Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-19
THE WEIGHT OF COAL.
Commissioners Write Representative
Babcock on the Subject.

Representative Babcock has received a
communication from the District Commits
! sionors in answer to an inquiry regarding
the sale and delivery of coal Complaint
mas been made. as well as inquiry as to
whether weight ticket should be required
to be furnished with the delivery of coal
In answer to this the Commissioners quote
the law of March =, $780, for the appoint
ment of a sea,er of weights and measures.
section II of which provides THAT no per-
son shall sell or deliver any coal within the
limits of the District of Columbia unless
there shall be delivered to the person in
charge of the wagon or conveyance used in
delivering such coal certificate duly sign
ed by the person selling the same and show
ing the weight of the coal purporting to be
delivered. the weight of the wagon or con-
veyance used in such delivery, the total
weight of coal and conveyance and the
name of the purchaser"
Section ID provides That no person In
charge of the wagon or conveyance used in
delivering coal, to whom the certificate
mentioned in section ~ of this act has been
delivered, shall neglect or refuse to deliver
such certificate to the sealer or assistant
Sealer of weights and measures, or to any
person designated by them. or to the pur-
chaser or intended purchaser of the coal
being Delivered and when said officers, per-
son so designated or such purchaser or IN
tended purchaser shall demand that the
weight shown by the certificate be verified.
it shall be the duty of the person delivering
such coal to convey the same forthwith to
some public scale of the District or to any
private scale the owner whereof shall con-
sent to such use, and to permit the verify
ing of the weight shown, and shall, after
the delivery of such coal, return forthwith
with the wagon or conveyance used to the
same scale and verify the weight Of the
wagon OF conveyance"
Section 16, providing penalty for VIOLA
ton of these provisions. reads:
THAT any person who shall violate or
who shall neglect or refuse to comply with
sections 6, Z and of this act. or any per-
son who shall deliver or attempt to deliver
coal of less weight than that set down in
the certificate hereinbefore mentioned, shall
be punished with a fine not exceeding 500
and costs of prosecution: and the court
may make a further sentence that the Of
fender be imprisoned in the District jail I'M
til the payment of such fine and costs; pro-
vided that the term of such imprisonment
shall not exceed six months.
Commenting further, the letter from the
Commissioners states:
TT is not possible nor expedient to weigh
all coal intended for private consumption
on public scales, and it would require q
very large number of such scales in all
parts of the District and an extra force Of
weighmasters.
From time to time the sealer of weights
and measures takes up carts or convey.
verifies the weight. and as rule has found
the coal merchants giving the proper
weight as indicated on the certificate. In
all cases the coal dealers are notified of the
findings, and If the load is short an ex-
PLANTATION Is requested. II further inves-
fraud the matter is taken to the Police
Court"