The Washington herald., 1910-02-26

Uniform weights and measures mean
as much TO the United States as conser-
walton OF forests and coal mines, accord
ing to Secretary Nagel. of the Department
Of Commerce and Labor. who addressed
the 9th annual conference of weights
and measures delegates from nearly
every State. which began a two-days'
session at the Bureau Of Standards yes
terday.
There are many reasons for the high
cost Of living" he said. Some Of them
may be charged to pure waste. others to
greater abundance Of gold. but believe
that short measure has much 10 do with
1t. When / find that In buying good
wine much OF it is in the bottom Of the
bottle In the shape Of glass. I know just
exactly what people are capable Of doing.
know why large concerns change their
description from pint to half bottle. one
has a distinct measure and the other is
left the imagination.
Government Could Take Charge.
EFF the States tan in sustaining the
standards which the Federal government
may establish under its constitutional
power, then I predict that just as certain
as there is a Federal government, 1t win
supply the agencies and take charge OF
the whole business. Il has the power,
without any question. We hear a great
deal now about the encroachment Of Fed
eral power upon State authority. 1 am
not alarmed about that. because I be-
lieye that the States are waking up 20
the situation. But it would not be an
encroachment. II the Federal govern
ment has the power to fix the standards.
Il has the power to say what shall hap
pen II those standards are not obeyed,
and that means the power 10 make laws
and to send out agents who will have
the authority and the right TO enforce
those standards and those laws with re-
spect 10 every citizen OF the United
States. That is what we may come to. +"
The delegates consist OF State commits
sioners and sealers OF weights and meas
ures and others appointed by governors.
DR.. S. ". suatton, director of the Ma
tional Bureau Of Standards. is presiding
officer.
WIN See President To-day.
AZ to-day's sessions an amendment to
the purs food law viii be discussed. and
also the bill 10 make IL a misdemeanor
to manufacture or sell any weighing OF
measuring device conducive to the per-
petration OF fraud
The delegates are to visit the White
House TO meet President Taft this morn
ing.
Following are the delegates IN attend
ance:
Fnpk P. oBTisn, Alabama; Hon. o. c. IIlduig
/ ATk2nsasi a. L Bent and J. Il Field Colombo,
I John r. ke.nmerer, Connecticut; J. I'd OBrien
/ Florida; John saEarese and W. C. Haskell Dis,sir4
/ OK Columbia; james Il. Wallis idaho: Charles O
/ Mccoy. illinois: LasnAs G. Weld. IoEa: NJ. T. Rice
/ Kansas; SwagAr Sher3sy. KENTUCKY; Len 8 Pen
Palmer, Massachusetts,; Albert E Sleepe- Michigan;
| c. r. pinehaTt, Ainnssota; z p Quis, Charles
Neals. and W. Z. Hand Mississippi; Peter Adder
son. W. G. Winsiead. and DIR. William F. Cutler
Missouri; A. n. Yoder. Montana; Bradford /.
/ Prince New Msxicos Dr.. F. Reiclmsnn, New YORK
I L0nnis Il Lwnsdan- North Carolina; Cart / p
Baker, North Dakota; B. F. Thomas. Ohio: Henry
hahan. Oregon; J. sutton Wall. PENNSYLVANIA; WIN
IAN +. Goodwin, Rhode Island; Locius p Brovn
tennessee; John IA Young Texas; James T. Downs
| Il. r Morrow, Z. II. Deavitt and p T. Hazea
/ Vermont; James @. Frazer, West Virginia; John w
Richardson. Virginia, and Leonard S. Smith. Wis
cousin.