Evening star., 1924-11-08
COOLIDGE TACKLES
CAMPAIGN PLEDGES
Considers New Tax Cut as
First Step to Make Good
Promises.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

There is no thrill doubtless like the
thrill of vote of confidence given by
the American people to a servant in
public office-and as Calvin Coolidge
sat at his desk today and received
caller after caller his eyes seemed
to show plainly the light of an eager
ness to fulfill what SO many voters
expect of him.
The President was full of smiles
happiness was written in every sen
tence he uttered; he appeared some
how to be relieved of a great strain
Perhaps he has not been conscious OF
that strain. But it was a ombina-
tion of shyness and caution and great
modesty. Placed in Office by the
hand of Providence, he felt a respon-
sibility to follow in the footsteps OF
another. Appointments were to a
large extent guided by commitments
made by his predecessor.
inauguration may be four months
away, but to all intents and purposes
the second term of Presto dent Cool
idge began this week. The ceremony
on March will be of only technical
and historical Importance. For Presi-
dent Coolidge is turning toward his
tasks with feeling that henceforth
he. must fulfill the pledges of his
campaign.
Turns to Pledges.
Greatest among these pledges was
promise to practice economy. Fore
most among the impressions of Calvin
Coolidge among the voters generally
was one that emphasized his thrift
his lifetime habit of careful expen
diture
1t has remained with him in the
White House. 1t was the basis of his
many vetoes in the last session of Con.
gress. He had been advised that more
votes are obtained by satisfying the de.
mands of members of Congress for com.
pensatlon to their constituents in one
form or another, whether it was an in.
crease in pay to the postal service OF
veterans pensions, but Mr.. Coolidge
chose TO believe the wiser policy in the
long run was to veto any proposed ex.
penditure if it was not justified There
probably will be an increase in pay tc
the postal clerks. 1t seems to be ad.
mitted on all sides that the clerks are
unoerpald, but the question that has tc
be solved is from what source the in.
creased revenue is to be obtained
from increased rates on parcel post o,
second-class matter or a revision of al
The postal service is not as ef1ici
ent as the American people wouI,
lke TO have it. Excessive economic
IN the last few years, especially il
the railway mail service, have inter
lered with efficiency. 1t sometime.
| takes two days to get mail from
New York to Washington-a five
hour run on the railroads Airplan,
| mail is assisting materially in trans
continental service, but the demant
is growing for better mail service n,
the short distance runs
Treasury Has Surplus,
Government finances are in splen
did shape. The new tax law has no
brought a deficit but n surplus. vii
congress give the American peopl
the benefit of lower taxes or will i
insist on spending the surplus? Pres
ident Coolidge's leadership on thi
| issue will be revealed in the mes
sage now being prepared for tn,
december session of Congress. MI
Coolidge promised earlier in the yea,
| to continue his efforts for tax revi
sion. 1t is unlikely that he will for
get. There are some glaring inequitfe
| in the present law.
The President did not feel justified
| in vetoing the whole law to secure ;
revision of any portion of it. A cam
| paign was ahead, and he couldn't i'm
! Continued on Do ora D TS-I-------