Milford chronicle., 1952-05-02
WHERE'S ME CONSTITUTION?

Many people are wondering what's hap
pened to our Constitution, especially the
Fifth Amendment. Seizure of private proper
ty by government without due process of
law and without just compensation" grows
steadily. For years Realtors throughout the
Nation have fought rent control by the fed
eral government because it seized without
just compensation" II million rental units,
determined who should occupy them and the
Sub-ecOnOmic rents to be paid. Many who
were luke-warm in their attitude towards
their battle are now aroused because they see
it can happen to the big fellow, as we'll as
the little fellow
Proposals were made last year through
amendments to the Defense Production Act
to authorize the President to take over real
property which he deemed necessary in the
interest Of national defense "nothwithstand-
ing any other law" Authority was also in
cluded to take property and to build indus
trial facilities and operate them. This reach
for dlCtatOrial power was defeated, and more
moderate provisions which proceeded within
law were adopted. This, too, was a part of
the realtors battle 1t should be remember
ed that for nearly two years the railroads
have been operating under government con-
troll. The President took over" the railroads
on August q, 1850, at p. m.
Step by step our government seeks to
follow the pattern of state controls establish
ed by the labor party in England Only the
reasons given are different. Over there the
plea was that everyone should be cut down
to the same level. With us national defense
or military reasons are advanced. 1t should
be clear by this time that government man.
agement produces less, not more. Our multi
billion dollar gifts to other nations should
prove that wealth and well-being come from
free economy.
Real estate dealers have seen the dangers
of big government and the abandonment of
Constitutional projections for years and have
sought to arouse the nation on the issues in
vOlved. The Constitution was written in an
emergency and sought to protect the people
against dictatOrial emergency action by the
federal government. Our only sure safeguard
is to demand of Congress and of our federal
government that the Constitution be obeyed
In its plain language, and that no weasel laws
or executive acts shall be permitted to dis
tort and destroy its meaning.
NSONS
GOOD NEWS FROM WASHINGTON
The House Appropriations Committee
has made some substantial cuts in the Inter-
lOr Departments budget for the coming
fiscal year. Restrictions have been put on
power line building, especially where the
projects would compete with and duplicate
existing facilities of the electric industry.
The policy of mo new starts" has been fol-
lowed. Construction funds have been de-
MED or reduced for the Southeastern Power
Administration, the Southwestern Power
Administration, and the Bonneville Power
Administration. 1t is expected that the
House will approve, without change, the
recommendations of the Committee.
There should be rejoicing in every Sec
ton OF the nation over this trend 1t will
save at least some of the taxpayers money
which would have been fagrantly wasted on
unnecessary and unecOnOmic tax-exempt
power facilities had Interior had it's way. 1t
will also save huge amounts of labor and
critical materials which are needed for es-
Sentlal defense production. And equally
important, it will to an extent block the
drive to sOclalize, on a steady, piece-meal
oasis, the electric power resources of the
nation.
1t should be obvious to everyone that the
House Committee did not refuse funds for
projects the country really needs. The heav-
ily-taxed, business-managed utilities will
supply us with all the power we can use in
the future, just as they have in the past.
They will cooperate with the government
plants In distributing power on terms which
are fixed by regulatory commissions. and
which are fair and favorable to all concern
ed. The Committee has taken step in the
right direction.
&>&S&&
NOT BY BREAD ALONE
A recent survey by the National AssO-
citation of Manufacturers revealed that an
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