Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-17
WEIGHT SEALERS ROW:
COMMITTEE ATTACKED
FOR FIXING STANDARDS
Inspector Charges Measures
Approved by Body Fail to
Meet State Law
Requirements
REFUSES TO OBEY ORDER

A heated discussion arose at the meet
ing of the Pennsylvania Association of
sealers Of weights and Measures today
over the right of committee to specify
rules and regulations for a body OF in
spectors. The point debated was the right
Of a committee appointed last year to
specify a regulation scale to be used
throughout the State. II was also con-
tended that the committee exceeded its
authority In drafting set Of rules and
regulations under which the inspectors
we're supposed to work.
AT the convention last year the COM
mittee was appointed, with John Um-
stead as chairman, to drawn the rules
Today a member Of the committee, II
p. Reinhart, of Greensburg, charged that
the committee exceeded it's authority
when IL advocated the use by merchants
throughout the State OF one regulation
scale and uniform measures. He was
supported by James A. Sweeney, head
of the Bureau of Standards at Harris
burg.
1--WE have no right to dictate to the
storekeepers what kind of a scale they
should use," Mr.. Sweeney said today.
''There are hundreds of different scales
used and to create uniform scale would
cost both the merchants and scale manu-
facturers money. Besides, l haven't
the authority. There was a law passed
BY the Legislature last session giving me
that power, but 1t was vetoed"
The committee agreed on one scale.
the make OF which is not known. and
Immediately asked Sweeney to approve
II and make 1t the standard throughout
the State. This Sweeney refused to do
as he had not the power he said today
Furthermore, the committee asked him
10 publish and send to every scale and
measure inspector in the State copy
of the regulations. This he also refused
to do.
Charges that the regulations and some
OF the measures adopted by the commit
tee were in direct violation of the State
laws were made by Reinhart. He said
that, while the State allows for only the
conlcal measures, the committee approved
the cylindrical measures.
"If we were to confiscate every measure
that did not comply with tine State law
we wouldn't have six left" said Mr..
Reinhart, "ali for the simple reason that
the committee approved measures that
were not mentioned In the State code"
The committee said that whereas every
law is lax, allowing for the judgment of
the individual inspector, 1t had to con-
strue the regulations and specify certain
measures
TACK MEASURE CONDEMNED
The old-fashioned counter tack meas
urement was condemned and voted abol-
ished today. steady crusade has been
conducted against the counter tacSs, until
they are virtually abolished In Phlladel-
phia, according to officers of the conven-
tion. The inspectors say that In addition
70 the fact that they are not a regula-
tlon measurement they are also inaccu-
rate, as the salesgirls often miss the
taoks In their hurry to wait on the heavy |
trade. Yardsticks that are not metal |
tipped were also condemned The ordinary
stick becomes bent with age and use,
the delegates said, and II was found on
Investigation that on the average an
Inch was missing from many sticks. |
Goods worth S15 yard were measured by |
these sticks, making a difference of sew
eial dollars to the purchaser.
Following the reports, a paper on |
''HawSers' and Peddlers' Licenses" was
read by Thure Hanson. Commissioner of |
Weights and Measures at Boston;
another paper on Platform Scales"
vas read by C. F. Borgel, an inspector
It York, Pa. The meeting adjourned at
noon.
This afternoon was given over to rec
'eation The delegates. guests and visI-
ors took a Jaunt down the Delaware
River this afternoon on the fire boats
Ashbridge and Stokley. The men will
'isit Cramps Shipyard, the New York
ihipbuilding plant. and the Navy Yard.
lther interesting places in the harbor
VIII also be visited.