Evening star., 1923-12-10

tions Of capital losses; deductions
from gross income for interest paid
and business losses sustained
where income from tax-exempt Sc
curities is involved: and the manner
of taxing community incomes. These
changes would reduce taxes by more
than $500. 900, 900, which IL safely
within the probable surplus.
1t would not take much, however.
to exhaust this margin. and any
program of new expenditure on a
large scale would make tax reduc-
tion impossible for years to come.
know of nothing which will give
the people of this nation greater
assurance that We are unalterably
committed to a campaign Of econ
omy in public expenditure than a
reduction OF our present taxation.
1t will take from the realm of de-
bate plans which contemplate ex-
travagant expenditures or expan-
sions of the b1siness OF govern
ment beyond those necessary to
keep pace with a growing nation
and fix as the measure OF our re-
represent what is actually neces-
sary to carry on efficiently the
proper business and functions Of
government and meet our fixed
debt charges payable out Of cur
rent revenue. 1t would certainly
support of economical administra-
ton of government and frankly
state that euch an alignment Is
becoming every day more and
more necessary because of the in
fuence which it will have upon
subdivisions OF our body polite.
Attitude ON Bonus.
In stating that a reduction in
90 rnN f~y
cation not to embark upon an
extraordinary expenditure pro-
gram. [ am not unmindful of the
demand for adjusted compensa-
ton for soldiers of the world war,
which would include among its
benef1ciaries the ablebodied Of our
veterans as well as the dieab bled
I question If there is any sound
reason for such a measure. The
country Is prosperous. and re-
munerative employment is avail
able for the ablebodied veterans
as we'll as for other citizens For
the disabled veterans Of the war
and the dependents Of those who
fell the country cannot do too
much. It has already spent nearly
two billions of dollars and Is now
peEding nearly half a billion dol
lars yearly in their behalf That
obligation 1t must and will con-
tinue to fulfill in fullest measure,
and 1t is one of the most i'm
portant of the duties and privi-
leges of the Chief Executive to
minister to the wants and needs of
these wards and creditors of the
nation. But the fit and ablebodied
veterans are offered the oppor-
tunfties open to every other citi-
zen. The government has no
money TO distribute to any class
Of its citizens that 1t does not take
from the pockets 6f the people
and the payment of bonus to
millions Of our former soldiers
could only be accomplished at a
cost to the whole community. in
Guiding the veterans themselves,
far outweiEhing the benefits in
tended to he conferred n I felt
that a soldiers bonus represented
great need and a proper oblfga-
ton which should be fulfilled by
this nation. I certainly would not
make recommendation which
would be adverse thereto.
. We have now reached point
in our financial program where we
can tighten the tax burden Of the
people. which is an added reason
for taking a firm stand against
any and all programs of spending
that would tend to absorb the
expected margin between receipts
and expenditures.
also recommend the enactment
OF legislation which will authorize
a reasonable progressive building
program to meet the needs OF the
executive departments and estab-
lishments Of the government in the
District of Columbia. All of the
permanent and semf-permanent
buildings are more or less
crowded. with an overflow which
Of necessity is housed in temporary
buildings erected during the period
Of the late emergency. A program
authorizing an expenditure Of not
exceeding $5.000.000 annually for
a period of years would operate to
gradually relieve the existing un-
fortunate situation and in the
course of time give adequate ac-
commodations to the departments
and establishments.
The White House,
nanannhar 1907