Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-03-10
THE PROPOSED NET WEIGHT
LAW

eStlng article on the proposed net
weight law which is of interest to
everyone.
In support of his bill to require a
statement of weight or measure on
every original package of food sold
in the state of Iowa, State Food and
Dairy Commissioner Wright has proof
that practically every pound" of
butter sold in Des Moines weighs less
than sixteen ounces and that the ay-
erage is full ounce less than the
amount that the housewife thinks she
is buying.
Commissioner Wright has sent his
assistants into Des Moines grocery
stores to weigh bricks and cartons of
butter, and of 200 pounds tested by
members of his staff scarcely brick
weighed the full sixteen ounces.
"The weight varied from thirteen
to seventeen ounces" said Mr..
Wright. Fifteen was about the av-
erage and full pounds were the rare
exception"
1t is fight in the interest of
square deal for the housewife and the
man who is paying the bills that Mr..
Wright will begin soon when Rep
resentative Perkins introduces his
net weight bill. Under the present
state law, which in this respect is
identical with the national law, man.
ufacturers of food products who sell
their output in Original packages
are not required to state on the label
how much each package contains.
Can Sell Short Weights.
"The result is that dealers are able
to sell short weights and measures
without actually telling a lie," said
Mr.. Wright. "They simply let the
buyer deceive himself. For instance,
here is sample of pound of butter
put up in a paper carton printed be.
fore the pure food law went into eff.
feet. 1t says every pound is of uni
form flavor and quality but pound
is crossed out and the word print
used in its stead. "a
"While manufacturers thus avoid
an actual misstatement, they deceive
the women swho buy their butter just
as completely as though that car
toon said every pound Women have
been buying butter, crackers. oat
eai, and score of other food pro-
1octs by the pound for so many year
that they take it for granted. This
applies also to syrups, ketchups, vim
egar and other liquids that have al
ways been sold by the pint, quart or
gallon.
"Three states already have laws
requiring the weight measure on all
package goods. Those are Montana,
North Dakota and Nebraska. At its
last meeting the national association
of food and dairy commissioners de-
cided to work for similar laws in ev,
cry state, and as result dozen,
state legislatures are now consider
ing bill similar to that to be intro
duced by Mr.. Perkins.
Amand National Law.
"The ultimate objective is the pas
sage of bill by congress that will
amend the national pure food law to
require weights and measures to be
printed on every package of food pro
ducts in the United States. This can
only be accomplished by securing
state legislation along this line, be-
cause the national association of
wholesale grocers is able to block
any legislation at Warrington to
which it is opposed. 1t took twenty
five years to- get the pure food law,
and that would not be the famous la
| it is if it were not enforced by par
ticularly aggressive and active men. y
Mr.. Wright's bill for honest weight,
and measures will not be opposed by
the Iowa and Nebraska Wholesalers
and Jobbers' association, powerful
| WulSu Oil ASWa CIV
Gerry jobbers belong. Circulars mott
flying each member that the legtaia-
tive committee of the association
have consented to stand for the Per
kns bill have been sent out by the
committee, and although several job
bers are expected to find fault with
the action of the committee. the NOR
al influence of the association mus
now be for the bill.
Breakfast foods and crackers pro
badly are hit harder by the prcposet
law than any other article of food
Since the breakfast food fad-andath,
Original package" of crackers be
came universally popular, manufactln
ers have paid little or no attention
to weights relying instead on the me
it's of the contents and upon the et
feet of generous advertising.
Housekeeper Don't Know.
AS result the housekeeper who
selecting breakfast food seldoI
knows which of the many brands CO.
tains most substance. Manufacturer
figure the cost of materials and trir
their package to sell at 10 cents Q
LIS cents while leaving fair margi
Of profit.
Should the Perkins bill become
law every package Of crackers or
breakfast food must show its exa
weight.
Iowa already has law prohibitir
the sale of corn meal or flour
sacks weighing less than the, stan
ard But the statute contains 10
er that renders it practically useles
1t says that sacks 'purporting" to
of a certain weight shall not conta
less than the standard number
4 pounds. To prove that an unde
weight sack "purports" to be Of
,,,+o, yoioht &c ohvioNSly imDOS