Norwich bulletin., 1909-11-27

and within the gift of the court of common council, the position of sealer of weights and measures, if properly administered is one of the most inn portant to the people as a whole, but has been permitted to become an office in name only. The time was, many years ago, when all the weights and measures that were used in New Lon den were officially inspected and seal- ed Including the baskets used by char coal uealeds. Away back within the memory of that eVer-at hand oldest measures was Pop" Kimball as he was familiarly called by the boys and girls of the Union street school, who visite1 his little store in Church street to buy cookies and candies before and after school and at recess time. This old Kimball store site Is now covered by the Brainard & Armstrong silk mill, as the property with considerable more on Church and Union streets was pur- chased to make way for the big manu- featuring plant.
 Pop" Kimball gave strict attention to the duties of sealer of weights and measures, and all who had the use Of these articles were sure to have them sealed before using. and thereby avoid prosecution. Later a son of this kind old man, Royal J. Kimball, was elected to the office and did the duties well and collected the emoluments for years. Then there came a change, and the duties connected with the office were neglected, and the buyers were at the mercy of the sellers and had to take chances of short weights and meas ures.
 For the past twenty-five lyears or more the office has been given to Thomas W. Gardiner, the present in- cumbent, and who is well qualified to discharge the duties, which he would willingly do if the duties and the fees were more clearly defined. He has done some work in connection with the office and accepted such fees as were offered, but has never made personal investigation and insistence that all weights and measures used be official ly sealed, thus guaranteeing to all pur- chasers the full quantity purchased.
 The state statutes provide for the office and the city of New London in compliance with the statute makes the appointment, but that is all. It is about time that steps be taken to rem- edy the present conditions in that re- spected, and the sealer of weights and measures be instructed to enforce the la in correction with his office, and that a. schedule of fees for service rem dered be arranged. This should be <1OL Uflly WDECd use TCQulTeu Dy law but as simple matter of justice to buyers and sellers.
 Standard weights and measures of the state are in the custody of the treasurer and others up to the state standard should be in the possession of the county treasurer, and in turn the selectmen are required to furnish the sealer of weights and measures up to the standard outfit for the perform
 -E ks.- I..A~ aIl r.w~A liable to a fine for failure to so pro- vide, and it is about time these wor- thy officials in New London complied with the law in this respect.
 The sealer of weights and measures is required by law to try all weights and measures annually which are used by any person in the town, and to de- stroy such as cannot be made td com- ply with the standard, and to place his official stamp on such as are found true or can be mads to be true to the for all users to know that there is a penalty for using weights and measures that are not officially sealed
 It would seem, therefore, in justice to all concerned but right hat the court of common council take action at the very next meeting, by fixing a schedule of rates to be charged by the sealer of weights and measures and that he be instructed to fulfil the du- ties of his office.
 Speaking of minor offices, there is another of lesser importance, perhaps, which has been vacant since the death of Joseph D. T. Strickland who filled the position ever since Rial Chaney died. which was a long time ago. At the first meeting of the present court of common council. when the minor of fcers were elected. none was named for that of city gauger, which is re- quired by the charter and liable to be called upon at any time when official certification of gauge is necessary The official gaugers of the customs depart pnent are the only ones in the city, and while they might be permitted to do gauging as a matter of accommodation, they could not give official certifca- ton only on the gauging done direct for the government.
 There is not the demand for official gaugers in New London at present as there was in those times when whale fishery was local industry and the wharves were filled with casks of whale oil. While nearly every whal- ing firm had it's gauger. Rial Chaney perhaps, did more gauging than all the others combined and was considered
  though straight rod gauging was the rule, as the same results were ob- tained and with considerable less la bor.
 There may be one or two of those old-t time whale-oil gaugers in New London, but none can be recalled. so the court of common council will have difficulty in dealing the office of gaug- CT out to any more men of the old -1. To,.N .Gl aas aF little or no financial value to the off, cial, so it is not probable that many will take up the study of gauging for the purpose of competing for the office of city guager Still it is an office that should not remain vacant. for there is no telling when the services of such an officer may be required.
 In order to prevent the spread Of diphtheria and scarlet fever, and measles. too, the board of school vis- itors have resorted to heroic meas ures that will meet objection from the managers of the picture and vaude- vile shows. The board states officially to Mayor Mahan that in the interests of health that school children under the high school grade should be pro- hibited from attending these enter tainments, as the health officer be- lieves that many of the cases origi- nate in these playhouses. where chill dren in all grades of sanitary condi- tion, or the opposite. co-mingle. and the germs of the diseases are trans ferred the one from the other. The school board asks that this prohibi- ton go into force without delay and be continued until such time as the health officer and health committee are satisfied that danger of the spread nf f.nr hu Nos fe olf.