Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-04-05
REPORT DEP. SEALER
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

The annual report Of Deputy Sealer
Of Weights and Measures Edgar A.
Russ of Dexter was made public Tues
day and contains much valuable mat
ter. Mr.. Russ says in opening: Under
the present fee system, one of the most
difficult problems is to get competent
men to act as sealers." Continuing Mr..
Russ says:
Zone of the best reasons why the fee
system should be abandoned and the
work of the local sealers done on a
salary basis is that the many forms OF
trickery and fraud practiced today rem
ders it necessary that the sealer of
weights and measures should be on
guard at all times to detect the latest
schemes. One doing the work of the
local sealer should also be an inspector
which work cannot be done under the
fee system. He should make at least
one visit through his territory as an
inspector during the year after his reg
ular trip of testing and sealing.
Aim and Conduct Of Work.
"On assuming the duties Of the Office
of deputy state sealer of weights and
measures, April 5, 1915, l found that
a very vigorous campaign had been
made throughout the State with
view to establishing standards in COM
pliance with Section two of Chapter
A of the Revised Statutes, and nearly
| every town of the State, either by it.
self or by combining with other towns,
is supplied with a set of standards of
the most approved type.
I'VE have endeavored in our work to
1get in touch with the purchaser and
seller, to inquire into the irregularities
under the law governing this bureau,
and have endeavored to protect the
consumer and business interests by CIV
ping them all a square deal. 1t has
been our aim to explain the work and
answer questions relating to weights
and measures. We have endeavored to
follow up complaints and have invited
the public to call on the department
for such investigation.
"Realizing the Importance of the
work in our state, we have endeavored
to be conscientious and have given our
protection to the honest dealer and the
purchasing public. The reports of the
local sealers show that they have met
some dealers who have opposed any in
spection of their scales and measuring
devices and particularly an investisa-
ton of their methods of using the
same The reasons have been found to
be very plain.
1.-The law of weights and measures
has been on our statute books as long
as the territory has been a state, but
| like many other laws has been allowed
to pass along without any attempt at
enforcement. Our people had forgotten
! that there was such law in exist
ence, and from the records found in
this office, l am satisfied that it was
only by the most persistent and stren-
uous work by those formerly holding
| this position that the work Of estab-
fishing standards in our several towns
was accomplished.
| MANY complaints have come to this
office of short weights in produce, all
of which have been adjusted in a man
ner satisfactory to all interested.
| Some town officials, as well as some
of our merchants, claim that the law
is unnecessary. When such a condition
exists the work Of the local sealer is
anything but pleasant. Many COM
plants of that condition have come to
this bureau and we have been obliged
to make personal inspection in those
cases. Many of the appointing powers
fail to realize the importance Of this
work and appoint men who are totally
unfit for the position and in those cases
| the work has been very unsatisfactory.
In other instances where competent
men are appointed the pay received by
them for the services rendered is fixed
hot ho
realizes that he cannot do the work
for the amount received and do it as
it should be done. and only works at it
as a side line
I'm the month Of June the Agricultur-
al Department was invited to make an
exhibit at the Exposition held at Port
land at which time the bureau Of
weights and measures was represented
and with such devices as it could COM
mand, endeavored to show the pur-
chasing public the many ways that
the weighing and measuring devices
had been made to defraud. For the
work done there we have received let
tiers from many offering their hearty
support in behalf of weight and meas
ure inspection.
Inspections and Tests.
During the past season l visited 227
towns and cities for the purpose Of in
spection. A large number of these
visits have been made at the request Of
merchants.
I'VE have been called upon to make
inspections and tests on outdoor plat
form scales in several places through
out the State. The testing of these
large scales involves the carrying Of
at least five hundred pounds Of stand
ard weight. To take those weights
from this office would necessarily re-
quire much time and expense, conse-