The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-27
COOLIDGE FACES
 SUPREME TEST Tussle With Congress On Mellon Plan Will Have Effect On
 Presidential Race
sy sTHoMAs !. sToKss

tLoAseu WiFe to Ine Aoe-noffid)
 WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.4-President Coolidge is in the midst of 3the battle which is usually regarded as the most severe test for chief executive--the tussle with Congress. Thus far, he is taking i/talmly and quietly, his temper cool. his mind apparently unperturbed,
 How Coolidge handles himself in his situatiou will have an effect on his race for d second term. as though not the eff feet it would have had we're he dealing with q differently constituted body. Failure will not carry any serious stigma. because of the difficulties in the way, but if he acqnits himself well, his prestige will be greatly heightened, be- cause of the very complexion of this Congress. with it's numerous biOcs and groups, and only Il nominal republican ma jority. ET}
 The first titantic struggle within Congress is well under way--the con flict over reduction of taxes demanded by the people, and the President has given pretty clear demonstration of the course he will take this contrO- versy, as in others-no interferenee with Congress directly. but, a plain statement of his position, and the reason for it. With that. he will leave Congress to take what course k sees fit, depending always on the force of public, opinion.
 Secretary of the Treasury Mellon pro- mulgated Il broad program of tax re- dnetion Coolidge indorsed it. There it rests the President thinks it is n wise program. He has said so..B1With that confidence. he has refused to be budged or worried by the rift which has come iii republican ranks in Congress-.
 'N Other presidents, in such q case. have called party leaders to the White House, and demanded an accounting. Others have pleaded with them. Coolidge has done neither. .f
 Muddle In G. o. P.
 In view of the muddle among repuD- licans over taxes. it would naturally have been expected that there would be numerous conferences at the White House. They have been remarkably few. To all callers Coolidge had said that he thinks the Mellon. program should be adopted, practically as writ ten. a
 . Many have predicted that Coolidge will veto tax bill, if it contains higher surtax rate than he p per cent maximum Mellon recommended. That is not likely. In his strong insistence TOT cutting uoNH LHt SuItNAcS. tuNiO 10 probably some New England bluff. But he believes that surtaxes should be con siderably reduced, and hopes that the Figure will be lowered as ssmueh as pos ysible. Sas+y
 If the final bill is what lie considers q good one, hea9Hrobably will approve it, even thougltsithe tsArtax rate is be- yond what he askeae He has stated in the long run he believes Congress will bring out Legislation that is sound for the most part, and his policy will be to think long time before vetOing Il measure that had the approval of both House and Senate, especially such a measure as one. reducing taxes.
 Coolidge. in the tax situation, has ex- pressed confidence that the force of public opinion will drive "cOmpromis- ers' into line. He is appealing over the heads of Congress to the people. That will continue to be his policy. It may be so popular that more frequent ly he will play this method, instead of direct contact with leaders in Congress, which often leads to hard feelings and no results.