Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-08-11
CHARGES ICE
PROF|TEER|NG
Found as Result of Probe
Made by the State Dept. of
Weights and Measures.

~ special Correspondent
TRENTON. Aug. 11.-Profteering
IN he sale Of ice has been found a.
tho results of the investigations OF
the state Department OF Weights and
Measures, according TO the annual
report made public today by Super
intendent Frank Wanser. The re-
port states that while the mattel
Of quantity is now wen regulated
frequent complaints have arisen re-
rarding what is deemed unfairness
in the prices being charged Tor tais
essential in various sections OF the
state.
@While this feature IS one over
which the department has no juris
d~iction," says the report. W have
however. taken the liberty of
ascertaining lust what the condi-
lions complained OF comprised, with
a view OF placing the matter before
those through whom a remedy might
he .affected. Our Investigations have
bought put the fact that there is
certainly something to the con-
tentions Of the public. that some
dealers are charging more than
would seem necessary. for the reason
that we have discovered that while
in some sections the price TO the con-
sumer is but fifty cents per hundred
pounds. in others 1t runs as high as
one dollar per hundred.
after the past frigid winter At
would certainly not seem that there
should be a scarcity OF this COM
modity-and there is not-and II is,
therefore, dificult to understand the
diversified prices that prevail.
Pronteering is, of course. charged
and we have not the latitude to
overcome it.
sThe case Just seems to be an
other one so common since the war,
with the slogan of those engaged
in the business: get all the traffic
will stand as an outstanding feature.
In regulating the quantity of ice de-
livered, we have had q large number
of prosecutions. many of them being
for short weight, but a goodly
number for such causes as guessing
weight (not weighing) and incorrect
scales. some OF which were fixed;
as a result. ice dealers know we
mean business and intend to follow
them up consistently to see hal they
do all the law calls for"
The report also declares for a
uniform bread weight law. similar
10 the n which passed the last
legislature and was vetoed by Gov
ernor Edwards for some defect.
"The need for a good, sound
bread law has so long been appar-
ent hat it is felt our weight and
statutes, or in fact the
weights and measures laws Of any
state. viii eve be complete with
out IT," says the department. mo
branch of business dealing in es-
sentiai commodities has the lati-
tude that the baking industry at
present enjoys. Neither quality,
quantity or price is regulated and
the bakers are certainly free Ian
ces': public opinion and the press
has had no effect upon them and
they are doing just as they please.
Conditions wherein a loaf of bread
ranges anywhere from IL to IA
ounces selling for the same price in
various sections of the state and Of
fered to the public who thinks it
Is receiving a full pound loaf, would
certainly seem to warrant correc-
ton, and il is strongly recommended
that not another year be allowed to
90 by without having such legisla-
fion passed as will remedy existing
sviis in this business"
Another practice which should be
stopped is that of failing to pro-
perry I'LL containers in which GER
tall AQO42 lit 0O4As 4AO 0CP6A
ment of Weights and Measures de-
c1ares in its report that there is
such a variation in the sizes of con-
tainers for food stuffs on the market
today and the number is ~increas-
ing with such leaps and bounds that
It Is getting beyond all reason and
the deception practiced are of such
a nature that something should be
done TO stop it before conditions
grow worse.
Undertaking OF cans and boxes
is common" states today's report,
the practice of packers being to
Use an oversize container for the
commodities they put up so that
the people will be attracted by the
apparently larger package; compe-
tition is unfair and on anything but
IN equitable basis. as honest pack
ers have not a chance with others
who employ questionable methods
such as the one above referred to,
and it may be a case, unless a prop
err law is passed to regulate the mat
ter, where they must either join the
ranks OF the dishonest ones and do
likewise, or be forced out of bust
ness" New Jersey has for several
years recommended Congressional
action to remedy the situation,
states the report.
Fined Tor Rafn~ nwupL