New-York tribune., 1910-02-14
MAY REJECT SCALE
AUTOMATIC DETICE.
Designed to Prerent Frauds
and Contract Had Been Let.

There was conference in Washington
last week between Treasury Department
officials and Frank h Emery, representing
the contractor. the Sub-Target Gun Ionl-
pany, Of Boston. which has built the auto
matte scale designed to prevent turehef
weighing frauds at this and other ports
Mr.. Emery is the assistant general ma
of the company On his way back 10 bos-
ton he left the train here and called at 'ilt
Custom House on Saturday.
II was learned that Mr.. Emery Went 10
Washington 70 get further information re-
garding the changes that the inspector Tho
saw the scale said should be made The
company has a contract for building fifteen
scales. and is ready to 20 ahead as soon as
the matters In dispute have been adjusted
One Of these may result in the departments
deciding not 10 approve the device.
The Sub-Target Gun Company was the
lowest bidder, and the plans and specifca-
tions. which had been changed several
times, were supposed to include fouada-
ton with q pit for the gathering Of the
sugar or other commodity that might be
dropped. Only recently it was learned that
provision for This foundation and pit had
been omitted, and the conpanys officers
have declared that their bid was made with
the understanding that they were not in
Guided in the work to be done.
The plans and specifications are clear on
that point No mention. it was said Sat
Urday, was made regarding them. The
scale inspected rests on girders and If all
contracted for should be installed in that
way their accuracy would be affected
by the vibration Of tie piers and the gov
ernment would have 10 build approaches 10
the platforms, which would call for con-
siderable expense. The cost Of foundations
would Increase the total amount 10 be ex-
pended by several thousand dollars.
When Surveyor CIarkson went over the
original plans the base fo- the weighing
machines was provided for. It was re-
garded as essential. The government has
the matter under advisennent now, and q
decision may be reached in a short time
whether TO make the alterations as sug-
gested by the inspector OF 70 throw out the
contract
The scales, upon which the customs off,
ciaIs have depended as Z safeguard against
fraud similar to that discovered on the
sugar docks, we're 10 have been operated
by electricity, 70 be paid for by the gov
ernment- a steel case incloses the finer
mechanism, 20 which the customs weigher
III OF SdCn district mas InS KEY III
the centre of the upper part OF the case.
and above a deskIike projection. is a lever
which, when turned, registers the weight
at the left Of the lever and prints it at
the right. It was SAID by 4 customs Off
cial that a child could operate the ma
chine.
When the draft is on the platform the
lever is turned, and il cannot be reversed
SO long as the material 10 be weighed re-
mains on the scales. The whole structure
Is remarkably solid and rigid. Officials OF
the sugar companies have pronounced
against the automatic device, declaring that
the mechanism was too fine and that il
would De wrecked by the rough usage tc
which the scales would be subjected But
Mr CIarksCn has said that. as originally
planned by the inventor. it was strong
enough 20 endure the toughest kind OF
handling.
1t was learned on Saturday that the Sur,
veyor has decided that the trucks used
on the sugar piers shall be weighed three
times a day, SO that the correct tars may
De obtained Heretofore these trucks were
tared at 200 pounds. In the course Of usage
forms and wheels, to the loss of the com
panies. When this vas made clear 10 tbs
Surveyor he determined upon the change
An investigation preceded this, and II was
found that before the end OF a day Z truck
would be increased several pounds II