Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1939-02-16
Letters to the Editor
On Weights and Measures

Editor,
Montgomery County Sentinel,
Rockville, Maryland.
Dear Editor:
l noticed in the January 18th edi-
ton of the Washington Evening Star
newspaper that Mr.. W. F. Perry of
Bethesda appeared before the Com
missioners of Montgomery County
and urged the appointment of an in
spector of weights and measures on
a fee basis under the existing 1915
law Of Maryland. Subsequent to that
time I wrote to the Commissioners in
an effort to impress them with the
futility of such an appointment, and
requesting that no appointment be
made until enactment of the law pro-
posed by me, two copies of which 1
gave to Senator Peter before the
present session of the Maryland
Legislature.
Under the existing law standards
of weights and measures are estab-
lished, and the only protection, if any,
to the consumer is the testing of
weighing and measuring Instruments
with provision for prosecution of
those Intentionally" selling by short
weight. sf
First of all, the fee system is one
which has been repealed by practical
ly every state having weights and
measures legislation. Why should the
merchant pay for having his scale in
spected? It is not primarily for his
protection, but for the protection of
the consumer. 1t does not promote
fair competition because the average
case of short weight arises where the
merchant has a scale or measure
which weighs or measures correctly.
The honest person in business as q
merchant knows whether his scale is
correct without governmental inspec-
ton. Under the fee system, and in ac-
cordance with the estimate of $4,000
per annum given as the revenue to be
realized under the system by Mr..
Perry, there being about eight hun
bred businesses in Montgomery Coun-
ty involving sales by weight or meas
ure, the cost for inspection would be
about $500 to each merchant. There
is no theory upon which the merchant
should pay this cost, save, perhaps,
the possible indirect benefit to him. 1t
is logically charge which should be
borne by the general public of the
County; those who would be primarily
benefited by such inspection; bit
there would be practically no benefit
derived by anyone under the existing
law, except, perhaps, the person who
is given the position. Such a system
opens the door to graft, fraud and
Undue influence
As to the provision against those
who Intentionally sell by short
weight, it is generally accepted by
weights and measures officials every
where that it is practically impossible
to convict a person of Intentionally
selling by short weight. The average
short weight case involves small
shortages, such as from one-half to
one ounce per pound. Can you COM
prehend any set of facts under which
you can prove beyond reasonable
doubt that the merchant Intentionally
sold to his customer by short weight?
1t should be noted that the merch-
ant who makes such a practice is
shrewd enough not to lay himself
open to conviction for Intentionally
short weighing to his customer.
The existing law, in any sense of
the word, does not protect the con-
sumner and other buyers against fraud
in the purchase of commodities; it
does not suppress unfair competition
between merchants and others en-
gagged in business, and it will not ac-
complish anything really beneficial to
the consuming public of the County.
This information is submitted to
you for your disposition as you see
fit, and it is hoped that you will pub
lish same in the interest of good gov
eminent.
Very sincerely yours,
Clark F. King
Garrett Park, Maryland
| February 8, 1889