Omaha daily bee., 1915-03-02
COUNCIL TO LOOK
INTO BREAD CASE
Holds Ordinance in Allegiance Pend
ing Receipt of Information
from Other Cities.
LOCAL BAKERS ADVANCE AL1B1s

After hearing expressions. pro and
con, with reference 20 a proposed
ordinance on the weight Of loaf of
bread, the city council committee of
the whole decided to hold the matter
in allegiance for two weeks, pending
the receipt of information on the sub
Jest from other cities.
The ordinance now up Tor reconsldera-
ton provides that the bakers may sell
loaves Of any weight: providing the
weight and name OF baker are marked
on the wrapper OF each loak. The bakers
want this ordinance passed. their major
promise being that they prefer TO main
tain the and Decent prices and change
the weights according TO price OK flour
and other manufacturing considerations.
John Grant Pesg. city senIer OF weights
and measures defended the existing or
q dinance, which fixes the weight OF bread
at sixteen and thirty-two ounces lie
characterized the proposed new ordln-
anoe a. unfair
Defy the Law.
The bakers have defied the law by
marking loaves over thirteen ounces
and over twenty-six ounces The house
wives OF the city are watching this
situation closely. The public wants to
know what II IL getting when the money /
is paid. The tendency OF federal, state
and municipal laws to adopt weight |
standards For instance. the weight OF a
bushel Of potatoes is fixed by law ct |
sixty pounds. The bakers say they cam !
not raise the price II II is necessary. I
They can get together TO decrease weights |
and they can also get together II they /
want 10 on the price proposition" de-
cisred Mr.. Pcgg
Many Citizens Interested.
Inspector Pegg says he has received
scores Of telephone calls from citizens
who urge him to fight for the existing
bread ordinance and to fight the passage
OF the proposed ordinance which was
placed on file By the city council nearly
two years ago.
Superintendent Thompson Of the River
view Home advised Mr.. Pegg that he has
a contract for bread weighing sixteen
ounces and he now discovers that the
haker IL delivering loaves many Of which
weigh only twelve ounces. This contract
will be annuliod at once.
Finds fen-Ounce Loaf.
Since the expose published In The Bee
last saturday. various grocers and others
have telephoned Mr.. PeRg stating that
they have found bread marked over
thirteen ounces Weighing twelve ounces
and even less. Mr. Pegg told the city
council no weighed one OF these thirteen
ounce ioavos a week ago and learned that
the actual weight was only ten ounces.
city Comm'ssioner J. b. Hummei in
quired whether II might he possible that
the bakers arc applying apothecary
weight instead OF avoirdupois weight lie
did not get response from any OF the
bakers present.
r. II. Peterson OF the Union Pacific
bakery, said the bakers are asking for
reiief-"so We may know where we arc
at. He said. I'VE want to be fair with
the people"
would Raise Price.
6. w. ortman. another baker declared
that 10 the bakers are required TO make
sixteen and thirty-two-ounce loaves. they
Will be compelled 10 raise the prices. G.
f. Kuenne said that competition with
housewives has been one OF the rcyolu.
tionary causes IN the baking business IN
recent years. He snid the bakers want
70 bake better bread and smaller lonves
=. J. Marley Of South Omaha contonded
that the Idea Of making the weight OF
bread elastic and stamping the weight
IL becoming universal
The city commissioners were not in
eiined TO enter into any discussion ON the
subject. large delegation OF bakers
was present.
-Four grocers have been cited 10 appear
20 me police court Tuesday morning TO
answer charges OF selling bread al loss
than the weights Indicated on the wrap-
pers. Il is expected that at thcse hear
inss evidence viii have been secured
against the baker Of bread sold by these
Erocers.