Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-11-11
COOLIDGE HAPPY;
PLAYS To fulfill
CANPAIGNP PLEDGES
E ,onon1y Greatest Promise.
Congress Message Will
Show Tax Plans
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Especial Leased Wire to The Journal-IopS
right 1924
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2.-Ihere
is no thrill doubtless like the thrill
of a vote of confidence given by the
American people to a servant in pub
lie office-and as Calvin Coolidge
sat at his desk today and received
caller after caller his eyes seemed
to show plainly the light OF 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 comDl-
nation of shyness and caution and
great mOdesty Placed in office by
the hand of Providence, he felt
responsibility to follow in the foot
steps ,sOf another. Appointments
were. to a large extent guided by
commitments made by his prede-
cessor Inauguration may be four
months away but to all intents and
purposes the second term of Presj-
dent Coolidge began this week. The
ceremony on March 4 will be of only
technical and historical Importance.
For President Coolidge is turning
toward his tasks with a feeling that
henceforth he must fulfill the
pledges of his campaign.
Promise to Economic
Greatest among these pledges was
promise to practice economy. Fore
most among the impressions of Cal
vim Coolidge among the voters gen
orally was one that emphasized his
thrift his lifetime habit of careful
expenditure. 1t has remained with
him In the White House. 1t was
the basis of his many vetoes in the
last session of congress. lie has
been advised that more votes are
obtained by satisfying the demands
of members of congress for cOmpen-
SatiOn to their constituents in one
form or another whether it was an
increase in pay to the postal service
or veterans pensions, but Mr.. Cool
idge chose to believe the wiser policy
in the lOng run was to veto any
proposed expenditure if it was not
justified. There probably will be an
increase in pay to the postal. 1t
seems to be admitted on all sides
that the clerks are underpaid but
the question that has to be solved is
from what source the increased rev
enue is to be Obtained-from in
creased rates on parcel post or sec
ond class matter or a revision of all
postal rates.
The postal service is not as eff
cient as the American people would
like to have it. Excessive economies
in the last few years, especially in
the railway mail service, have inter
fered with efficiency. 1t sometimes
takes two days to get mail from New
York to Washington five-hour run
on the railroads. Airplane mail is
assisting materially in transconti-
mental service but the demand is
| growing for better mail service on
! the short distance runs.
L. 5. Finances in Good Shape
Government finances are in splen-
! did shape. The new tax law has
not brought a deficit but a surplus.
/ Will congress give the American peO-
/ pie the benefit of lower taxes or will
/ it' insist on spending the surplus?
| President Coolidge's Leadership on
this issue will be revealed in the
message now being prepared for the
December session of congress. Mr..
| Coolidge promised earlier in the year
/ To continue his efforts for tax revl-
/ sion. 1t is unlikely that he viii for
/ get. There are some gRring inequi-
ties in the present law The presi-
I dent did not feel justified in Vetoing
the whole law to secure a revision
of any portion of ii. A campaign
was ahead and lie couldn't impcril
tax relief by a veto. But now the
situation has changed. Even with
a congress IN which the La Toilette
radicals hold the balance Of power
for they remain in office until next
/ March-the president can if he
/ chooses present a measure for
/ amendment of the present act and
some of the insurGent Republicans
/ may not be as anxious to oppose Mr..
/ Coolidge as they were several
months go The election returns
may have had a salutary effect on
/ those who would obstruct merely for
/ individual or partisan advantage
With reference to the present tax
law, there will be some interesting
data sought from the treasury as to
the productivity of the new rates
! 1t would not be surprising to find
/ that the real reason for the surplus
is not the lower rates at all, but
/ the enforcement of the law. Several
new administrative provisions were
inserted by the treasury in the last
/ law based upon experience with eva
Sions and avoidance. Many IoOphOles
have been plugged. Even had the
Old 1922 rates remained on the stat.
/ ute books there would have been fr,-
creased revenues. due to improved
/ administration. There is also i'm
provement in business conditions TO
be taken into account. UuQuestion-
ably there viii be another drive for
tax reduction and economy in gov
eminent expenditures. 1t is the big
/ Gest issue of the moment next to an
/ agricultural program and President
Coolidge viii have something to say
on both when he sends his message
. TO congress and presents the budget
Tor the next fiscal year.
( Co., WE N:l1