Evening star., 1924-10-24

of the extraordinary results which
have been accomplished, there Is not
only a large amount of criticism, but
proposals to make at least two of the
most revolutionary changes.
Hits Public Ownership.
"It has always been the theory of
our institutions that the people
should own the Government and not
that the Government should own the
people. This policy cannot be main
tanned unless the people continue TO
own and control their own property.
The most important property or the
country is transportation and water
power. 1t is not only very large in
amount, but is of the greatest strate-
gic value. 1t could be used in such
a way as to assume virtual control or
all other business of any Importance
1t is proposed that these properties
should be brought under public
ownership.
Irresponsible public commissions
have valued thise at about S5b,ooo'-
000, 900. Such cost would more tnan
double all our public debts. Any
deficit in earnings would have to be
made up out Of taxes. We did that
during the war at cost of $1,b00,-
O00, ,O00 With the Government in pos
session of such a great engine, with
two and three-quarters millions or
employees, spending $9,000,O0O,e00 or
0,000, 100000 each year, holding Vlr-
tually the power of life and deatn,
what chance would the rest OF the
people of this country have? 1t would
appear to be perfectly obvious that if
these properties are taken off the tax
list by public ownership, the other
property of the nation must pay their
yearly tax of some $6O0,o00,O00. In the
thnly settled agricultural regions
this would make an increase OF 30
or 40 per cent on local taxation
They have government ownership
abroad. 1t takes % men in Germany to
move a ton of freight one mile, "a men
in Italy, 81 in Switzerland. In the
United States it takes only men. 1t
| is interesting to note also that reduced
to terms of bread and butter, railroad
employees in these countries show weekly
earnings of only about one-third of
those in this country.
Defends Supreme Court.
Another principle in which the
American people have always strong
ly believed, and which they have
stoutly maintained, is judicial as
against political determination of
causes. When our Constitution was
adopted it established the Supreme
Court of the United States to be the
very citadel of justice. Its members
are appointed for life in order that
they may be devoted entirely to the
| administration of justice according
to law, and as Independent and i'm
partial as it is possible for men to be.
One of their chief duties is to protect
the rights of the individual. Our
Government is anything but absolute.
1t is strictly limited. 1t has only
those powers which are conferred
upon it by the Constitution. That
Constitution distinctly declares that
the President and the Congress are
prohibited from doing certain things,
the central thought of which is that
no one shall be deprived of life, lib
erty or property without due process
of law. There is provision against
unlawful searches and seizures in
order that the people may be secure
in their persons, houses, papers and
effects. also against making any law
respecting an establishment of re-
| ligion or abridging the freedom of
! speech or of the press, and including