Milford chronicle., 1958-07-04
INDEPENDENCE DAY. 1958

The adoption of a resolution authored
by five members of the Continental Congress,
July 4th, 1776, is one of the great days of
democratic civilization and history.
The resolution was authOred by Thomas
Jefferson, chairman, John Adams, Benjamin
Franklin, Roger Sherman and Roger Living
stoD. Adoption of the resolution dissolving
ties between England and the American col
onies, required courage and faith.
General Washington. in general orders to
his troops, reminded them "The general
hopes that this important event will serve
as fresh incentive to every officer and sol
dier -. the peace. and safety of his country
depends, under God, solely on the success OF
our arms ~"
Most Americans know of the long, bitter
struggle which ensued. Independence and
freedom were not easily won. Many paid
with their lives. Ever since, this freedom,
our independence, has been jealously guard
ed and defended. On July 1th We think of it
anew and weigh its value.
In 1858 we face the challenge of Com
munism, military and economic. In prin-
ciple, the test we face has not changed.
Once again America must rise to the chal-
lenge and meet the issue. 1t is a SOLDERING
thought as we look back on July 4th, 1776.
We cannot afford to fail.
FREEDOM TO ADVERTISE
ling freedoms was chalked up last month
when the Bureau of Internal Revenue took
action to try to gag private industry from
using advertising to fight government COM
petition Thus begins long editorial in
The American Press, a monthly magazine
which speaks for tire weekly newspapers of
this country. !.
The ruling in question was that advertis-
ing placed by electric utility companies, and
presenting their side of the public-vs-private
power controversy, could no longer be de-
Quoted as business expense for income tax
purposes. Needless to say, all the proponents
of socialized power greeted this act with
shouts of Joy
The American Press also says: 'We can't
think of a more American way for BUSINESS
to battle for its right than to take its case
to the people by the use of advertising space.
Surely this is more to be desired than secret,
behind-closed-doo lobbying, which seems to
be the alternative.
"It is our hope that the electric compan-
les will not only fight this ruling in the tax
courts but will go step further and use
part of their advertising space to acquaint
the people with this attempt Of the govern
ment to gag them.
rFreedom to advertise is an important
part of freedom of the press, and should be
guarded with equal care. 1t is, in many
cases, the one vehicle through which sbusi-
This goes far beyond the fight over who
is to produce this country's electricity. If a
tax penalty can be used to prevent any man,
any industry or any group from stating his
side of a case, one Of the most essential of
the freedoms supposedly guaranteed by the
Constitution is on its deathbed. And govern
ment bureaus, tax weapon at the ready will
decide what can or cannot be said in the ad-
vertising pages of our newspapers and mag
azineS
OUTDATED HANDICAPS
Because of a monopoly situation that ex-
listed half a century ago, regulatory bodies
still restrict the railroads to such point
that there is little left but the picked bones.
Concerned with this over-regulation,
Senator George A. Smathers, chairman of
the Surface. Transportation Subcommittee
calls for realistic assistance for the rail-
roads," The railroads, he says, are no long
er transportation monopoly, and the "hob-
bling restrictions" placed on them in day
when they were dominant must be loosened.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
prescribes their rates. Presidential fact
finding boards prescribe their wages. Pub
lie service commissions in the states pre-
scribe their services And one of these, SEN
ator Smathers points out, "has any tie-in with
the others none has any managerial re-
sponsibility to the railroads."
Senator Smathers also urges repeal of
the World War X excise taxes on transpor-
tation of goods and people. This move, in
his view, . is not matter of tax revis-
ion but Of removing an unfair milestone from
the necks of common carriers"
Finally, the economic stimulsdon that
would Immediately follow the removal of the
obsolete hobbies on the railroads and the
repeal of tax milstones would be felt in
every line of enterprise and every commun-
ity.