Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-12-15
COOLIDGE MESSAGE
SCORED BY NJ ADOO
AS EVAD|NC ISSUES
"CounSeI for DormanCy" Is
Characterization of Presi-
dents Stand-Urges 3D.
nus and Tax Reduction

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 12.-Presi
dent Coolidge's message to congress
was labelled "a counsel for dor
NANCY" and his opposition to Il
bonus for eX-service mon charac
terized as a summary dismissal OF
"just claims for consideration" in
an address by William Gibbs Me
Adoo before the Democratic Lunch
con club and Women's Democratic
legaue here today. The former Gi-
rector general OF railroads derided
the presidents proposal for a volun-
tary consolidation of these systems
of transportation as a 'seven-year
itch for reduced freight and passen-
ger rates with no assurance of re-
lief at the end of the trial." telling
his hearers that what is needed i
not seven years of delay. but ac-
ton
1.-THE presidents message" said
Mr.. McAdoo. in part, lis largely G..
counsel of dormancy. The world is
In conlmotion and vital problems
press upon us for solution, but no
effective program is offered for the
alienation or correction of domestic
ills, nor IS encoJra cement given for
invigorating international policies
which will reopen world markets for
our surplus products. tend to pro-
mote economic stability or encour-
age peace and tranquility between
nations.
Tax Reduction Advocated
1.-THE most affirmative part of the
presidents message is the recon-
, mendation of tax reduction. The
whole country favors tax reduction.
The Democratic party has stood con-
sistently for = since the signing of
the armi5tice. aud should cooperate,
without regard 70 ,cartisan consid-
eratiors, In any effort TO ease the
tax burden. This effort should be
directed, not e!0ne TO a reduction in
the gross sum Of aXation, but to
an equitable distribution of tie bur.
den
"The presidents Endorsement of
the proposal to put a lighter tax on
earned incomes, namely, those pro-
duced by the sweat Of the brow and
the toll of the brain, than upon IN
earned incomes. namely, those which
come from fHTeSI .nen;S, IS commend
able.
This proposition was first made
by the Democratic secretary of the
treasury in 1918. and was offered in
1921 as an amendment to the reve-
nue. bill by Senator Harris, of Geor-
of Nv Il of
Sc Republicans to q Democrats on
the ground as stated by Senator Pen
rose, then chairman of the finance
committee of the senate, that:
The question of earned and I'M
earned incomes was most exhaustive
ly considered by the committee, by
the senate and by the treasury de-
partment and the opinion was nearly
unanimous that any such provision
is impossible of administration
Points Change of Position
What has produced this extraor-
binary reversal of opinion on the part
of the treasury department and the
administration? If this provision
was nearly impossible of administra-
ton in 1921 why is it possible of ad-
ministration in 1922"
THE president opposes any in
crease in the pay Of the soldiers who
fought the war of victory. Although
great reduction in the tax burden
can be made and the reasonable
compensation proposed for the SOL
dlers and sailors can be provided
at the same time, the president is
determined that justice shall not
be done to the war veterans. Their
just claims for consideration are
summarily dismissed, but the pres
ident is strong for the maintenance
of the Observation-Disclosures tariff bill,
which gives favored trusts, monopo-
lies and combinations in restraint of
trade a subsidy estimated at more
than three billions of dollars per an
mum, or twice as much as it will
take to pay the soldiers bonus in
cash. For privilege, everything; for
the defenders of the COUNTRY, moth
ing.
Scores Veterans Bureau
The president declared that no
more important duty rests on the
government than the adequate care
Of sick and disabled veterans, and
yet there is no word of reprehen-
sion for the grafters who have dis
graced the veterans bureau and
nave stolen or misappropriated
funds which were set aside ITO take
care of the men and women who
suffered the loss of health and be-
came permanently injured in the
service of the nation.
''The president offers no con-
structive thought on the railroad
problem, perhaps the most important
domestic problem confronting the
nation. He generalizes somewhat
vaguely about the value of consoli-
dations and suggests that the rail
roads be given authority to consol-
idate Voluntarily"
Mr.. McAdoo declared the consoli-
dalton proposal of President Coolidge
gives little promise of relief "for the
farmers particularly, and for the
people of the country as a whole.
from the present excessive cost of
railroad transportation"
Reforms proposed by the execu-
tive to overcome the confessed fail
ure. Of the Esch Cummins bill, Mr..
AIcAdoo said he inaugurated in his
administration as director general of
railroads but that they were thrown
away by the Esch-Cummins act,
which restored every wasteful and
unecoromical practice which fed.
eral control had abolished"