Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-29
COUNTY CLERK IS
OFFICIAL SEALER
New Arrangement Is Made In Accord.
ance With Law Passed BY Last
State Legislature.
WILL HAVE COMPLETE CHARGE
Boards Must Act to Equip Him With
Complete Outfit TO Deal With
Weights and Measures.


,prs the duty of administering the law
rlth reference to weights and meas
ures in this state was transferred from
,be Office OF secretary of state to the
dspartment Of trade and commerce, |,
ope OF the newly created departments
under the governor.
The law also was amended by mai
,nv II the duty OF the department an
nually TO test and try the weights and
measures Of the various state insti-
mtions; and further required that all
automatic devices used for measuring
LIQUID commodities be tested and II
found TO be correct be sealed other
wise be condemned. 4
Upon assuming the duties with re-
spect 10 this law the director of trade
and commerce found that the state I
standards turned over to him by the
secretary OF states office were wholly |
inadequate to be used in the per-
fosmance of the duties required by the ,
act. Consequently. he proceeded to
purchase a complete set of state |
standards, including primary set, |
which are tested by the bureau Of |
standards at Washington. Then there |
also was purchased secondary set. |
which are tested by the bureau al |
Washington Then there also was |
purchased secondary set, which is |
compared with the primary standards. |
These primary and secondary stand !
ards have not as yet been received by
the department, but, as the director
is advised, they are enroute and soon
will be installed and in operation.
A sealer's outfit also was purchased
and an inspector with this outfit is
going over the state inspecting the
. weights and measures Of such state
institutions as he is able to visit be-
fore winter makes the roads impass-
able, his outfit being Of such weight
that It requires an automobile to con-
vey it properly.
County Clerk Sealer.
The law in this state declares that
the county clerk of each county shall
be the sealer OF weights and meas
ures for the county and shall have
the care and custody of the county
standards 1t requires that he shall
procure at the expense of the county
full set Of standard weights, meas
ures, scales and beams, which he shall
cause to be tried. proved and sealed
by the department Of trade and COM
merce.
So far as investigation has been
made it develops that comparatively
few county boards have authorized
their county clerks TO procure these
standards. In these stressful times.
when everyone is urged to buy onlS
such necessities as are needed and in
attempting to do this one finds him
self confronted with the high cost OF
living as applied to these absolute
necessities, it is imperative that in
paving high prices for actual neces-
sites the purchaser should be as
sured that he is getting full weight
at the price paid.
Are Urged to Act.
Anticipating the early receipt Of
state standards, by means of which
the department Of trade and COM
merce will be equipped to admins
ter the law relating to weights and
measures as provided in the act, the
director Of the department has mailed
chairman OF the county boards in the
state calling attention to the fact that
the law makes the county clerk the
county sealer and the duty of the
county board to procure these stand
ards for use in the county for the
purpose OF testing the weights and
measures In said county. In the let
ter the director urges the county clerk
and the chairman of the board to
bring this matter before the Decem-
Der meeting Of the respective boards
OF supervisors and thereat urge the
necessary authorization to the end that
each county clerk may equip himself
with the necessary apparatus. When
that is procured any person dissat-
is6ed with weights or measures may
have the complained-of weights sor
measures satisfactorily tested, and ii
found 10 be incorrect an appropriate
remedy is provided for their con-
demnation.
The act provides for fees for such
testing so that the purchase OF the
apparatus. if used, will not be dead
loss, but may be the means OF in
come 10 the county, as well as stand
ardizing weights and measures in the
counties.
Cities Have Sealers.
Many cities under authority OF the
legislature have created the office o.
sealer of weights and measures ant
are already doing good work alons
these lines. 1t is hoped by this cam
paigp Of education inaugurated by thu
director practically all of the coun
ties in the state will cooperate in al
effort to rectify the complaints o
short weights and measures
There are two theories OF govern
ment with. respect to weights ant
measures. One is state control 0
such inspection. The other is loca
control Some states, notably WIS
consin and New York, have stat
seaiers, and state inspectors; and al
weights and measures are adopted b
state officers. Illinois has adopted IN
other theory--that OF local govern
ment having charge of weights an
measures. Therefore, all the depart
ment or trade and commerce can q
at this time is to urge the proper OF
ficials in each county to assume IN
Int, - htn ~