The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-04-30
EVAD|NC THE PURE FOOD LAW
Short Weight 'To Even Up" For Purity Cutting Down Boxes, Bags and Barrels Fights For Net
 Weight Laws

l New York has just secured a net weight law compelling manufa cturers and packers to mark on the outside | of the package the true weight or l sage of the Brooks bill in the Empire State'' after several futile attempts will encourage those working for i similar laws in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Jersey, Mary land, Virginia. South Carolina. Mis- Kentucky and Illinois where such a law has been defeated. West of the Mississippi net-weight laws are on the statute books in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska. Wyoming and Me- vada. In Congress the Stevens bill lquiring the weight or measure of con- tents of food packages to be printed on the labels is pending.
 The need for strict protective laws is evident when we know that in Chicago. which the United States gov ernment found had at the time of it's examination the best record of the larger cities at least, there was some degree of short weight or measure either through custom or design In every trade, according to the city sealer of weights and measures
 tangible benefits. In North Dakota one result has been that the gross weight in ounces for canned goods has increased fin spite of the fact that prices for food products have very materially increased and we might expect slack filings were not our law being enforced as is per tim ently pointed out in an official state report
 If the North Dakota law were in force throughout the country the lard pail at the housekeeper's elbow would still be branded with it's weight. The large size, successor to the three pound pail would not scale but two pounds and five ounces. Once the gay rolled oats package weighed 32 ounces; today it has shrunk to 22 The plain ordinary cracker or English biscuit formerly bought by the pound comes now in a package which holds less than half or but seven ounces. Pickles are now packed in bottles which contain but about two-thirds of a pint, the former size. although the imported pickle is still sold in full sized pars.
 Nor is the consumer the only one who suffers from shortage. Shoulders. ribs and Joins Of pork come from the Chicago beef barons nicely packed in boxes stencilled t'Consignee must &C., cept goods as billed irrespective of ac tuai weight," except where the local authorities have intervened.
 In contrast to the food producers to whom getting even with Wiley" has meant skimping in quantity since they no longer can in quality, are a number of manufacturers who have not compromised with their conscience Most of them belong to the American Speciality Manufacturers association. Members of this body. which favors net weight legislation, have given strong support when protective mea> sures for the consumers benefit were in the balance owing to the concerted onslaught of manufacturers and wholesale grocers.
 To compel the manufacturer to tell what his package holds does not of course force him to increase it's size But it will induce the consumer to consider more carefully how much he is getting for his money. Competi- tors after attention is clearly drawn to quantity can more easily bid for trade by offering more. Net weight laws are a step toward conducting business in the open where all can see the cards. They make it inns possible to disguise an increase in price