Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-08-05
SELL GOODS BY
WEIGHT, PLAN
Urged by State Supt. OF
Weights Foley in his An
nuaI Report

TRENTON, Aug. 5:-Passage of
a law for the sale of all commodi-
ties by weight is recommended in
the annual report of j. Harry Foley,
state superintendent of weights and
measures, submitted to Governor
Edwards today.
Our present dual system, said Mr..
Foley, permitting the sale of COM
modities either by weight or dry
measure, is unsatisfactory. Mer-
chants take advantage of it-they
purchase by weight and sell by
measure; the difference is consider
able and the benefits lie mainly with
the dealer. Mr.. Foley commented
that this advantage is unfair to the
consumer.
THE sale of vegetables and fruit
strictly by weight or numerical
count are the only just and equita-
BILE methods of trading in such COM
modities and it is to the interest of
the producer, the merchant and the
consumer that such practice be es-
tablished," reads the report.
THE whole matter really resolves
itself into the question, "Why is the
dry measure? 1t is a relic of pioneer
days that may now well be relegat-
ed; it served its purpose in the days
of crude weighing apparatus when
the use of n or the other made
but slight difference.
1T is no more difficult to weigh
commodities than to measure them;
weighing is unquestionably more
efficient and decidedly assures great
er accuracy. Large corporations
such as Chain Stores, and many of
our most reputable and successful
merchants have realized the advan-
tages of sale by weight, are heartily
in favor of it, Inc have adopted the
system"
Peddlers and hucksters need the
most careful surveillance of any
class of merchants in the sale of dry
commodities, the report adds. Pota-
toes seem to be the principal vege-
table on which their attack is CEN
tered, for what reason is not quite
clear except it be hat it is most
common of all and consumed in
great quantities. The old practice
of selling a 12O pound sack for $50
pounds was found to be still in evil
dence, though shortages in the sub
divisions of the bushel in various
other vegetables vas quite general.
Conditions in the sale of coal are
apparently never right, the depart
ment points out. Reweighing activi-
ties OF officials uncovered fraudulent
weights, shortages ranged from 40
to 4SO pounds on the ton.
The soft drink business has been
extensive since prohibition became
effective, the report comments. Col
oring materials are used in great
quantities IN this industry. Manu-
~facturers outside the state were
found shipping barrels of these ma
terials into New Jersey that showed
gross shortages. Adjustments were,
however, made to the satisfaction of
users in this state and the short
measure practice stopped.
The department discovered fraud
in sale Of gasoline. The driver of a
tank wagon for an oil company was
cheating customers to the extent of
thousands of gallons. He worked
with a confederate whose part in the
scheme was to engage the owners of
gasoline stations in conversation,
distracting their attention while his
partner delivered the supply of gas
oline. This tended to prevent GUS
toners from checking amount they
were getting The practice was to
toners from checking amounts they
fill n Of the five gollan delivery
cans to the top; in the other not
over a gallon. While the dealers
attention was diverted, the can with
the small quantity was quickly
dumped, followed by a ~leisurely de-
livery from the full measure