The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-07-17
Advice and Cooperation Much De-
sired
(Ry Joseph II. Murray)

10y JOp0lil IL Ahdi a.
take it everybody wants some sort
of supervision over weights and mea=
sures. Have never heard the wisdom
of that proposition questioned. |
have been serving as sealcr of
weights and measures for the town Of
Skewhegan for the past ten Years. In
general have gotten along pretty
WE'LL found only a few instances
where parties would not comply with
requirements upon having them eX-
planned. There have been one or Two
cases where | have met all sorts Of
troublesome opposition and the situ-
alton is such especially with regard
to gasoline filling stations. that | am
really puzzled as to what to do. Am
| right in assuming that those who
purchase gasoline wish me. in the
regniar discharge Of my duties. to see
To ii thai these stations dispense eX-
act measure? I'll almost take it for
granted thai they do. If the public
really want me To do This. ! am
anxious enough to comply with that
desire; il gasoline users do not care
about ii if they desire to take their
chances, Of course I've no disposition
To make Il nuisance Of myself or the
law in its enforcement.
Bearing on the above matter ! will
say that | have tested all Of the filling
stations in Skowhegan f2D since May
1st. 1t may interest the public 10
know that | tested eight before
found one giving accurate measure.
The first seven We're all giving short
measure. the eighth was o. *. It
should also be understood, that, in
some instances. | had To make four
tests to get the pump correctly adj
justed Reporting the matter in an
other way will say that Out OF the
fourteen pumps first tested only four
were accurate. OF the ten that were
inaccurate three were giving over
measure; seven We're short. | should
explain that the law permits varia-
ton of five cubic inches fabout a
quarter Of pinto over or under. All
of the seven that were giving short
measure We're varying more than the
legal allowance, some of them being
a pint or pint and half shy and
others a quart, quart and a half
and even two gallons ON a five gal
Ion stroke.
The latter part OF my testing came
out rather better. slight adjustments
only being necessary so that | could
pronounce the balance Of the twenty
one (seYen pumpsl o. X.
Now if my efforts are to accom-
plish the purposes of the law, ie 10
bring these pumps all to standard, Of
course | must visit them from time
to tima until | find them going right
1t takes some courage and persistence
TO carry this matter through. | ought
TO have the sympathy and support OF
the public and the filling station pro-
prietors as we'll. If I'm going to
do my duty as a sealer I'll have 10
be Loyalty Supported.
One thing more. The law at pres
ent requires that | collect my fee, as
sealer of weights and measures, from
the owner of the device tested. Per
haps that's well enough and yet that
makes a hard job harder. If the
cost could be paid by the town I am
sure the gasoline dispensers and
others would accept my services with
better grace and perhaps there would
be no injustice in that arrangement.
JOSEPH II. MURRAY
Seaier of Weights and Measures
for SkoWhegan and Canaan