I08 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



FALSE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 



By A. S- K. Clark, Boston, Mass., Deputy Sealer of Weights 



and Measures. 



In addressing this audience upon the subject of "False 

 Weights and Measures" I am, of course, taking it for granted 

 that the same conditions exist in the State of Maine as are 

 now found elsewhere. 



I feel that I am safe in predicting that should a thorough 

 investigation of the weights and measures conditions be made in 

 your State you would tind the same conditions as prevailed in 

 Massachusetts within a few years past, — and again I do not 

 wish to lead you to think that such evils have been eliminated in 

 Massachusetts, for such is not the case. 



As long as commodities are bartered and exchanged, just 

 so long will false weights and measures be found and false and 

 insufficient weight and measure be given. 



This evil can be kept in check by energetic work on the part 

 of the officials appointed for the purpose of seeing that measur- 

 ing devices are kept in order and that they are properly used. 

 The motto of such officials should be ''Eternal Vigilance." 



Previous to 1907 Massachusetts had no distinct State De- 

 partment of Weights and Measures and the supervision of the 

 use, by the trade, of weights and measures, was performed 

 wholly by the local town and city officials. 



Many of these officials were political appointees and in many 

 instances men wholly unfitted for the work they should have 

 performed. They were also very poorly paid and were not 

 expected to do much. 



In 1907 a separate State Department of Weights and Meas- 

 ures was established by the Legislature and placed in charge 

 of a Commissioner, with power to appoint four Inspectors. 

 This force has been increased to six Inspectors, all of whom are 

 on the Civil Service List. 



