Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1912-06-29
Continued from page l

aS II is custoHndry Tor the public to
buy butter by the pound, / am not
gong to try to reyolutionize the meth
Cd or change the standard of meas
ure, for the buying or selling of but
ter or any other article
If you manufacturers will teach the
public TO call for a package of
butter you can make ii weigh IA OF.
or ~ OF. or 20 OF. or any other "a
mount you wish but | haven't time
and am not going to pay clerks for
their time spent in explaining that
| the measure of standard has been
changed and that butter is now being
| sold by the package" instead of by
the pound
| doubt very much if the public will
ever be satisfied with this change
and can see no good to come from 1t
If they should. If you and | should
adopt package of any specific
weight, other dealers and manufact-
urers would have to adopt the same
size package in order to compete
with us and the price, both whole
sale and retail, would be based on
the cost just as 1t is now There
Tor the consumer would get no more
or no less than he does now.
The trouble has arisen over the eff
forts of a few dishonest packers and
merchants trying to sell less than
a pound of butter for pound. First
the package weighed Is 1-2 or. and
then Is OF. and all We're represent
ed to weigh a pound. The honest
merchant and packer who really want
ed to give full weight was compelled
to adopt the methods of their COM
petitors in order to sell at the same
price, it being easier to adopt this
practice than to explain to each Gus
toner that their butter was full
weight while their competitors was
short weight.
Regarding the sale of teas, coffees,
spices, etc, by the package instead
of by the pound. This has been Gus
tomary since | can remember. When |
these articles are sold by the pound |
they are usually sold in bulk and |
weighed out by the dealer; when |
sold by the package, the size of the
package is determined more by the
value than by the weight; for instance
the customer will call for ten-cent
package of pepper fifty-cent pack
age of tea or a fifteen-cent package
Of currants This is because the
price does not fluctuate as it does
with butter.
AS stated above, | supported this
measure as a member of the legisla-
Lure and | shall do everything | can
as merchant to see that it is work
ed successfully. | believe it meets
he unanimous approval of the Gus
.omers and the honest retailers
nave known of no instance where ii
has worked an injustice to the pack
srs or dealers who aimed to give
ull weight
As to the natural shrinkage after
packing | think the inspectors have
igured this shrinkage and have al
owed in all cases for it. But if they
lave not or if they have no right to
10 So then it an easy matter for
he packers to put enough into the
'ackage so that there will be full
weight after shrinkage and charge
ccordingly. 1t makes no difference
0 the dealer or the customer how
ig or how little the package or the
rice is, so long as they get what /
hey pay for.
| do not believe that the Sshallin-
er Produce Co practice giving short
1eight butter and hope you will not
onstrue my meaning that way, but
do believe that you are standing in
our own light and assisting your I'M
air competitors as well as mine,
hen you advocate changing from tn
ound to the package system.
Hoping that this is sufficient ex-
lanation of my views and trusting
hat you will give your hearty coop
ration In our efforts to eliminate
he evil practice Of the past, | re-
lain, Very Respectfully yours,
A. P. HUTTON