Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-05-23
THEPREsIDENT DESERTED

In December President Cool
idge presented TO Congress a
program which was based upon
a reduction Of the tax burden,
permitted by the present surplus
of revenues over the normal ex-
penditures. He explicitly sta
ted that he did not believe in the
granting of a bonus to ex-service
men, which would entail a heavy
addition to the governments ex-
penses and would be inconsistent
with tax reduction. The Secre-
tary of the Treasury laid before
the House of Representatives a
tax reduction measure which, on
a scientific basis, would effect a
lessening Of the revenues with
out a deficit. The House pro.
ceeded TO frame a tax revision
bill differing in many respects
and departing from the acturial
principles of the treasury plan.
Notwithstanding the country
wide belief that tax revision is
Inconsistent with bonus grant
ing, the House then pressed to
passage a bonus measure differ
ing somewhat in principle from
the original plan by substituting
insurance for cash in most cases.
In consequence of what can be
regarded only as legislative jock
eying inspired by political mo-
tives, this bonus bill was passed
by both houses in advance Of the
tax revision measure and was
laid before the President first.
He vetoed it in a message which
plainly showed that the Treas
ury could not endure the strain
Of bonus, even of the modified
character proposed.
Yesterday the Senate, follow
ing similar action by the House
on Saturday, passed the bonus
bill over the veto of the Presi-
dent by a marrow but sufficient
margin. The majority of the
vote to override the veto came
from the Republican side of the
chamber, thirty to twenty seven
Democrats and two Farmer La
Dor senators. The bill now be-
comes a law.
In few days the tax revision
bill will be laid before the Presi.
dent, effecting a measure of rev.
enue reduction which cannot now
be computed, but which may
bring the governments income
below the point of meeting the
ordinary expenses plus the ini-
tial cost of the bonus. The par
amount question today is, Can
the President consistently, prop
erly and with due regard for his
responsibility as the Chief Exec
utive sign that bill if it does not
assure the government the reve-
nues that are required Opin-
ions differ on the adequacy of
revenue provision as the bill is
now shaped. Hope prevails that
a sufficient margin will be pro-
vided to warrant the President
in giving his approval.
Criticism of Mr.. Coolidge as
having failed to lead" his party |
in Congress along the line of con-
structive, consistent legislation
is obviously>dictated by partisan
considerations. He has acted in
the bonus matter as he will
doubtless act respecting the tax
bill, not as a Republican, nor as
the prospective candidate of the
Republican party for the presi-
dency, but as the President of
the United States. Had he been |
playing politics" as such a pros
pective candidate he might with.
out discredit at least have al
lowed the bonus bill to become a |
law without his signature. But
there is nothing in Mr.. Cool |
idge's career career to indicate
a disposition to play politics"
in the face of principle. 1t is |
not to his discredit that the
members of the party in Con-
gress which named him as Vice
President in 1920, and which
will name him for President in
1924, have failed TO follow him in |
his course of craftsmanship.
Rather is it.they who hav played
politics, who have voted as they
thought perhaps some voters of
their states might prefer on the
bonus question. disregarding the
voters in the country at large,
the people who are to carry the
burden of the bonus in sustained
high taxes, possibly increased
taxes.
Political history is making here
in Washington these days. The
President has, it would seem,
been deserted by his party on a |
vital question. In a few months |
it will be shown whether that |
desertion will cost him the pres
idency and will deprive the coun
try of the services of an able,
courageous and consistent Elk
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