Evening star., 1924-01-05
COOLIDGE STAND FIRM.
President Gets Into Fight Early,
Differs From Harding.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

President Coolidge has let it be
known that he cannot accept the pro-
Dosals of the curbStone economists in
Congress who want to revise the Mel
Ion tax program.
The President, of course, wants the
Mellon program adopted, but he is not
recommendations made by his Secre-
tary of the Treasury. because they
seem to him to be practical. Any al
tentative program must stand the
acid test of practically.
There are plenty of men in Con-
greSs who think a revenue bill can
he drawn to suit classes and grounds.
Already the suggestions of 'compro-
mise that have emanated from the
radical elements on Capitol Hill are
being criticized on the ground that
they seem to be aimed at vote getting
in particular localities, without TAX
ing into consideration the effects on
other groups of voters.
Mr. Melons plan is built like a
delicate piece Of machinery. To tinker
with one part of the mechanism
throws the whole works out of gear.
Any plan that is offered in Congress
in opposition to the Mellon scheme
must be a comprehensive proposition,
with facts and figures proving con-
clusively that it will get the revenue
needed to carry on the government.
Substitutes Are Weak.
Thus far none of the proponents
of the substitute measures have fur
nished a single plan which Is sure
to give the Treasury all the funds
to carry on the governments eX-
penses. The productivity Of tax pro-
poSalS is, after all, the heart of the
whole problem and the, interesting
thing about the plan of the Secre-
tary of the Treasury is that 1t Is
based on careful estimates of the
Statisticians, who have been making
ct, l. oil 1r~fo q
of businesses. investments and sala-
rtes III the last ten years. Their es-
Inmates have in the past proved trust
worthy and have been confirmed In
almost every esential.
When the administration, therefore
says 1t can reduce the present high
eurtaxes to about 25 per cent and sus-
tain only a slight loss, but can show
that the effect of the reduction in
other classes OF income Is actually
TO increase the revenues, the critics
find themselves with the burden OF
proof on their side.
Coolidge Gets Into Fight.
The President is adopting a kind
of strategy which is unlike that OF
his predecessor. Mr.. Harding, and is
more like that of Mr.. Wilson or Mr.
Roosevelt. Instead of waiting for 8
measure to go through Congress be-
fore indicating his disapproval ant
exercising the veto power, Mr. Cool
idge is getting into the fight at the
very moment when the tax bill ha.
not even been fully considered by tn,
House ways and means committee,
This Is because Mr.. Coolidge know,
the value of public opinion, and JUS
At this moment he feels the country
n behind him and that he will b,
sustained if he let's Congress know
that it will be wasting time II consid
Grafton is given to impractical meas
Vres.
Amendments and changes in tn,
Mellon plan there will surely be. NJ
TAX bill ever came from the executive
branch Of the government withou
being altered In many respects II
Congress. Amendments that hell
clarity or improve the measure viii
be accepted by the administrat ton
even though these changes are sug.
gestsd by the democrats. But ths
test will be whether change II
constructive or destructive. Mr.. Cool.
tdgs II ready to veto any bill thai
Imposes further burdens on the coun.
Try or fails to give the American peo.
pie tho full benefit of the $500. oeo,o0t
sus0luA