Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-11
FLOUR OF Low GRADE
Need of Legislation Affecting
Use of the Commodity.
SEALER HASKELL Is ACTIVE
Need of Additional Inspectors and
Agents Urged,
TO REGULATE THE TRAFFIC
Features of Bill Framed by Corpora
ton Counsel-Weights and
Measures
REGULATE THE TRAFFIC

Col. Haskell. sealer of weights and meas
ures of the District, announced today that
more evidence is being collected by him
and his assistants respecting low-grade and
impure -four used in the District. This evil
dence with the report of the -four inspector,
which contained disclosures regarding the
use of impure flour, with especial reference
to bugs and worms, will be used by the Com
missoners in seeking legislation at the
present session of Congress to regulate
the traffic in a manner more strict than
heretofore.
One of the features of the bill which was
framed by the corporation counsel and
which will be urged for enactment, is the
provision for an appropriation to employ
additional inspectors and agents for the
sealers office, in order that proper and
more frequent inspections of -four and other
food commodities can be made not only
with a view to their impurty, but their
weights and measures. Sealer Haskell
claims that his present force is inadequate
to do the work.
Regarded as Startling.
The recent report of the -four inspector
upon the impure condition of -four in
spected by him, referred to- was regarded
as startling from the fact that he declared
that out of every fifty barrels of -four in
spected he found sufficient live and dead
worms and bugs to fill two ordinary glass
preserve Jars. In every instance he said,
the flour was stale, having been stored
over during the summer months and it
had had ample time and opportunity to
become infested with the bugs and worms
He stated that in nearly every instance
brought to his attention the smaller bak-
ers did not run their flour through Sits
before DrpDarinp If for food hut
simply ground and mashed the flour
Mr.. Haskell explained today that the
hour inspector has continued making Wig
orous and rigid inspections, and accord
ing to an unofficial report made by him
to the seaier few days ago, he will be
able to report upon more impurities than
before. The sealer~added that according
to information furnished by the flour in
spector, out of every 100 barrels of old
four-that which had been stored-he
could safely say that more than 10000
bugs and worms are found. He also
stated that the condition is SO conclusive
that there is urgent necessity for the pro-
sioners will make an extra effort to secure
its enactment at the present session of
Congress.
Weights and Measures
The weight and measure of the bread
in bakeries the sealer says, has in almost
every case come up to the standard re-
quired by law.
Another important step taken by Sealer
Haskell during the winter has been rigid
inspection of the measures used by
fectoners and ice cream dealers. with
special reference to the paStebOard boxes
used receptacles for ice cream. During
his inspection of such boxes last year
thousands of them Were found to be below
standard it is stated and were condemned
by the sealer. This year although the
ground has not been fully covered, he has
found few violations and has condemned
| only very small number of boxes, and in
every case, he says. the shortage was due
| the local dealer. He places the standard
weight for the quart measure at thirty-two
ounces, but regards thirty ounces as a
| just weight and allows it to pass
Dealers Take Issue.
The local confectioners and ice cream
dealers take issue with him on this ques-
ton. They declare thirty-two ounces as a
standard for quart of ice cream is too
high and that twenty-eght ounces would
be more just and would assure them a
decent profit, to which the seaer replies
that twenty-eght ounces would be a
short weight measure. and that there
is a gratifying profit for those selling ice
cream even when they sell it at thirty-two
ounces to the quart.
Although numerous coal dealers were
found to he selling coal and wood at a
short weight measure last winter Col
Haskell says he has discovered very few
violations during the present winter.
ION the other hand the sealer said II
have found that the coal dealers are giving
over weight; anywhere from fifty to one
hundred pounds. This is very gratifying
| to me, but I will however keep them under
the most careful scruting during the re-
mainder of the season, then our Ice in
spections will begin, and we can always
look for plenty of work and trouble in
that line