THE COLUMBIAN. BLOOMSBURG. PA. LIVE QUESTIONS. A erl. of Article Contributed to Thru Columns by Advanced Thlnkrn. Coinaor Conitsiox First PniNcirf.KS and Common Senxk Applied Tub Money Qukstion Divested of the Bkwildkkino Akoumknts Which De bet It. What is money? Simply a conven ience. In Itself it cannot bo used as food or clothing. It is bat a liieaiw to nu end. Man invented money as nn aceommoda tion in tho excliango of necessary com modities. He did not do thin nntil com mprce between people, diHtantly sepa rated, made it a valuable convenienre. Money to not a necessity in tho oxcfuinge of the produce of neighbors. The first money was not gold, silver, copper, nickol, metal of any kind or even paper. As money itself is a mere convenience, so is tho solection of tho substance from which it is made. Moneys play the sarao part in com merce that railroads, wagon roads and rivers da They facilitate exchange. Several means of tiansportation have been found desirable ; so have several forms of money. Each is a convenience. All help mankind. There is no form of money that is a measure of value. A day's labor is the measure of all values. Tho amount of labor necessary to produce a given amount of any substance necessary to the wants of nan is alono tho meiumre of its Value. This is another indisputable fact and is tho arch which supports all finan cial systems. It is tho basis of commerce. If it takes five days' labor to produce ten bushels of wheat, that wheat is equal in value to the amount of silver or of gold that can be produced by five days' labor. This is nature's measure. It is tho only measure. Any system of finance or com merce that does not recognize this inex orable law is faulty and must prove a failure. The substances that have been used for money have been changed from time to time as man has found the one more convenient than the other. Convenience contemplates value, durability, eto. Gold, silver, nickel and copper are now w. II. little. the most convenient of the metals from which money can be made ; hence they are used. They occupy tho exalted posi tion of money metals alone on account of their Convenience. The element of their convenience which causes disturbance is value. Their values change. Man has attempted to prevent this fluctuation by statutory pro visions with invariable failure. Why? Beoanso in his legal enactments ho ig nored nature's measure of value. If a man produces 32 bushels of potatoes by one day's labor and but one bushel of whoat by a day's labor, tho value of the one bushel of wheat is equal to the 82 bushels of potatoes and double that of 10 of them. No statutory law can change this relative valuo. To say tlmt the supply of silver has increased is but to state that there is a good crop of silver; that for a given number of days' labor, delving in the bowels of mother earth, an increased number of ounces of silver have been produced. To say that the supply of gold has decreased is but to state the reverse. A statutory provision cannot control the relative value of two commodities or the value of auy single commodity. It is possible to fix a unit of measure by statute, but a unit of measure cannot be made from two different commodities the relative values of which inevitably fluctuate. A unit of measure of intrinsic value composed of two substances is not a ne cessity, but is a mathematical and log ical absurdity It is no more ridiculous than it would bo to try to enact and enforce a law that, there being four pecks in a bushel of wheat weighing 00 pounds, therefore thero uro four pecks or sixty pounds of oats in a bushel. Neither prop osition is true. No difference which money metal is taken as the basis of the nnit, the decision should be based on convenience, stability of value and du rability the essentials. The unit fixed, all money metals can be freely used ac cording to their real value, taken by na ture's moasure a day's labor. Nothing else can bo done. Much disturbance can be made by attempting to do something different, but it will end in failure and loss, perhaps financial disaster. If silver is made the standard metal, gold will be no less valuable, and vice versa. The trouble is not that gold is the standard, but that silver is not un limitedly accepted as money. That it is not unlimitedly accepted as money is because its friends insist on its boiug unlimitedly accepted at more than its value, measured by nature's measure (by the only possible moasure). Is not coinugo unnecessary and the cause of confusion in the minds of many? The earlier moneys did not pos sess intrinsic) value. But a very small portion of the present circulating me dium has any intrinsio value. This could not be otherwise. There is not enough of the precious metals to supply the money for the com merce of the world. Itfs not probable that thoro ever can be. If there wus, the element of convenience would pre- I ent their serving nil the requirements ' vt exchange. A money of superior con venience is a greater necessity to com merce than a money of absolute intrin sio valuo. Primary money or monoy of intrinsio value is comparatively little used. The business of tho world is practically done on paper. Banks are but corporations, their drafts being based as much upon the checks of individuals, firms and manufacturing and mercantile corpora- I tions as on currency. I The check of nn individual, firm or : corporation passes current not so much upon general knowledge of the bunk ac count as upon tho knowledge of the whole wealth of tho issuing party, which in morals and law is a guarantee ! of the payment of the check. Tho fiat dollars of the government are not taken unhesitatingly ut par be cause of a knowledge tlrat there is ia the treasury gold, dollar for dollur. Ev ery one knows that thore is not $1 in gold in the treasury for every $10 of the government's promises to pay. All know, however, that there is behind ev ery fiat dollar of the government tho en tire wealth of the nation. I The powers of taxation of the govern ment are unlimited. It ciflf take from one and all within its territory thoir last atom of property, if necessary to re deem its promises to pay. That fact, and not tho comparative paltry amount of gold and silver stored in the treasury, is what keeps the government's promises to pay at par. In this respect it is no different from 'an individual. A man's checks and promissory notes remain at par so long as it is known that his total wealth, not his bank account inorely, exceeds them in amount. As to the actual valuo of paper money, it makes no difference whether it is sus tained by individual or governmental flat. The test is the real wealth that is its guarantee. That the government fiat is the better and more desirable is be cause the government's wealth is the greater and its amount is more accurate ly and universally known. This latter is what Inspires tho necessary confidence that makes it acceptable. This matter of confidence is-the weak feature in all fiat money systems. Bo fore postoffices and post roads, ships and railways, telegraphs and telephones, the means of communication were so slow that dynasties were overturned weeks before the remote portions of the empire knew that new emperors ruled. Bunks failed, and it was months afterward be fore their bills becuine worthless in dis tant provinces. Tardiness in the dis semination of intelligence created mis trust in the value of all money that did not carry its real value within itself. Coin consequently has attained a firm position in the commercial world as the only safe money. Its inconvenience, however, prevents its becoming the only money. It is, in truth, but final money. It is not a circulating medium in the large or the popular transactions of com merce. The subsidiary silver, nickel and copper coins are the only miutings that freely circulate. Silver dollars are too large and heavy. Qold coins ore too scarce. Filial settlements betwoen largo finan cial houses and between governments are effected in bullion. You deposit in auy of the large banks or with the treasury of any nation a quantity of gold coin, and you are credited with its weight value only. This was ouco true of silver coin also. It would still bo true had not the flat in a silver dollar become so large a portion of its stamped value that any deficiency in weight is now of no more consequence than would be a deficiency in the weight of paper in a treasury note. Now, if coin is but final money, and as such it is treated only as bullion, what is the sense of coining it? Why not have the government ttamp each brick, pig or ingot presented with its weight and purity simply? If the party present ing the bullion desires to store it with the government and wants a circulating medium or certificate of deposit in ex change, give it to him. The government treasury, as fur as gold is concerned, is but a warehouse, for it takes it in and pays it out as bullion value. The government's gold warehouse certificate would pass as current as tho bullion itself, as the bullion could al ways be secured when it was desired. Treat silver the same as gold. Acoept all that is offered, stamp its weight and fineness upon it, and issue warehouse certificates against it. Make one class of theso certificates legal tender. It makes no particular difference which. This would change the money nomenclature, but names are only conveniences. We would not have dollars and fractious thereon, but the unit would be a grain and its multipliers. Hence transactions would be made in grains of gold, or acoording to the metric woight system. An individual promissory note would read: "Thirty days from date I promise to pay John Doe 10,00a grains of gold (or 820,000 grains of silver, if silver is mudo the stuudard), with interest at 0 per cent per annum. Value recoivod." Prices of all articles would be reckoned in grains insteud of couts. The fluctuation in the market value of the metals is as well provided for in this proposed system as now and as well as it is possible for man to pro vide. When you agree to pay f 5 now, you really agree to pay so many grains of gold or of silver, and the payment is so mudo, for if you liquidute the in debtedness with a treasury bill the payee can step into the nearest bank and secure his gold or silver coin which con tains the requisite grains of bullion. The unlimited una of euch metul and tho fact thivt there is not enough, both taken, to supply the demand for money would hold their values as steady as is pussiblo. The chance of fluctuation ex ists in every business transaction, and experience lias proved that it is less in gold and silver than iu uny other com modity which is convenient for money. Between these two it is less in gold; hence to thut extent gold is the profor utilo standard. W. II. Little. St. Louis, It ccsts Something. The bicycle girl, if she starts to be thoroughly up-to-date, will find that her wardrobe alone will cost her a pretty penny. Here are the prices of her entire bicycle outfit, obtained from reliable dealers in athletic goods. Bicycle suit, with leather trimmings combination divided skirt and knicker bockers, $50 j suit with round skirt and Norfolk jacket, $25 1 sepcratc serve knickerbockers, $8; heavy ribbed wool sweaters in silk and wool sweaters, $2 j sweaters in silk and wool, $8 ( cap, $31 belts from 75 cents to $2.50 ; knee protectors, $3. 50 t gloves $1.50 ( suede leggings, $5 ( cloth leggings, $2 1 boots $6 ; low shoes, $350 ) tights, $4.50 j cor sets, from $3.50 to $6, and this does not mention the wheel. A Squire Bent to Jail, John McOwen, a Justice of the Peace in Kingston township,, was tak en into court on Friday morning on an attachment. McOwen was sub poenaed to be in court on a case to be heard on Thursday, and when he was subpoenaed he told the server of the subpoena that he would not come unless he was paid $2.50. Upon being brought before Judge Lynch he was asked if he had any reason to offer for not appealing, and said that he want ed his pay before he came to court and thought he did not have to come till he got it. Judge Lynch then said: "You are a magistrate and ought to at least comply with the law yourself. The sentence of the court is that you pay a fine of $25." McOwen said he would not pay. He will have to stay in jail for three months if he persists in his refusal. Tried ti Dig Oat of Jail. An attempted escape of three prisoners at the county jail at New Castle was discovered and frustrated, last week. The men who made the attempt were Samuel Gurley, serving a five years' sentence for manslaughter; John Dougherty, under sentence of imprisonment for life for murder in the second degree, and James Devine, in for three years for assault. The men had made a hole in the jail wall, working from cell No. 16, when Wardens Lindsey and Fostet were attracted by the noise of their operations. They summoned assist ance and rushed into the cell. The men showed fight at first, but were soon subdued and placed in irons. The prisoners were working with two small knives, a plane bit and a wooden mallet, but it is not known how they obtained these implements. asy to Take . asy to Operate Arc features peculiar to Ilood's Pills. Small In size, tasteless, efficient, thorough. As one man odT said: "You never know you have taken a pill till it la all ! I I over." 25c. C. I. Hood & Co., III S Proprietors, Lowell, Muss. " J The only pills to take with Ilood's Barsaparilla, Sells M tail That's tho question. It Is not the man wuo Is scouring the country around to rind some old toot liles.s cows that have done Rood service tor their owners, but beluga Unleaded now, they And It, Is cheaper to sell them than to have them die upon their hands. The beef you know must be touirh. It can be bouxht low, but what you save then you will need to pay dentlHt bills later on. We buy nothing but Heavy Steer Beef. This Is raised upon corn, and killed when the meat Is good und tender. We have the Bnest class of trade In lUoomshurg. Our customers aro pleased with the meat we sell. LOUIS LYONS. Mail St., BLOOMSBUEG. SB AC iC AG tr; US 8S Feet I wet again r ) You'll die some d.iv. V.efnrp j long, too, if you don't take care j of those fect. Some of ,negi newest, most desirable tliines I in wet weather shoes nre here. 0' ; Bloomsburg Store Co., Ltd. 8 on- 0; wmwmmmmti The Leading Consarralory of Amorlca ' o Carl Fablten, Direciur. Vr)l.T0l FouadediolDWb TCmn iTONi - r una 1 Send for Prospectus giving full information. Frank W. Hale, Central Manager. i Tf L because of a I 1 he LOUgil run down con- I which Lingers f I not affected by ordinary cough g S medicines, will yield readily to $ lwimse it fives strength to the PWWM-wpw 7- ' . 4 weakened boav ana enaoies n 10 throw off the joe. and $1.00. All Druggists A6K FOR TIIC &BKLET ONIIGHFAND Barn GIVES BEST UGHT IN THE ALEXANDER BROTHERS & CO. DEALERS IN Cigars, Tolacco. Candies, Fruits and Nuts SOLE AGENTS FOR Henry Ma il lard's Fine Caudics. Fresh Every Week. I3t7iN-2 Goods .flu Specialty, SOLE AGENTS FOR F. F. Adams & Co's Fine Sole agents for the Haary Clay, Loadres, Normal, Iadian Princess, Samson, Silver As Bloomsburg Pa. SHOES I Our Spring Styles of Shoes are pearly all in. 25 years experience in shoe buying puts us in the Iront rank ol shoe dealers. Comfort, stylcand durability are combined in our shoes "Thrift is a Good Saving Results from Cleanli ness and B. F. Sharpless, Pres. B LOO LAND IHPBOYEMBHT CQMFAHY. Capital Stock, $30,000. Plotted property is in the town. It includes also part of CHOICE LOTS are offered 111 a short time. No such opportunity can be Lots secured on SMALL Maps of the town and of plotted property furnished on ap plication. r Call upon or write to the Secretary, or J. 8. Woods, Sales Agent, or any member of the Board of Directors. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. tt T B' F SiiAKPLEeHj J. L Dillon. ttLW A G' BrigG3 Dr- l- W Willits, Dr. H. v. McReynolps, N. L). Funk. 11-19- ood Wodc. For the finest and best stoves, tinware, roofine, spoutinc and general job work, go to W. W. Watts, on Iron street Lmldings heated by steam, hot air or hot water in a satisfac tory manner. Sanitary Plumbing a specialty. I have the exclusive control of the Thatcher steam hot water and hot air heaters for this territory, which" is' acknowl edged to be the best heater on the market. All work guaran- I RON STREET. U 1 f 1 L 1 - disease V s WoftLD AEiyrECAFE Cut Chewing Tobacco following brands of Cigars- W. H. Hoore. Revenue." Great 4 fHTTrw N. U. Funk, Sec. C. II. Campbell, Treas M SB U R the factory district, and La3 no at values that will be doubled bad elsewhere to make money MONTHLY PA YMPvtsl W. W. WATTS, liloonisburg; Pa. llW.'-ly Popular Magazines .1 rnn Ttir uniir kj rua ini; nuiACi m FRANK LESLIE'S OPULAR MONTHLY Contain, nch Month I Original Water Color Prontlnpleco 1 2S Quarto Panel ol Heading Matter) IOO New and High. data llltMtra tlon Mora Literary Matter and lllu.tra tlona than any other Magarlna in America. 23 cti. I J Vear. Frank Leslie's Pleasant Hours FOR D0Y3 AND CIRLS. A IMulit, 'W'holmomo, JtiTftille Monthly. Tuilv tlluKtrnterf. Tho bent writer, for young poopl oontrlbuH to It. 10 cti. : ft a year. SEAS ALL SUBSCRIFTIOnS TO ; THE COLUMBIAN, Bloomsburg, Pa. I CM'I KATKS. ' The C'Ot. I'M HI AN and Frnnk Leslie's I'mmlnr Monthly ono yonr for far(, or I lm pnprr ami I'lramitt Ilimrt for Uoya I prd t.hlH, nr ti. ( Undoubtedly the Best Club Offers flMir! fo Frank Uitle'i PublhMna Woum, N.T, c.ir JVu lUtutrated ITemiom LUt. rut. THE MARKETS. BLOOMSBURG MARKETS. OOEBICTID WI1ILT. RITAIL PRI0B8. Butter per lb $ ,24 Eggs per dozen .14 Lard per lb .10 Ham per pound Pork, whole, per pound .06 Beef, quarter, per pound .... .07 Wheat per bushel .80 Oats " 23 Rye " " ...1 50 Wheat flour per bbl 4 20 Hay per ton 13 to $14 Potatoes per bushel .30 Turnips " " 2s Onions " " .50 Sweet potatoes per peck 25 to .30 Tallow per lb A Shoulder " n Side meat ' " 07 Vinegar, per qt 07 Dried apples per lb .05 Dried cherries, pitted .10 Raspberries .12 Cow Hides per lb .3$ Steer " 05 CalfSkin 80 Sheep pelts .75 Shelled com per bus ........ .50 Corn meal, cwt a.oo Bran, " i,0o Chop " 1.00 Middlings " 1 00 Chickens per lb new .12 " "old 10 Turkeys " ,2t Geese " " VIO Ducks " 0s COAL. No. 6, delivered 2.40 "4andS 3.50 " 6 at yard 2.25 " 4 and s at yard 3.25 E. A. RAWLINGS. PKALER IN All Kinds of Meat. Beef, Veal, Lamb, Mutton, Pork, Hams, Bacon, Tongues, Bclogna, &c. Free Delivery to all parts of the town. CENTRE STREET, BLOOMSBURC, PA. ftaTTelephone connection. PATENTS Patnmatho.(1.'rratle.M"rk8 obtained, and ay, FKES bU8lue88 conducted for MODKKATJI KVp",lP.,..KI2l.OPJ,08ITETnB u- T. bus n..KriiVV., i8 have no "b-aKencl08, all n Sun ?J til' hBn.ce ?t transact, patent bust mote from S usalng-ton. tinnn1w10,!!l?ra,y.ln,f or Phot. with desorlp 1 , l! " I""enrble or not, f roe of j V?ni, V.Vf rt?e not due till pattmtels secured enonJ ,. j ?wt obtain I'aioutH." wltl1 'r C. A. KNOW & CO,, Washington, D. CI (Opposite U. 8 latent onice.) Bring the Babies. INSTANTANEOUS PROCESS USED. Strictly first-class guaranteed photographs, cinyons nnrl co) nt reasonable prices. We use exclusively the C0II0M011 ArKtntvpe pa pers, thus securing j;i eater I eautv of fmUh and 1 ermanency of results. CAl'WKI.I., MARKET SQUARE GULERY. I I-22-iy. Over Hart innn's Slore. p GET YOUR JOB PRINTING DONE AT THE COLUMBIAN OFFICE
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