Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-08-22
ice MEN VIOLATE THE LAW
sOms Drivers, ACTING Under Chiefs Orders,
Refuse 70 Weigh for Patrons
CARRY NO SCALES ON THEIR WAGONS
City Ordinance Specifically Designed
60 Secure Fair weighing of Ice,
and at same. Time other
Commodities Are Included.

City authorities and ice barons are sched-
uled for clash. Inspector Of weights and
Measures John Grant Pegg is to be called
on to get busy with the icemen. Ice wagon
drivers. carrying out, the orders OF their
chiefs. are refusing to weigh ice in quanti-
ties of less than. 100 pounds. I'VE don't
have to weigh ice unless II is in 1OO-pound
lots" said an iceman to a customer Mon
day evening" And upon inquiry II was
found that this iceman did not have any
scales on his wagon, so that he could not
have weighed the ice, no matter how much
the customer might have wanted Icemen
are said to be not only impudent. but de-
hant In their conduct to patrons, whom
they claim to have at their mercy Here's
the ice." one iceman is said to have as
serted, you can take II or not, just as
you please: we've got you, and what are
An ordinance was framed at the instance
OF Mayor Dahlmah and passed by the coun-
Gil July "a. approved three days later.
which, absolutely requires all ice, coal,
grains, fruits, vegetables. berries or other
goods, wares merchandise. commodity or
produce sold by weight or measure to be
correctly weighed or measured. as the case
may be, before delivery to the purchaser.
Infractions Of the law are punishable by
fines ranging from s2s to $780,. and both en-
ploye and employer are held jointly re-
eponsible. q = -
s-fs, Aimed at Ice Men.
The law was designed specially to secure,
the Weighing OF all ice. in response to
complaints from many sources that ice
wagon men were not putting retail deliv-
cries on the scales and frequently gave
less weight than paid for. Mayor Dahl
III. a
of proving an ice trust and getting a re-
auction in prices. declared that he would
at least do his best to obtain full weight
for the high charges The ordinance rec
ferred to was drawn up at his suggestion
and was passed by the council unani-
mously So far there has been no prosecu-
tiqns Under II. One or two cases of alleged
violation were reported to the mayor and
he. instructed the city prosecutor to inquire
into them and see ~. evidence to- convict
could be obtained. Nothing more was
heard about the incidents In question. D.,
In order to avoid the appearance OF class
legislation the ordinance was made to
cover every thing sold by weight or
measure. provides penalties for short
weight or measure. is sweeping. and the
legal department believes 1t a valid law
and one capable of enforcement.
Text of the Bill.
Following are the two principal sections:
Section 1. Any person. company, CO.
partnership or corporation who shall sell
or offer to sell, either directly in person
or through duly authorized offlcer, agent
representative or employe, any fruit, vege-
table. berries or grain ot any description
or any article Of dry measure within the
OF pound, quart or other contents. or who
shall sell FOR a cord OF wood less than rs
e wGoS OF sell es for ton q coal
ton OF ice less than 1000 pounds Of Ice,
or for a hundredweight OF ice less than 100
measure In the sale s of coal. ice e' or any
other goods. wares. merchandise, COM
modify or other produce. every such per-
aging such. business, together with tn,
Actually Selling or offerins to 9siiyer sue
wares, merchandise or commodity as hereln
meanor. and upon conviction thereof shall
De nned IN any sum not less than $26 nor
more than 500 or confined in the county
jail Tor period OF not more than thirty
sectiona Any person. copartnership, com
peny or corporation who shall deliver or
city Of Omaha ahy ffuit, vegetable. ber e
res or gred, rain Of any description. or any
or any other goods. wares. merchandise
commodity or produce, either directly in
peIsou OF through ouiy authorized of1cer
agent. representative or employe, without
having nrst correctly measured the same
II sold BY measure. In the amount ordered
or purchased by the buyer. or having first
correctly weighed the same, II sold by
weighs, m the amount ordered or pur-
chased by the buyer, shall be deemed
guilty OF misdemeanor and upon convic-
tipn thereof shall be ined in any sum not
iebs than t2b nor more than 400
~ Building Permits.
The city has issued the following build