River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1910-03-31
CONSUMERS LOSE
BY FALSE WEIGHT
Laws to Enforce Full Measure
Are Inadequate.
STATE SEALER MAKES REPORT
The Honest Merchant as Well as the
Consumer Suffer-Need of AIDE
quate Laws Will Be
Urged.

Madison.-The inadequacy of Wis
consin laws relating to the subject OF
weights and measures and the 1ncom-
pIete machinery provided for the en-
forcement of the laws were subjects
of brief discussion by Gov. Davidson
upon the subject matter OF report
made to him by State Sealer Leonard
S. Smith
"The truth of the matter is" said
Gov. Davidson, that our law is wholly
insufficient, while the provisions made
for the protection of the people, even
in the law we have, is neglected, so
that conditions are really appalling"
He called attention to the report of
the state sealer upon one investiga-
ton made by federal inspector last
autumn of conditions in the city of
Madison In that investigation, as ap-
pears from the report of the inspector,
the capital city is one of those which
has not taken advantage of the pow
ers granted by the legislature, and be-
cause of this failure has no official
sealer of weights and measures, no
standards and no system of inspection
of the apparatus in commercial use.
THE general conditions existing
throughout the city" says the official,
"as revealed by the inspectors are
very chaotic and result in very mac
curate determination as to quantity de-
Iivered: these inaccuracies result in
nearly every case in short weight and
measure Here also a large percent
age of the apparatus in use is 1ncor-
rect
The inspector found here very
gratifying condition in the matter OF
pound butter, due, he thinks, to the
fact that the state university, large
producer, dominates largely the con-
ditions. The university pound prints
of butter he found to average about
1897 ounces, net, "a result of extreme
accuracy" The average of all prints
weighed was 1896.
1.-The methods employed in the re-
failing of milk by the university are
not nearly so creditable," says the In
spector. Many bottles bearing the
u of W. name, and used by it, are
short of standard size, some being
short by nearly ten per cent"
The inspector calls attention to the
fact that only 81 per cent. of the
scales used in Milwaukee are found to
be correct Dry measures present
still less creditable record since but
48 per cent are accurate and short
ages of "a per cent. were discovered.
The subject of weights and meas
hn Of in
law relating to them was taken up
some months ago by Gov. Davidson
and State Sealer Smith, and the lat
ter was authorized to attend the ma
tional convention of state sealerS at
Washington in February at the fed
eral bureau of standards. In brief
report to the governor Mr.. Smith says
that he was much impressed with the
work done by the officials of eastern
states where the enforcement of ade-
quate laws has resulted in saving to-
the people millions of dollars. 81 felt
especially Inundated" says Mr..
Smith, coming from a state which
had been foremost in organizing SO
many reforms connected with the well
fare of the common people, that /
should be compelled to report so weak
a law as that which is now on our
statute books.
There is nothing in our laws" said
Mr. Smith, (which compels the ap-
pointment of city and town sealers of
weights and measures"
Mr.. Smith plans to present for the
consideration of Gov. Davidson some
suggestions regarding specific legis-
lation needed in this state
1t is pointed out by the federal in
spector. who made the report above
quoted from that Wisconsin may be
said to have no department of weights
and measures. The custody of the
state standards has been given to the
professor of engineering of the Uni
versity of Wisconsin, subject to the
control Of the board of regents. The
sole duties of the state sealer are to
keep such custody. He has no au-
thority of supervision or local direc-
tion.