The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1911-11-23

The State Dairy and Food Depart
ment through John @. Emery the com
missioner, has sent an open letter to
the Mayor and Common Council OF the
city Of Kenosha explaining the new
law in regard to city sealer. The let
ter is as follows:
To the Mayor and Common Council:
From correspondence received at
this office, and as result of recent
tour of the state by the chief inspector
of WEIGHTS and measures, it is evident
tbat there exists considerable misap-
Drehension as to the nature and scope
Of the duties of the city sealer OF
weights and measures, the appointment
of which is made mandatory by the
Wisconsin new weights and measures
law upon the mayors of cities contain
ing more than 5000 population.
Under the old law, which employed
fee system and which as to its opera
ton became practically q dead letter,
the duty of the sealer of weights and
measures was limited to the testing and
sealing of scales and beams and weights
and measures, at certain intervals, US
ually once a year. But, under the pro-
visions of the amended weights and
measures law of 1911, the nature and
scope of the duties of the Office of city
sealer of weights and measures are
greatly changed the testing and sealing
of weights and measures being but
initial work The weights and measures
evil is not limited to the use Of incor
rect instruments, but extends to the in
correct use of correct instruments.
Invite your careful attention to the
duties Of the city sealer Of weights and
measures, prescribed by the state legis
latdre, and particularly as published on
pages and OF the booklet contain
ing the laws OF Wisconsin relating to
weights aud measures, issued by the
state superintendent of Weights and
measures; also to She law which the
city sealer is required to enforce, as
published in section 4432 of the stat
utes, pages Il, Is and IA Of that book
let.
1t win be observed that it is made
the duty OF the city sealor Of weights
and measures not only to inspect and
test weights and measures used in trade
in the city and condemn or seal the
same according to their condition, but
to see to it that tho SCALES and measures.
when correct. shall be correctly used.
This law requires constant testing and
reweigAing OF packages put up for de
livery to see that the weight and the
quantity paid for correspond. The>seal-
or is to respond to complaints made by
citizens of the city. He is TO reweigh
loads of coal that are being delivered
to see that the purchaser is receiving
full weight for the money paid. He is
required to check up the ice man, the
milk man, the coal man, and all ped
dlers and vendors. It is likewise his
duty to see that the city gets It's full
quota when buying coal for it's public
buildings, hay and feed for its horses
and all other supplies Briefly, he
must see that the short weight evils
that now exist, due to lack Of logula-
ton, be reduced to a minimum.
To perform such work with thorough.
ness requires that the sealer devote his
entire time to the office and that he be
provided with proper room and the
necessary outfit. For the testing of
heavy wagon scales, he should have at
his command the necessary weights
and means Of conveyance.
The problem confronting you is
Where can the proper person for such
an important public Office, one Of the
most important in any city, be found
and what csn be done to induce
efficient men to apply?
1t is apparent that this Office, which
IS a public trust, and which voices the
demand of honest business and the pur-
chasing public for square dealing, re-
quires that the city sealer CT weights
and measures shall be person of in
teihgence, integrity, vigor, sobriety and
good Judgment. To secure the service
OF such person, the salary must be
made adequate. 1t cannot be expected
that low grade salary can command
high grade man. An efficient sealer
of weights and measures scan save to
the city as corporation and to the
purchasing public of the city very many
times the cost of the administration of
the office. The legislature Of the state
has placed very comprehensive law
into your hands with the expectation
that you, as the servants of all the
people, will adequately provide for
its efficient enforcement.
TO aid in securing competent persons
Tor this office and to assure its admin
Istration as public trust, the legis-
lature has provided that the person ap-
pointed by the mayor must be chosen
from list of eligible candidates furn-
lshed by the state civil service commits
Under the rules of The state