Evening star., 1926-05-23


a shown up under the scrutiniZ-
ing eye of science as a base
deceiver of the owner of the hand
that feeds her
Advertising her product is all we'll
enough. but she had better be sure
that the product she advertiSes is up
10 standard or some enterprising in
speCtor of weights and measures may
come along and nab her for violating
the weights and measures law.
That may sound. off-hand like fool
ishness, but q glance at the program
of the weights and mea sures confer
ence to be held here Tuesday under
auspices of the United States Bureau
of Standards will disclose that the
matter is to be a topic for serious de-
liberation by the delegates, who will
come here from every section OF the
country.
Oregon already has placed eggs
within the scope of it's law designed
50 prevent the underweight evil in
commerce, and as a result of the dis
cUssion Of this gg-standardizing
movement it is entirely possible that
a nationwide tendency to fall in line
with Oregon will follow.
0 course, Oregon does not attempt
10 benaliZe the perhaps unsuspecting
fowl whose fond product does not
come up to the weight standard
evolved hv State weights and meas
'Ires officials after careful study of the
hen-fruit question. Responsibility I'M
der the law rests with Oregons big
butter and egg men. The law merely
fixes Il standard weight for eggs, of
one and five-siXths ounces If the
aspiring Leghorn or Industrious Ply
mouth Rock fails to leave in the nest
nn egg of at least that 'heft," she
really has nothing to'cackle over. ac-
U"rding to those who have made a
close study Of such things.
This effort al standardization of the
Well-knoWn poultry commodity is but
one Of many interesting phases of the
work of the Nations weights and
measures authorities, bent as they are
on seeing that the poor old consumer
gets approximately what he thinks he
is paying for at the corner grocery,
the department store, the soda foun-
tain or the gasoline station.
Just as few persons pause to give
thought to the egg-Weight matter, SO
would few be able to discuss intelu-
gently such important questions as
the following. all of which are of vital
concern TO thu Government and State
weight inspectors:
Does the passenger pay for a skid
ding taXiCab wheel?
How much does your fuel tank for
Nour oil heater hold?
DO you get Ave gallons of "gas"
every time you pay for five gallons?
Does the little clock face OF q gaso-
line meter tell true story?
Have you actually as much fever as
Sour clinical thermometer indicates?
How much IS "a package?
Should ice cream be weighed or
measured?
Such problems as these are the daily
concern OF the weights and measures
enforcement officers. In States where
there are adequate laws governing the
sale of commodities with respect to
weight or mass the consumer is as
sured of d fair return on the money
he invests. These inspectors keep tab
on all products marketed for sale,
from the time they leave the factory
until they reach the buyer over the
store counters.
/ r an inspector suspects that manu-
facturer Is selling product under
weight, he has the authority to halt
delivery of the commodity pending a
check on the weight. It is his duty
10 see that the net weight laws are
rigidly adhered to. and he sees to it
that the local laws governing the sell
ing of packages by weight or volume
are respected.
The tendency all over the country
* away from measures and toward
standard weights. Many commodities,
particularly in the way Of food prod
IctS. are Of such a texture and phys
1cal makeup that measuring them is
largely Il matter of gueSsWOfk. Lima
beans in the pod. tomatoes, straw
berries, green's and numerous other
table delicacieS are not easily meas
rrpf 1l-ftv
twice as much food one time as he
does another time, and with the same
amount of money expended-depend-
ing wholly on the way the commodity
Is packed in the container and heaped
above the measure. Weighing such
foods eliminates all variations in
quantity.
Retailers, especially hucksters and
Deddlers, prefer to sell by measure"
81 is pointed out by r. W. Smith, of
the weights and measures division of
The Bureau of Standards. But the
housewife, under such d system, is
at the mercy of careless or dishonest
fradeSmen. Hucksters and peddlers
find 1t easier to measure goods than
weigh them. The dry measure evil
grew to astounding proportions under
such practices. and the consumers an
nually lost millions of dollars in COM
modities paid for, but not received"
The proper weighing of foods is In
Eured under the Federal food and
drugs act, but there exists no Federal
Iw governing the sale of other prod
ucts. The States themselves. how
. ever. are Joining in what amounts to
ii national\ correct weight" campaign
TO protect the buyer not only of foods,
hut of hardware, fuel and other neces-
SitieS.
The taXicab problem is a typical one
confronting weights and measures Off
Cials. The bad news meter usually
is connected to the front wheel of
the cab, officials explain. With such
q connection the. meter Is likely to get