Evening star., 1924-01-05
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.


Calvin Coolidge at length has donned
war paint. He has taken the big
stick in hand. He Is ready to WELD
1t with Congress-. now and hence
forward, to ward of any attempts to
amend the Mellon tax program Into
non-existence. Not since Mr.. Coolidge
assumed office has any pronounce
ment on his behalf been issued with
such emphasis. 1t was moro than
emphatic. 1t bordered on tho vehe-
ment. It rang with determination.
1t was the nearest approach to the
Rooseveltian manner that the Cool
fdEe temperament believes in.
Mr.. Coolidge. for that purpose.
chose the issue which he considers
to be the paramount one facing the
administration. s,;Hn the Congress ana 'he
The Presidents declared intention
to brook no fundamental tampering
with tho surtax provisions OF the
Mellon scheme is not only a new
message to Congress. IT 10 IN un
to his rival for the republican presi-
Dental nomination. Hiram johnson.
Senator Johnson opened his cam
paign at Cleveland Thursday night
with tho charge that the Mellon pro-
befog the persons who belong to the
lower-income brackets and in reality
TO benefit the rich who are higher
up. Johnson in particular assatled
tho administration plan to cut the
surtax on big incomes from the ex-
ciseiy this point that called forth
the White Houses vigorous state
ment-the attempt on Capitol Hill to
compromise on q IS per cent surtax
rate.
CoolidEe Stands FirA.
Mr.. Coolidge looks upon such q COM
promise a. tho beginning OF . vicious
chain of compromises designed In the
long run to crush and grind tho Mel
Ion program out Of existence. Against
such a "defeatist" policy the Presi-
dent IA ready to oppose the full force
of the administration. He believes the
time to oppose Is now, not later
Congress, therefore, knows exactly
toward what 1t is heading II 1t trie.
white House evidently considers te
be a fiscal masterpiece.
The Presidents lighting pronounce
m emit comes to Congress as a thunder
clap but as an expected one. II va
confidently expected by the men who
miiisr than others with his executive
methods in dealing with Legislative
snarls. They ay ks Just hk.
CoolidEe'-thAt one OF the Things ne
has always don: n,;,,s Z 70 stick s.ps. py nis !
touch Of the fight It out AL summer
on these lines about the Whit.
Houses mo compromise ultimAtuzn
Nearly everybody agrees that Cool
idge's declaration Ia uncommonl9
courageous
He must have known It would pu
up the backs Of the progressivas and
radicals In both the republican ant
democratic camps. Resistance II
those quarters. 1t is prophesied,. II
bound to be sti6ened by an attitude
which they Will be inclined to looi
upon ~ executive dedence.
s Fuynasrs FEEL Burasn.
Neither President Coolidge nor Sec
retary Mellon 10 terrified by allega
tions, such a. Hiram johnson - hurl
Rich ID "vfewsd with alarm" by tht
'.plain people," When Eugene Meyer
ir.. and Frank w. Mondell toured tn,
west In October, to look into tn,
wheat situation, they paid much at
tention to rural thought on tax Ques
Their conclusions. AZ reported to tn.
Preside ent, were that the tax burdsnI
from which the farmsr mainly Il
suffering spring from the oppression
Of heavy local taxes. These taxes. II
turn, are high bscause investors At.
encouraged to buy state. county and
fnunicipol tax-exempt securities.
NAsSrs. Meyer and Mondell recon-.
mended 20 Mr.. Coolidge "the reduc.
| tion OF the income guYtaxes to I
0gi1re which would induce capital Il
kkNxR &ySA faNe1x1nDA aoouSttos' y