Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-05-02
COUNTIES TO JOIN
IN ENFORCING NEW
WEIGHTS STANDARD
Thurston and Mason Will Unite in
Inspecting Districts Weights
and Measures.
LAW rs VERY STRINGENT
Violation is Misdemeanor With
Fine of $40 to 5000 or Impris-
onment as Penalty.

Thurston and Mason counties will
join in enforcing the states new
weights and measures law according
to the present plans of Charles A. Burr,
county auditor Of Thurston county, and
Miss Eva l.. Robinson, auditor of Ma
son county, dividing the expense of in
spection and enforcement proportion
ately to the amount of work done in
each county.
The plan of cooperation was worked
out by Mr. Burr under the provision in
the new law which permits two coun-
ties to unite in its enforcement where
such cooperation will not hamper the
work. Thurston county is to buy the
standard seals and measures for the
equipment, Mason county to pay a
quarter of the cost and the equipment
to remain the property of Thurston
county.
A deputy sealer will be employed at
a salary of 500 a month if he fur
nishes his own horse and rig for trans
portation, $50 If he does not, of which
Mason county will pay one-fourth and
will also pay all extra expenses en-
tailed in the work done solely in Ma
son county. The arrangement is con-
sidered most satisfactory to both cOun-
ties, as it will enable them to carry on
the work at considerably less expense
than If each acted independently.
The new state law is one of the most
stringent in the country, the federal
weights and measures being adopted as
official standards, and various experts
have estimated it will save the con-
sumers of the state $l,000,O00 a year.
Plans for the assumption Of the in
spection work imme diately after the
law becomes effective June IA are be-
ing perfected by County Auditor Burr,
who is ex-officio sealer of weights and
measures for this county, and the ap-
pointment of the deputy required by
the law will be announced shortly.
Numerous applicants are seeking the
position.
A portion Of the auditors and COM
missioners' offices in the court house
will be set aside for the new depart
ment. The new equipment will cost
the county approximately $500, ac-
cording to an estimate furnished by
Secretary of State |. M. Howell, who
ex-ofiicio is superintendent of the state
departments of weights and measures.
Some old weights and measures around
the court house, relics probably OF
some earlier department of which no
records whatever remain, according to
County Auditor Burr, were thought at
first might be acceptable, but compar-
ison later with the federal standards
showed they would not.
Secretary of State Howell expects to
leave for Washington, d. c., next Tues
day, where he will attend the cOnven-
tion of superintendents of departments
of weights and measures and when he
will also purchase the states stand
ards. He has offered, In letter to the
county auditors of the state, to pur-
chase the equipment needed for each
county and he doubtless will be COM
missioned by all the counties, as by
Thurston, to do so.
A deputy superintendent at $2,400 a
Year and one inspector at $1,000 will
supervise the work for the state de-
partment while the auditor of each
county will direct the inspection with
IN his territory, the field work being
oohe by deputy. No fees are to he
charged for the inspection, complete
record of the work is to be kept and
the deputy is required to furnish $1,000
bond.
lhe deputy is special policeman
ana clothed with authority to arrest
all violators and to seize fraudulent
ana condemned weights and measures
without formal warrant. Any one re
s's'ihg him will be guilty of misde
Aeahor and subject to fine of $40 to
f'oo or Imprisonment 80 days in the
0ouh'y Jail. Violation of the law is
aiso misdemeanor. punishable by a
"ne or from $40 to $500 or three
A"onths Imprisonment, the penalty for
s'oohd offense being a fine of from $5C
$ooo or six months Imprisonment