The Detroit times., 1914-06-23
Panama Claims Are
Sighted by Congress

this does not stay the movements
progress. The latest plan TO DC
formulated. and one OF the most RAD.
ical contemplates that the tederal
government shall have control ana
supervision OF the manufacture OF all
weighing and measuring devices
throughout the United States, ex'
cept those intended solely for eXporta'
ton 20 foreign countries,
The strange part OF II all is that
the plan was not conceived by the
federal authorities, but by the various
state officials charged with the exc
cution OF the laws relating 10 weights
and measures II is said 10 be an
open confession from the state ON
cials that they have been unable 20
stop the weights and measures frauds
that have been made on several occa-
sions by officials OF the United states
bureau OF standards, and they have
made the statement that the people
OF the United States have lost mil.
lions OF dollars through short weight
and measure II was found some
time ago in the item OF butter alone
the people had been victlmized In
this way each year to the extent OF
several hundred thousands OF dollars
AT the present time almost every
community OF any size has an officer
who Is charged with the duty OF see
ing that the weights and measures
used by merchants are true. and also
that the people obtain the true weight
and measure from the merchants.
The national association composed OF
three officials held a conference few
weeks ago in Washington with the
experts OF the bureau of standards,
and the result is a bill Just intro.
duced in congress by Representative
| w A, Ashbrook, OF Ohio, which Is
| intended TO stop the manufacture OF
dishonest scales and measures al the
point of their origin. IL is claimed
/ that the bill represents the consen.
sus OF the officials of all the import
ant states, and also the bureau OF
standards
| The measure provides that before
any OF the types OF weighing and
measuring devices may lawfully be
used in trade and commerce through.
out the United States they must
have the approval OF the bureau OF
standards II the type OF device Is
approved the bureau OF standards Is
required TO furnish a certificate 10
| that effect Co the manufacturer II
/ the measure is not approved, the max
( er has the right TO appeal TO the sec
rotary OF the department OF com.
merce. whose decision shall be final.
The bill further provides that any
lone found using a measure OF type
that has not been approved shall be
subject TO fine not exceeding 800
for the first offense and as much as
/ $500 for the second offense. or one
\ year OF Imprisonment, or both.
Each Weighing or measuring de-
vice approved must carry the name
of the manufacturer and the serial
number OF approval A violation OF
/ this would he met with fine For
1.-The enforcement OF the provisions OF
the bill the district courts OF the
! United States are given jurisdiction.
/ II is provided that the proposed law
shall take effect one year from It's
passage.
Those who are back OF this legisla.
ton evidently feel that II comes
squarely within the provisions OF the
constitution. for they call attention 10
section which they say specifically
/ delegates 10 congress the power Ito
fix the standard of weights and meas
ures."