The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-07-10
Further Complaint by Public
Over Alleged Shortages
Will Lead Mayor Zimmer-
man to Take Action.
WEIGHT INSPECTOR
WAS GIVEN ORDERS
To Make a Thorough lnvesti-
CATION of Conditions-Ice
Company Urges the Public
to Use Economy.

Mayor Zimmerman declared at the
meeting of the mayors cabinet this
against ice dealers, including both the
wagon men and proprietors Of the
company. If there is any further dis
covery of shortage in ice weights. 1t
is generally stated at the meeting of
the cabinet that the company is more
to blame than the ice men who work
on the wagons. Rettig and Johnson,
who furnish ice to Richmond consu-
mers. have made the claim, according
to certain city officials, that their men
are at fault. The sentiment expressed
at the board and cabinet meeting this
morning. showed that the city Off
cials believe the Rettig and Johnson
Company are at fault.
The Mayor issued an order to Mar
ket Master and Weight Inspector John
Taylor. to keep on weighing ice as it
is delivered to the houses. and the
first case of shortage found to file a
Joint affidavit against the company and
ice man. 1t will be filed under the
short weight statute of Indiana.
What Mayor Thinks.
We've got to take some stand
right here" said Mayor Zimmerman
| There has been more complaint on
the short weight ice question than any
other thing which has been before the
cabinet for long time. don't believe
hn hof
blame as the company itself 1t is re-
ported that the ice is weighed when
placed in the wagon and that the dri-
: vers must account for every pound of
; the ice. or get a good calling. Now the
men try to make the ice go as far as
, possible. If a 100 pound cake is divid-
ed in half, one-half is not equal to so
pounds when it reaches the consumer
, because some of it melts. Now the men
should not be forced to account for
melting Ice
| Market Master Taylor, who has
been investigating the ice question,
says that there is a large per cent of
waste during the hot weather For in
stance he said that at different times
he had known there had been wastes
of 100, 1900. 500 and 200 pounds, due
+ to melting ice. Of course, the men
could not be expected to pay for this
enormous waste, he declared. But he
admitted they were criticized by Off
cials Of the company for this waste
| He claims that scales are being used
on all wagons In his investigation he
found much dividing of ice without
the use of scales and in all such cases
has ordered the ice weighed There
has been little shortage found by him
and where it has been discovered the
company has been forced to make the
weight good.
| Non-Use Of Scales.
! Dairy Inspector Flock and Park Su-
perintendent Ed Hollarn, made reports
on their observation in the ice ques-
ton, showing shortage and non-use Of
scales. Hollarn said one ice man de-
clared to him that he was forced TO
"go down in his pocket" for every
same observations.
At the carnival held by the Moose
lodge on Saturday there was a dispute
over ice. The company had been sell
| ling to carnival stands at so cents
per hundred and not weighing the ice.
but after some dispute the Market
Master forced them to weigh the ice
Some shortage was made good.
The Mayor created a stir in the
meeting of the cabinet when he said
that the city should own its own ice
plant There was a general assent TO
his statement, and it may be consid-
cred later by the city government.
| In line with Mayor Zimmerman s
municipal ice house idea comes the
declaration of James NJ. Lynch. presi-
dent of the International Typographi-
cal union, when he said to avoid fu-
ture troubles every city should own
| equipped to meet emergencies. such
as the present hot weather has caused.
as well as the regular daily consump-
ton.
! In statement made Mr.. Lynch cri-
ticizes ice men for exhausting employ
es nearly to the limit, and objects to
the alleged poor wages paid employees.
| Ask Economical Use.
| The local ice company today asked
the newspapers to urge the strictest
economy be used by small as well as
large consumers of ice. The Rettig &
Josnson company has contracted with
an Anderson concern for three car
loadr of natural ice per week. each car
containing about 80 tons. There is now
a 500 ton supply at the ice houses of
the local ice company, while the daily
output from the artificial plant is
from IS to so tons. Richmond con-