The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-09-25

(cI row much does It weighY' and How
much does II measureg' These
two questions to-day as com.
mon as. How much does IL costY'
1t is proud boast that Honesty is the best
policy. IL is doctrine advocated and
preached from the cradle to the grave To
make this doctrine a practical fact there
should be written into the statutes OF every
State In the Union honest weight and meas
ure laws. These laws are necessary as the
basic principle Of our commercial relations
They establish a uniform system OF weights
and measures and afford protection to the mer-
chants who conscientiously and fearlessly
maintain these standards, and threaten pun
ishment for those who violate them.
Trade customs established by the owerful
years ago have grown TO monumental proper
tons so that until lately even the smallest
merchant did n I deem II wrong to sell a two
pound square OF butter that weighed only
twenty-nine ounces.
In 1864 Congress adopted a standard weight
and standard measure for the IS Gus
toms. and for its mintage. These standards
nave e-nce been adopted as the conm1n COM
mercial standards for use in all the States.
COMMERCE is universally conditioned upon
the basic principle that pounds, feet ETC. in
sale I'D trade are equivalent e dollars and
cents. on the accuracy OF the former de-
Their accuracy chou be of equal Importance
10 the value OF the latter.
The scale or the balance Is a mechanical de-
wee which registers what, In the opinion of
me weigher. is the correct weight. Il per-
forms its function as directed. and with each
draft transfers its responsibility to the sense
OF right md wrong OF its user
truman geniuses have contrived mechanical
apparatus OF thousand varieties calculated
TO weigh and measure. From the time of the
use OF the steel yard by the Egyptians to the
automatic weighing devices OF to-day. ac-
curacy has been the basic principle OF con-
struction.
scale. as a great many think IS not ever.
Iasting. IL is scale Just as long as II main.
Jams accuracy. When IL does not weigh &C.
curately IL becomes a thing OF great evil ana
should be destroyed. The elimination of com
mereial fraud and crime as the result OF dis
honest weights and measures cannot be cor.
rected by the rigid adoption OF a certain tyne
OF weighing and measuring apparatus Almost
any scale can be adjusted to maintain ac
Suiacy The problem lies in forcibly estab-
ilshlns Its honest use.
manufacturers OF Weighing and measuring
apparatus Tor many years had the reputation
OF manufacturing scales that could be reg
u'ated 70 weigh falsely. This fact established
ready alibi for merchants and the evil grew
70 ;uch proportions that It threatened to de-
stroy entirely the common standard II waa
Then that the Federal Government awoke TO-
me Importance Of protecting its syster. and
established the Federal Department n
Weights and Measures. This resulted In a
revolution in the construction OF scaler and
today specifications must be approved bv the
Federal Bureau before they are permitted for
distribution. thus effectively establishing the
principle OF accuracy by careful construction
and greatly eliminating the possibility OF
The establishment OF a uniform system OF
weights and measures. and the enactmc OF
laws 70 protect IL. is approved by all merchants
VINO want protection against dishonest com
petition. They -nUst be protected or do one OF
two thi1gs-retire from business or adopt the
tactics Of the shortweighter. Honest com.
petition based on dollars and cents Is a slim
ulant TO trade. Dishonest competition based
on fraudulent weights and measure1 Is fatal
70 trade.
Weight and measure frauds are not a.
many think. petty larceny crimes Fraud I'M
the short weight OF coal TO the amount Of
nearly $4,000 600 was established a year lRo
Ia nine months OF inspection work by four
men In one city thirty eight wagon loads Of
fraudulent scales. weights and measures we're
CoE0sCated and destroyed In another las 900
fraudulent milk bottles were conhscated and
destroyed. and, significantly enough. no com
plant was registered by the dairymen whose
property was destroyed.
The business Of housekeeping. II such q may
be classified. is probably the largest business
in the world. General indifference and lack
OF application on the part OF c.. house. ID
FIRST cause for fraudulent weights and meas.
uree. 70 is admitted that the people who
can least afford % are the greatest victims AZ
short weight and measure frauds ana thrr
too. are the peoPro who show the l.-st irc.tna.
ton 10 protect themselves.
The social value Of the work OF a department
of weights and measures BE- greater than anv
other modern reform movement 70 breaches
the gospel OF truth and honesty and makes h
practical By making % dangerous % BE about
quality and steal in quantity Mans inhumnn.
ity toward man" manifosts itself effectively IN
short weights and measures Fraud OF this
character has double force Of evil. vour
enemies don't trade with you. but those who are
friendly Not alone is theft committed. but
there is a violation Of that force By which men
retain selfrespcct az men,
Honesty in weights and measures o. re-
form that can only be- accomplished fhrourh
the rgid enforcement Of STRIFE. laws The lur.
chas public don't sct The price They pay
g. and they are entitled to n full delivery az
tho amount prom ed au1 old 90 them. ana IL
becomes the sacred duty OF the w g and
measures onicialt to demand the fuiflnent
Of this contract. the violation of whit- estah.
fishes prima-facic evidence % both perjury and
larceny.