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THE ATLANTIAN Mechanics Palls, Me.—Two aldermen. La Porte, Minn.—Mayor. Krebs, Okla.—Three aldermen. Altoona, Kan.—Judge. The Social Settler False Weights and Short Measures. The report of the National Department of Commerce and Labor on false weights and short packages in Boston is an eye-opener. The investigators found thirty-eight per cent, of the scales tested, twenty-two per cent, of the liquid measures and ten per cent, of the dry measures, to be incorrect. Not only this. They also found evidence of wholesale fraud in weighing goods put up in packages ready for delivery. The report states that sixty-four per cent, of such packages examined were short weight, the percentage of error * running sometimes as high as 7.8. These conditions show that Boston consumers bear a heavy annual tax in the form of dis honest exactions by dealers. The use of short weights and measures has been generally ex tended in recent years in consequence of the general rise of prices. This is one device by which the dealer conceals an actual advance of price from the consumer. The latter is frequently mulcted in respect to the quantity of goods received in order to offset the higher prices which the retailer must pay for his stock. The sub stitution of a cheaper grade of goods is another practice that ac complishes the same end. Investigation in the retail clothing busi ness has shown that the latter practice is widespread. Under these Circumstances the official guardians of consumers’ interests should redouble their efforts to detect and punish fraud. In Chicago and New York the officials entrusted with the inspection of weights and measures have risen to the emergency and have conducted a vigorous campaign against fraudulent practices. The Boston de partment of weights and measures appears, however, to have al lowed such practices to develop unchecked. The report of the national authorities should have a wholesome influence in jacking up the local officials to proper discharge of their duties. The short-weight abuse is also prevalent in connection with the sale of proprietary food products put up in packages. It appears that when these products were first put on the market, purchasers usually inquired concerning the weight or the contents of pack ages. As the habit of buying in packages became established, how ever, customers ceased to take the precaution. This opened the way for a general reduction of the size of packages by manufac turers. The recent State Commission on the Cost of Living, which dealt with this subject in its report, citied the following instance as illustrative of this practice. A certain brand of prepared oats, when first placed upon the market a few years ago, was adver tised and sold in two-pound packages. The package which was offered for sale in Mai’ch, 1910, contained about 21 ounces. It is stated in the report of the Commission that none of the original two- pound cartons could be obtained, but that a package sold about six months previously was examined and was found to contain 22V6 ounces. This package bore a label stating that it contained 24 ounces. The later packages, containing 21 ounces, bear no statement as to the weight. In this case it is evident that the weight of the package has been reduced gradually as purchasers have become less careful. The total cost to consumers through this process of short weights must be enormous, as probably 90 per cent, of the grocery products are sold in package form today. In defense of package goods it is contended that this method of bringing goods to the consumer is more convenient and sanitary than the method of bulk sale. The package keeps out the dust, dirt and germs that otherwise would get into the goods through handling by dealers. Undubtedly the package method of distribution has a real advantage over the bulk method in respect to neatness and cleanliness. The goods are usually packed, moreover, in appetiz ing and attractive style. From the point of view of the grocer, also, the package method means a saving in the labor of weighing and packing and the cost of bags and twine, while at the same time giving his store a more inviting appearance. The consumer, however, does not get the benefit of any of these economies in the form of reduced prices. On the contrary, the range of price of package goods is extremely high. The public in fact pays heavily for the luxury of buying in packages. Various remedies have been suggested for the abuses that ac company the sale of goods in packages. One measure of protec tion which each consumer can apply for himself is to make in quiry concerning the weight and quantity of goods bought in pack ages and to check up the results by weighing and measuring the goods at home. Home weighing would bring to light any shortage or deception that might be practiced, and also would show the actual comparative cost of purchase by package or by bulk. It has also been suggested that women’s vigilance committees be formed to follow up the work of the departments of weight and measures and hold the latter to a proper standard of efficiency. These measures, helpful as they may be to a certain extent, are inadequate for the proper protection of consumers. Legislation is needed, requiring that the net contents of all goods in packages shall be stated on the label in units of weight, measure, or count. State laws of this kind are desirable, but the ideal method of regu lating the sale of package goods is through national legislation. The fact that a very large proportion of the foodstuffs sold in the market are packed outside of the State in which the goods are sold, and that this business is of an interstate character, makes national regulation the only effective policy. Removal of the State Capital There are some people in Middle and South Georgia who are really taking seriously the proposition to move the State capital to Macon. Why anybody should want to trouble themselves in hot weather with such visionary dreams is beyond comprehension. There is about as much chance for the capital to be moved to Macon, as there is for a railroad from Mars to be built to Atlanta. Life is too short, and the weather is too hot, to enter into any extended argument upon the merits of the case. If when the cap ital was moved from Milledgeville, it had been moved to Macon, it would have been all right—but the people did not then so elect. The conditions which moved them at that time to settle upon At lanta are a thousandfold stronger now than they were then. Now it is the financial, manufacturing and the commercial metropolis of the State. Nay, more, it is rapidly becoming the first city of the South. The capital, it cannot be denied, was an important factor in Atlanta’s early growth. Today it could be removed without creating a ripple. But would any good purpose be served by such removal? Is it not true that the man called to the capital would in a majority of cases lengthen his journey to Atlanta in any event? The city on the Ocomulgee may, and we believe it to be, a most delightful place of residence—a good town; and we have no doubt it would be a very good place for a capital. But Atlanta has now acquired such preponderating interests in many directions that the man called to the capital finds himself able to attend to other things at the same time. This would not be true of Macon. We have not touched the financial question. There is no reason on earth why the State of Georgia, having a plant in Atlanta worth a couple of millions of dollars, should abandon that plant to build a new one in Macon. It would be poor economy, to say the least of it, in view of the fact that Atlanta is now connected by trunk lines with every corner of the State, and is only four hours farther from the most remote section of Southwest or Southeast Georgia than is Macon. The arguments in favor of Macon might have had some force in stage-coach days. But stage-coach days have passed away, and we are now living in the age of steam railways—and until we go back to stage coaches the capital will remain in Atlanta.