The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-09-26
COOLIDGE SEES
OWNERSHIP OF
RAILS BURDEN
Says That it Would Cause q
Tax Increase on Farmers
Up to 40 Per Cent
is AN ENCOURAGEMENT
UnecOnOmic and Not Consist
ent with Nations Prin-
ciples, He Declares


roads and other public utilities were
denounced here last night by Presi-
dent Coolidge as "uneconomic" and
"encroachments upon our rights"
Speaking at exercises commemorate
ing the 18th, anniversary of the
meeting of the First Continental
Congress, Mr.. Coolidge also renewed
his assault on suggestions to limit
the power of the Supreme Court and
urge that the people resist encroach-
ment upon their rights and liberties
guaranteed by the Constitution.
IF We wish to maintain what our
fathers here established" he declar-
ed, 1--WE shall do we'll to leave the
people in the ownership of their pro-
perty, in control of their government
and under the protection Of their
courts"
It is difficult, the President said,
referring to government ownership
of railroads, "to reconcile the Ameri-
can ideal Of a sovereign people cap
able of owning and managing their
own government with an ability to
own and manage their own business"
Furthermore, he declared, it would
mean q loss in public revenue esti-
mated at $6OO,OOO,OOO year with a
resultant increase in the tax on
farmers of from THREE TO FORTY
per cent.
Early History
Mr.. Coolidge devoted most of his
IN Il Of
tory of this country and the birth of
the Constitution after the organiza-
ton of the First Continental Con-
gress.
Referring to the deliberations of
this Congress, the President assert
ed that, "if We could better under
stand what they said and did to es-
tablish our free institutions, we
should be less likely to be misled by
the Misrepresentation and distorted
arguments of the hour and be far
better equipped to maintain them"
He drew lesson from the declar-
ations of Congress as showing the
"superiority of moderation and cam
dor over violence and deceit in seek
ing solution of difficult public
questions"
The Constitution, Mr.. Coolidge
pointed out, is device for maintain
ing in perpetuity the rights Of the
people, with the ultimate extinction
of all privileged classes"
~ have mentioned the desirabili-
ty," he continued, "for the people to
Mt
and their own property because l be-
lieve that is one of the American
ideals of public welfare in harmony
with the efforts of the first Contin-
entail Congress. They object to small
infractions, which would destroy
great principles of liberty. Unless
we can maintain the integrity Of the
courts where the individual can Sc
cure his rights, any kind of tyranny
may follow. If the people lose con-
troll of the arteries of trade and the
natural sources of mechanical pow
er, the naturalization of all indus
try could soon be expected. Our
forefathers were alert to resist all
encroachments upon their rights. If
we wish to maintain our rights we
can do no less. Through the break
ing down of the power of the courts
lies an easy way to the confiscation
of the property and the destruction
of the liberty Of the individual. With
railways and electrical utilities un-
der political control the domination
of a group would be so firmly in
trenched in the whole direction of
our government that the privilege of
citizenship for the rest Of the peo-
pie would consist largely in the pay
ment of taxes. The fathers sought
to escape from any such condition,
through the guarantees of our Con-
stitution. They put their faith in
free republic. If we wish to main
tain what they established, we shall
do we'll to leave the people in the
ownership Of tl),ir property, in con-
troll of their government and under
the protection of their courts. BY
resolute determination to resist all
these encroachments we can best
show our reverence and appreciation
for the men and the work of the first
Continental Congress-"
First Congress Aim
Declaring it significant that the
First Congress RESULTED from the
voluntary effort on the part Of the
people to redress their own griev-
ances and remedy their own wrongs"
Mr.. Coolidge warned that 1--WE pay
too little attention to the reserve
power of the people to take care of
themselves; we are too solicitous for
government intervention"
"Everyone konws," he added, "that
our economic problems are very far
from being solved, but we are making
constant progress, both in the field
Of production and distribution. When
certain abuses arose, we adopted a
policy Of government regulation and
control. have no doubt that some
action Of that kind was necessary
and Of course such policy would be
continued. But it has not been nor
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