The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-05-24
MAYOR FAVORS
WEIGHING ice
SCALES ON THE WAGONS.
ORDINANCE SHOULD REQUIRE
THEIR USE, SAYS MAYOR.
PnhIic

Believes That the Public
should Have Some Protection and
1t Is Probable Tint the Necessary
Ordinance VIII BE Introduced III
COunciI-what the Ice Companies
Say About the AgitatiOn-BIame Is
Put on the Drivers.
There should be a city ordinance
requiring all ice wagons to carry
scales"
Mayor Myers made this statement
yesterday, in speaking of the agitation
that has been started to force the ice
men to weigh the ice that they deliver
TO their customers.
I'm no way can the people tell wheth-
er they are getting value received for
their money or not. Such an ordi-
nance should certainly be passed 1t
would protect the people, and l think
it would be a good thing"
Chairman of Council Dixon also IA
vors an ordinance requiring scales on
every ice wagon in the city. He says
such an ordinance should be passed by
all means. He thinks it the only plan
that will assure the giving of full
weight. OF course the ice men would
have to be watched, even with the
scales, but Mr.. Dixon thinks an ordi-
nance requiring them to have the
scales should be put in force.
One Company Uses Scales.
The Gorrie Ice Company officials say
every one of their wagons is now equip
ped with a set of scales. There is no
ordinance requiring the company to
have them, SO far as is known, but they
are used nevertheless.
An employe of the company said yes
terday that the scales were placed on
the wagons so that the people might
see what they were getting, just as
articles from stores are weighed in the
presence of customers, If desired.
we simply want to treat the people
right and we have the scales" he said.
You can't find a single wagon of the
Gorrie Ice Company in the city with
out them"
The Driver Is to Blame.
THE truth of the matter is the COM
pany as well as the consumer is at the
mercy of the driver" said an official
of the Knickerbocker Ice Company, in
discussing the subject. The company
doesn't make a cent by what the con-
sumner loses. 1t all goes into the pock-
ct of the driver
I'VE would be glad if a way can be
suggested whereby our patrons will
receive what they pay for. Really we
have no desire to see them get the
worst of it and would be glad if ev-
cry one of our customers would get a
pair of scales and hang them in the
yard where they could insist upon see
ing the ice weighed. 1t is true that a
number of our wagons are without
scales.
Do Consumers Want ScnIess.
Day in and day out, drivers have
reported 10 us that they have lost their
scales, and that they have no use for
them since their customers never ask
to see the ice weighed. 1t would not
cost US very much to keep scales on
all of our wagons, but we simply fig
ured that it would be throwing money
away since the patrons of the COM
pany did not desire them.
1T is true that we charge the driV-
ers for the ice they leave the factory
with. This has been found to be a
most equitable way and should not
interfere in the slightest degree with
our customers getting what they pay
for. The drivers are required to pay
for the ice given them as though they
were going to sell it by the hundred
pounds. OF course, they sell in the
| majority of cases in small quantities
and a higher rate is charged.
Drivers Are Treated Fairly.
ut has been the experience of ice
| companies that the men make more
| in this way than if some specified al
| lowance was made for the melting and
the loss in cutting. When the square
thing it not done it is the fault of the
driver and the company would be glad
to know of some way to keep check on
the men who deliver the ice"
In the meantime it is likely that an
ordinance will be introduced in Coun-
| Gil compelling the ice companies, to
| keep scales on their wagons so that
those who care to can see just what
| they are getting.