900 pounds of coal and ped
die it out for ton of 1900 pounds.
In some instances, he said the 1890
poundsais stretched out to 1900 pounds
The big firms are honest enough with
their weights-it would not pay them
to be otherwise. 1t is the small fell
lows that rob the people. ~"
Laws Are Obsolete.
BY a state law the market master of
city, town or village is the official
seaIer of weights and measures, but of
late the law has become obsolete
through council action in cutting off
the fee accruing from the same, and
Market Master Bevans' talk yesterday
was in the nature of an appeal to the
committee for help. He advised that
if a return to the fee system is not
to be tolerated, that the council put the
matter in the hands of the police and
arrange for the employment of regu-
lar salaried official whose duties would
be to keep an eye on weights and
measures.
Bread is another thing in which
there is complaint" said Mr. Bevans.
F'Twice my attention has been called
to complaints by Mayor Smith. Short
weight was alleged, but I could dc
nothing because of my other duties
and the fact that the law relating to
such matters is defective"
Fee Is Abolished.
Up to a year ago Market Master
deputy visited all places of business
where weights and measures were used
and tested the same. Each weight and
measure tested called for a fee, where
upon the Grocers, association kicked,
with the result that the fee was abol-
ished and the market master required
to do the work without any further
compensation.
Since that time not a weight or
measure in st. Paul has been tested,
and Mr.. Bevans says none will be I'M
til he is either given an assistant or
some other arrangements are made. He
says it is impossible to do the work
and attend to his regular duties. He
is positive that short weights are daily
being used in ST. Paul, and advises
early action if the people are to be
protected.
All of the laws relating to weights
and measures were enacted for st. Paul
when it was a town of about 10000, and
they are now practically obsolete. one
calls for the stamping on every loaf
the weight and price, but none of the
bakeries observe it.
Some of the practices in the matter
of weights related by Mr.. Bevans APP
pealed forcibly to the committee, and
the CORPORATION attorney was instruct
ed to proceed without delay and sub
nit new drafts of ordinances.
The local Bakers union has taken
UP the matter of short weights as Tar
as it concerns their own business, and
it is expected that they will appear
before the council shortly and ask that
a strict law be enacted.