Il6 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



Don't wait for National Legislation, for I believe that those 

 interests that are advising State Legislative Committees not to 

 pass a "Net Container Bill", but to wait for such action by Con- 

 gress, are doing so for the purpose of delay, and also to be able 

 to make their opposition felt all at one point. 



Massachusetts did not wait for action by Congress before 

 placing a Pure Food Act upon the Statute Book. 



If the states will follow the examples of Connecticut and 

 New York and put in force a "Net Container Law" I believe 

 that we will then have the assistance of these same selfish inter- 

 ests to pass a National Law, and that such a law will the sooner 

 be obtained. 



The importance of uniform laws throughout the United 

 States cannot be overestimated, but if we cannot attain that then 

 let each state see to it that its own citizens are protected. 



I know from what I have seen in the State of Maine, in 

 passing through to the place where I spend my vacation, that 

 there is need of energetic work on the part of your officials. 



In one store I visited I noticed a two-pound weight was kept" 

 on the scale all the time, and force of habit prompted me to in- 

 vestigate. Upon removing the weight, the pan or scoop, where 

 the goods are placed while being weighed, dropped to down 

 weight although nothing was in the scoop. I found that the 

 dealer was obtaining 2 ounces that did not belong to him every 

 time he used the scale. 



In returning through this same town, from my outing, I was 

 anxious to learn how much I had gained in weight during my 

 vacation and was much pleased to find that the Maine air and 

 a good rest had increased my weight by 8 pounds, in one month, 

 but I was somewhat disappointed upon weighing again at my 

 office in Massachusetts the next day to find that I had lost 5 

 pounds of that apparent gain of 8. 



The Massachusetts scale was correct but the Maine scale had 

 deceived me to the extent of 5 pounds. 



Our Ex-Governor Guild fittingly said, in referring to the 

 weights and measures situation, a few years ago: — "Good citi- 

 zenship is benefited by the enforcement by statute of common 

 honesty in everyday dealings of one man with another in every 

 walk of life. 



