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Show THE CITIZEN there should be so much trouble in getting coal to the people during strike difficulties between labor and capital. Dr. Edward T. Devine, member ,of the coal commission appointed by the late President Harding to investigate the anthracite coal problems in Pennsylvania, is a visitor in this city, and he says that there should be government supervision of the coal mines, just as there is of the banks, telephones, water companies and railroads. The trouble is at the present time that we have too much government supervision of business when we should not have any. If big business needs government supervision, why not all business? The trouble is that just as soon as a business develops into a national force involving millions of dollars, the politicians can always see where such business ought to be placed under political supervision to create many good jobs. As has been said before in these columns, the government is beginning to support the people and pretty soon there will be no people left to support the government. If the United States owns so much coal land and developed propertieis it would be very easy to supply public demand from these properties during any strike ,and you may depend upon it that just as soon as Uncle Sam began to produce commercial coal from his own coal mines, the strikes would be called off in a - hurry. Since the world war we have had many investigating commissions at a great expenditure of money, but the general public learns little if anything about their findings. Heretofore these commissions have always tended to boost prices instead of lowering them. It is said that during the past ten years about a million laws have been enacted, nad.many of these new laws have provided ' for commissions, etc., creating many jobs for favored politicians. The job process has bee nspeeding up of late years, but the general public paid little attention to the legislation, until now the people find themselves heavily taxed for the support of this unjust legislation. There is no reason in the world why city, county, state or national government cannot be placed upon a business basis. We know that a great many people will have 'to get out and look for jobs, but we ask, Why should the government support the people? There is no incentive for anyone to own property at the present rate of taxation, and the people are looking fonr some one that can solve the present problem. Government expense must be cut somewhere, even if some of the soft jobs have to be done away with. The general burden of national, state and local taxation has increased 134 per cent more than doubled since 1912. Farm taxes bonds have not have increased 126 per cent since 1914. paid one cent of this increased taxation. bonds increases every year. The The amount of taxation mortgage grows bigger eveTry year. If future issues of bonds are made subject to income taxes, S FREEDOM OF PRESS. A decision recently rendered by the uspreme court of New York will have a far reaching infiuence upon the freedom of the press. The Buffalo Evening News published matter which the counsel of that city alleged annoyed and harrassed certain officials. The city counsel moved for an order directing editors of the paper to appear and answer regarding articles concerning certain conditions of the city. Justice Marcus refused the writ, saying: I am strongly impressed with the view that it would be unwise to heckle and annoy the press. If every article subjected them to an examination that would harrass and annoy them, whenever the subject matter was unpleasant by way of criticism of officials, the public would lose much, even recognizing the license oftentimes used. The press is not to be denied the right of criticising public officials. A community can have no better security than a newspaper which watches the acts of public officers and holds them strictly accountable for all they do. The newspapers guard our liberties and protect our pocket-book- s. The public owes them a great deal and the courts, interpreting the constitution, do well to recognize this fact. COOLIDGE EPIGRAMS. Calvin Coolidge, who once remarked that Silence and discretion comprised the duties of a has followed his own precept to the letter. Sparing of speech, he is noted for the pithiness of his expressions. Some of his best known epigrams follow : Don't hesitate to be as revoluntary as science, nor as reactionary as the multiplication table. Government does not rest on the opinions of men. Its results rest on their actions. Men do not make laws; they do but discover them. We must eternally smite the rock of public conscience if the waters of patriotism are to pour forth. There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, any time. Sovereignty, it is our belief, is vested in the individual and we arc going to protect the rights of the individual. Industry cannot flourish if labor languish. means Washington Post. vicc-presiden- !t, i Self-governm- ent self-suppo- rt. Tax-exem- pt tax-exem- pt 'the debt can be reduced and the taxes made lighter. P It is up to American taxpayers and consumers to decide whether they will permit a bad condition to grow worc or insist that a change be made for the better by taxing bonds now exempt. There are said to be thirty United States firms engaged in Russian trade, with an expected annual turnover of $2,400,000. There is no reason why any American exporter should not seek a market in Russia, provided he is willing to take the risk involved. This country has not recognized Russia, and cannot undertake to protect our people in dealings with the Russians as it would in trade with other nations. But, as Secretary Hughes has pointed out on numerous occasions, our failure to recognize the soviet government does not mean that trade between the two countries is prohibited. REMEMBER. The secret of freedom, security, greatness and power of the United States. Individual love, honor and respect for ones country can never be secured where a people are too much hampered by legislative acts seeking to rgulate every phase of human activity initiative 7nd where the burdens of bureaucracy crush the spirit of and ambition which have been the life blood of America. In the haze of new theories 'tending to becloud the mind of our people, let us keep our eyes fastened upon the fundamental principles of our form of government which stand as a beacon light to guide us away from the shoals and quicksands which would submerge the individual in the sloughs of officialism and fed tape. The German governmental printing press is working overtime so issuing paper marks from the press. The mark has depreciated much in value that the smallest bills in face value are for 1,000 marks and the total circulation up to date is now 20,241.782,966,000, which sum is beyond all comprehension. Bills for less than 1,000 marks arc not worth the paper printed upon. There is also about 20.000,000,000 in circulation of aluminum coinage. : governments, whatever their name, are in reality of their governments by public opinion, and it is on the quality Russell Lowell. opinion that their prosperity depends. James All free |