The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-06-20
Officials Who Have 1t in Their
Power to Act Seem to
Show No Desire to Push the
Matter.
INTERESTING SIDELIGHTS
ON BUSINESS METHODS.
Universal Complaint Over the
City Against Short Ice
Weights, Which 1t Is Said
Are Given.

Is there an inclination on the part
of some city or county official to
dodge an investigation of the operation
OF the Rettig & Johnson Ice company,
which constitutes the alleged local ice
trust?
This question is of unusual import
ance in view of the fact that the pros
ecuting attorney and city attorney
each declared today it is not his busi-
ness. City Attorney Study says he is
not detective and that such work
comes under the department of the in
spector of weights and measures. At
the same time the city attorney offers
an excuse for this official by saying he
has no equipment whereby he can
make tests or Investigations. Selling
short weights or measures is an Of
tense against the state laws and con-
stitutes demeanor. The prosecuting
attorney is the proper authority to
conduct any litigation under the Sec
tions of this statute.
With constant complaint and lamen
tation on the part of consumers and
three officials, any one of whom is en-
take action and a large number of con-
sumers to offer evidence. the reason no
official inquiry into the operation of
the combination ice company is made,
IS attributed by some people to the
lethargy of officials.
Council of War. .
T. ]. Study, city attorney, Wilfred
pessup, prosecuting attorney, Jesse A.
Bailey superintendent of police, and
William c. Converse, city judge, coun-
Beled in regard to the operations of the
Rettig and Johnson company this
morning and all declared there is cause
for suspicion in the business methods
of the company. 1t was not charged
openly that laws are being violated,
but there was recourse to the statutes
and assertions made that methods in
Volved. are not within the understand
ing of others than those intimately
acquainted with the affairs of the COM
pany.
why, can take Jesse Bailey, here
and in short time show him things
that would make it awful hot for this
company" stated the city attorney.
And then he added in an effective man
ner: But I am not a detective. Walter
man might do it as weight inspector,
but he has no way to gain any infor-
nation. They ought to give him
have a dozen sets of scales and by
placing them in the various parts of
the city he might be able to detect any
short weights and secure the evidence
right here. He doesn't have much of
way to work, without any scales,
though"
Short Weights Shown.
Continuing, Mr.. Study enumerated
several specific instances of complaints
that had been made to him in which
consumers alleged short weights. 1T
seems funny" he said, that when
there is a mistake made in weight the
short side seems always to fall on the
part of the ice lump that is carried into
the house. One man told me he Or
Eered 200 pounds of ice and upon
weighing it after delivery. found it "A
pounds short. Another told me he Or
dered and paid for 100 pounds. but it
only weighed 751a pounds. A promi-
nent physician reported to me the
great discrepancy in the weight he paid
for and the amount received"
The court of inquiry developed more
Interesting testimony. Judge Con-
verse volunteered surprising informa-
tion. There is neighbor of mine,
who is prominent Main street busi-
ness man, and his wife has been hav-
ing her troubles about ice." the judge
said. Last year she thought it might
be more advisable to dispense with the
coupon books SO paid cash on delivery.
She expected to pursue the same plan
this summer, but they told her at the
office she would have to get book
as she is regular customer"
Employees Instructed.
Employees of the Rett;g & Johnson
company are given explicit instruc-
tions In regard to the subject of sales.
Strange as 1t may seem to the consum-
er, the company has a regular schedule
of prices. AS given to the Palladium
today by B. B. johnson. of the firm,
these prices are:
Butchers, abattoirs and big hotel
boxes, per 100 pounds, Is cents.
Saloons. groceries, soda fountains.
etc, 20 cents.
Family trade. taking 100 pounds each
delivery, where coupon book is used,
30 cents.
Same, taking less than 100 pounds
each. delivery. where coupon book is
used, 35 cents.
All cash ice, 40 cents per 100 pounds.