Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-03

inches. a difference of nearly 10 per cent
1t is estimated that upon beans alone the
public loses over million dollars each
year by the substitution Of liquid measure
for dry. and as vet. In most states. the
dealers doing this are quite safe from
any legal penalty.
The movement for the establishment of
protection for the public from short
weights and measures includes many
things. 1t requires a sincere cooperation
upon the part of the consumer and the
officers who are trying to enforce the
laws which already have been passed,
and which for years have been practi-
cally a dead letter in mos; communities.
II will also require additional legisla ton
and the appropriation OF sufficient money
on the part of states and towns for the
esta blishment of a commission or depart
ment of weights and measures which
shall be properly administered
Those who have given attention to the
recognize the
Importance of Having Importance of
Proper Inspections. N y, :
weights and measures and definite plans
for the establishment of such a depart
ment can readily he secured. This de-
partment should have absolute Supervision
and control over all the different measur-
ing devices in use in that city. For city
with a populat ton of 1D.Gn this depart
ment should include chief with four as
sistants one each of the latter beng re-
sponsible for the measuring or ~ gas
meters ", water meters, t3l electric me-
ters and ~ Of weights, scales and meas
ures This last assistant who may be
known as the city scaier. should be re-
quired to have an inspection made every
three months of all the scales and meas
ures used in the trade. and should be
furnished with seals for marklng those
which are of the required standards and
authority for compelling the destruction
of those which fall short.
An appropriation was made by Con-
gress three years ago for an inVestigatioil
of the weights and measures In use
throughout the country. The results OF
this investigation showed that the evils
of short weights and measures prevailed
throu ghout the entire country. and was
not restricted 10 any locality or TO any
class of commodities. In every state.
when actually measured. they FOUND
scales which were likely TO weigh from
one to FIVE ounces short upon each pound.
LIQUID measures in which trifie over
three quarts were measured as gallon.
and yard sticks which varied between
thirty-two and thlrtY-SlX incneS.
DIR. Fritz Reichmann. New York super
intendent of weights and measures. is OF
the opinion that where close supervision
of weights and measures is lacking more
than :; per cent is added to the average
expenditure for the necessaries of life
because OF the short weight or measure
of the goods purchased. II is the more de-
plora BILE because the greatest proportion
of this loss falls upon the wase-earning
people who buy their commodities in
small quantities. and therefore have the
greatest number of losses.
The standards of all weights and meas
states bureau of standards. which at all
times will make tests and furnish stamps
to those which are of the required stand
ards. Scales and measures Will be pro-
yided TO the proper officials in every
town. county and state by which correct
measurements may be had. In Pennsylva-
mia. New York. New Jersey and a num-
Der of other states a vigilant campaign
has brought about a reorganization of the
depa rtments of weights and measures
and additional legislation upon the sub
iect. To secure the benefits of this leg
Station, numerous studies have been made
regarding the protection afforded the
community. The results of these studies.
which will he most helpful to other
states and cities interested in similar
" ork. can be secured from reports made
by the Philadelphia bureau of municipal
and the Robert L. Stevens fund
for municipal research in Hoboken. n. j.