Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1897-12-02

official Paper Of the City OF Aberdeen
PATTISON CROSS-EXAMINED.

The means by which the number Of
Integral parts there are in anything,
whether OF distance. capacity, weight
tc., is that which legislation has defined
Is the means by which those parts are
determined, and are known as the meas.
bre OF distance, as the yard stick, the
Measure OF capacity, as the bushel, the
nueasure OF weight, as the pound, etc.
The measure OF value, in this country, as
determined by legislation, is the dollar.
In an attempted reply six-line state
hent, in recent number OF the HERALD,
hat the dollar was the measure Of value,
he Cosmopolis Enterprise last week de-
Eotes two whole columns for the purpose
bf showing that the metal in the dollar,
ind not the dollar is the measure,
wherein number Of questions are pro.
bounded and answered, to the satisfaction
L Mr.. Pattison, at least. In order to
bring the matter fairly before the public
Re will put Mr.. Pattison himself upon
he stand and cross-examine him, giving
UGH answers as his avowed belief would
ompel.
q. Mr.. Pattison, in your direct exami-
ation [Col. 9, lines 80 to "A inc. you
tated that the object of the government
h establishing the unit called the dollar
vas for the purpose of measuring eX-
change value. What do you mean by
Exchange value?
A. Tina. which determines the relation
between two or more things with regard
b the desrableness OF possession; or, in
|ther words, their relative values.
@. You also state [Col. 2. lines 80 to "a
nc that the unit called dollar has no
absolutely invarable value. Suppose at
given time two bushels Of wheat, four
ushels OF corn, six bushels of oats and
ne dollar had the same exchange value,
thile at later date two bushels Of wheat,
We bushels OF corn, seven bushels Of oats
nd one dollar possessed the same OK
,ange value, which has varied in value,
he corn and oats or the wheat and dol
Sr?
A. Why, the corn and oats suppose.
@. Suppose at Il still later date three
ushols of wheat. five bushels of corn,
wen bushels of oats and one dollar had
quail exchange values, which has varied
be wheat, corn, oats or dollar?
A. According to my theory the dollar
I'D.
@. Why?
A don't know.
@. What makes relative, or exchange,
klues vary?
A. Supply and demand
@. You say [Col. 9, lines SO to 1902
&C., that certain quantity Of a certain
nd OF metal is selected, and whatever
the exchange value of the quantity so
lected is the value OF the dollar. You
bve stated above th,t this exchange
klue varies as related to wheat, corn and
Its. Are there any instances wherein
is exchange value, or where the rela.
pn to the thing measured by the dollar
bes not vary.
A. Yes, in the measurement Of debts,
xes and duties.
@. Why does this measure not vary
these instances also.
a. Isuppose it is because legislation
IS said that the dollar shall absolutely
Irform this measurement OF value.
@. Ii the dollar absolutely measures
Iese values because the government
(ys it shall, is it not for these purposes
invarable as the yard stick fol
easurng distance?
A. suppose 50.
10. Ii then the dollar is invariable as
measure of value in relation to debts
xes and duties and also to wheat wher
7 Urn and oats only have changed, is it moi
le that the dollar as a measure is in
lriable and that the products which are
be measured are the things that vary
A. refuse to answer.
@. Why?
A. a witness cannot be compelled tC
animate himself.
@. You have referred to labor as 9
4 Ossible measure OF value. Now Mr.
attison what is the relative labor cost o
D bid and silver?