The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-04-30

SEEK TO BALK
ICEPROFITEER;;
FEAR FAMINE
By DILL PRICE.

TWO different Government agencies
are today laying plans to prevent, IL
possible, outrageous profiteering in
ice sales 20 Washington people this
summer. and one is seeking to ar
range a scale OF prices that will not
be extortioRate-
These agencies are Clarence VIII
son, local food administrator, and
George Roberts, District supefin-
tendent OF weights and measures,
with Congress holding a strong card
in a probable revision OF weights ano
measures laws Of the District that
win enable Mr.. Roberts office to con-
Wet men arrested for short-weighing.
The ice season is about to open.
and Mr. Wilson soon will announce
Important conclusions affecting the
business. Some months ago he called
washington ice manufacturers and
dealers into conference, and urged
them TO increase their output to guard
arainst a shortage this summer,
pointing out the greatly increased
demand on account of the growing
population. -
Fair Dealing Promised.
The manufacturers and dealers not
only promised TO Cooperate to the
fl,Iiesf extent in increasing supplies,
DuL Also UEOluAEEA NAAa-N 49,
not countenance eNtortionate prices
% retail dealers and public. While
ar. Wflson probably will not hN
vrholesale price for ice, IL is within
l,fa power TO determine whether the
-,sire axed by the wholesalers Is too
hirh. It Is for them to go ahead and
rel the price, and Mr.. Wilson be-
1ieves they will deal fairly.
The problem confronting both MI
Wilson and Mr.. Roberts Is the pro-
eeetfon OF the public against dishonest
s-efSII dealers. With the powers con-
ferred On him by the national food
laws. Mr.. Wilson is in position 10
hnndle the retailers with hrmness and
decision. and this he proposes TO DO
to the fullest extent. Nevertheless ne
,,nferstauds the difficulties ahead. In
~ ice business, as In 80 many others,
me dangerous profiteers are the
r,iddlemen, food officials say, and
something must be done to stinen the
authority Of existing laws over them
District laws prohibit short-welgh-
ing Of ice or any other product, ana
conviction may be secured without
ero,ihie when proof is offered to the
courts OF actual cheating in weight.
The ewfndling Of the public in ice
rales Is in the failure of the purchasers
70 cali for given weights Of this com
modify.
n you wish the protection OF the
Law never ask for 10 cents or 20 cents
worth Of ice. II the prevailing prices
Ter ice this summer is to be so cents
per 100 pounds, you should ask Tor
Ten pounds il you want TO pay
cents. twenty pounds II you want lO
cent? worth, and so on
When the purchaser asks for 10
cents worth Of ice she may not get
over IS rounds. should the dealer be
dishonest, and she Will have no pro-
tection from the law. II, however, she
- posted as to the prevailing retail
prices and asks for twenty pounds OF
See she should get that much for 10
cents. based upon a 5O-cent figure for
100 pounds. II she does not get the
weight she is paying for, the iceman
can be successfully prosecuted.
Ice cheating in Washington has
gone on uninterrupted for years be-
cause so many people simply ask for
or 10 cents worth OF ice, and they
get merely what the iceman wants to
give them. II they call for twenty
pounds and are shOrt-weighted, the
District weight inspectors soon viii
overhaul the guilty men,
The proposed new law in Congress
seeks 20 correct this loOphole for dis
honesty.
ave recognize that it is not possible
for the ice dealer to cut a precise
weight OF ice every time he makes
sale said Mr.. Roberts today, but
At - possible for him to refrain from
consistently shortweighting those who
are 50 careless OF their rights and
money as to tempt wrongdoing.
There are plenty OF honest men in
the ice business, as in other lines Of
business. but unfortunately there are
many transient. irresponsible people
who go into the peddling business
through the summer just because il
promises much profit. There are
many dealers who often Wal give
overweight TO a customer to balance
up for short weight at another time.
II e the perpetual cheat that the pub
lie Wants TO guard against.
II people who are consistently de-
frauded in ice purchases will write
the eodice OF superintendent of
weights and measures they will be
helping US TO wipe out the fraudu-
iently Inclined"