Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-06-05
GEORGIA GASOLINE.
IS Up To STANDARD,
DEALERS DECLARE
Department of Agriculture
Says Inspection Laws Are
Inadequate and / ave Been
Pointed Out Before

Governor Hardwick s reported pur-
pose of scoring the department of
agriculture in his farewell message
to the legislature, especially with
reference to motor fuel inspection,
was marked Monday morning by the
following developments:
1. Declarations by district man
ayers of the big gasoline distribut-
ing and selling companies in Allan
ia that the quality of motor fuel
sold in Georgia is as good as that
sold elsewhere in the United States.
,. Positive denial by the compa
MES of the intimation that Georgia
has been made dumping ground
for inferior gasoline through the in
adequacy and antiquity of it's oil
inspection laws.
3. Development that the state
laws fail to fix any requirement as
to the specific gravity of gasoline
sold to consumers in Georgia.
4. Admission by the state chemist
that under the law it is possible,
but hardly con ceivable, that an in.
ferior product of gasoline may be
sold in the state without any VIC
lation of the statute.
5. That the state department of
agriculture is heartily in favor of
strengthening the present inspection
law by providing for the distillation
test required by the United States
government, and known as the
navy test
6. That the department of agri-
culture insists that it has hereto.
fore remarked upon the inadequacy
of the specific gravity test for gas
oline, but is opposed to any reduc-
ton in the number of oil inspec-
tors.
Z. That the department of agri-
culture contends that the present
law, enacted originally as a protec-
ton, has developed into a big reve.
nue. producer
Governor Hardwicl1 Silent
Governor Hardwick was smiling
ly silent Monday morning concern
ing his purpose of attacking the de-
partment of agriculture and dwell
ing in detail upon the alleged ineffi-
cheney, inadeQuacy and antiquity of
the present oil inspection laws. He
had no comment upon the report.
Notwithstanding the governors
silence it is known that he has Civ
en- much time and study to the de-
partment of agriculture; that he has
gathered lots of data bearing upon
the oil inspection system; that he
regards the bureau more in the light
Of an expensive political machine
than as a protective or revenue pro-
1ucing agency; and. lastly, that he
purposes to urge not only a reduc-
ton in the number of oil inspec- |
tors, but also a revision of the law |
to oil inspections and a |
heavy cut in the direct appropria-
ions for the operation of the de-
Dartment of agriculture.
1t is understood that the governor |
s not impressed with the claim of |
The department of agriculture that |
The oil inspection system is self-sus-
aiming and has, in addition, turned |
thousands of dollars into the state |
treasury. 1t is reported that he |
will answer this argument by point
ng to the fact that the comptroller !
generals department collects an
lually in the neighborhood of ST.
)O0 200 in a gasoline tax without in
eurrihg a penny additional expense
On the state, whereas, he will con-
end, the oil inspection system Turns
n less than 100000 annually at an
aXnenSe annrOXimating $1OO.O 900.