New-York tribune., 1909-09-12

crooked scales found. are the worst offenders AS
a rule these shops spring scales which present
to the view of the purchaser a dial upon Whlch d
moving hand indicates the weight Of the article
sold BY taking out the glass cover on the dial
and adjusting the hand so that It begins TO count
an ounce or couple OF ounces away from the
zero mark. the dealer gets the better or his
customers by ounce or couple or ounces on
each purchase. In some Of the so-called better
class shops a spring scale is used which does not
need 'doctoring in this primitive manner. because
the manufacturer has provided small adjusting
thumb screw which by touch sets the scale
against the customer. Other dealers have scales
that are set properly. but before the days busi-
ness is begun a strip Of fat slice OF bacon is
pushed under the scale pan. thar every time
a sale is made the purchaser pays for an ounce
or more that he does not get bunch of three
penny nails or a couple Of heavy meat hooks care
Iessy hung upon the right side Of the weigh
ing bar and covered with wrapping paper is an
other trick often resUrted to. OF course, any Of
these devices would fail If purchasers would only
examine the fndica ting dial and see that the NOV
ing hand started always from the zero mark u
has been found however that the poorer the
people the less attention is paid 70 obtaining cor
rect weight
A scheme is worked in some large shops by
which n is said the proprietor starts out with
the intention Of stealing enough from his Gus
toners bv incorrect weights TO paw for all his help
This is done by keeping the slides and springs Of
he scales we'll oiled. When Vhe DencHILl1h tuToNS
niece Of meat upon the pan these sensitive springs
keep # jumping up ana down Catching the weight
indicated at the lowest point in the downward
movement the meat purchased Is swept on the
nan and the false weight announced 10 the Gus
toD,er The benchn1an then writes ont this false
weight upon a memorandum slip. attaches II to
.ba purchase and sends IL on to be weighed again
IN, the proprietor the foreman OF the shop on
.c,,as that are not under the scrutiny OF the
customer The number Of ounces difference be-
tween the correct weight and the false IS credited
- +ba bancbnoan on account Of salary II his steal
60 d,rina- the week exceed the amount fixed
- he gets a percentage of the balance and the
rroorietor takes the rest. Complaints are rarely
1,sda against the game. but n the meat bought
,s re-weighed and found wanting the proprietor Is
sIv-avs quite willing 10 rectifv the mistake with
many expressions OF regret
The scales used by small grocers are usually OF
the counter-baancing kind. that require the use OF
weights These weights are generally allowed 10
ia upon the counter in full view. and have the
number OF ounces or pounds stamped upon them
Nv means OF a drill or reamer. by shaving OF
the bottom, the weight is reduced by the
number OF ounces in the pound that the dishonest
dealer thinks he can safely ''Took' his customers
In neighborhoods where poor people live such
articles as tea, coffee, butter. sugar and other
necessaries are usually sold by the pound OF half
pound Under such conditions II is easy 20 see
how these false weights enable the dealer 20 rob
his customers OF hundreds OF pounds worth or
foodstuns in a single week
Another fruitful game of patty thieving Is worked
in some small shops Saturday nights. This Is
always the busiest time Of the week in these
places ostensbly 10 save time the dealer prepares