New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-21
FRAUDS UNSEAL
GASOLINE PUMPS
City Lifts Tags to Help
AutOiSts Get Full Value
at Stations

In an eUOrt 10 enforce q square deaI
on the part Of garage owners and per
sons who operate gasolene service sta
tions, the Bureau of Weights and
Measures has ordered dscontinuance
of the use of leaden wire seals on the
gas pumps throughout the city. -
The order comes at time when the
Federal Bureau of Standards an
nounces the motorists of the United
States are being defrauded of millions
of dollars a year by manipulation Of
pumps used in supplying gasolcne.
The bureau at Washington declared
that in Illinois the loss to the con-
sumner is not less than $780, 900 q year.
Frederick II. Tighe, Acting Commits
sioner of Weights and Measures, yes
terday said there was great loss
through mechanical arrangement and
wilful manipulation of pumps, but he
thought the Federal bureaus report on
Illinois had been worked out on IN un-
fair basis. The loss, he SAID, could
hardly run up 70 100000.
There are about 10000 places in the
greater city where gas is sold," said
Commissioner Tighe, "and we arc dong
our best to keep track of them. The
use Of the leaden seal of this bureau
to regulate the quantity stops on
pumps has been abandoned, as it works
to the disadvantage of the consumer as
well as the seller of gasolene.
Seal Is Disadvantage
"Let US suppose man finds his pump
is registering in excess of standard
measure or less than standard. He must
continue to sell until his pump can be
adjusted and sealed again by an in
spector. As this may take several days,
we have abandoned the use OF the seal
and in its place have posted the follow
ing notice upon each pump:
"'This automatic liquid measuring
device has been examined and com
pared with the liquid capacity stand
ards of the State of New York. The
owner Of this device shall provide
proper standard measures in order tnat
the operator of this measuring instru-
ment shall be afforded an opportunity
70 make a test each day TO ascertain
whether or not this automatic measur-
ing device is delivering standard meas
ure.'
"When a machine is found defective
and condemned warning notice Is
pasted upon it, and the owner under
penalty Of fine Of 500 IS forbidden
TO use it in the measuring OF gasolene.
By this means we put the burden of re-
sponsibility wholly upon the seller.
The manager OF one of the biggest
garages in this city declared yesterday
the robbery of the public by the rental
dispensers of gasolene IN this city was
enormous.
Apart from the ffty-ffty deal be-
tween chauffeurs and sellers, he as
serted, profits are fraudulently made
by the manipulation of the pumps. Inc
legitimate retail Profit on gasolene is
small. and much of it is lost by spilling
and evaporation and dealers feel a sort
of justification in making their pronts
by unfair means
Inquiry into Fraud.
Commissioner Tighe said he had a
case pending which had called for care,
full investigation by the bureau, and
which would eventually throw some
light upon the shortage of measures
apart from pump manipulation. -.
ave arrested THIS particular dealer,
Mr.. Tighe said, because his pump
measured one pint, fifteen ounces short
TO the gallon. lie said he had been
using a blended mixture Of casln mead
gas-gasolene, highly volatile fluid. ,He
Claimed it evaporated rapidly and
large percentage of the fluid became gas
as IL was carried through the pump. to
the automobile. We are experimenting
now with this blend before bringing the
case to trial" $3.50.
The Commissioner showed a letter
that had come recently TO his once
from the Wayne Oil Tank and Pump
Company. stating ii was unfair for con-
sumers Of gasolene 10 put all the blame
upon the pumps. The manager ad-
mitted any pump may get out OF ad-
iustment, but in the company's lnvesu-
cation il was found that in 80 per cent
Of these irregularities the measure was
sbort. II il was faulty mechanism. he
wrote. there would be corresponding
difference in excess Of standard meas
urc