WEIGHTS AND MEASURES 365 



weights and measures '" so provided, and means of enforcement and 

 penalties for violations are included in the act. 



South Dakota has not enacted any general laws, but in 1911 amended 

 the food and drugs act to require the true net weight to be branded on all 

 food sold in original packages " in clear and distinct English words in 

 black type on a white background, said type to be in size uniform with 

 that used to name the brand or producer." At the 1913 session of the 

 legislature a law was passed establishing the bushel, and subdivisions, 

 as the standard for all dry commodities, and fixing the weights per 

 bushel of a large number of products. It is also made unlawful in the 

 sale of grain to take a greater amount as dockage for dirt, foul seed or 

 other mixture than is actually present. 



Tennessee passed a general law on weights and measures, making the 

 state pure food and drug inspector the state superintendent of weights 

 and measures, and designating his assistant and deputy inspectors as 

 assistant sealers, with like powers and authority as the county and city 

 sealers. The president of the University of Tennessee is made the state 

 sealer of weights and measures, and among other duties, is charged in 

 conjunction with the state superintendent, with the care and custody of 

 the standards and the inspection and testing of the standards of the 

 several cities and counties, and the testing and calibrating, when pre- 

 sented for the purpose, of apparatus used as standards by any citizen, 

 firm, corporation or educational institution of the state. The state 

 superintendent or his deputies are required to inspect the work of the 

 county and city sealers once in two years, and for this purpose have the 

 same powers and authority as the county and city sealers. The law re- 

 lating to the appointment of county and city sealers is only permissive 

 in its terms, and presents one of the weakest features of the act. The 

 powers granted to, and the duties required of, the county sealers (and 

 likewise of the city sealers and assistant and deputy inspectors of the 

 pure food and drug department) follow very closely those contained in 

 the model law recommended by the National Conference on Weights and 

 Measures, and are potentialities of far-reaching possibilities and capable 

 of accomplishing a vast amount of good in the state if the county and 

 city authorities avail themselves of the opportunities afforded by the law. 

 Otherwise, it does not appear that much can be accomplished, unless the 

 state superintendent is able to have a considerable portion of the time of 

 his assistant and deputy inspectors devoted to the inspection of weights 

 and measures, the appropriation allowed for use in the inspection of 

 weights and measures being only one thousand dollars. The state super- 

 intendent, in conjunction with the state sealer, is required to make rules 

 and regulations for the enforcement of the act and for the guidance of 

 all city and county sealers. 



Texas passed an act requiring ginners of cotton to mark the weight 

 of the bagging and ties in which the cotton is wrapped upon each bale 



