Connecticut western news., 1910-01-20

 pint, disguise1 under the convenient name of 'small' bottle. This last package sells ordinarily, for the ins grades of oil, at % cents, SO that in buy- ing olive oil on this false measurement consumers pay $1 pint, $2 n quart oH actually purchased by the gallon at rs-~- tail for $2. 90 or $2. .75.
 PACKAGES HAVE sHRUNK.
 In the sale of cereals and crackers con sumers are equally deceived, As one large grocery firm reported to pr. Reich mann:
 Cracker and cereal packages have shrunk aud arc still purchased in the bG- lief that they contain what they for merly did. These package goods arc enormously more expensive for the uTti- mate consumer than the same quality Of. bulk goods"
 Dr. Reichmann discovered that puck ages of cereals which are supposed tGs contain two pounds hold only one pound six ounces, while the pound" packAgeFs of crackers hold from s to l2 ounces, Rc-- cording to the sense of morality of the manufacturer.
 Federal legislation can alone put nr.s end to such deception, says Dr. Reich mann, and he says that Congress must eventually eract statute providing fen the plain marking on the outside ofeveEy' coHtainer just what the net contents are.
 In the matter of weights and measures Dr, Reichmann finds deplorable' coaal-- tion in many cities owing to the lack of. proper inspection and supervision, but he believes the energy of his department. during the past three years has gradually awakened some of the municipal govern ments to the frauds practiced upon oiti-- zens. Even in the state institutions Dr. | Reichmann's investigators found that incorrect weights and measures were De- ing used, so that the state was receiving, much less than it was paying for. Ont of 6l sets of scales and 169 setso weights inspected and investigators found anOD less than 32 scales showing false weights to the disadvantages of the state and G sets of weights were below the standard
 CHEATING IN WAGES, TOO. Another matter which attracted Dr. Reiohmann's attention was the fAaa system of weights and measures found in many factories where the employees are paid by the quantity of goods they produced. Woolen mills, paper mills,- waste factories, shoddy mills and so on' are of this type, and inspection showe6 that in many cases the employees were defrauded of as much as 10 and even Sc per cent. of what they were entitled to- It is proposed to pass legislation bonding the weighers at such factories heavily -. Frequent inspection of the factories where this system is employed will hsz' part of this year s program.
 Dr. ReichmanR says chat until A- unl- form system of inspection is put intossd feet throughout the state it is hopeless to expect results from his department. unless the consumers, the housewiVss and wage earners lend 8 hand to save their own pockets. He urges that evoryf purchaser take note of the scales and weights used, aud report at once any violation of the law. To the housewife, he recommends the investment of enough money to purchase & set of proper weights, good scale and some hquldB and dry measures.
 The use of these in checking the weight of every purchase as it is delivered, par ticularly cheese, butter, potatoes and ap- pies, will soon effect a saving, Dr. Reich mann says, that will offset the initial expenditure, and care in watching the salesman as he weighs or measures out goods will also preve, the depletion of the family pocket.
 But stringent legislation to prevent such frauds upon the public is the real corrective necessary, Dr. Reichmann, says. and despite the natural and ex- pected opposition of manufactures and tr2desmen, he has every hope of seeing such legislation passed at an early date