Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-10-08
Secretary Shaw Says United
States Should Adopt the
Metric System
MAKES ADDRESS AT NEW YORK
Country Needs Secure Currency and
an Elastic Banking system--Increase
in Our Foreign Commerce HAS Been
Much More Rapid Than the Increase
in Population.

made impressive by the presence of a
number of committees of prominent
men from the leading mercantile and
industrial organizations and detach-
ments of militia and regular. troops
Speeches were made by Secretary OF
the Treasury Shaw and former Sec
rotary Gage. Secretary Shaw said in
part:
Our foreign commerce, like the pro-
ductive and consumptive capacity OF
our people has increased more rapidly
than our population. Since 1860 our
population has multiplied by two and
one half, while our foreign commerce
has multiplied by three and one
one third. Thus our very prosperity
rebounds to the advantage of those
across the seas, who supply that which
we do not produce.
Not only is this true, but the public
revenues are dependent in a great mea-
sure upon our prosperity. In 1894 we
had deficit in round numbers of $780,
100000. have had the actuary of the
treasury department carefully esti-
mate the probable result II the con-
ditions existing in 1894 were repeated
and the people of the United States
were to produce, to import, and to
consume in the same proportion per
capita that they did in that year and
of the same class OF goods. and he
estimated our annual deficit, under the
present revenue laws Of the United
States. at approximately $90,000,00O.
We labor under disadvantage, as
compared with some other countries,
in our standard of weights ard meas
ures. Sooner or later we must come
to the metric system, and. in my judg-
ment, the sooner the better. But we
have the advantage over all other great
commercial countries in our monetary
denominations. wish might say in
monetary system. But the dollar, dime,
cent and mill are the natural COM
plement to the metric system of
weights and measures. So soon as all
our forms OF money shall be made by
statute interchangeable with gold. when
the so per cent fiat in the silver shall
be protected as well as the 100 per
cent fiat In the greenback, and when
the possessor Of any form OF money
shall have the right to have 1t tested
by the standard, then will exchange on
this western metropolis be as accept
able the world over as drafts written
in less convenient forms of money. The
recent acquisition Of territory beyond
the seas can not but help to advance
our commercial influence and our
commerce can but benefit the people
of these islands"
United States money followed the
flag to Porto Rico and, the secretary
declared, 1t would not be many years
until the prices current of the sur
rounding islands would be written
therein and all balances settled on ex-
change in this city. Sooner or later.
he declared. United States money would
be current in the Philippines and 1T
would be carried thither to the CONT
nent beyond, and the prices current
of the Orient would be written in Uni
ted States money.
The secretary commended that our
republics is not what 1t should be and
he recounted some of the disadvantages
to which he attributed this fact.
In conclusion he said: "Give us cur
rency as secure, banking policy as
elastic, system of weights and meas
ures as convenient as our rivals, give
US nonpartisan support to such meas
ures as will establish lines Of steam
ship communication with countries in
South Africa and the islands adjacent.
give US the isthmian canal and we
ought to be able to maintain such re-
lations to the commerce OF the world
as will conserve the peace and the good
will Of all nations, while we carry be-
meath every sky q language that
breathes liberty and patriotism and the
object lesson Of a flag that stands for
equal rights and justice according to
law -