Evening star., 1924-12-03
Orderly Progress, Without
Pretense, Seen as Basis of
Legislative Program Pro-
posed to Congress.
NEW ARMS CONFERENCE
SUMMONS is INDICATED
Farm Relief Proposal Delayed.
Further Tax Cut Asked-Plea
for Divorcement of Shipping
Board and Emergency Fleet
Made.
BY q. GOULD LINCOLN.

President Coolidge rcdedicates
himself to a system OF rigid econ
nmy in public expenditures in his
annual message to Congress, read in
both houses today.
Breaking through the practice re-
established by President Woodrow
Wilson in 1918 OF appearing before
Joint session of Congress to deliver
his annual message III person, the
President transmitted the document
by messenger. The message today
outlines the administration legisla
tive program, deals impressivcly
with both domestic and foreign
problems and sets forth the Presi-
dents conception OF the purpose and
the line OF advance which should be
followed by the Republic.
It contains no surprises. but it
bristlcs with concise sentences which
leave no doubt in mind as to where
the President stands on the subjects
with which he deals.
Sounds Progress Note.
referring TO the rece1S~c Campaign
anu lns ISSUES lHN ON Ell--StI IL
not by name--the President sounds d
note OF progress, and at the same
time rapS the proposals advanced by
the La FOllette- Wheeler platform for
amending the Constitution and Gov
eminent ownership.
ut is automatic that our country
cannot stand STILL says President
Coolidge. 1T would seem to be per-
iectly plain from recent eveffts That
it is determined to go forward. But
II wants no pretenses, il wants no
vagaries. 1t is determined to ad
vance in an orderly. sound and com
mon sense way. 1t does not propose
10 abandon the theary Of the Declara-
tion that the people have alienable
rights which no majority and no
power of Government can destroy.
1t is convinced that it will
be impossible for the people TO pro-
vide their own Government unless
they continue 10 own their own prop
erty"
This is being interpreted today as
declaration of the President of the
United States. as well as head of the
Republican party, that the admins
tration Will stand for progress and
against reaction. but for progress in
an orderly, sound and common sense
way"
Problems Economic.
The problems Of the Nation. the
President insists, are for the most
part economic, and, with the enormous
debt still existing, economy is the
.urest remedy.
Economy reaches everyw It
carries IL blessing to every body" the
President says. In economy, accord
ing to the picture the President
paints, lies the hope of lessening the
heavy tax burdens now resting on the
shoulders Of the people. The costs
OF national and local governments,
The President estimates. reaches the
huge sum of 500 for each inhabitaDt, |
1nan, woman and child. rich and poor !
a little less than one-third of this .
5 represented, he says, by national
expenditures, and more than two
thirds by local expenditures.
only the National Government the
president says, is reducing its debt, |
while the States and municipalities |
continue 10 pile up theirs at tha rate !
az $1,000, 100000 annually.
Anybody can reduce taxes. but II
Is not so easy to stand in the gap
and resist the passage of increasing
appropriation bills says the Pres
ideut in his earnest plea to the Con-
gress to keep within the limits OF
the budget.
Discusses Surtax.
without mentioning the Mellon
plan, the President in his discussion
of tax reduction-to be expected, pro
vided economy in expenditures is
adhered to-faYors n system Of sur
taxes at rates which have for their
object not the punishment Of success
CT the encouragement of business,
iut the production of the greatest
: mount OF revenue from large in
comes"
With regard TO foreign relation
he message of the President breathes
= spirit of peace and good will He
declares that at no period in the last
= years have our foreign relations
been so satisfactory as at present
But the President reiterates his oppo-
Fitiun to the entrance of the United
States into the League of Nations.
While we desire always to CO.
operate and to help, we are equally
determined to be independent and
free he says.
The President renews, however. his
recommendation that the United
States adhere TO the protocol, estab-
listing the World Court, but upon the
conditions stated in the recommends
lions transmitted to the Senate, and
with q further condition that the
United States shall not be bound by
advisory opinions which may be rem
dered by the court upon questions
which we have not voluntarily. sub
yuitted for its judgment"
Treats of Arms ParIey.
lie views with sympathy the various
PROPOSALS advanced for the outlawing
of aggressive war, and gives promise
of initiating another conference for
The Limitation of ornaments. This
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