Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-07-01

The text of the Presidents ADDRESS
last night before the Governments
Business Organization meeting fol-
| lows:
| This is the seventh regular meet
ing of the Business Organization of
the Government. The first OF these
| meetings was held three years ago
This marks the close of three years
OF action under the budget system.
At the first meeting was commenced
| an intensive campaign in behalf Of
| the people who pay the taxes in our
| country. The foes of that campaign
were extravaganza and inefffciency in
| the public service. For three years
we have waged this intensive cam
pafgn. 1t has been a united effort,
and united effort never fails of ac-
complishment. The people of this ma
tion are beginning to win.
In that short space of time we
have accomplished the unbelievable
Unco-ordinated procedures of official
action have been co-ordinated. De-
partmental interests have been made
subservient to the common interests
of the government as a whole. The
business of government has been es-
tablished on an efficient basis. You
have done this. and for doing it you
are entitled to the thanks of the
| American people. This has been and
is their fight.
We are often told that We are a
| rich country, and we are. We are
often reminded that we are in the
! best financial condition of any of the
great powers, and we are. But we
must remember that we also have a
| broader scale of existence and a
| higher standard of living. We have
BILE organization of society. When
more is given more is required. A
| tropical state Of savagery almost
maintains itself. American civiliza-
| ton is the product of constant and
mighty effort.
lone of the greatest perils to an
extensive republic is the disregard
| of individual rights. In our own
| country such rights do not appear to
| be in mediate danger from direct
| attack, but they are always in jeop-
| ardy through indirect action.
"One of the rights which the free
| man has always guarded with most
| jealous care is that of enjoying the
rewards of his own industry. Realiz-
| ing that the power to tax is the power
to destroy. and that the power to
| take certain amount of property or
| of income is only another way of
saying that for a certain portion Of
| his time a citizen must work for the
government. the authority to impose
tax on the people has been ,, most
tuition requires thAt revenue bills
should originate in the House, be-
| cause that body is supposed to be
| more representative of the people.
| These precautions have been taken
because of the full realization that
| apv opnre sSiOp laid unOn the neODle
by excessive taxation, any disregard OF
| their right TO hold and enjoy the
property which they have rightfully
acquired, would be fatal to freedom.
A government which lays taxes on
| the people not required by urgent
| public necessity and sound pubic
| policy is not a protector of liberty.
| but an instrument of tyranny. 1t
condemns the citizen to servitude.
| Security for Property.
| "One of the first signs of the
| breaking down of free government
is a disregard by the taxing power
| of the right of the people to their
| ference whether such a condition is
| brought about through the will of q
| dictator, through the power of mil
| itary force or through the pressure
of an organized minority. The re.
| suit is the same. Unless the people
| can enjoy that reasonable security
| in the possession of their property,
| which is guaranteed by the Consti-
! tuition. against unreasonaole TAXA
| ton. 1reeoom is at an cru.
! hampered. in his ability to secure
| food and clothing and shelter. His
wages are decreased MS hours Vi
iaoor are lens'neneo. ,a,, :,
| Asalnst the leeu ing ...ar-oa,
TINS ulres,lo, 1 t, rs, aSs' .n infnrmed
the constant eHort OF an aollneu
eiectora.s ana OF patlio'is puol.o
ants. Ine mporeance on ~
reItefation OF THESE prnhciplss 1870 D1
overestlmateo. Ihey can,io' NC uen'eu'
An i, mus. no. os $3.50 racass;tv for
those who are CHARGED with the re-
spousibiIity of government administra-
| ton to realize that the people OF our
country cannoe manu-. a. .,1a o" aaa ms
the lower standards OF the rest Of the
world, unless we are free from ex-
cessive taxes. With us economy is I'M
perative. 1t is a full test OF OUT ma
tional character. Bound up in 1t is the
ees Of a nHt Of S1t q ali
people. 1t is pre-eminently the source
Of popular rights. It is always the peo-
pie Who toll that pay. 1t seems to me,
ToT thy Which Of our eRs shs ne rsa
Importance to this meeting.
II would not be misunderstood.
am not advocating parsimony. l want
to be liberal. Public service is en-
titled to a suitable reward. But there
is a distinct limit to the amount OF
public service we can proftaely employ.
We require national defense, but It
must be limited We need public i'm
proyements, but they must be gradual.
We have to make some capital invest
n,ents, but they must be certain to
give fair returns. Every dollar ex-
1andad yn,,st he made in the light Of
~ -.&;,nnl rasournos and all our