The Washington times., 1909-09-30
MILLIONS ARE LOST
BY SHORT WEIGHT
Sealer Haskell Declares
Washington Consumers
Are Out $500 Daily.

Directing attention to an annual loss
OF $4,000 TO consumers Of -four in the
District OF Columbia by reason OF short
weight. Col. W c.. Haskell. Sealer OF
weights and Measures, earnestly
recommends the adoption OF remedial
'eslsiatlon in his annual report sub
United 10 the Commissioners today.
Inc assertion that consumers are pay
ing approximately $500 a day excess In
Inc prlce,o of -four il supported bv figures
Earetuiy' prepared by the SeaIer. con-
corning which his report is as follows:
There is great necessity for national
AeRisiauon rin relation 10 certain com
modities shipped in original packages
Tor interstate trade. a matter which the
bureau OF tandard has under con-.
sideration. The slightest fraction of
snort weight or measure amounts in the
aggregate 70 an enormous sum of
gnoney each year, waich lie lost to the
C0nsU 81.
Tex flour for example. one Of the
necessities of life, and an article which
is 10 an extent put up in bags OF lutte
tacks- n shortage in weight in these
sacks amounts to an average of four
pounds to the barrel. There are over
100000 barrels Of -four consumed IN the
District annually. a shortage OF four
sy7unds to the barrel. which is a fair
average. means a shortage in weight o.
s.9o0eENQOunds annually. At 3e cents
ger pound, which IS the average sell
Ing price OF -four, this would mean a
lose of $4,000 annually 10 consumers in
the District OF Columbia alone. A short
age of only one ounce in the weight or
q loaf or bread means a loss TO the
consumers in the District Of Columbia
of $50 loaves daily, or $3.50 at . cents
per loaf.
Cereals Also "Short."
In addition TO -four. we nave all the
different kinds of cereals and break
fast foods which are pu; up in pack
ages. and canned and bottled goods OF
all kinds. with the same relative short
age In weight and measure, and the
consequent loss 10 the consumer. This
aggregate shortage impresses those IA
milisr with existing conditions with the
urgent necessity for national legisla-
tion n state laws governing weights
end measures which shall be uniform.
When weights and measures are
found in such a condition as 10 neces-
state the arrest OF the user, they are
seized and destroyed, but, II the de-
1ects are found TO be such that they
can be repaired, they are condemned
for repair, and a revisit is made by the
inspector, after a reasonable length Of
nm " AAaAA II AANt ohALA nus AbAAA
piled with the law BY having same
properly repaired. The poorer and less
intelligent classes are the ones who
suffer most by the use OF fraudulent
weights and measures"
The seaier IS of the opinion that the
inspection OF Hour as 10 quality should
come under the immediate supervision
OF the Health Department and renews
his recommendation for the passage
of a bill which provides in a more
F~atisfactory manner for the inspection
"a to weight.
Fears Hueksters Measures.
More care is exercised by the deal
ers IN Weighing coal for delivery than
heretofore. according to the report.
~The most trouble is experienced with
the peddlers and coal hucksters who
eel coal by the busheI," says the re-
port
The merchants who are in regular
Business arc generally honest and anxi-
Gus 20 have their scales correct and 10
sell fun weight. All taXimeters were
tested recently by the Sealers office,
and about Is per cent. according to the
report. condemned and replaced with
correct ones. In this work the office
has the cooperation Of the companies
operating the machines.
In the use OF this instrument of meas
TIRE. as in all others, SAYS the report.
'some dishonest operator viii find d
way TO manipulate the meter 10 his
own profit. It is necessary that the
INNNAA NUN ANIn AAAEA ~ III
1erests TO a certain extent. TO avoid he
fnE imposed upon By any operator who
j. careless Or dishonest as the care
might be-"
Sealers Receipts Increase.
In addition TO the inspection Of scales.
weights. and measures. the sealer or
da and measures has immediate
supervision OF the market houses owned
by The District OF Columbia. the farm |
crs' street markets adjacent to same.
the Wholesale Producers Market. 10
Gated on = street northwest and Market
SQUARE. the inspectors OF lumber. wood
and -four, public hay scales (eight IN
number) and weighmssters. and the
FISH and wood wharf privileges.
The total receipts for TING s~ealer's Of
fee deposited with the Collector OF Tax
e. p: G., amounted 10 S30,16l.27: expen-
C%itures. SA,25255; not receipts. SIS. p
an Increase OF S4.G0L6f over the net
receipts for tho fiscal year 1908.
The total collections OF the office. in
clUde 1,343.N5 collected by the inspec-
tors Of lumber. wood. and -four.
Keep the Complexion Beautiful