The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-11-07
FOR HONEST DEALING
Public Hearing Of Weights and Meas
ures Bill

Montpelier Nov. 4.-The house
commission on internal affairs gave a
public hearing Thursday evening in
Representative hall on house bill 20,
better known as the weights and
measures bill Mr.. Babbitt OF Rock
ingham, chairman of the committee,
presided.
H. w. Clement of Rutland, one Of
commission appointed by Gov. Prou-
ty to investigate the subject OF
weights and measures in Vermont,
told of a meeting held at Montpelier
last June, the discussion of the sub
ject that followed and the reasons of
commission for drafting the bill I'M
der discussion. Mr.. Clement said the
bill was drawn with the sole desire
to better conditions in Vermont and
not in the interests of any man or set
OF men.
l.. A. Fischer, chief Of the bureau
of weights and measures at Washing
ton spoke in the interests of the bill
and referred to the tricks of trade
by which the public is shortweighed
The bill under discussion is in favor
of the honest dealer and the govern
ment has the right to protect this
dealer. Mr.. Fischer said a recent
inspection in Vermont showed 40 per
cent of scales short weight and so
| per cent of the 40 per cent working
against the bill There is hardly
state in the union that is not now con-
sidering legislation in regard to
weights and measures. He especially
approved of section of bill which pro-
vides for the appointment of a STATE
inspector and sealer.
DR.. +. r. Eichman, state superin-
tendent OF. weights and measures for
the state of New York said the sub
ject Of weights and measures is an
out and out business proposition.
There is no sentiment in It. Every
person in Vermont is interested in
getting one hundred cents worth OF
goods for every dollar expended DR..
Reichman gave concrete examples Of
short weights and measures tricks
which the legislation contemplated in
this bill will stop. Ninety-five per
cent of the dealers in New York and
| probably in Vermont are honest. It
is the other five per cent of dishonest
crooks that we and this bill are az
ter DR.. Reichman especially APPROX
ed OF section 16 of this bill, which
] provides that the commissioner Of
weights ana measures may establish
tolerances which shall be legal toler-
ances for Vermont. DR.. Reichman
answered several questions that we're
put to him in regard to the method
of correcting scales that are found
not correct.
Daniel-C. Palmer, superintendent OF
weights and measures for Massachu.
sets spoke OF the system OF weights
and measures inspection In New Eng
land and said unless the State OF
Vermont takes action along these
lines she will fall behind the process.
sion. He regarded the enactment Of
some such law as the one under dis.
cussion an absolute necessity to por
tect the honest merchant. The bill
now under discussion is superior Il
the law now in force in Massachu
sets and showed how an inspector
stands between the dishonest dealer
and the public. The large majority
of honest merchants in Vermont vii
welcome such a law as the one undel
consideration.
j. II. Senter of Montpelier opposed
the bill under discussion. The bill
provides In the second section bur
eau OF officials. II also provides tina
the standard adopted by the stat
shall be kept in flre-proof building
There is not such building in tn
state. 80 we will have to build on
at a cost OF $4,000. Mr.. Senter tor
the bill to pieces, section by section
and declared he did not believe tn
people of Vermont wanted any sue
gum game put up on them. Mr.. Ser
ter said Vermont needs weights an
measures bill but not such q bill a
this one. II must be radically amen
ed or we can never live under II,