Chapter 118. To establish standard weights and measures for the District of Columbia; to define the duties of the Superintendent of Weights, Measures, and Markets of the District of Columbia; and for other purposes
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CHAP. 118.— An Act To establish standard weights and measures for the District of Columbia; to define the duties of the Superintendent of Weights, Measures, and Markets of the District of Columbia; and for other purposes. March 3, 1921. [[H. R. 8067](/us/bill/66/hr/8067).] [[Public, No. 358](/us/pl/66/358).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,* District of Columbia.Department of Weights, Measures, and Markets created.
That there is hereby created an executive department in the government of the District of Columbia which shall be known as the Department of Superintendent, appointment, and salary.Weights, Measures, and Markets. Such department shall be in charge of a Superintendent of Weights, Measures, and Markets, who shall be appointed by and be under the direction and control of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia and shall Custody of United States standard weights and measures.receive a salary of $2,500 per annum.
He shall have the custody anti control of such standard weights and measures of the United States as are now or shall hereafter be provided by the District of Columbia, which shall be the only standards for weights and measures in said District. The commissioners are also authorized to appoint, on theAssistants, etc., authorized. recommendation of the superintendent, such assistants, inspectors, and other employees for which Congress may, from time to time, provide. Sec. 2. That the superintendent shall, before enteringBond and oath. upon the performance of his duties, give bond to the District of Columbia in the penal sum of §5,000, signed by two sureties or by a bonding company, to be approved by the commissioners, conditioned on the faithful discharge of the duties of his office, and shall take and subscribe an oath or affirmation before the commissioners that he will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of his office, which bond and oath shall be deposited with the commissioners.
Sec. 3. That the superintendent and, under hisPowers conferred. direction, his assistants and inspectors, shall have exclusive power to perform all the duties Inspection of weights, measures, etc.,every six months.provided in this Act. They shall, at least every six months, and oftener when the superintendent thinks proper, inspect, 1218test, try, and ascertain whether or not they are correct, all weights, scales, beams, measures of every kind, instruments or mechanical devices for weighing or measuring, and all tools, appliances, or accessories connected with any or all such instruments or mechanical devices for weighing or measuring used or employed in the District of Columbia by any owner, agent, lessee, or employee in determining the weight, size, quantity, extent, area, or measurement of quantities, things, produce, or articles of any kind Approval or condemnation to be marked, etc.offered for transportation, sale, barter, exchange, hire, or award, or the weight of persons for a charge or compensation, and shall approve and seal, stamp or mark, in the manner prescribed by the commissioners, such devices or appliances as conform to the standards kept in the office of the superintendent, and shall seize and destroy or mark, stamp, or tag with the word “condemned” such as do Unsuitable, etc., devices to be condemned.not conform to the standards, and shall also mark the date of such condemnation upon the same.
Any weight, scale, beam, measure, weighing or measuring device of any kind which shall be found to be unsuitable for the purpose for which use of scales, etc., intended to be used or of defective construction or material shall be Use of scales, etc., forbidden, unless approved within six months.condemned. No person shall use or, having the same under his control, shall permit to be used for any of the purposes enumerated in this Act any weight, scale, beam, measure, weighing or measuring device whatsoever unless the same has been approved in accordance with the provisions of this Act within six months prior to such use, or that does not conform to the standards kept in the office of the superintendent of Weights, Measures, and Markets, or which, having been condemned, has not thereafter been approved as provided in Notice tor inspection this Act.
Notice for inspection of unapproved scales, etc.Any person who shall acquire or have in his possession after the passage of this Act any unapproved scale, weighing instrument, or nonportable measure or measuring device, subject to inspection or test under the provisions of this Act, shall notify the superintendent in writing at his office, giving a general description thereof, and the street and number or other location where same may be found, and it shall be the duty of the superintendent to cause the same to be Portable measures to be inspected.inspected and tested within a reasonable time after receipt of such notice.
Any person who shall acquire or have in his possession after the passage of this Act any unapproved portable measure or measuring device subject to inspection or test shall cause the same to be taken to the office of the superintendent for inspection and test. Peddlers, etc., to have weights tested etc., semiannually.Every peddler, hawker, huckster, transient merchant, or other person with no fixed or established place of business shall, before using any weight, scale, measure, weighing or measuring device for any of the purposes enumerated in this Act, cause the same to be taken to the office of the superintendent for inspection and test semiannually, and shall not use for the purposes herein mentioned any weight, scale, measure, weighing or measuring device which has not been approved within six months prior to the time of such use.
Not applicable to Government devices.Nothing herein shall be construed to require the superintendent to test any weighing or measuring device belonging to the United States. Sec. 4. Use of altered or repaired scales, etc., without inspection, forbidden.That no person shall use or, having the same under his control, permit to be used, any weight, scale, measure, weighing or measuring device, or any attachment or part thereof after the same has been altered or Inspection seals, etc. not to be altered, etc.repaired without the same having been inspected and approved as provided herein after such alterations or repairs have been made, and no persons shall alter, obliterate, detach, obscure, or conceal any condemnation seal, stamp, mark, tag, or Refusing, obstructing, etc., tests forbidden.label, attached or impressed by the superintendent or any of his assistants or inspectors, without written permission of the superintendent.
Sec. 5. That no person shall neglect, fail, or refuse to exhibit any weight, scale, beam, measure, weighing or measuring device, subject 1219to inspection or test under the provisions of this Act, to the superintendent of any of his assistants or inspectors for the purpose of inspection and test, and no person shall in any manner obstruct, hinder, or molest the superintendent or any of his assistants, inspectors, or other employees in the performance of their duties. Sec. 6. That the superintendent shall keep in his office a record of weighing andDetailed record of inspections to be kept. measuring devices inspected, which record shall show the type of device, the name and address of the owner, the date of inspection, and whether the same was approved or condemned.
Such record shall be open to the public during regular office hours. Sec. 7. That no person shall sell, offer for sale, keep, or expose forTrue weight, etc., required of commodities sold. sale anywhere in the District of Columbia any commodity of any kind as a weight, measure, or numerical count greater than the actual or true weight, measure, or numerical count thereof, and no person shallBuyer to take only actual weight, etc. take or attempt to take more than the actual and true weight, measure, or numerical count of any commodity, when, as buyer, he is permitted by the seller to determine the weight, measure, or numerical count thereof.
Sec. 8. That when any commodity is sold by weight it shall be netSales by net weight.Ton.Coal. weight. When any commodity, except coal, is sold by the ton, it shall be understood to mean two thousand pounds avoirdupois. Coal shall be sold by the long ton, consisting of two thousand two hundred and forty pounds avoirdupois. Sec. 9. That no person, firm, or corporation shall erect, operate, orSlot vending machines.Regulations governing. maintain, or cause to be erected, operated, or maintained within the District of Columbia any coin-in-the-slot machine or automatic vending device without placing in charge thereof some responsible person.
No such machine shall be maintained for use when the same is not in perfect working order, and the person in charge as well as the owner of such machine or device shall be held responsible for operating or maintaining any such machine or device which is not in Name and address of owner, etc.perfect working order. A sign or placard shall be placed on every such machine or device in a conspicuous place and shall contain the name and business address of the owner and of the person in charge of such machine or device, and shall state that Refunds if service, etc., not received.the person in charge of such machine or device will refund to any person money deposited by him for which the commodity or service promised expressly or impliedly has not been received, and such person shall so refund such money.
Sec. 10. That every person, firm, or corporation shall, when a salesSales tickets.Requirements for use of. ticket is given with a purchase, cause such sales ticket to show the correct name and address of such person, firm, or corporation and the weight, measure, or numerical count, as the case may be, of each commodity sold to the purchaser, and every such person, firm, or corporation is hereby required to deliver sucli sales ticket to such purchaser when requested to do so by such purchaser at the time of the sale.
Sec. 11. That it shall be unlawful to sell or offer for sale in theCoal, charcoal, and coke to be sold by weight.Delivery receipts, etc. District of Columbia any coal, charcoal, or coke in any other manner than by weight. No person shall deliver or attempt to deliver any coal, charcoal, or coke without accompanying same by a delivery duplicate thereof, the original of which shall be in ink or each of which shall be expressed distinctly in pounds, avoirdupois, the gross weight of the load, the tare of the delivery vehicle or receptacle, and the net weight of coal, charcoal, or coke contained in the vehicle or receptacle used in making delivery, with the name and address of the purchaser and the name and address of the person, firm, or corporation from whom or which purchased.Verifying weight by inspectors.
Upon demand of the superintendent or any of his assistants or inspectors upon the person in charge of the vehicle of delivery, the original of these tickets shall be surrendered to the official making such demand. The duplicate ticket shall be delivered to the purchaser of said coal, charcoal, or coke, or to his agent or representative, at the time of 1220delivery of such coal, charcoal, or coke. Upon demand of the superintendent or any of his assistants or inspectors, or of the purchaser or intended purchaser, his agent or representative, the person delivering such coal, charcoal, or coke shall convey the same forthwith to some public scale, or to any legally approved private scale in the District of Columbia, the owner of which may consent to its use, and shall permit the verifying of the weight, and after the delivery of such coal, charcoal, or coke shall return forthwith with the wagon or other *Provisos*.Delivery of smaller quantities.conveyance used to the same scale and permit to be verified the weight of the wagon or other conveyance: *Provided,* That when coal, charcoal, or coke is sold in a quantity less than two hundred and eighty pounds and is not weighed in a wagon, cart, or other vehicle, it shall be sufficient for the seller to deliver to the purchaser, his agent or representative, a ticket showing the name and address of the sender, the name of the purchaser, and the true net Package sales.weight of the coal, charcoal, or coke so sold or delivered: *Provided further,* That when coal, charcoal, or coke is sold in packages of fifty pounds or less, it shall be sufficient to plainly mark each package with the name of the person, firm, or corporation malting such package and the true net weight of the coal, charcoal, or coke contained therein.
Moisture limit.No coal, charcoal, or coke shall be sold which contains at the time the weight is taken more water or other liquid substance than is due to the natural condition of the coal, charcoal, or coke. Name of vendor, etc., on vehicle.Every vendor of coal, charcoal, or coke shall cause his name and address to be conspicuously displayed on both sides of every vehicle used by or for him for the sale or delivery of coal, charcoal, or coke. Sec. 12. Ice.Regulations for sale by weight.That it shall be unlawful to sell, within the District of Columbia, any ice in any manner other than by weight, such weight to be ascertained at the time of delivery of such ice, and every person, or in case of a firm, copartnership, or corporation, the person m charge of its business in the District of Columbia, engaged in the sale of ice shall keep on each of his or its wagons or other vehicles used in the sale or delivery of ice, while in use, a scale suitable for weighing ice Scale requirements.which has been tested and approved in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
Every scale used for weighing ice in making sales in quantities of one hundred pounds or less shall have graduations of one pound or less. Scales used for weighing ice in making sales in quantities of more than one hundred pounds may have graduations of five pounds or less. Sec. 13. Bread.Standard loaf adopted.That the standard loaf of bread manufactured for sale, sold, offered or exposed for sale in the District of Columbia shall weigh one pound avoirdupois, but bread may also be manufactured for sale, sold, offered or exposed for sale in loaves of one-half pound, or in multiples of one pound, but shall not be manufactured for sale, sold, offered or exposed for sale in other than the aforesaid Labels required.Details.weight.
Every loaf of bread manufactured for sale, sold, offered or exposed for sale in the District of Columbia shall have affixed thereon, in a conspicous place, a label at least one inch square, or, if round, at least one inch in diameter, upon which label there shall be printed in plain bold-face Gothic type, not smaller than twelve-point, the weight of the loaf in pound, pounds, or fraction of a pound, as the case may be, whether the loaf be a standard loaf or not, the letters and figures of which shall be printed in black ink upon white paper.
The business name and address of the maker, baker, Scales at bakeries, etc.or manufacturer of the loaf shall also be plainly printed on each such label. Every seller of bread in the District of Columbia shall keep a suitable scale which shall have been inspected and approved in accordance with the provisions of this Act, in a conspicuous place in his bakery, bakeshop, or store, or other place where he is engaged in the sale of bread, and shall, whenever requested by the buyer, and in the presence of the buyer, weigh the loaf or loaves of bread sold or offered 1221for sale.
Nothing herein shall apply to crackers, pretzels,Crackers, pretzels, etc. buns, rolls, scones, or to loaves of fancy bread weighing less than one-fourth of one pound avoirdupois, or to what is commonly known as stale bread, provided the seller shall, at the time the sale is made, *Proviso*.Variance allowed.expressly state to the buyer that the bread so sold is stale bread: *Provided,* That any loaf of bread weighing within 10 per centum in variance allowed, excess or within 4 per centum less than standard weight shall be deemed of legal weight.
Sec. 14. That bottles or jars used for the sale of milk or cream shallMilk.Capacity of bottles, etc. capacity of bottles, be of the capacity of one gallon, half-gallon, three pints, one quart, one pint, half-pint, or one gill when filled to the bottom of the cap seat, stopple, or other designating mark. Such bottles or jars shall have clearly blown or otherwise permanently marked in the side of each such bottle or jar or printed on the cap or stopple the name and address of the person, firm, or corporation who or which shall have bottled such milk or cream.
Any person who uses, for the purpose of selling milk or cream, bottles or jars which do not comply with the requirements of this section shall be deemed guilty of using false measure. Sec. 15. That standard containers for the sale of fruits, vegetables,Standard dry commodities containers established. and other dry commodities in the District of Columbia shall be as follows:
(a)That standard barrel for fruits, vegetables, and other dryBarrel for fruits, vegetables, etc.Dimensions. commodities other than cranberries, shall be of the following dimensions when measured without distention of its parts: Length of stave, twenty-eight and one-half inches; diameter of heads, seventeen and one-eighth inches; distance between heads, twenty-six inches; circumference of bulge, sixty-four inches, *Proviso*.Varying form.outside measurement; and the thickness of staves not greater than four-tenths of an inch: *Provided,* That any barrel Barrel for cranberries.of a different form having a capacity varying form, of seven thousand and fifty-six cubic inches shall be a standard barrel. The standard barrel for cranberries shall be of the following dimensions when measured without distention of its parts: Length of staves, twenty-eight and one-half inches; diameter of head, sixteen and one-fourth inches; distance between heads, twenty-five and one-fourth inches; circumference of bulge, fifty-eight and one-half Sales in less capacities unlawful.inches, outside measurement; and the thickness of staves not greater than four-tenths of an inch. It shall be unlawful to sell, offer, or expose for sale in the District of Columbia a barrel containing fruits or vegetables or any other dry commodity of less capacity than the standard barrels defined in this Act, or subdivisions thereof known as the third, half, and three-quarter barrel.
(b)Standards for Climax baskets for grapes and other fruits andClimax baskets for grapes, etc. vegetables shall be the two-quart basket, four-quart basket, and twelve-quart basket, respectively. The standard two-quart Climax basket shall be of theDimensions.Two-quart baskets. following dimensions: Length of bottom piece, nine and one-half inches; width of bottom piece, three and one-half inches; thickness of bottom piece, three-eighths of an inch; height of basket, three and seven-eighths inches, outside measurement; top of basket, length eleven inches and width five inches, outside measurement. Basket to have a cover five by eleven inches, when a cover is used. The standard four-quart Climax basket shall be of theFour-quart basket. following dimensions: Length of bottom piece, twelve inches; width of bottom piece, four and one-half inches; thickness of bottom piece, three- eighths of an inch: height of basket, four and eleven-sixteenths inches, outside measurement; top of basket, length fourteen inches; width six and one-fourth inches, outside measurement. Basket to have cover six and one-fourth inches by fourteen inches, when cover is used. 1222 Twelve-quart basket.The standard twelve-quart Climax basket shall be of the following dimensions: Length of bottom piece, sixteen inches; width of bottom piece, six and one-half inches; thickness of bottom piece, seven-sixteenths of an inch; height of basket, seven and one-sixteenth inches, outside measurement; top of basket, length nineteen inches, width nine inches, outside measurement. Basket to have cover nine inches by nineteen inches, when cover is used.
(c)Six-basket carrier crate.The six-basket carrier crate for fruits and vegetables shall contain six four-quart baskets, each basket having a capacity of two hundred and sixty-eight and eight-tenths cubic inches.
(d)Four-basket fiat crate.The four-basket flat crate for fruits and vegetables shall contain four three-quart baskets, each basket having a capacity of two hundred and one and six-tenths cubic inches.
(e)Container for berries, cherries, beans, etc.The standard box, basket, or other container for berries, cherries, shelled peas, shelled beans, and other fruits and vegetables of similar size shall be of the following capacities standard dry measure: One-half pint, pint, and quart. The one-half pint shall contain sixteen and eight-tenths cubic inches; the pint shall contain thirty-three and six-tenths cubic inches; the quart shall contain sixty-seven and two-tenths cubic inches.
(f)Lug boxes.Standard lug boxes for fruits and vegetables shall be the one-half bushel box and the one-bushel box. The one-half bushel lug box shall be of the following inside dimensions: Length, seventeen inches; width, ten and five-tenths inches; depth, six inches. The one-bushel lug box shall be of the following inside dimensions: Length, twenty and three-fourths inches; width, thirteen inches; depth, eight inches; and no lug box of other than the foregoing dimensions shall be used in the District of Columbia.
(g)Hampers.The standard hampers for fruits and vegetables shall be the one-peck hamper, one-half bushel hamper, one-bushel hamper, and one and one-half bushel hamper. The one-peck hamper shall contain five hundred and thirty-seven and six-tenths cubic inches; the one-half-bushel hamper shall contain one thousand and seventy-five and twenty-one one-hundredths cubic inches. The one-bushel hamper shall contain two thousand one hundred and fifty and forty-two one-hundredths cubic inches, and the one and one-half bushel hamper shall contain three thousand two hundred and twenty-five and sixty-three one-hundredths cubic inches.
(h)Rcund stave baskets.The standard round-stave baskets for fruits and vegetables shall be the one-half bushel basket, one-bushel basket, one and one-half bushel basket, and two-bushel basket. The one-half-bushel basket shall contain one thousand and seventy- five and twenty-one one-hundredths cubic inches. The one-bushel basket shall contain two thousand one hundred and fifty and forty- two one-hundredths cubic inches. The one-and-one-half-bushel basket shall contain three thousand two hundred and twenty-five and sixty-three one-hundredths cubic inches, and the two-bushel basket shall contain four thousand three hundred and eighty-four one-hundredths cubic inches.
(i)Apple box.The standard apple box shall contain two thousand one hundred and seventy-three and five-tenths cubic inches and be of the following inside dimensions: Length, eighteen inches; width, eleven and one-half inches; depth, ten and one-half inches.
(j)Pear box.The standard pear box shall be of the following inside dimensions: Length, eighteen inches; width, eleven and one-half inches; depth, eight and one-half inches.
(k)Onion crate.The standard onion crate shall be of the following inside dimensions: Length, nineteen and five-eighths inches; width, eleven and three-sixteenths inches; depth, nine and thirteen-sixteenths inches. 1223
(l)No person shall sell, offer, or expose for sale in the District ofSales of fruits, etc., except in standard containers, or weight or count, forbidden. Columbia any fruits, vegetables, gram, or similar commodities in any manner except in the standard containers herein prescribed or by weight or numerical count; and no person shall sell, offer, orFull quantity required. expose for sale, except by weight or numerical count, in the District of Columbia any commodity in any container herein prescribed which does not contain, at the time of such *Proviso*.Bunch vegetables.offer, exposure, or sale, the full capacity of such commodity compactly filled: *Provided,* That fresh vegetables, beets, onions, turnips, rhubarb, and other similar vegetables, usually and customarily sold by the bunch, may be sold by the bunch. All kale, spinach, and other similar leaf vegetables shall beKale, spinach, etc. sold at retail by net weight. Sec. 16. That nothing in this Act contained shall be construed asContainers not permitted as substitutes for dry measure. permitting the use as a dry measure or substituting for a dry measure any of the following containers: Barrels, boxes, lug boxes, crates, hampers, baskets, or climax baskets; and the use of any such con- tamer as a measure is hereby expressly prohibited, and the user shall be fined or imprisoned as herein provided for other violations of this Act. Sec. 16½. That no person shall sell, offer, or expose for sale in thePackage form food.Marking required. District of Columbia any food in package form unless the quantity of contents is plainly Tolerances permitted.and conspicuously marked on the outside of each package in terms of weight, measure, or numerical count. The commissioners are authorized to establish and allow reasonable variation, tolerances, and exemptions as to small packages. Sec. 17. That a cord of wood snail contain one hundred and Firewood.twenty-eight cubic feet. Wood more than eight inches in length shall be sold by the cord or fractional part thereof, and when delivered shall contain one hundred and twenty-eight cubic feet per cord when evenly and compactly stacked. Split wood, eight inches or less in length, may be sold by such standard loads as shall be fixed by the commissioners. Sec. 18. That the standard liquid gallon shall contain two hundredLiquid measures.Standard contents. and thirty-one cubic inches; the half gallon, one hundred and fifteen-tents. and five-tenths cubic inches; the quart, fifty-seven and seventy-five hundredths cubic inches; the pint, twenty-eight and eight hundred and seventy-five thousandths cubic inches; the half pint, fourteen and four hundred and thirty-seven thousandths cubic inches; the gill, seven and two hundred and eighteen thousandths cubic No other deemed legal.inches; the fluid ounce, one and eight-tenths cubic inches; and no liquid measure of other than the foregoing capacities, except multiples of the gallon, shall be deemed legal liquid measure in the District of Columbia. Sec. 19. That shucked oysters shall be sold only by liquid measureOysters. or numerical count, and whenever there is included in the sale by measure of shucked oysters more than 10 per centum of oyster liquid or other liquid substance, the vendor snail be deemed guilty of selling short measure. All fish shall be sold by avoirdupois weight.Fish. Sec. 20. That every user of an automatic measuring pump orAutomatic measuring pumps.Regulations governing use, etc. similar device, shall, when the supply of the commodity which he is measuring for sale with such pump or similar device, is insufficient to deliver correct measure of such commodity by the usual or customary method of operating such pump or device or when, for any cause whatever, such pump or device does not, by the usual or customary method of operating same, deliver correct measure, place a sign with the words, “Out of use” in a conspicuous place on such pump or device where it may readily be seen, and shall forthwith cease to use the same until his supply of such commodity is replenished or until such pump or device is repaired, adjusted, or otherwise put in condition to deliver correct measure. All automatic measur-1224Inspection.ing pumps other similar measuring devices in use shall be subject to inspection, and approval or condemnation, whether used for measuring or not. Sec. 21. Stated prices.Pro rata for smaller quantities.That whenever any commodity is offered for sale at a stated price for a stated quantity, a smaller quantity shall be sold at a pro rata price unless the purchaser is informed to the contrary at the time of sale. Sec. 22. Right to inspect packages, etc., declared.That the superintendent, or under his direction, his assistants and inspectors, shall from time to time weigh or measure and inspect packages or amounts of commodities of whatever kind kept for sale, offered or exposed for sale, sold, or in the process of delivery, in order to determine whether or not the same are kept for sale, offered for sale, or sold in accordance with the provisions of this Act, and no person shall refuse to permit such weighing, measuring, or inspection whenever demanded by the superintendent or any of his assistants or inspectors. Sec. 23. Dealing in weights, etc., by employees, unlawful.That it shall be unlawful for the superintendent or any employee of his office to vend any weights, measures, weighing or measuring device, or to offer or expose the same for sale, or to be interested, directly or indirectly, in the sale of same. Sec. 24. Police powers conferred.That there is hereby conferred upon the superintendent, his assistants and inspectors, police power. and in the exercise of their duties they shall, upon demand, exhibit their badges to any person questioning their authority; and they are authorized and Right to enter premises except private residences.empowered to make arrests of any person violating any of the provisions of this Act. The superintendent, his assistants, and inspectors may, for the purpose of carrying out and enforcing the provisions of this Act and in the performance of their official duties, with or without formal warrant, enter or go into or upon any stand, place, building, or premises, except a private residence, and may stop any vendor, peddler, dealer, vehicle, or person in charge thereof for the purpose of making inspections or tests. Sec. 25. Tolerances to be established.That the commissioners are hereby authorized and empowered to establish tolerances and specifications for scales, weights, Federal statutes to measures, Federal statutes to govern.weighing or measuring instruments or devices, and containers used in the District of Columbia. The commissioners shall prescribe and allow for barrels, containers, and packages, provided for in this Act, the same specifications, variations, or tolerances that have been prescribed or established, or that may hereafter be prescribed or established for like barrels, containers, or packages by any officer of the United States in accordance with any requirement of an Act of Congress. Sec. 26. Public scales.Regulations governing.That the commissioners are authorized to appoint public weighmasters and grant licenses for the location of public scales in the District of Columbia under such regulations as they may prescribe, and authorize such weighmasters to charge such fees as the commissioners may approve and fix in advance, and they may grant permits, revocable on thirty days’ notice, for the location of such public scales on public space under their control. No person other than a duly appointed and qualified public weighmaster shall do public weighing or make any charge or accept any compensation therefor. Sec. 27. Authority of inspectors, etc.That the powers and duties granted to and imposed on the superintendent by this Act are also hereby granted to and imposed on his assistants and inspectors when acting under his instructions. Sec. 28. Supervision of public markets.That the superintendent, under the direction of the commissioners, shall have supervision of all produce and other markets owned by the District of Columbia, shall enforce such regulations regarding the operation of the same as the commissioners may make, snail make such investigations regarding the sale, distribution, or prices of commodities in the District of Columbia as the 1225commissioners may direct, and shall make reports and recommendations in connection therewith. Sec. 29. That wherever the word “commissioners” is used in thisWords construed.“Commissioners.” Act, it shall be construed to mean the Commissioners of the District of Columbia. Wherever the word “superintendent” is used in this“Superintendent.” Act, it shall be construed to mean the superintendent of weights, measures, and markets. Sec. 30. That the word “person,” as used in“Person.” this Act, shall be construed to include copartnerships, companies, corporations, societies, and associations. Wherever any word in this Act is used inSingular or plural interchangeable. the singular, it shall be construed to mean either singular or plural, and wherever any word in this Act is used in the plural, it snail be construed to mean either plural or singular, as the circumstances demand. Sec. 31. That each section of this Act, and every provisionEach section and provision declared independent.Invalidity of one not to affect others. of each section, is hereby declared to be an independent section or provision, and the holding of any section or provision of any section to be void, ineffective, or unconstitutional tor any cause whatever shall not be deemed to affect any other section or provision thereof. Sec. 32. That any person violating any of the provisions ofPunishment for violations.Jurisdiction of police court. this Act shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $500, or by both such fine and imprisonment not to exceed six months. All prosecutions under this Act shall be instituted by the corporation counsel or one of his assistants in the police court of the District of Columbia. Sec. 33. That this Act shall become operative ninety days afterOperative in 90 days.Former laws repealed.Vol. 28, p. 811. its passage. The Act entitled “An Act for the appointment of a sealer and assistant sealer of weights and measures in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes,” approved March 2, 1895, as amended, and the Act entitledVol. 29, p. 192. “An Act defining the standard shape and size of dry measures in use in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes,” approved May 30, 1896, are hereby repealed, such repeal to be effective when this Act becomes operative. Approved, March 3, 1921.