The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-03-22
AS TO THE METRIC SYSTEM.

The members of the convention who
doubt the necessity and propriety OF
providing in the Constitution for a sys
tenn of weights and measures, will nc
doubt feel very much taken down by
the decision as to their mental and
moral status by a dictatorial, not tc
say impudent, writer in an evening
paper. Or perhaps they would like tc
take him down peg or two and bring
him to sense of courtesy if not to
a rational condition
The metric system, which he has been
riding as hobby, is doubtless the best
that is known. 1t stands to weights
and measures as the decimal principle
does to money. We think it is worthy
of all the enconiums that its advocates
can pass upon it, and hope to see it
adopted in the State of Utah.
But that does not prove that ANY
question as to the propriety of naming
the standards of weights and measures
in the Constitution is utterly devoid of
reason" nor does it follow that doubts
as to the wisdom of providing for those
standards in that instrument, "betrays
either ignorance of the chief purposes
of a state constitution or an innate
spirit Of opposition for oppositions
sake" There may be gentlemen pos
sessed of as much reason and as little
stubbornness as their assailant, who
think that the whole matter ought to
be left to the legislature. And we fail
to see wherein such an opinion is cut
terly devoid of reason
Already there is a great deal too
much proposed for Incorporation in the
organic law of the state. Much of it
ought to be rejected as unnecessary in
the fundamental law. But the ques-
ton is asked, what is fundamental if
a system Of weights and measures is
not?' The answer is that in a Con-.
stitution, fundamentals consist of gen.
eral basic principles, defining and linn
iting the powers of the respective
branches of the government. And ap-
plying the definition to the case in
point simple provision empower
ing the legislature TO provide a
system Of weights and measures
would be all-sufficient. Indeed, we do
not know whether even that would be
necessary, as the legislature would
possess the power by virtue of the gen.
eral authority as TO legislation con-
ferred in the supreme law.
We are informed by the dogrnatic
metric magister, that:
If the makers of our government had
not regarded the standard of weights
and measures as subject of funda- !
mental law they would not by pro-
vision of the national Constitution,
have expressly reserved the right to
Elk the standard of weights and
measures" Had the metric system /
been in existence when that great in
Strument was written there is mo /
doubt in anybody'S mind that our syS-
tenn of weights and measures would |
have been fixed by it beyond the reach |
of innovation.
In that paragraph he gives his
whole case away. 1.-THE makers of our
government" however, did not ex-
pressly reserve the right to Fix the
standard of weights and measures"
but expressly conferred that right
upon the Congress. On his rule of
reasoning the Constitution should have
the system of weights and
to govern in this country be-
cause, as he expresses it:
What law or feature of law could
primary" essential or ';basai'
than the law establishing the standard
to which practically every instrument
and operation of the people or the
state must be referred for final def
milton?
But the makers of our government
lid not see it in that light, and there
fore to quote his own words again,
betrayed either ignorance of the
chief purposes Of Constitution or an
innate spirit of opposition for opposi-
ions sake" also they must have been
utterly devoid Of reason"
The metric system was in existence
1t that time, in France if no
where else, although it was I
lot definitely and fully adopted
here by law until 1893. But be that !
is it may. there is doubt in many
persons minds that our system of
Weights and measures would have been ]
ixed" by the constitution because it
vas evidently considered one of the
unctions of the legislative department '
# the government to provide for such /
ystem as might be thought proper.
Following the illustrious example of ,
he trainers of the national constitu- a
ion. who left the fixing of the stand I
I'd of weights and measures to the S
congress, the delegates in the State t
invention should leave that matter to y
he legislature, in spite Of the stric- +
ures of the writer in the News and $
he poor opinion he may have Of their .
ense and Information. S
We hope the metric system will be =
dopted in Utah., as soon as it shall be
onvenient to the public and the neces-
airy changes can be made without too
udden and expensive revolution in
ur present methods of business. But