Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-03-30
BERRY BOXES MUST
CONTAIN MARKS
Chief Sweeney Tells What Will
Happen If People Disregard
the New Act

! The man who sells strawberries or
any of the other luscious fruits Of
summer time in a box or other con-
tainer without the capacity being
stamped on the outside is going to
| get into trouble and there is also
bother In store for the seller of ice
cream who disposes 1t by the box
unless statement of the quantity is
printed on the side Of the lid. The old
way of selling by the box or basket
or bag without the buyer knowing
the quantity is under the ban of the
law and the kid who asks for q
nickels worth of ice cream or peanuts
/ is to be given as much information
as the most captious buyer in bulk.
Under the new law sales must be
made by weight or numerical count.
The old ways of doing things were
done away with by the commodities
act of 1913 and Chief James Sweeney,
Of the State Bureau of Standards, says
that people had better study the law
before the cry of Strawberries rings
through the land.
In speaking about the situation,
Mr.. Sweeney said:
| 1.-THE commodities act passed by
the Legislature of 1918 requires that
all dry or liquid measures used in
measuring commodities must have
the capacity thereof marked on the
outside of the measures, as 1t is un-
lawful to use any measure unless the
same has the capacity marked there
on. The former method of selling by
the crate, box or basket is prohibited
under this act
"In the fruit season it has been
customary to sell strawberries and
other fruit for so much per basket.
Under the act passed by the Legisla-
ture this method of selling berries or
| fruit will not be permitted If ber-
| ries or fruit are sold in baskets, boxes
or crates the quantity of the contents
| of the baskets, boxes or crates must
| be plainly and conspicuously marked
| on the outside thereof. All commo-
dities must be sold by weight, meas
ure or numerical count. If the berry
baskets contain one quart, that guam
tity in words or figures must be
marked on the outside of the baskets.
"The dealer who refuses to comply
with those requirements of the law
subjects himself to the penalties of the
act Under this act the inspector Of
weights and measures is vested with
authority to enforce its provisions.
I'm selling ice cream, the boxes
which are used by dealers must have
the capacity marked on the outside.
To have those boxes marked sc, 10c,
15c or 25c per box does not comply
with the law, except they also have
the capacity marked on the outside,
as those boxes, under the law, are
considered measures.
From the numerous inquiries
which we received at this bureau of
standards relative to the provisions
of the weight and measure law we
have deemed it advisable to explain
to the public just what we believe
the provisions of the law are as 1t
applies to commodities that are sold
by the box, crate or basket, and also
as to commodities that are sold in
package form. Under the law all goods
sold in package form must have the
quantity of the contents plainly and
conspicuously marked on the outside
of the package.
"The Legislature of 1913 has made
a standard of weight per bushel for
various commodities. The consumer,
when purchasing by the bushel, half
bushel, peck, half peck, quart or pint,
is entitled to receive the number OF
pounds as specified in the law for the
particular commodity which he pur-
| chaseS.