The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-04-10
Market Master John Taylor
Ordered by the Board of
Works to Start on This
Work at Once.
SHORT WEIGHT EVIL
TO BE ELIMINATED
Short Weights by Coal and
Ice Dealers Are Placed on
the Shoulders of Drivers
of Wagons.

Scales OF Richmond. big and little,
will be tested within the next several
weeks by Market Master John Taylor.
Not one will be overlooked from the
tiny dram scales of the apothecary to
the heavy ton scale of the coal and ice
dealers. Mr.. Taylor was given an or
der TO proceed with his testing at a
meeting OF the mayors cabinet this
morning.
The examination of scales followed
n complaint by Councilman T.. l.. King
In IA meeting of the city fathers IA
week ago. when he declared 1t had
been said the city officials are afraid
10 proceed against alleged violations
Of the weight laws by coal and ice
dealers.
During the last week Mayor Zim-
norman made an investigation of the
alleged failure of Taylor to inspect the
scales of Richmond. In a half dozen
shops he found none of Taylor's lab
els on the scales, but did find testing
labels OF Inspector Waterman, the
last market master.
What Taylor Said.
Mr.. Taylor declared at the cabinet
meeting this morning. that he had in
spectcd most of the weighing devices
in Richmond. including large ice
scales. and those on wagons, and plac-
a l..ha L.. hnL ,lc
labeled other scales in meat markets,
groceries, and other places of busi-
ness although the labels were not
found by the board. Taylor supposed
they had been washed off. The board
could not understand how Walter
mans tag would remain. but Taylor's
disappear.
The market master said that several
ice scales had been condemned, but
promptly replaced by the ice dealers.
Taylor thinks the consumer is mainly
at fault, as he should report any short
age to the market master at once. so
II could be Investigated.
Further. Taylor declared, the ice and
coal dealers are strictly honest and
their scales are up to the requirement.
In his opinion it is the drivers of both
the ice and coal wagons that are to
blame.
Attorney A. NJ. Gardner, told the
board of n statement made by Mr.. Ret
tig. of the Rettig and Johnson Ice
company, wherein he said the wagon
drivers are required to account for
all the ice which they take out. BY
cheating the customers. Gardner said
he had been told. the driver of an ice
wagon Is able to pocket much of the
cash he receives from the customers.
or course II caught he is discharged.
Short Coal Weights.
Mr.. Gardner continued that there
had been cases where coal wagon
drivers would deliver a certain amount
of fuel to a house. but would leave a
portion in the wagon and take it
home. Thus the consumer would be
cheated but the dealer would be tx.
norant OF II.
ID. G. Gem, street commissioner who
was connected with local coal com.
pany for many years. said he had of.
ten found that the wagon drivers were
at fault and not the company.
The city scale. which will be built
within month or two at the market
house. II is thought. will in large
measure remedy the short weight
fault.
Mr.. TAYLOR was ordered to be more
strict and to climb on a coal wagon
occasionally and have it weighed.