The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-09-01
THE 1TMES-RICHMOND vA TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER l. 1896

nuf NNen the 1IlIdto pideAVti III N'R-''N'
the merhod OF it, promoters to be 10
override the decisions OF the Supreme
Court by political action. something more
than an apology Is called for.
There are thousands upon thousands
who hope and believe that with a grad
usl change in public opinion which in
the long run is apt no have its influence
even upon courts Of highest appeal. not
only one, but two decisions OF the Su-
preme Court may be reversed. th-re be-
ing perhaps as many great lawyers
against the decisions az could De cited in
supper; OF them. Each OF these decis-
ions was carried by a majority OF only
one.
First. the decision which deprlves Con
gress Of the power TO tax incomes. L;
is held by very large numbers Of people.
including many great lawyers. that wheth-
er an income tax is eXpediert or not In
time OF peace, the power should rest In
Congress 10 use tha, and every other
method of raising revenue in time OF
war.
Second. the decision Of the Court in
the legal tender cases. giving the author
itv OF the Court 10 a forced loan IN time
of peace which had only been JUSTIFIED as
a war measure. IL is hoped and eNpecte-
cd that within reasonable period TINS
power to force bad money upon the com
munlty by due processes OF law, whether
in the form Of deprecated coin or de-
preciated per Will be declared unconstl-
tutional.
II is upon thar force Of law Of legal
tender that the silver party now proposes
to put bad or debased coin upon the com
munity and 10 delegate 10 the special
classes. The mine owners. who now gro
duce silver bullion at a cost OF fifty cents
more or less on a dollar in gold. and 10
tho bullion dealers who can import silver
bullion az n cost OF fifty cents on a dol
lar In gold. the whole force OF law for
their private benefit and profit,
This whole case Of the silver miners
party rests upon the assumption that such
a use or demand Tor silver coin can be
forced by acts OF legal tender as 20 raise
tho market value OF silver bullion from
is present price Of &c TO ss cents an ounce
10 Sl20 IA an ounce. or from a ratio by
weight OF 81 or % pounds OF silver which
can be bought with a bar of gold weigh
ing one pound 10 such a ratio that the
same bar ~ gold Will only buy lG pounds
The ostensible motive held out by Nr
Bryan IS 70 raise general prices He thus
goes back upon his whole previous record
as fres-,rader. He adopts the most
obnoxious method Of legislation ever de-
vised FOR Influencing prices by legisla-
ton. and he would raise prices for the
henef- Of trs so-called producing classes
- tho cost Of the consuming classes. and
without regard to the Influence Of his
proposed action upon the rates OF wages
am we'll aware that e VIII b- answer
FL ;s2at there Is no distinct division be-
rween producer and consumer There Is
however very marked distinction I'm
the respective interests Of those who
gain their living mainly by production
and who nre 20 a large extent the en-
pioyers Of labor. and those who get their
living mainly by labor. either upon tho
field In the factory. or workshop. or in
The process OF distrpmtion by the rail-
ways. waterways. and warehouses.
The rule OF progress has been we'll es-
fahlished during the last thirty five years.
Through the applications OF science and
Invention all prices. with few exceptions
have been greatly lessened. but the cost
OF production has been lessened I'm even
greater measure, hence reasonable profs
have been attained leading 10 the most
enormous and progressive development
Of the nation since 1865 and notably
since 1873 after the resumption OF specie
pavmenr on a gold basis that has ever
been witnessed. while on the Other hand,
the wages or earnings OF labor have been
augmented These facts are clearly dem
onstrated In the subsequent table, which
has been previously printed as a part Of
an article entitled The Crime Against
Labor. Prices. Wages and Their Rela-
ton 10 the Purchasing Power Of Labor