Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-06-09
Conference Called by the Cover
nor Learns Of Alarming Con-
ditions throughout State.
IGNORANCE, NOT DISHONESTY
Forty per Cent. Of Scales Defec-
tive and of These so per Cent.
Are Short-Inspector
Sadly Needed.

| Montpelier. June S-The conference on
| weights and measures called here TODAY
/ by Gov. G. n. Proutv brought ont q
| Soodly representation of we'll known m
from various parts of the State. Cover
nor Prouty presided at tho conference
which was held in the board of trade
rooms. In calling the meeting to order
Governor Prouty expressed his surprise
and qualification at the large attendance
He said he had called the conference be-
cause he thought the question Of weights
and measures should be discussed. In
Vermont to-day along these lines things
are not what they should be and he be-
lieved further legislation on these sub
jects is desirable
Governor Proutv then called on p r.
Ha2en. superintendent Of the Fairbanks
Scale works at st. Johnsbury Mr.. Ha-
zen said he had attended three OF the
five national conferences on these mat
ters that have been held at Washington.
d, c., since 1905. He explained the scope
and work of the bureau of standards at
Washington and said the present law in
Vermont In regard to weights and meas
ures Is dead letter because 1t has no
power to enforce its provisions. Mr.
Hazen referred to like conditions that
prevail in Massachusetts, Rhode Island
and other States, and believed the laws
in regard to weights and measures in the
different States should conform to those
of the federal government for the sake
OF uniformity If for nothing else. In the
opinion of Mr.. Hazen the use" of short
weights and measures in Vermont is not
general, and In most cases where it Is
practced it is due to ignorance of the
law.
INSPECTOR lIOL 1ROOK'S REPORT.
Perhaps the most Interesting feature OF
the afternoon was the report of Inspector
Holhrook. who visited the cities OF Yer
mont this spring. This report was read
by l. A. Fischer Of the bureau OF stand
ards a Washington
Mr.. Holhrook and other inspectors have
visited 50 cities In 26 of the eastern and
southern States. Mr., Hobrook visited
Erattleboro, Burlington, Barre. St
Johnsbury, Rutland and Montpelier in
Vermont His report stated that he
found conditions here similar to those in
other States In Vermont an average OF
10 per cent of all the scales tested were
incorrect and of these 50 per cent were
short weight. In one city in butter sold in
prints the variation In one store was
from 16 lilo ounces to a pound print to an
ounce and quarter less than a pound
In another city he found three butter pats
one-half and seven-tenths of an ounce
short of a pound. He found liouid meas
rfr ,,.l,
have been which means 10 per cent loss
to the purchaser. One oil pump was
found that was % per cent short
Numerous other examples were cited
and Mayor Burke of burlington, j. A.
peBoer and Mayor Dawley of Montpel-
Ter and representatives of other places
visited by Inspector Holhrook pressed
MI Fischer for a bill of particulars. but
while he was willing to give such infor-
nation in private he would not give out
for publication the names of short weight
dealers and merchants. Mr.. Fischer said
the only protection against such fraud is
strict laws, competent inspection, and a
rigid enforcement of the law.
BAD CONDITIONS IN BURLINGTON.
Mayor j. T., Burke of Burlington said
and measures in that city are performed
in perfunctory, half-hearted manner,
and that It is almost Impossible to get a
man who will faithfully and consoicn-
tiously perform such a duty. Complaints
or short-measure strawberry hoXes and
milk bottles have frequently been made to
him in Burlington and he believed legis-
lation along these lines Is urgently need
ed, Even this must be followed UP with
an intelligent enforcement OF the law
lnsr ector fIolbroOk who was present.
said the honesty Of tho merchants OF
Vermont. as whole is not questioned.
but il was found in some cases they
We're giving short weight and measures
through ignorance. and he gave several
laughabe examples of this which ne
found when he was working in Yer
mont.
EASY TO FOOL COAL BUYER.
Henry W. Clement OF Rutland was call
ed upon TO speak of short weights in coal
He said Rutland has very strict city
ordinance in regard to weighing coal. but
by substituting so pound bags for 100
pound bags. which look almost Identical
to the purchaser ana have no distinguish
ing MARKS, II Is easy TO deceive n pllr-
chaser, Mr.. Clement advocated the crea-
tion of n state sealer of weights and
measures. Pay him a salary. give him IL
good law behind him. and then expect
him to do his duty.
state Treasurer e. II. Dewitt OF Mont
peler said as he understands the present
law 1t is the duty OF the State treasurer
to do the sealing Of weights and meas
urss for county treasurers only. Mr..
Deavitt favored an Improvement of the
present law and the appointment Of
committee to draft new measure or
to amend the present law. This was also
favored by Mayor Burke OF Rurlinptor
BUTTER LOSS WOULD PAY SALARY.
In the general discussion that followed
timely remarks were made by H. A.
Blake OF Sutton, Henry f. Field of Rut
land, Mayor f, X. Dawley. j A. DE.
Boer' II. A. Bowman and Perley e. Pope
or Montpelier and others. This discus
sion brought out the fact that IN Ver-
(Cnnt1maAA