Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-05-27
COOLIDGE To SIGN
TAX BILL DESPITE
MELLON S PROTEST
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Especial Leased Wire to The Journal.)


Copyright, 1920
WASHINGTON, May "a. - Presi-
dent Coolidge does not intend to be-
come an eXpediency expert On the
first tests which are facing him =
whether to yield to party eXigencies
or remain consistent with his an
nounced attitude - Mr.. Coolidge has
chosen the path of logic and not poll
tics.
Mr.. Coolidge's conferences with the
Republican members of the senate
foreign relations committee have
been the subject of much talk dur
ing the last week, and details are
just becoming known. Mr.. Coolidge
has been urged to abandon the posi-
ton he took on the world court and
to support another plan sponsored by
either Senator Lodge or Senator Pep
per, both of whom object to the fact
that the present court was created
by the League of Nations and that
judges for it are selected through the
machinery of the Geneva institution.
Mr.. Coolidge's reply was an asser-
ton Of leadership that is nothing less
than a sensation. He told the sena-
last December was the program on
which he went before the American
people-namely, support of the pres
ent world court, even created by the
league-and in subsequent addresses
he had reiterated that view.
Refuses to Switch
During all that time - since last
December-Mr. Coolidge points sig
nificantly to the fact that he had in
a sense gone to the country on the
issue and that the delegates to the
next Republican convention had been
elected in the primaries on the base
of the Coolidge program as an
nounced in the interval. The presi-
dent says he cannot alter his posi-
ton now and keep faith with the
delegates elected.
This means Mr.. Coolidge feels the
Republican national platform should
correspond to his own view on the
world court, even though action
NAV not be obtained at this session
of congress beyond a report from
the senate foreign relations commit
tee.
Mr.. Coolidge feels also that he is
bound by the pledge he gave when
he took the oath of office to support
the major policies of the late Presl.
dent Harding. In conversation, Mr..
Coolidge refers to his own position
always as being in favor Of the pro
posal presented by Mr.. Harding to
the congress. Under such circum-
stances, can the Cleveland conVen-
ton repudiate the late President
Harding as we'll as the nominee,
President Coolidge? The outlook
now is that Mr.. Coolidge will force
the convention to insert a plank
favoring American membership in
the present court with results is
tnctly stating that this in no v ay
involves American membership in
the League of Nations.
Immigration Problem
The president has an even more
awkward problem to handle in the
immigration question. Secretary
Hughes is opposed to the bill that
has been passed by congress on the
ground that it offends Japan. Mr..
Coolidge tried in vain to persuade
congress to change the wording of
the bill that it would accomplish
japanese exclusion. but without Of
tense to Japan. In this he failed.
To sign the bill is to contradict his
own dlllluQe. lie Is WClp hiHS llIS
advantages to the country in sign
ing the bill and the disadvantages
in an estrangement with Japan. II
he could persuade Japan to be pa
tient until a treaty could be nego-
tiated to supercede the impending
bill he would be able to sign the
measure and negotiate later. But
it appears that the japanese will
he
bill is vetoed. If it is vetoed, it can
not pass over the veto because the
opposition on other grounds is suf
ficient % prevent two-thirds vote
in the hose.
The presidents friends are saying
he will sign the immigration bill and
announce his intention of negotiat-
ing a treaty to take the place of the
Japanese provision in the bill he
signs.
AS for the tax bill to which Secre-
tarv Mellon has indicated his opposi-
ton. Mr.. Coolidge will apply a sim
pie test. J he finds upon careful
scrutiny that the bill proposed is an
Improvement over the present law,
he will sign it. A glance at the
tables showing the material cut in
taxes for everybody of large and
small income under the measure
which has just come out OF the con-
ference committee of the two houses
is convincing evidence that the
measure is indeed an Improvement.
This means signature and the en-
actment of the bill into law. There
are not enough Objectionable fea-
lures in the bill to warrant a veto.
though Mr.. Melons opposition will
Law the foundation for further eff
forts at revision in the next session
of congress.