Evening star., 1924-05-20
The President Deserted.


presented to Congress a program
which was based upon a reduction of
the tax burden, permitted by the pres
ent surplus of revenues over the nor
NAL expenditures. He explicitly stated
that he did not believe in the granting
Of d bonus to eX-service men, which
would entail a heavy addition to the
governments expenses and would be
inconsistent with tax reduction. The
Secretary of the Treasury laid before
the House of Representatives a tax
reduction measure which, on a scien-
tific basis, would effect a lessening of
. the revenues without d deficit. The
: House proceeded to frame a tax
revision bill differing in many respects
and departing from the actuarial prin-
ciples of the Treasury plan. Notwith-
standing the country wide belief that
tax revision is inconsistent with bonus
granting, the House then pressed to
passage d bonus measure differing
somewhat in principle from the orig
inal plan by substituting insurance
for cash in most cases. In consequence
of what can be regarded only as legis-
lative jockeying inspired by political
motives this bonus bill was passed by
both houses in advance of the tax
revision measure and was laid before
the President first. He vetoed it, in
message which plainly showed that
the Treasury could not endure the
strain of a bonus, even Of the modified
character proposed.
Yesterday the Senate, following
similar action by the House on Satur-
day, passed the bonus bill over the
veto of the President by narrow but
sufficient margin. The majority of the
vote to override the veto came from
the Republican side of the chamber,
thirty to twenty-seven Democrats and
two Farmer-Labor senators. The bill
now becomes a law.
In a few days the tax-revision bill
will be laid before the President, ef
fecting a measure of revenue reduc-
ton which cannot now be computed,
but which may bring the govern
ment's income below the point Of
meeting the ordinary expenses plus
the initial cost of the bonus. The para
mount question today is, Can the
President consistently, properly and
with due regard for his responsibility
as the Chief Executive sign that bill
il it does not assure the government
the revenues that are required? Opin-
ions differ on the point of the adequacy
of revenue provision as the bill is now
shaped. Hope prevails that sufficient
margin will be provided to warrant
the President in giving his approval.
Criticism Of Mr.. Coolidge as having
failed to lead" his party in Congress
along the line Of constructive, con-
by partisan considerations. He has
acted in the bonus matter as he will
doubtless act respecting the tax bill,
not as Republican nor as the prospec-
tive candidate Of the Republican party
for the presidency, but as the Presi-
dent of the United States. Had he
been playing politics. as such a pros
pective candidate he might without
discredit at least have allowed the
bonus bill to become a law without
mis- signature. But there is nothing
in Mr.. Coolidge's career to indicate
a disposition to play politics in the
face Of principle. 1t is not to his dis
credit that the members of the party
in Congress which named him as Vice
President in 1920, and which will name
him for President in 1924, have failed
TO follow him in his course of states
manShip. Rather is it they who have
played politics, who have voted as
they thought perhaps some voters of
their states might prefer on the bonus
question, disregarding the voters in
the country at large, the people who
are to carry the burden Of the bonus
in sustained high taxes, possibly in
creased taxes.
Political history is making here in
Washington these days. The Presi-
dent has, it would seem, been deserted
by his party on a vital question. In
few months it will be shown whether
that desertion will cost him the presi.
dency and will deprive the country
of the services Of an able, courageous
and consistent Executive.