Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-30
Importance of the Maine
Weights and Measures Laws.

The following has been sent out by
Commissioner of Agriculture John A.
Roberts. the article having been pre-
pared by Levi NJ. $. Pennell. the dep
uty State sealer of weights and
measures, and will be found to be of
importance to all:
There was a time, not so very long
ago, when the weights and measures
law was not considered of much i'm
portance to the purchasing public, but
at the present time the consumer and
seller are looking upon the office of
sealers of weights and measures as
necessity, not only to protect the
buyer but the seller, as neither party
have any way of knowing whether
they are giving or receiving honest
weight, Unless they have all scales and
balances tested, at least once a year,
by a sworn sealer. Oftentimes deal
er is unjustly accused of giving short
weight, when the consumer does not
take into consideration that all people
are liable to mistakes. | do not mean
that there are not INSCRIPTIONS deal
ers. but can you find any business
where the many do not have to suffer
for the few? l have been connected
with the enforcement of the weights
and measures law for the past eleven
Years. and have found that the ma
jority of Storekecpers are honest and
that they arc anxious to have their
scales. weights and measures tested
for their own benefit as well as for
their customers.
The Department of Weights and
Measures should be kept out of poll
tics and all scalers retained in Office as
long as they are efficient and attend
to their duties. Each years service
makes them more valuable to the pub
lie and they should have the support
of all citizens in the performance of
their duties. In order to do this the
law was amended at the last session
of the legislature to read as follows:
The municipal officers of each town
shall elect a sealer of weights and
measures, also a deputy sealer if neces-
sary. not necessarily a resident there
in, and said scaler and deputy shall
hold office during their efficiency and
the faithful performance of their du-
ties and shall be removed by said Of
ficers only for neglect of duty. The
State sealer of weights and measures
shall have jurisdiction over said sealcr
or deputy sealcr. and any vacancy
caused by death or resignation shall
be filled by election by said municipal
officers within 80 days; for each month
that said municipal officers neglect
their duty they severally shall forfeit
$40. Within ten days after each such
election tho clerk of each city or town
shall communicate the name of the
person so elected to the State soaler of
weights and measures, and for neglect
of this duty shall forfeit $40. Such
scaler of weights and measures in any
town may be sealer for several towns
if such is the pleasure of tho municipal
officers therein. provided such action
received tho approval of the State
sealer of weights and measures"
When any one feels dissatisfied with
his weights and measures he should
take up the matter with the local seal
or and give him any information he
has.
1t might be well for every household
to have a family scale, not a cheap one,
but the best they can obtain. In that
way it would be possible TO keep in
close touch with the storekeepers. as
to the accuracy of weights and meas
ures.
In the year 1918, when we started to
enforce the weights and measures
law. there were 1853 scales tested and
437 condemned: in the year 1914, H.
6So scales were tested and 525 con-
demned; in the year 1915. 1908 scales
were tested and 1913 condemned: in the
year 1916, 12,171 scales were tested
and BIS condemned. so that in four
years 1913 scales in this State were
put out Of use. This will give an in
sight into the work which has been
done by the local sealers in the State.
We hope this year to make a better
showing than in any pervious year.