Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-03-21
ARE WE TO HAVE The METRIC
SYSTEM!

We were made aware somo tmo
ago that an article had been formulated
for tho Consultation, providing Tor the
adoption Of the metric system ~ the
legal standard Of the A'gte. Indeed
we had the pleasure Of reading tho
document, ami not thinking Of the
sorrenlino route which important pub.
JIG measures muet generally traverse
before beholding the light o. day, we
forobore with something Of struggle
the temptation Of giving the good nows
10 the public. Inquiry now reveals
tho fact that this very important qucs.
ton ~ In adiu quo waiting
tor certain members 10 decide
whether or not II IL proper ma.
tcral Tor the Constitution. Without
Wishing to disturb tho traditions If
uohtlcs more than Ia necessary In this,
We beg 10 tuggeat that tho Convention
IL paid Tor deciding such questions, and
II locke like a great Injustice Tor the
lew to have the burden Of tho many
thrust upon them In this manner. In
thc meantime, II tho NEWS Is not We
fully miainiormei upon the functions
VI government, any question ns 20 the
Ir1prieIy oi naming the standards Of
weight ana measure In the Con.
tlitution IL utterly devoid Of rea.
son. II belrays either igno.
rance Of the chief purposes Of
stats constitution or an innato spirit VI
opposition for oppositlon's cake.
The Standard definition OF ucon.
sutuuon" is: "Tho fundamental law Of
a civil state" again, "Auy established
law or CUSTOM" the same authority
defines fundamental" ~ "rrlhting 20
or fulfilling the purpose Of iouuda.
ton or groundwork; Indispensable;
primary; essential basal"
La this view OF tho case We bog 10
asks What law Of "a civil state Is "flu-
damcnta" II Us standard Of weights
aud measures IL n1g What systum Of
tue state comes nearer to being an "e..
tahlithui law or CuBtomn than does its
eysiem VI weights aud measures? What
Institution Of tho stale lies nearer 10
IL "ioundati0n Or groundwork" than
does the basis upon which Il aud the
people tSansaol their busiuess2 What
law or feature Of law could possibly be-
more "lndispunnbIe." "prlmary,U
Essential" or "1asaP Than the law
eslabliahlng the standard b. which
practically oyery instrumental and opera
ton OF tho people 0r tho state must be-
referred Tor q hual duhuiu0u9
suppose one were 90 ask any OF the
llgal gentlemen who are engaged boo
declining the state aud di1grict bound
aries TO trace the terms OF tho measure.
menis which they will use 90 o.
fixed legal linear unit. A mile.
Tor instaucri how long be boz
The honorable members miGutangwog
hat mile, by the book, IL eight fur
ongs. But how long is a turl1ngg
Forty rods; anu rod t. five yards aua
a halfa yard. hut what is ynra? |
WY hhyuouf hnuWt what yard BE-. ]
IL is--ah-the distance between the |
brass tucks In a dry goods counter
THIS woull setm nt nat blush a |
rather unsatisfactory definition of the |
yard, but 80 is ns golI q one ua can uc /
gwen ut tho present time; .Acrpt when |
recourse ls hal TO the meter, wnrn the |
yard may bo defined ss 8I.at87 psr /
'f the meter. Tho meter being up |
eslaUllgheduuitulu linear measure fixed |
aud uniiorm iu every country oil
tho civilized world, there can never |
DO question as 90 lite I,uwn. |
We are, therefore, in this Ignorant, |
Irrational fashion actually using the |
metric unit pgr force, because we |
'ouIi not, to save our lives, determine |
i1e actual value u the buugliug |
measures which We employ without |
ultimately referring them to iI Tor |
adjustment.
II 'Ee makea Of cur government