The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-12

Exposure of the Effort to Inyalidate the
rre.ent Sterling Inv.

ALBANY. r. y. March il.-Occasion-
ally in legislation here there is some
thing of interest outside the realm OF
politics entirely something i'm which
women as well as men are concerned.
and families quite as much as the fire.
guentors Of saloons and corner groceries.
such is the attempt 10 practically In
validate and make of no effect the lene-
fcent Sterling silver law passed in 1891
aa an amendment 10 the Penal Code
and which makes IL misdemean0r.
punishable by fine ana imprisonment. Tor
any one i'm the State either TO manu-
laciure or sell goods marked STERLING.
that 10 not contain 92J parts Of pure
silver 10 - parts Of alloy
Ihe law as 10 stands is eminently just
and proper. II works hardships TO no
one. DO is for the benefit Of no class I'm
particular. but is intended 10 prohibit,
and. if strictly enforced. IL would pro
hIiit n species Of swindling against
which. unfortunately. there is, other
wise. very little protection.
For DO cannot be too widely understood
that in no description OF goods is u
more easy 10 dccc the purchaser than
in s.lrerware such Is the peculiar M
ture OF the alloy that it may be fully
half base metal. and yet present the
IL were 92s-l go pure silver. which IS
the Sterling standard.
Consequently great quantities Of dis
honest silver have been palmed of Tor
genuine. and even after the passage o.
the present law, an Investigation In New
York CITY disclosed the fact that some
az the leading stores were still selling for
Sterling" stuff that had no claim O.
title TO the name out OF - specimens
collected az random. and assayed AT the
United states mint. only one reached
tile legal standard. and IN many there
was not n farthing's worth OF silver in
their composition.
OF course these exposures and the con-
scluent action taken 10 enforce the sta
tute struck a pretty hard blow at this
ILLEGAL commerce. and the bill now be-
fore the LEGISLATURE by which IL Is pro-
poeed 10 amend" the present law Is
clearly enough an attempt 10 destroy rs
effect. For while reading very plausibly
on the surface. it merely prohibits the
uanufacture Of the dishonest silver. and
as most OF II is made outside the state.
this would have little. If any. deterrent
effect whereas the sale being allowed I'M
der the amendment IL would simply open
an outlet for the dishonest stun through
anv dealer disposed 10 handle it,
II IS no secret that the Gorham Manu-
featuring Company. whose name has
been associated with the cause OF honest
silverware for more than half century.
and whose trade mark. the Lion Anchor
and letter c. is in itself the best guaran-
te. OF Sterling value mat silverware can
have are actively engaged In fighting
this obnoxious bill. and that they have
the moral support. al least. OF all the
leading silyersmiths and jewelers. In the
State.
Il would be a strange thing under
the circumstances. II alien manufacture
and their resident allies should have
sufficlent influence over the Legislature
AZ the state OF New York 10 bring about
the massage Of measure so plainly
against the best interests Of the purchas-
ing public. Nevertheless, the bill VIII
bear watching TIL the last hour or the
present session.