The Washington times., 1925-11-02
NEW YORK
To HEAR
FIRST
President Also Starts CoIlec-
ton of Data for Message .
to Congress
By GEORGE E. DURNO


Turning aside from all but the
most pressing business of his
office, President Coolidge has be-
gun the collection Of data for in
corporation into three national
communications he must deliver
within the next month, and upon
which will depend in large meas
ure administration success in the
incoming Congress.
The first is an address to be
made before the New York Cham
Der of Commerce on November
10, through which the Coolidge
views on taxation and commerce
will be convened to big business.
Message to Congress
The second is the speech he is
scheduled to make on December
before the American Farm Bureau
convention in Chicago, in which
he will define the Administration
agrarian policies against the ever
increasing demand for preferential
legislation involving price-fixing
and other drastic measures.
The third, and most important. is
his annual message to Congress, to
be presented Immediately thereafter,
In which will be definitely set forth
all OF the Coolidge legislative
policies.
Reduction in Majority
1t is on his annual message to
Congress, however, that President
Coolidge must take his major
stand.
At present, the Administration
has a paper majority in Congress,
the same with which the President
struggled during the last session.
Since that time, many con-
troversial issues have come to a
head, and advance predictions
them, at least, the President will
be confronted with considerable
dissension.
Outstanding among these are the
national defense and Shipping Board
problems.
The present aircraft controversy,
brought to the fore by Colonel
Billy" Mitchell, coupled with the
Presidents open criticism of the
general staff for attempting to
break down his economy program,
ID responsible for the great interest
in national defense.
1t is anticipated that Mr.. Cool
idge viii demand still further re-
auctions in army and navy APP
preparations, some portion of the
savings therefrom to be allocated
to the air services.
Faces Ship Beard Fight
In the Shipping Board squabhle,
the President faces a real fight lie
will recommend the abolition of the
board and the creation Of a one
man operation of the American
merchant marine through the Emer-
Bency Fleet Corporation, or some
similar organization.
AS now constituted, however. the
Board is made up of sectional repre-
sentatiyes, each with equal voice in
determination of shipping policies,
and it Is not anticipated that the
members Of Congress from those va
r1OuS sections will agree to any
representation.
From the far west comes an
other fight on the subject Of recla-
nation, irrigation and development
Of water power.
Western Senators have returned
to Washington openly condenning
the administration of Secretary
Work, but the President has let It
be known he will side with his
Cabinet aide.
Some Views Anticipated
The Presidents views on taxa
ton and commerce already have
been anticipated-the former in Sec
rotary Melons recommendation to
the House Ways and Means Com.
mittee; the latter in Secretary
Hoover's Saturday night address be-
fore the Erie, Pa, Chamber Of Com
merce
On the score of tax revision, the
administration would like to seek
the maximum combined tax, normal
and surtax, cut to twenty per cent
as against the present forty-six per
cent. This would involve a fifteen
\ per cent surtax and a normal tax
lof one. three and five per cent.
so far as Americas commerce
concerned, notice has been serv-
ed on foreign powers that unless
they abandon their rawmaterial
ponopolies and price-inflation such
d prevails in the ruDDer INDUSTRY
policies the United States will re-
taliate in kind.
Dealing with the agricultural sit
uation, President Coolidge has
summed up his position as follows:
I'VE must permit no division of
classes in this country, with one
occupation striving to secure ad-
vantage over another.
Each must proceed under open
opportunities and with fair pros
beet of economic equality.