Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-03
FINDS D. c. BUYERS
|. FLEECED BY WAYS
FOODS ARE SOLD
Roberts, Weights and Meas
ures Head, Wants Con-
gress to Stop Frauds.

Fruits and vegetables are being
sold in "a haphazard manner in
Washington because Of the lack of
q law to standardize containers,
George NJ. Roberts. superintendent of
weights and measures, asserts in his
annual report submitted to the Com
missioners yesterday afternoon.
Supt. Roberts urges enactment by
Congress at the earliest possible date
of the proposed weights and meas
! consideration just before Congress
adjourned. The bill passed the House
at the last session and had been IA
lvorably reported to the Senate.
Many sales of such commodities as
peaches, apples. pears, string beans,
potatoes and other fruits and vege-
tables are made in berry boxes or
other small containers that are I'M
| suitable for the purpose and sold by
| the box or basket without either the
purchaser or the vender accurately
lascertafning the quantity sold," states
Mr.. Roberts.
Says Deception Ii Encouraged.
1T generally happens in such in
| stances, however, that the purchaser
gets the small end of the transaction.
Employment of such methods of mer-
chandising encourages fraud. decep-
ton, uncertainty, dissatisfaction and
waste. 1t demonstrates beyond cavil
the need for Standardization of con-
tanners for such purpose. and Of re-
curing that sales made otherwise
than in such standard containers shall
be made by weight.
1T has been found that many mer-
chants and other users of weighing
or measuring devices in the District
are under the Impression, or claim to
be under the impression. that after
their scales or other devices have
been tested and approved by this de-
partment they are relieved of any
r reSa3tiah for keeping them in
or measure. This is. of course, a
serious misrepresentation.
steps are being taken to let the
owners and users of such devices
know that it is their duty to keep
them in proper condition and to see
times the full quantity of a COM
modify for which they pay
Fewer Complaints About Ice.
Mr.. Roberts reports that there was
some Improvement during the past
fiscal year in the complaint of short
weight ice sales. The superintendent
attributes this Improvement to an
increase in the supply of ice, which
has encouraged competition.
to cut off the supply of consumers
who complained of short weight con-
tinued during the year, but with
slight success, the report charges.
Mr.. Roberts adds that some consum-
ers have been encountered who were
The report shows that out of
40.507 inspections made during the
year of weighing and measuring de-
vices. LAB were condemned and 3s2
confscated, as provided for by law.
while the number Of condemns
lions shows a slight increase over the
preceding year, this fact does not
necessarily indicate a tendency on
the part of merchants to use mac
curate scales and other devices in
the sale of merchandise. It is rea-
sonable to expect that the number
will vary from year to year, and it
is probably due somewhat to the fact
that the department has been more
strict than heretofore that some de-
vices that might formerly have been
approved have this year been con-
demned"
Points in Bill Before Congress-.
In conclusion, Supt. Roberts calls
attention to the following points con-
tanned in the weights and measures
law. which he hopes Congress will
pass at the coming session:
Prohibits short numerical count
where commodities are sold by count.
Provides specifically that commod1-
ties sold by weight shall be sold by
net weight.
Establishes a standard loaf OF bread
in the District Of Columbia.
Provides for the sale Of ice by
weight only.
Establishes standard containers for
fruits and vegetables.
Regulates the sale of fire and kim
ding wood SO as to enable the pur-
chaser to know whether he receives
Specifically regulates the use of au-
tomato measuring pumps for the sale
of gasoline. in such manner as to
safeguard the delivery of full meas
ure.
Regulates the use of coin-in-the--
slot machines and other automatic
vending devices SO as to protect the
patron against fraud.
Provides for the delivery OF a sales
ticket with purchases when demand
ed at time the sale is made.
Regulates the sale of oysters and
Ash by limiting the percentage of
liquid that may be included In the
sale of oysters, and providing for the
sale of fish by weight.
Prohibits the taking Of overweight
by a purchaser when permitted by
the seller of a commodity to ascer-
tain the weight Of same.
Abolishes the indefensible system
of collecting fees for inspection of
weighing and measuring apparatus in
the District of Columbia.
PROLONGS MONEY BAND.
BERLIN, October 1.-The minister
Of finance has prolonged until the end
Of March the restrictions against the