Evening star., 1923-11-13
COOLIDGE SUPPORTS
TAX CUT PROPOSAL
Stands SquareIy Behind Mel
Ions PIan-May Be
1924 Issue.
~ DAVID LAWRENCE.

President Coolidge stands squarely
behind Secretary of the Treasury Mel
| Ion in his proposal that the American
people as whole be given, through
, reduced taxes, the benefit Of econ
| ornies practiced by the government.
Mr.. Coolidge's whole philosophy is
! thrift. Talks he has had with public
| officials in the last two months have
| dicated that he cares far more abo-
the way the dollars are spent than
any other phase Of present day prob
! lens.
| without intending it, incidentally,
Mr.. Mellon has stirred up the big
| gest political upheaval since Mr.
| Coolidge took the oath of office. Po-
| litical Washington woke up today to
| find that kilograms from all parts Of
| the country were pouring In COM
me nding Mr.. Mellon for having pro-
posed tax revision. Although opin-
! ions may differ as to just what the
| method Of revision will be. the gen.
eral idea Of revising the revenue
laws seems to have struck a popular
| chord-at least. that's the first i'm
preston.
Now more than ever before are the
officials of the administration anxious
to hear from the country. They want
I to know whether a bonus for the
| able bodied ex-service men is desired.
The administration Is paying out half q
| billion dollars annually for the dis
| without limit to their care and sup
port.
Expects No Debt Payment.
| Some members OF Congress think
taxes could be reduced and a bonus
also undertaken for the abIe-bodied
There would be no doubt about this,
| OF course, II France, Italy and the
other European powers who owe
! America vast sums would only begin
paying interest on the war debt. MIR
Mellon is of the opinion that If the
country wants bonus for the able
bodied there must be an increase in
stead of decrease in taxation-and he
Isn't expecting any money from the
European debtors.
Practically, Mr.. Melons sugges-
other issues, including the world court
! and the participation of the United
States in European affairs. Taxes
present an issue that can be thor
| voters. for Mr.. Mellon has offered a
concrete saving to the seven million
persons and corporations who have
handed IN tax returns in previous
years.
Much will depend. Of course. on
| what procedure is adopted in Con-
gresS. 1t the tax bill should get
| right OF way, it's passage would have
an important effect on bonus legis-
| lation later on. Reports lately from
American Legion quarters have: been
| to the effect that the legion would
! concentrate, Its attention frst on the
revision OF the present laws relating
Rrasn 11 the manngemsnt OF the Veterans
| q senatorial committee now is in
progress.
Congress as a rule makes its own
rule rules Of priority and until the mem
, the probabilities In the situation will
not become clear.
Time f. Onportu.e.
Mr.. Mellon selected the present as
| an opportune moment to project his
ideas before the American people be-
cause members Of Congress are all
| back home" getting in touch with
their constituencies. They will have
! an opportunity to Judge at hrst hand
| what the people think Of the pub
lished proposals, Mr.. Coolidge " ould
like to see the Mellon plan taken up
and acted upon, subject, OF course. to
| table when Congress begins debating
| q revenue measure. In his message
to Congress the President in De-
! cember will have an opportunity to
indicate the general principles Of tax
revision. His predecessor. Mr.. Hard
ing. was very much impressed with
| the benefits that might te derived
and leaned toward tax revision. hut
hesitated because of the political dis
advantages of trying to revise the
| the radicals hold the balance of pow
er. 1t all depends therefore on the
| will of the country. If the politicians
sense an opinion favorable to the
Mellon idea they will go at tax re-
vision at once. The next two weeks
may cast the die for the next cam
paign by furnishing the paramount
| Issue.