The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-04-06
Councilman King at Special
Session Says Complaints
Are Made Against Ice and
Coal People.
| OFFICIALS OF CITY
FEAR TO PROSECUTE
Council Is Informed Such a
Charge Has Been Made by
a Business Man-Ouestion
Gets an Airing.

charges OF a Main street business
man that there is not city official,
but who is afraid to prosecute the
coal and ice dealers of Richmond for
the alleged short weights. were put
before council at d special session last
night by Elmer K. King, councilman
from the Fifth ward
1t was demanded of Mayor thinner
man that he take some action to get
correct weights, that council pass an
ordinance creating weight inspectors,
that the coal ordinance be amended to
include ice dealers as we'll, or that the
market master. John Taylor be or
dered to attend more strictly to his
spector.
Numerous Complaints.
Councilmen. hesitated to accuse the
dealers of being deliberately dishonest
but it was said, I'VE don't get what
we Pay for Numerous complaints by
citizens who alleged they had not re-
ceived all the coal paid for were re-
ferred to.
Mr. King, who introduced the sub
ject, told of one person who ordered
200 pounds of coal: he received 20
pounds short weight King said. On
being told by Mayor Zimmerman that
the market master should attend to
the short weight complaints, King
cried. IF we have man for this, let
him do his duty
On asking of the city attorney if
council could pass an ordinance to
create the Office Of weight inspector,
he was told of another ordinance pass
ed some time ago, which places the
weight inspection duty on the mar
ket master. But council was told that
he could not go climbing on all wag-
ons to test their weights. In other
words, he could not act unless COM
plaint was brought to him.
Power Of Inspector.
Mr.. Engelbert started speech on
the weight question with, We'll now
we've got a weight inspector
! But here he was interrupted with a
! flashing interjection by King, He
won't inspect though" Mr. Engelbert
| then continued that the market mas
ter could go into all business houses
/ to examine weights. demand weight
cards from coal dealers. and ice men,
and prosecute when he found viola
tions. Of the numerous complaints
registered before the board one coun-
Gilman commented he'd never heard
of a conviction.
Mayor Zimmerman said that no cas-
es had been brought up which would
warrant prosecution. He practically
admitted that the market master didn' t
have time to properly attend to this
branch OF his duties, at least the coun-
Gil Sc informed
The board of works reported to
council that it would soon be asked
for an appropriation of from $3.50 to
$500 to buy city scales, which will be
installed at the market house. All
grain and hay, which is sold on the
market, must be weighed there. but
where the commodity is engaged be-
fore hand and the purchaser is salts
fled as to the weight it will not be re-
qured that it be weighed on the city
scales.
Use OF Sity oCdIeS.
Coal dealers and other persons sell
ing goods in the city. will not be re-
quired to use the city scales except
where the market master or purchaser
suspects short weight. A small fee
will be charged for grain and feed
weighing. but where a Richmond deal
er is forced to weigh on suspicion ne
will be charged nothing. The hay and
grain weight will pay for the up keep
of the scales, it is thought.
The consumer" declared Council
man Weishaupt. is afraid to com.
plain 70 the Ice company on alleged
short weights because when he does
his ice is stopped. He's got to take
just what they will give him. Last
summer | complained to the company
on short weight, Of ice. They stop
ped my supply. When they found out
l was city official l got the ice
again.
Weishaupt wants council to amend
the old coal ordinance. SO that the
inspector may weigh the blocks of ice
delivered TO consumers. He said this
is of great Importance.
The entire council is of Mr.. Weis-
haupt's opinion and the matter will
probably be taken up at the next meet
ing.