Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-11-10
SHORT WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

right to know what their money is
Going for. We agree with it entirely.
We presume the esteemed neighbor
VIII also agree with us that the people
have right to know what their
money Is going for when they buy
various food and other commodities by
the package. 1t is to be assumed that
any package which docs not bear the
light Of day is questionable, and 1t
IS for this reason that Governor Prouty
instituted measures to bring about in
Vermont reform in regard to weights
and measures similar to that which
has been effected in other States
In accordance with the recommends
tions made by Governor Prouty. a
movement has been Instituted looking
20 the passage by tho present Legisla-
ture Of a law designed to protect the
people from frauds in the shape Of
false and short weights, measures and
counts
All foods and various other commo-
dities are supposedly sold by one Of
these standards and disinterested
observer would naturally suppose that
no reasonable human being would OBJ
jcct to the requirement that his sales
by one or another Of these methods
be required to be honest
But, 10 and behold. the very first
move in this direction is the signal
for the appearance at Vermonts capt.
tai Of slick gentleman representing
foreign scale company and while he
does not dare to openly oppose the
project in question he manages to
have raised various objections.
Now we have heard of no opposition
II the proposition to have honest
weights and measures on the part Of
either of the great scale companies of
which Vermont boasts and the products
Ct which are recognized as standard
the world over. Why then should any
scale company appear by pr1xy at our
State capital to lobby against a prop
osition to promote simple honesty in
t-8dingc
We are not championing any par
ticular provision Of any particular
bill. but we do insist that it is the
duty Of our lawmakers to sec that the
people are protected from short
weights, measures and counts
That the people Of Vermont are con-
stantly being made victim In the di-
rections indicated has been we'll shown
by tho Barre Times, which says:
"The revelations made in Vermont by
the special commission appointed to
Investigate the weights and measures
IN Vermont are very startling, so
startling that 1t is almost inn ossible
to believe them. Nevertheless. the re-
port Of the commission can probably
be taken for It's face value and with
on; any deduction for attempted ex-
aggeration, for the commission ha ,
no particular interest to cxaggerate
The chairman of the commission H.
w. Clement Of Rutland, has told ",
that in the cities ana large towns Of
the State, where weights and meas
ures were examined. they found that
only about half the scales registered
accurately and that in practically ev-
cry instance the inclination was
against the interests of the pur-
chaser
Moreover, the commission has pro-
duced visible proof Of some of the in
aocuracies in exhibits now placed in
the State House at Montpelier. A
Giles exhibited; 1t contains thirteen and
three fourths ounces. The purchaser
loses two and one fourth ounces. A
bottled pound of bacon was found to
contain only nine ounces OF meat.
Grain was short measure by several
pounds Another Illustration is u
package of picture wire, which was
supposed to have 25 feet. but which
in reality measures only 20 la feet
"These are few of tho illustrations
Of inaccuracies OF weights and meas
ures to be found in Vermont, and tho
commission Is to add another exhibit
t, show tho legislators how the con.
sumors in Vermont are cheated. 1t
has been said that there is great need
for more strict supervision of weights
and measures in Vermont. We think
the few exhibits, above mentioned and
representing only small percentage,
bear out the statement entirely. YER
mont does need regulation IF this
latter to defend the people from eth
err intentional or unintentional wrong
dealing"