Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Social Problems And Their Peaceful Solution.
That with which wo have to do more particularly just now is those practices which aro in trade considered perfectly legitimate , and which , indeed , are in continual use , plit which rob tho purchaser of a portion of that which he buys and pays for . As
an example of what we mean , it is only necessary to mention the custom of selling tlie wrapping-paper at the same rate as tho substance being purchased , which result is brought about by the paper being laced und weighed together with it ia the
p scale . To show tho injury done to the purchaser by this mode of weighing , we mig ht just suggest that if a man buys tea at halta-crown a pound , he does not care to pay the same price for the paper in which it is wrappedhowever highly
orna-, mented the covering may be ; still less would he care to buy paper at the price of quinine ; why , we might just as well pay the jeweller for the box , in which he puts tho trinket , at the rate of eighteencarat gold . Against putting an end to
this trade custom , wo know that two seemingly plausible arguments are raised , but neither when investigated are worthy a moment ' s consideration . One is that the
paper makes up for the "turn of the scale , " and that if this practice wore not acquiesced hi , the vendor must slightly increase the price . if this be so , why not •'• ' call a spade a spade , " and increase the price ? bettor make a definite bargain than an indefinite oneif even it beat
, , first sight , seemingly rather more adverse to us ; but where , after all , is the necessity of the "turn of the scale " at ail ? We bay a certain quantity , and when the beam is even there is our weight ! If we seek more , we are as bad as the seller who
would seek to give it us in appearance , and yet save it in reality , indeed by our own persistance in greed we drive him to overreach in turn . The other objection is , at the first glance , a more feasible one , but is 3 « st as capable of being mot . Certain
substances must be weighed in or upon Paper , or a certain loss or deterioration to the purchaser by sticking to the scale would be tho inevitable result . Granted | bat such is the case , but what is to hinder l "e weigher putting a piece of paper into ea eh scale 1 *& % then , the matter of quantity be 0 nce f ° r all disposed of , by laying down
the rule that wherever possible , all goods shall be bought and sold by net weight . Just a word may be well inserted here as to the varying quantity really obtained in buying some natural products , for example potatoes , by measure—so much
depends upon the size of the tubers as well as upon their variable density , that all such things—corn , fruit , and the like —should be compulsorily sold by Aveight . Having disposed of the question of weights and measuresor quantity , we
, have next to consider the quality of the commodities purchased . Putting aside for the present , the grosser form of loss to the purchaser by adulteration , we had better first seek a remedy for the loss that may accrue by the natural variation in quality
of the object itself . Now to meet this difficulty , we would propose the appointment of an Analyst to each Inspectorship , who should report upon the deviation of tho quality of all articles ottered for sale from some recognized standardwhich
, might be as accurately fixed by law as is that of the precious metals . All goods might thus be classed by the trader as being of certain standards of quality , ( just
as gold is 22 , lb , 15 , or 12 carat , or bpmts Over , Full , or Under proof , ) and sold by hint at proportionate prices ; these prices could be very well left to him , as they would be sufficiently regulated by competition . This system , then , might be
briefly stated thus : The quality of all goods to be declared according to some legal standard , leaving traders to compete in open market as to price . If anyone should object that the labour of classifying the goods exposed for sale hi so many
shops would be enormous , we would simply point out that the classifying would be done in bulk , just as spirits are now—the wholesale dealer merely delivering to the retailer a copy of the government declaration of the standard of quality . Besides ,
which if slightly increased trouble is the result to the trader of this system of vouching , surely , if he is capable of so much exertion as is necessary to convince him that the purchaser ' s coin is the genuine product of the Minthe may be expected
, to satisfy , at such a trifling cost to liimself , the purchaser of the absolute genuineness of his bargain . As to adulteration , whether it consisted
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Social Problems And Their Peaceful Solution.
That with which wo have to do more particularly just now is those practices which aro in trade considered perfectly legitimate , and which , indeed , are in continual use , plit which rob tho purchaser of a portion of that which he buys and pays for . As
an example of what we mean , it is only necessary to mention the custom of selling tlie wrapping-paper at the same rate as tho substance being purchased , which result is brought about by the paper being laced und weighed together with it ia the
p scale . To show tho injury done to the purchaser by this mode of weighing , we mig ht just suggest that if a man buys tea at halta-crown a pound , he does not care to pay the same price for the paper in which it is wrappedhowever highly
orna-, mented the covering may be ; still less would he care to buy paper at the price of quinine ; why , we might just as well pay the jeweller for the box , in which he puts tho trinket , at the rate of eighteencarat gold . Against putting an end to
this trade custom , wo know that two seemingly plausible arguments are raised , but neither when investigated are worthy a moment ' s consideration . One is that the
paper makes up for the "turn of the scale , " and that if this practice wore not acquiesced hi , the vendor must slightly increase the price . if this be so , why not •'• ' call a spade a spade , " and increase the price ? bettor make a definite bargain than an indefinite oneif even it beat
, , first sight , seemingly rather more adverse to us ; but where , after all , is the necessity of the "turn of the scale " at ail ? We bay a certain quantity , and when the beam is even there is our weight ! If we seek more , we are as bad as the seller who
would seek to give it us in appearance , and yet save it in reality , indeed by our own persistance in greed we drive him to overreach in turn . The other objection is , at the first glance , a more feasible one , but is 3 « st as capable of being mot . Certain
substances must be weighed in or upon Paper , or a certain loss or deterioration to the purchaser by sticking to the scale would be tho inevitable result . Granted | bat such is the case , but what is to hinder l "e weigher putting a piece of paper into ea eh scale 1 *& % then , the matter of quantity be 0 nce f ° r all disposed of , by laying down
the rule that wherever possible , all goods shall be bought and sold by net weight . Just a word may be well inserted here as to the varying quantity really obtained in buying some natural products , for example potatoes , by measure—so much
depends upon the size of the tubers as well as upon their variable density , that all such things—corn , fruit , and the like —should be compulsorily sold by Aveight . Having disposed of the question of weights and measuresor quantity , we
, have next to consider the quality of the commodities purchased . Putting aside for the present , the grosser form of loss to the purchaser by adulteration , we had better first seek a remedy for the loss that may accrue by the natural variation in quality
of the object itself . Now to meet this difficulty , we would propose the appointment of an Analyst to each Inspectorship , who should report upon the deviation of tho quality of all articles ottered for sale from some recognized standardwhich
, might be as accurately fixed by law as is that of the precious metals . All goods might thus be classed by the trader as being of certain standards of quality , ( just
as gold is 22 , lb , 15 , or 12 carat , or bpmts Over , Full , or Under proof , ) and sold by hint at proportionate prices ; these prices could be very well left to him , as they would be sufficiently regulated by competition . This system , then , might be
briefly stated thus : The quality of all goods to be declared according to some legal standard , leaving traders to compete in open market as to price . If anyone should object that the labour of classifying the goods exposed for sale hi so many
shops would be enormous , we would simply point out that the classifying would be done in bulk , just as spirits are now—the wholesale dealer merely delivering to the retailer a copy of the government declaration of the standard of quality . Besides ,
which if slightly increased trouble is the result to the trader of this system of vouching , surely , if he is capable of so much exertion as is necessary to convince him that the purchaser ' s coin is the genuine product of the Minthe may be expected
, to satisfy , at such a trifling cost to liimself , the purchaser of the absolute genuineness of his bargain . As to adulteration , whether it consisted