Evening star., 1924-04-22
President Coolidge at New York.

IItSiGGIt NOt'IIuSt, III pay IilS Il iilStl-
Y deserved tribute to the Associated
Press at the annual luncheon of that
organization in New York today, takes
occasion to report, as it We're, on the
state of the country in terms that will
reach the understanding of the people
effectively and cause them to see more
clearly the conditions that now pre-
vail with respect to legislation and to
the correction Of abuses and faults
that are one of the effects of the war.
Tracing briefly and vividly the de-
relopment of a spirit of great expendi-
ture that marked the war-making
work of the American people, the Pres
ident shows the trail of vicious and
criminal seltishness" which sprang out
Of the desire for profits and which has
ever since in diminishing degree been
attempting to crafty an appetite
grown all the sharper through indul-
gence and a general credulity to ru-
lnors Of large sums Of money demand
cd and paid on account of every con-
ceiVahle motive and action"
From this diagnosis of the i'll from
which the country is now suffering
there can be no sound dissent. The
President feels that the country is re-
covering from that affliction, that there
is evidence of "a well nigh complete
return TO normal methods of action
and Il sane public opinion" He notes
the public realization Of apprehension
of guilt and IAN exceedingly healthy
disposition 10 uproot it altogether and
administer punishment whenever COM
petent evidence of guilt can be pro-
duced." That, he says, he is doing and
proposes to continue.
One phase of lingering extrav-
agance" to which the President calls
attention is the pressure in Congress
for action upon bills, not including the
bonus. which would increase the ex-
penditure of the government for next
year by about $4,000 600, 900. The as
sumption of such a stupendous sum
could mean nothing less than financial
disaster to the nation.
Mr.. Coolidge puts his finger on the
Uource of the determined resistance to
The adoption of a sound method of tax
alton. The main argument of the op-
position, he says, can all be reduced to
the supposition that the general pub
lie can be relieved of taxation and a
greater proportion of taxes laid on the
rich. The President does not believe
that the public desires to have the ad-
vantage of government without paying
its part of the cost of maintaining it.
He believes, further, that, notwith-
standing the failure of a majority of
the Congress up to the present time
accu 'ately to comprehend and expe-
diiously to minister to the need to
taxation REFORM the requirements Of
economy and reduced taxes will be
met in a way not inconsistent with the
treat resources of our country.
These are the matters of the chief
public import in this message that the
President now broadcasts to the peo-
pie. There are references of signifi-
canoe, however, to our foreign rela-
tions, and particularly to the success
of Secretary Hughes proposal for
American expert cooperation in sug-
gesting a solution of the European
reparations problem. There is much,
Furthermore, in the closing passages
Of the speech relating to American re-
sponsibility for and part in maintain
ing the peace of the world that will
make most interesting reading at this
time: particularly in view of his ex-
plicit declaration that he regards as
final the country's decisive rejection
of the League Of Nations covenant