The Bismarck tribune., 1924-09-26
COOLIDGE SEES
OWNERSHIP OF
RAILS BURDEN
Continued from page one J

l1oIl PaSC ohC'J
can it be hoped that it will be always
wisely administered. While it pro-
vides some defense against wrong
doing, it's restrictions often hamper
development and progress, retard en-
terprise and when they fail to pro-
duce the perfection promised, tend to
bring the government into discredit.
The real fact is that in republic
like ours the people are government
and if they cannot secure perfection
in their own economic life it is alto
gether improbable that the govern
ment can secure it for them. The
same human nature which presided
over private enterprise must be en-
ployed for public action.
Some Are Success
"No doubt there are certain muni-
cipalities where some public utilities
have been managed through public
ownership with creditable success.
But this is very different from Il
proposal that the national govern
ment should take over railroads and
other public utilities. What strain
this would be to our economic sys-
tenn will be realized when it is re-
membered that public commissions
set the value of such utilities at
about $35, 200, ,OOO, 900 and that they
have about 2,75O,O00 employees. Such
an undertaking would mean about
1850, 100000 annually in bond inter-
est and an operating budget estimat-
ed at about $9,OOO,OOO,0 900. These uti-
lities are no longer in the hands of a
few, directly or indirectly. They are
owned by scores Of millions Of our
inhabitants. lit would mean loss in
public revenue estimated at 5000, ,OO0,-
600 year and while in industrial
states it might not increase the tax
on the farmer more than three or
four per cent, in many agricultural
counties it would run as high as
forty per cent. When we re-
call the appalling loss and the
difficulty in the management
of $500, 100000 worth Of ships, we
should undoubtedly hesitate about
taking on ten times that value in
public utilities. But there is no oc-
casion to discuss the details Of pub
lie ownership.
"The government of the United
States is devise for maintaining in
perpetuity the rights of the people
with the ultimate extinction of all
privileged classes. 1t is Constitu-
tion which is the product Of human
experience with all its toll and suf-
fering, it's hoodshed and devasta-
tion, it's oppression and tyranny, but
likewise with all it's wisdom, it's love
Of liberty and it's determination to
follow the truth. The first Contin-
entail Congress met to redress griev-
ances which were the result Of gov
ernment action. The Revolution was
fought to resist those same griev-
ances. And finally, the Constitution
was adopted to prevent similar I'M
positions from ever again being in
flicted upon the people.
"They are all in that precious do
cument, these priceless guarantees.
The people do not propose again to
entrust their government to others,
but to retain it under their own con-
troll. No one can tax them or even
propose a tax upon them save them
selves and their own representatives.
Instead of encroaching upon local
assemblies, it guarantees each state
Republican form of government. 1t
regulates suspension of the writ of
habeas corpus. It protects the home
FROM the unlimited intrusion of the
military force of the government. 1t
guards the right Of jury trial and
undertakes to make judicial officers