The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1921-08-26
DEPARTMENT OF AGRIC.
NEEDS SCALES LAW
CONTINUED from page one)

an influx Of new wealth capable of
taking the place of that which has
in the usual course of business been
expended. 1t would seem then that
it is the part of discretion for all
good citizens to guard with 4 jealous
eye the agricultural resources of Ida
no, acknowledged by all to be the
one and only basic source of prosper
ity.
The potato crop this year will per-
haps amount to 10000 cars; the
wheat crop 100000 bushels; the
hay crop 1900, 900 tons, the major
wool, sugar beets, and in fact every
thing produced in the way of agri-
cultural products, and likewise the
major portion of all the purchases Of
not only the agricultural people, but
the business and professional men as
well must pass over the scale to de-
termine its value at market prices.
The appropriation necessary to keep
two inspectors in the field to instill
confidence in the minds of the buy
ers and sellers; to protect the weak
against the strong, and prosecute
criminals wherever they are plying
their trade through the use of lille
gal and insufficient scales and meas
uring ~apparatuses, would cost the
tax payers in the neighbOrhOod Of
100000 per year. The agriculture
al investment in the State of Idaho,
according to the last census, amounts
to approximately $500, 00O, 900 exclu-
sive of the livestock estimated at
$4,000, 900. This is more than the
Investments of all other lines Of in
dustry combined in the State OF
Idaho.
Until two years ago, when this de-
partment took up the work, the state
Through lack of appropriation, never
tested a scale. During the last bien-
mum by using a part Of other funds
at our command we tested 1858
scales and measuring apparatuses in
daily use and found that out of that
number l, 440 were correct, ass had
to be adjusted, 443 were condemned
for repairs and PIT permanently con-
demned. The question which is pro-
pounded to the bankers is: Why
should not the State of Idaho guaran-
tee to production and commerce a
policy of accurate and honest weights
and measures? Can anything be bet
ter intended to stimulate production,
increase confidence, and promote
good citizenship? Can anything be
better intended to increase the
wealth of the State Of Idaho? And
who is ore vitality interested in
these questions than the bankers?
It requires no unusual strength of
the imagination to realize how a pro-
Queer feels when he tolls under The
Feat of the day from morning until
night to produce a crop which he is
compelled to sell on the weight re-
corded by scale, in which he has no
confidence. Neither does it require
a very clear Vision to appreciate how
he feels when he appeals to the auth
critics for a service which the Safe
cannot supply.
To establiSl IN agricultural policy
in this state, the work must COM
mence with the Legislature, the most
powerful body which exists under our
Constitution, and this letter is to APP
peal to the bankers to give this Ques
ton their most careful, patriotic
and cooperative attention. As the
rocks that stand out against uhe ever
incrOaching waves so should our Law
makers stand out against the en-
choachment upon that time honored
American slogan, "a square deal fol-
all and special privilege for none"
Respectfully,
MILES CANNON,
Commissioner.