The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1910-04-02
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 Ade-
ouate Laws Will Be
Urged.

Madison The inadequacy OF WIS
C~7sin laws relating to the subject OF
ights and measures and the incom-
rlpte machinery provided for the en-
forcement of the laws were subjects
Of O brief discussion by Gov. Davidson
upon the subject matter OF a 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 inyestiga-
ton made by a 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
crs granted by the Legislature, and be-
cause Of this failure has no official
scaler 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
curstc determination A. to quantity de
livered these inaccuracies result in
nearly every case in short weight and
measure Here also a large percent
age of the apparatus in use Is incor-
rect
The inspector found here a very
gratifying condition in the matter OF
pound butter due, he thinks, to the
fact that the state university a 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 1895
The methods employed in the re-
failing of milk by the university are
not nearly so creditable,' says the in
spcctor Many bottles bearing the
II. of w name, and used by it, are
short of standard size, some being
short by nearly ten per cent"
The inspector calls attention 70 the
fact that only 81 per cent. of the
scales used in Milwaukee are found to
be correct Dry measures present a
still less crcditable record since but
rs per cent are accurate and short
ages of "a per cent were discovered
The subject OF weights and meas
ures ana the need of reform in the
law relating to them was taken up
some months ago by Gov Davidson
and State Soaler smith. and the lat
ter was authorized to attend the ma
tioual convention OF state sealers at
Washington In February at the fed
eral bureau of standards. In a 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-
quato laws has resulted in saving to
the people millions of dollars. Il felt
especially Inundated" says Mr..
Smith, coming from n state which
had been foremost In organizing so
many reforms connected With the wei
fare of the common people, that
should be compelled to report so weak
a law as that which is now on our
statute books.
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