New-York tribune., 1906-12-21
CHARGES SHORT WEIGHT.
Patrick Derry Files Complaints
against american Ice Company.

Patrick Derry, chief Of the Bureau of Weights
and Measures connected with the Office of Mayor
Mcclellan. announced last night that he had
filed thirty complaints with the Corporation
Counsel against the American Ice Company for
operating ice scales which register short weight
by from twenty to thirty pounds in each hun
dred. Mr. Derry's crusade against the ice COM
pany has no connection with the action against
the company brought yesterday by At
torney General Mayer Mr.. Derry says that he
found two short weight scales at 52d street and
East River, four at No. 331 Park avenue, Brook
lyn; seven at the headquarters of the American
Ice Company, at 2Sth street and Broadway; five
at various places in Brooklyn. and about III
cases where Independent dealers were cheating
their customers by short weight methods.
The penalty imposed by the statute is S25 for
each instance where a scales is found to be Civ
ing short weight. The American Ice Company
has paid $500 in fines account of the actions
begun by Mr.. Derry, but is contestng the re-
naming cases.
The ice company does not take Mr.. Derry seri-
ously. In fact, until this year, the ice company
has regarded the Bureau of Weights and Meas
ures joke. The Tribune, about three years
ago, told how the bureau employees reported to
no one, and were responsible TO no one. They
came and went at the City Hall at will. work
ing as few or as many hours they pleased.
About year ago Mayor Mcclellan reorganized
the bureau under the authority of a new ordi-
nance, and appointed Patrick Derry chief of
the bureau. Since then the bureau has been
doing better. Its report to the Mayor for the
year shows sometime like systematic work in
inspecting scales and measures.
II Mr.. Derry is able TO substantiate his asser-
tion that in thirty different instances the Ice
Trusts retail scales have been giving short
weight by from 20 TO 80 pounds in the hundred
weight, 1t would that the company would
have to do explaining
In the absence Of his superior last night,
empioye OF the company said: "Derry's men
may have found some of the scales wrong. That
~ wIlat they are paid to dO-watch out for vtO-
lations Of the law 1t would not be strange IL
tney round as many as thirty violations. But
II 1s doubtful if II can be proved that the COM
pahy Is morally responsible in each instance.
kho" or several instances where the drivers,
10 Deneht by little private graft, hitched their
spring scales fast at either end TO the spokes
or the Ice wagons, then started the horses and
gave the scales a terrific stretching deliber-
aleiy destroying their accuracy. Afterward,
~heh these scales were used they would give
snort weight. The driver would then be able
TO Work his little graft. because the scales would
weigh snort, and he would pocket the money
for ice sold on the side. and yet pe able TO show
on the Gays sale that he had honestly accounted
Tor an ne had taken out his route There
are plenty OF tricks worked by the drivers for
sible''
Coal companies. too, We're visited by some
other inspectors for the Bureau of Weights and
Measures These raids" resulted IN thirty
scales with short weights being found. These
scales were connscated In every instance by the
inspectors All the eazes were placed in the