New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-13

for an expression of opinion concern
ing it, he said:
II would not dare"
Throughout the reading of the mes
sage the face of the British Amhas-
sador, Sir Auckland Geddes, remained
immobie and passive. The storm which
greeted the announcement that the
league never would be adopted left him
as impressive and facially calm as be-
fore. Clever diplomat that he is. he
never betrayed by the slightest express
sion any of the feeling he felt in re-
gard to the contents of the message.
Calls Expenditures Unbcarable
The President made a very earnest
plea for relentless pruning Of govern
ment expenditures, admitting that this
is difficult. but declaring it to be i'm
peiative. The current expenditures are
approximately $4,000 900. 900 year.
which, he asserted, were "unbearable."
A thoroughgoing revision of taxes, he
said, is requisite to revival Of business
activity.
There was mild surprise when the
President declared that it made little
difference whether tax revision or tariff
legislation came FIRST. as feeling on
this has been very strong on Capitol
Hill. Enthusiastic applause greeted
the Presidents fat declaration in favor
| OF more protection for American prod
ucts by tariff
Considerable interest was also at
/ tached to the Presidents statements
with regard to business particularly
his comment that while prices to pro-
ducers had been debated. consumers
were still paying high retail prices
-,c1, }i
dent did not hesitate to use the word
warning" with regard to those respon-
sible, although he had just reiterated
his belief in "more business in govern
ment and less government in busness."
In this connection he also suggested
a Congres sonal inquiry on profiteer-
ing.
Must Reduce Rail Costs
The President set his face strongly
against anything resembling a subsidy
to the railroads, despite the fact that
he declared railroad rates must be re-
duced This must be accomplished he
said, by reducing the cost of operation.
He made no mention of railroad wages,
which consume more than SO per cent
of the total railroad revenues.
The President emphasized what he
had previously told visitors with re-
gard to Federal aid to good roads
that the government should not spend
q dollar on roads until the states had
made ample provision for maintaining
the roads after they are built.
His declaration on the merchant
marine was frankly directed at foreign
competitors more than at Congress.
at is not necessary to say it to
Congress- Mr.. Harding said, "but
have thought this to be BETTING &C.
casion to give notice that the United
States means to establish and main
tain & great merchant marine"
More than a hint that the navigation
laws which have fettered American
shipping for so many years must be
modified was seen in this portion of
the Presidents message. "American
bottoms" the President told Congress,
must carry American trade to every
part of the world.r
Cheap radio and cable rates, espe-
ciallv for news dispatches, were urged
by the President, with a view to pro-
viding more intimate contact between
the nations and thereby creating
better understanding.
On the subject of aviation the
President insisted that both the army
their own air services. Federal regu-
lation of air navigation by a bureau
of aeronautics in the Department of
Commerce was recommended.
One Agency to Care for Veterans
The President told of the report Of
the Dawes committee on caring for
war veterans and urged that this re-
port be translated into action by the
setting UP of centralized agency to
see that the veterans are cared for.
A department Of public welfare, SO
much discussed during the campaign,
was urged, and the President also asked
speedy action on the maternity bill,
which failed at the last Congress-
Congress, Mr.. Harding said, "ought
to wipe out the stain of barbaric lynch
ing from the banners of the free and
orderly representative democracy"
On the navy the President urged
continuance of the 1916 building pro-
gram, saying that there can be no
threat of war in this policy, begun in
time of peace. He suggested a "rea-
sonable" limitation of the number of
men.
Advocates of universal military
training were pleased with his state
ment that with the further reduction
of the standing army "a system of
voluntary military training may offer
to our vow manhood the advantages
of physicc, development, discipline and
commitment to service"
The President began reading his
message promptly at l o'clock and had
minutes
Among his auditors were Mrs. Har-
ding, Mrs. Coolidge and other members
| Of the families 0f tho Prpc;dort opd