The Washington herald., 1913-06-25
BREAD Weight
BILL PROPOSED
Measure Being Drafted Pro-
viding Loaves Shall Weigh
Sixteen Ounces.
LEGISLATION IS VALID
Dr.. Woodward Reiterates Endorsement
Of Campaign Now Being
Conducted.
LEGISLATION IS VALID

The fact was brought forward yester-
day that the proposed Standardization
of the iosves Of bread sold in the Dis
trict, which is being advocated by The
Washington Herald in connection with
its crusade for the compulsory wrapping
OF the product. is by no means new
idea.
DIR. William c. woodward, District
Health Oficer, yesterday afternoon re-
called that for many years there was on
the statute books of the National Cap
ital a law requiring that every loaf Of
bread sold in the city should weigh a
full pound-sixteen ounces.
This measure was in effect until about
four years ago, when the bakers OF the
city took the matter before the courts
FOR the purpose or testing the vaiidity
OF the regulation. Inc tribunals DE-
cided that the law was invalid. ana since
that time bakers have been permitted to
sell loaves OF whatever size they wished.
Situation Now Changed.
But the situation has changed during
the past few months. The standardiza-
ton question was recently brought be-
fore several high tribunals, including the
United States Supreme Court. and they
all decided that measures nxing the size
of the loaf unquestionably were valid.
A bill is now being drafted with the
assistance or the once or the Superin-
tendent OF Weights and Measures Tor IN
production at the next session OF Con-
gress. providing that all ioaves or bpead
sold IN the District snail weigh sixteen
ounces. The enactment OF this law.
which Is confidently expected on ali
hands, will merely again place on the
statute Books a law that once for many
MA Oft in
A number of the cities throughout the
have recently adopted regula-
tons fixing standard sizes for the loaves
of bread. In the opinion of Col W. c.
Haskell, District Superintendent OF
Weights and Measures, Chicago has the
best law now in force in the United
States. The validity OF the measure
there has been fully established. and
the law is said to be working admirably.
DR.. Woodward yesterday afternoon re-
iterated his endorsement OF the bread
wrapping and Standardization crusade.
IT have examined carefully the
wrapped bread now being placed on the
market" he said. land I am delighted
with 1t. The wrapping of the product
is an, excellent scheme, and one that
should be adopted by every bakery. Be-
cause of this belief. / am heartily In
sympathy with the bill now before Con-
gress providing for the compulsory wrap
ping of the article in the District.
Bread Not injured.
Several years ago the Health Depart
ment made an exhaustive and compre-
investigation of the bread wrap
ping proposition. The experiments con-
Quoted revealed the fact that the wrap
ping Of the product, II executed properly.
in no wise injured the bread or robbed 1t
Of its nutritive quality; but that, on
the other hand. it kept it fresh longer
and protected it from dust. dirt and
germs.
. The cost of the wrapping process IL
a comparatively insignificant one. I I'M
that at present the bakeries
placing the wrapped article on the mar
ket are incasing the bread by hand meth
DDS Naturally the expense of this prim-
tive process is more expensive in the
end than the use Of machinery II the
bread were incased by machinery. the
cost would undoubtedly be very small.
I do not think IL would be sufficient to
Justify the slightest reduction in the size
Of the leaf.
THE wrapping OF the bread is an H.
novation that should appeal to every
household in the District. 1t insures the
sanitary condition of the product. and
guards against the spreading of infec-
tious diseases"