The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-12-06
GREAT CROWDS
SEEK TO HEAR
THE PRESIDENT
House Floor Crush so Great
Members Complain They
Cannot Get Seats
WHEAT AID PLAN TOLD
Against Price Fixing But For
Aid in Expectations
Through War Finance

Washington, Dec. 6.-(By the A. p.
President Coolidge addressed Con.
grcss today for the first time since
he became chief executive.
Appearing before q joint session Of
the House and Senate he presented
recommendations Touching all Of tho
major problems confronting the ma
! tion.
The Mellon tax reduction program
was given unqualified endorsement
but the soldier bonus was disap
proved.
Entire reorganization Of the freight
rate structure was recommended and
the chief executive declared il per-
missable consolidation Of the car
riers proved ineffective "thc author
ity of the government would have
to Nc invoked.
American adherence to the world
court with reservations was endorsed
but Mr.. Coolidge said this was not
q partisan question and should no.
assume "an artificial Importance"
U. s. Aid for Wheat.
Endorsing government assistance
in the disposition Of exportablc
wheat he declared against price fix
ing, against repeal of the rate sec
! ttion of the transportation act and
against revision of the tariff law.
Mr.. Coolidge's address broke the
studied silence he has maintained OH
public questions since he entered
the White House. His message was
awaited not only because it outlined
the policy Of the administration. but
because of the political effect it may
hatc OH his fortunes and his party.
In addressing Congress in person
Mr.. Coolidge adhered to 4 custom re-
established by Mr.. Wilson and fol-
lowed by Mr.. Harding. He spoke in
the house of representatives, stand
ing in front of the speakers dias
where he had sat as vice president
on occasions that his late chief ad-
dressed Congress.
There was an unusual demand for
tickets to the house gallery to hear
the first speech Of the new president
and standing room was at a premium
long before he began to speak.
Out on the capitol plaza another
large crowd heard the address
through an amplifying devise and at
the same time it was carried through
out the country by radio.
Crush Is Great.
On the floor Of tho house itself the
crush was so great that members
complained they were unable to get
the seats they were entitled to. Mrs.
Coolidge sat in the gallery. She ar
rived before the house assembled
and received an ovation. Senators,
representatives and the speaker stood
and applauded when the President
appeared. The applause extended in
to cheers from the Republican side
as he shook hands with Speaker Gill
lette and President Cummins Of the
senate and bowed to his audience.
The chief executive spoke slowly
and deliberatory without effort at ora
tory. The first applause came when he
declared the United States saw no
reason to limit its own freedom and
independence of action by joining the
League of Nations. There was scat
tering applause as Mr.. Coolidge de-
clared for the world court but with
reservations. The declaration against
recognition Of the Russian Soviet
I government brought further mani.
festatfons Of approval, as did the
presidents announcement that he did
not favor cancellation of the foreign
war debt and his announcement OF
his unqualified approval Of the
Mellon tax program.