The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-06-20

we are Trying W ulSCOuld SC pay
ment for ice by cash." said Mr.. John
son, "and for this reason the price is
placed at what it is. We would rath-
er do our business by the book system.
There are towns where they won't sell
ice for cash to any one. but we didn't
want to make the restriction that
close"
All Guess Work.
Startling as it may seem, the weight
of ice as retailed in this city is de-
pendent upon the ability of the man
who makes the delivery to gauge the
weight merely by eyesight.
I'VE do not weigh the ice" admit
ted one employe of the company.
What would be the use? The scales
on the wagon are no good and all we
use them for is to hang the tongs to
while we wash off the ice. We know
how many pounds each full sized cake
is supposed to weigh. If a fraction of
the weight is purchased we just chip
it off by guess work and in proportion
to the size of the cake. If dime
worth of ice is wanted we know that is
one fourth of the price for 100 pounds
so we try to cut off as near to 25
pounds as we can"
Last year-that was before the com
bine of the Independent and Union
companies, ice retailed in this city for
80 cents per 100 pounds. When com
petition was at its height and if there
was an understanding between com
pany and individual consumer, il
could have been bought for less. II
the ice box held $50 pounds the price
| for all was As cents.
By the system of the Retig & John
son company, the individual consum
| err does not pay for the coupon book
| until after the coupons are used. Ar
| instance is cited where book was left
at the opening of the season anC
| when it was used the collector accepted
pay at the rate of so cents.
How much ice do you get eacf
| house.
| He was told the amount varied
sometimes only 10 pounds were taker
and at other times $50 or 125 pounds
might be required, as the amount de
pended upon the needs Of the refrigera
tor. You will have to take 1O'
pounds each delivery the collector
stated, cor l will have to charge you
80 cents per 100 pounds
The assertion has been made tina
the employees of the company are no
always honest in their dealings. Oh
the cover of the coupon book appear
the statement: Leave this book nea
the ice box" The injunction is ais
given, that employees of the compan.
will detach the coupons. 1t is charg
ed that in some instances, through IL
tention or error, it happens not unset
dom that employees detach coupons TO
a greater amount Of ice than is put II
the box. A member of the police de
partment said today that the employ
who finds a golden opportunity to de
tach greater number of coupons thai
is required does so for a motive. Tn
amount of ice wagon carries ava
from the factory is weighed and tn
cash and coupons. returns made by tn
men on the wagons, must correspon
correctly with the amount taken out
However, if extra coupons are take
from books, sales of ice may be mad
for cash and the money pocketed b
the employees. A large enough suppl
of coupons will have been collecte
during the day to make proper return
in the evening and the company ha
no account of the cash sales and tn
money received for them.
Another point has been made in cor
nection with the charge of 35 cents I
consumers not taking 100 pounds o
each delivery. In case the refrigers
tor or ice box is of such shape that
will not hold quite 100 pounds, it i
impossible to accommodate tina
amount so the higher rate has to b
paid 1t is claimed by many consun
ers that 100 pounds melts as rapidly a
IS and that nothing is gained in real
ty as the box has to be refilled just q
quickly and only 3 cents is gained o
; the 100 pounds. Some ice boxes ar
not deep enough to accommodate
full sized cake intact, and rather tina
have the cake cut into smaller piece
and the rate of melting increased, e
the result the consumer buys a smalle
: quantity and again has to pay the hig
rate.
Whether or not the official famil
will see the light and undertake an a.
thorized investigation, remains wit
them. Until something is done tt
complaint of the light weight an
scale of prices will continue uninte
ruptedly. The consumer will go @
: paying whatever price is demanded {
, he has but one alternative-do it {
abandon the use Of icA