New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-25
A SHORT WEIGHT IDEA.

Governor Suffers acute attack of
Jeffersonitis is taking a normal course.
His great prototype entered the Presi-
6ency impressed with the duty Of
slashing away ut what he was sure
were the excrcscences of centralized
government. Among them was the
navy. which had protected our COM
mercc all over the world and made our
flag respected by the Barbary pirates.
He concluded that it was as useless
as fifth leg to a dog. and made plans
IN the interest of simplicity and
economy 10 substitute for frigates 4
fleet Of tiny gunboats Just to protect
our local ports. He was brought TO
think better of it afterward, our ships
were saved and few years later did
practical service Of inestima Die value.
Governor Sulzer has no navy to abol-
ish along with the serving of refresh
nents at ''the Peoples House." as a
proof of his democracy. But he must
find something to abolish for the re-
extravaganza. So he has hit Oh the
work Of the Superintendent Of Weights
and Measures. and pronounces him as
useless as fifth leg TO dog. Per-
haps he will get over this when the
Jef1ersonitis has run its course or
yielded to the medicine of information.
II is To he hoped so. for the work Of
the Superintendent ef Weights and
Measures is Of great Importance to
the people Of the state. and his au-
thority should be extended rather than
decreased. II is true that local COM
nmnities have their sealcrs, but the
Governors conclusion from the fact
that the state superintendent has moth
inc worth while TO do is erroneous.
ANYBODY who knows about weights
end measures as they were before the
state bureau was created can give the
Governor some valuable knowledge.
In many parts Of the state the official
standards themselves were wrong.
Lacking state supervision. the local
officers were lax and false weights
were used with impunity. State in
spection has been a great incentive to
efficiency and has saved consumers
millions Of dollars. Without it there
would be practically no check on the
Gamers and other manufacturers. for
local sealers are not in position TO go
TO the source of much Of the short
weight. which NAV he outside their
jurisdiction.
The Bureau Of Weights and Meas
ures in this city is not subject TO the
state superintendent. as are sealers
elsewhere: but the great reform which
has been effected in that bureau under
Mayor Gaynor was based on the work
Of Or. Reichmann. His investigations
Into the prevalence Of false weights
and measures here. though he had no
rower 10 stop II, attracted great atten-
tion and laid the foundation for the
Mayors campaign. When Mr.. Gay
nor took Office he sought advice as to
the reorganization Of the bureau.
adopted the suggestion that Superin-
tendent Keichmann's aid be invoked
and ordered those placed In charge Of
the bureau TO invite the cooperation OF
the state superintendent, and in fact.
so far as the law allowed TO place
tho bureau under his direction and
follow his plans to give the consumers
OF this city what they were paying for
The result has been'a great improve
ment here, ms there has been in other
parts Of the state.
New York by it's neglect long made
itself the dumping ground Of short
weight packages pat mp In other states