The Washington times., 1919-06-07
WOULD REVISE
MEASURE AND.
WEIGHT LAWS
District Commissioners to Push
Project at Present Session of
Congress.
By BILL PRICE.

Revision Of the existing laws relat-
ing 10 weights and measures in the
District, designed to strengthen them
these days Of excessively high prices,
will again be laid before Congress by
the District Commissioners. The
House last year passed a revision bill,
but it was not acted upon in the SEN
ate.
In all probability Congressman
Mapes, the new chairman Of the House
District Committee, who is delighting
Washington people by keeping in
close touch with everything that in
terests them, will present the measure
and push il before that body.
The proposed new law will prohibit
the sale OF ice in any manner than by
weight. Under the present law dis
honest iceman, when asked for 10. 70
or so cents worth of ice, may give
whatever weight he pleases, and is
mot Violating the law. II the public
would call for ice by weight the ice
man could be handled. Proper scales
for weighing ice are provided.
To Fix Bread Weights.
Another important provision fixes
the standard of loaves Of bread for
the District, There is no law at pres
emit regulating the weight Of bread.
Bakers are enabled to raise the price
of bread by reducing the size or loaf
to whatever proportion they deem
advisable. The new law will provide
for a standard one-pound loaf and
multiples Of one-pound so that the
purchasers may know just what they
are getting for their money.
Still another important provision is
that concerning coal. This must also
be sold strictly by weight Under the
present law coal may be sold by the
busheI, half bushel or sack. without
defining how much is in sack. Poor
people buying in small quantities in
the winter often pay as high as S25
per ton. A dealer, IL so disposed
merely fixes a certain price on a
quantity Of coal in a sack or in
measure.
StaudardfEeE All Containers
All containers used in the District
for sale Of fruits, vegetables, and
other commodities must be standard
lied to conform to Federal laws as to
barrels, boxes, buckets, crates, etc.
This will apply TO vegetables and
fruits sold at both wholesale and re-
tail
IneTH 4
OF all sorts Of containers used here
now that the public never knows just
how much IL is getting. Dishonest
dealers have every advantage. Ger
tain vegcta bles and fruits may be
sold in punches or numerical num-
bers Stricter supervision Of gaso-
line measuring pumps is provided.
The superintendent OF weights and
measures is directed to make investi-
cations regarding distribution and
prices OF products in the District
and to make reports and recommend
atoms to the Commissioners.
AboIishes Fee Charges.
The present law charging fees for
testing weighing and measuring de-
vices is abolished, as il should be.
That a dealer is compelled to pay
fee to have his scales tested TO de-
termine whether or not he is giving
fair weight is an antiquated custom
that has been put out Of business
in practically every city OF the United
States.
Even a Washington housewife who
wishes to use care in weighing or
measuring her purchases is compelled
10 pay a fee II scales or measures are
tested by District officials 1t is
tax on thrift and economy.
George n. Roberts, superintendent
OF weights and measures for the Dis
trict, has long fought the fee charge
and desires that the law permit the
freest possible testing Of weighing and
measuring devices The fees now run
from IS cents upward and business
men and others do not have tests
made unless pretty sure that correc-
repaGSzTg-