Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-09-12
WEIGHTS And STANDARDS
One Is Often Short and the Other
Mixed.
Legisiature Will he Asked TO Remedy
Some Alleged Evils Whereby the
Consumer Buys Much That lie
Does Not Want.

The Vermont Association of sealers
held the second of series of open
meetings for the education of the pub
lie In matters pertaining to weights
and measures yesterday In the roof
garden of the Hotel Vermont, but only
a few In addition to the sealers and
men engaged In business along the
lines having to do with the subject
took occasion to attend. The meeting
was. however. productive of consider
able good as different phases Of the
subject were presented and several
matters were discussed which will be
brought before the next Legislature.
number of speakers from outside
the state made addresses.
Commissioner of Weights and Meas
ures Hugh II. Henry Of Chester presid-
ed and the principal speakers were
G.. A. Howe, deputy sealer of weights
and measures in the District of Co
lumbia; l.. A. Fischer, chief of the d.
vision of weights and measures of the
National Bureau of Standards; d. c.
Palmer. commissioner of weights and
measures in Massachusetts; and
George X. Cary Il st. Johnsbury, who
spoke of some of the present faults
which existed to the detriment of the
maple sugar shippers and packers.
In addition to these, brief speeches
were made by y. ]. Moynahan of Bos-
ton. of the Moneywcight Computing
Scale company; II. l.. Hanson of Bos-
/ yf,ir Of
Angldile Computing Scale company;
and Messrs. Scowan and Knight of De-
troit, of the Toledo Computing Scale
company.
Some Of the matters which will he
brought before the Legislature Will be
the establishment Of regular salaries for
! the inspect tors, instead Of the present
method of paying so much per day
for time spent the passage of law
which will prohibit the use Of any un-
scaled weight or measure, and n rrovi-
sion for the sale Of lard in pals or CON
tanners holding an even number of
pounds. probably three. I'VE and ten,
as is now the law In most States.
Mr.. Fischer urged ;hc Importance If
national legislation which would promot,
uniformity in the matter of standards
throughout the country. az at the proscn,
time the scale manufacturers and Others
were confused and put to a considerable
expense by the present chaotic condition
OF standards. I've also took mp the way
in which the law providing that all inter
state shipments must contain the weight
or measure which was marked on tho con-
itainer was being mad" useless by tn,
fact that the manufacturers had cease
to mark the containers. He would favor
n law which would compel them to mari;
such containers and each State should
also have such law.
| Mr. Palmer told of the manner in which
purchasers We're made to pay for heavy
paper. In one store the manager had
purchased "A heavy manila paper which
was used abundantly and It was found
| that the purchasers who bought tho
paper instead of tho commodity which
they asked for were paving the rent OF
the store. and that the cost of the paper
was even then deducted so that tn,
difference In the cost of the paper and
the price of the commodity was equal T.
more than a hundred dollars per month.
The harm resulting from tolerance was
dwclt upon by Mr., Howe. who said that
I'm Washington a tolerance for in.
accuracy Of two ounces per quart had
formerly been allowed and that 1t was
found the manufacturers. as soon as the
llaw was passed. cut down the measures
Just that much At present the only
tolerance allowed was one ounce pei
gallon.
The manner in which purchasers pay
for tin instead of lard was brought out
when 1t was shown that they bought
from eight to IL ounces OF tin with every
pail and were paying for lard a chanc,
will he given the Vermont Legislature tc
remedy this. but strong opposition Is ex
pected from the packers and others in
terested. \ standard barrel will also b,
urged at the next Legislature for a
present there is no standard in Vernon
and il particularly affects the apple bust
ness, as some are using -four barrels
while others use sugar barrels and Others
In closing. a resolution expressing regre
lat the death Of Inspector \. :. Fleur,
of Swanton was adopted