The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-08-18
SHORT WEIGHT IN GATE CITY
Pocatello People Suffering from False
Measures, Says a Government
Inspector
lPocatello Tribunel


Washington, Aug. IA. Short
weights and short measures are more
prevalent in Pocatello than in Boise,
according to the report of Inspector
F. s. Holbrook of the United States
bureau of standards, who made ex-
haustive Investigations In both cities.
Generally speaking, conditions are
much the same as in Boise, but bold
er fraud is being practiced by dis
honest dealers, and, as in Boise, there
is no present restraint. The state
authorities are absolutely inactive;
state laws governing weights and
measures are not being enforced and
the public is being held up.
Pocatello, it is pointed out, has no
local inspector of weights and meas
ures in commercial use.
1.-THE conditions prevailing in Poca-
tello,' says Inspector Holbrook, "are
very unsatisfactory, and the results
of our inspection prove conclusively
the necessity for attention to the mat
ter. Only 35 per cent of the scales
inspected in Pocatello are correct, the
remaining SIS per cent delivering in
accurate quantities. Every large
store in Pocatello contributed to the
data obtained OF the scales that are
inaccurate, So per cent erred in favor
of the dealer, some of the errors be-
ing serious, as much as IA per cent
Every one of the scales showing great
error defrauded against the consum-
err, with the result that the average
error, on the fast scales, is nearly
double the average overweight deliv-
cred on the slow scales. Fraud and
criminal carelessness are indicated by
these figures. Conditions such as
these indicate and confirm the neces-
sity of official inspection service to
guarantee to the consumer the !
amounts which he orders and
for which he pays
Inspector Hoibrook's report shows |
that in Pocatello, as in Boise, dry
commodities are generally sold by |
weight; berries are sold by liquid !
measure, and liquids are sold very |
generally in short or defective meas
ures, which defraud the purchaser,
making his aggregate ICss very large.
Some of the measuring pumps cheat
ed the consumer to the extent of IA 1
per cent.
In the matter of butter sales, Poca-
tello is on all tours with Boise. The
butter is put up in pound prints,
which do not contain pound, the
practice of deala.s being identical
with that found in Boise, and hcrto>
fore explained in these dispatches.
Mr.. Holbrook adds.
During the week prior to that in
which the bureau of standards made
it's inspection, deputies of the state
food and dairy department has been
enforcing the law in this regard (cor-
rect marking of butter prints) and a
number of indictments were pending.
AS result of this activity we believe
The weight of some brands has been
increased. Another effect is that on
he butter most commonly encoun-
.ered punch has been used upon
he wrappers in such a way that the
igure 10 of the former label, 1915
", has been obliterated." Mr.. Hoi- |
brook concludes his report on Poca-
clio as follows: {
AS in Boise, it may be said that
! very great deal of work must BE- &
lone before the people will be ade-
Luately protected in purchasing this g
commodity (butter). And here, as
here, the figures show that proper
to the honest manufactur- l
r, to the retailer and to the consum.
rs will be afforded only by the en- A
Orcement of provision requiring
utter to be done up in standard 6
ides."