The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-31
PURE FOOD AND RIGHT WEIGHTS.

In view OF legislation, old and new.
State and city, governing the inspection
of food and the inspection of weights
and measures in the city. there appears
to be some confusion which is explained
to us IN way TO suggest that perhaps
some further action by the City Coun-
ell would put this matter in n better
situation than it is at present 1t is
even urged that the Office of sealer
OF weights and measures might be com.
hlned TO advantage with that of inspec.
tor OF provisions; but if this is not
DONE one Office might be made more.
thoroughly to supplement and compile
ment the other than is now the ease.
As it is now, the duties of these Offices
overlap, and there seems to be a void be-
tween them that might well be filled up.
For instance, there is no provision made
to inspect the measures of farmers who
peddle their produce throughout the
city. The farmer can sell all he raises
according to his own weights and meas.
ures, without license (out of the bust
ness district) and without any control
whatever over the weights and meas
ures that he uses.
1t IS urged that by the consolidation
OF these two Offices, the extra work i'm
posed upon the inspector of provisions
by the new pure food law could be bet
ter handled. The food Inspector in in
specting milk, for example, could attend
to both the purity Of the milk and the
suihclency OF the measures at the same
time. Tho food inpector is constantly
stopping the milk wagons Coming from
seventy-two dairies that supply the
city) and making milk tests to sec
whether the milk is pure and up TO the
standard, if at the same time he had
the power TO inspect the milk measures,
possible abuse which at present would
appear TO be wholly untouched, might
be corrected. This same correction
would apply TO all peddlers and hawkers
In every line Of business where the food
Inspector samples and tests The food
inspector could attend TO both divisions
OF the question at the same time with
probably better results than are now
achieved by The infrequent inspection
of weights and measures by the sealer
And inasmuch as the inspection Of foods
arc necessarily much more frequent than
those of weights and measures, there
would be less opportunity, even if dis
honest dealer were so disposed To
change weights and measures and "ring
in fraudulent or short weight or meas
ure.
The revenues of both Offices, especial f.
ly if the inspection of ice and of slaugh- |
ter-houses are to be made by the inspec-
tor of food. viii be sufficient TO pay for |
all the necessary running expenses, as
we'll as to allow for sufficient help to |
do anything which may be necessary |
in the thorough performance of the du- /
ties entailed upon the Offices.
We commend this whole subject to |
the action of the City Council In view
of the new legislation and in view of |
the practical exposition of the work |
ings of the two Offices, there should be |
a coordination Of the two which would |
be cffectual in both directions, and |
which would he to the credit of the ad- .
making such reforms as
arc necessary in the public interest on
both these accounts. The American City |
Council would do well to give this mat |
ter Immediate attention and such thor /
ough investigation as will satisfy it of |
the right thing 10 do; and upon being !
so satisfied. IL should lose no time In
proceeding to do what the best inter
csts of tho public require.