Evening star., 1925-03-04
Coolidge Faces Ne,o Task +,
At Outset of His O,vn Term
Entering Upon Presidency IL, O,0n Right
Viii Be Judged on Accomplishments.
Inherited Much From, Harding.


now confronted with the real test OF
his character and his abilities and
talents that Calvin Coolidge enters
today upon the Presidency in his own
right.
It is unquestionably with an entirely
different feeling that he uplifted his
right hand and took the oath Of Of
fee before that vast multitude today
than when he took the same oath,
void OF pomp, in that dimiy lighted
little room in the home of his birth,
10 months ago. President ,Hardings
sudden death elevated him to the
presidency then and during the
months that have followed and
through which he has ,labored he was
ever mindful Of the fact that he was
what the American people describe as
an "accidentaP' President.
President Coolidge Is now a Presi-
dent In is own name, His first public
utterance after becoming President In
1923 was to the effect that he would
unfailingly carry out the policies OF
his distinguished and popular. prede-
cessor. And Calvin Coolidge has been
knowntto always keep his word. He
not only kept this faith, but did even
more in the successful administration
than had been sketched out by Presi-
dent Harding. But now he can ex-
hibit a different spirit in the, new
term for which he was elected by the
largest vote ever given a President.
His service as President to date has
been distinguished by more than
ordinary activities on his part and
by the Congress. There have been
many tense and stirring situations.
There has been q memorable national
campaign and election.
Faced Great Task.
When he presented himself at the
Capital, after having been sworn in
as Chief Magistrate by his father In
the old Coolidge homestead in Plym-
outh, VT, the President assumed one
of the mightiest tasks faced by any
Executive in many years. He did
not take ONCE amid plaudits and cell
ebration. On the contrary, he had
succeeded to Office by reason OF the
untimely death of a popular and be-
loved Executive, Warren G. Harding.
The American people were In mourn
ing and. besides this, the problems
that confronted him were of a stag
nature.
President Coolidge, with his Gus
this task with an unmistakabIe de-
termination and sincerity of purpose.
With Mrs. Coolidge he made his
home at the willard Hotel and d.
rected the affairs Of the Nation from
there. His first public act was to
announce to the world that, Under
the inspiration of President Hard
ing's example," he would take up
the burdens he was permitted to, lay
down and to develop and support the
wise principles of government which
he represented"
Under his personal direction ar
rangements for the funeral of presi-
-0sat Harding were made At his
solicitation Mrs. Harding remained
at the White House for more than
four weeks, thus being afforded am
pie time. to direct the packing of
her personal effects, to be moved to
the Harding home in Marion.
1t was late in September when the
President and Mrs. Coolidge took up
their abode in the White House. One
of his first acts then was to appoint
Z. Bascom Slemp of Virginia, who
had been Representative in Con-
gress for nearly 20 years, secretary
TO succeed George B. Christian, jr..
who had served in that capacity ur,-
der President Harding and who had
resigned. In the meantime the mem
bers of the Cabinet, all of whom
mad rendered their designations, ac-
cepted Mr.. Cooiidge's request to re-
main in office with him.
Worked for Economy.
From the very beginning his ad-
lnihistration was marked by a de-
termination to reduce the Govern
ments expense. His predecessor had
Initiated this policy of economy. and
PRESIDENT Coolidge carried II out, with
,he result that this administration
has succeeded chiefly through the
agency Of the budget to reduce the
annual cost Of the Government from
$5.53S 100000 In 1921 to $3,4s7,eoo, 600.
Besides this. the public debt has been
reduced from s2i,0O0,000, 900 to s21.-
SO.oO0,0oo, which means an annual
saving in interest Of more than s120.-
100000. The Government has paid
on or refunded $1,000. o0o, 900 of short
time obligations
The President had not been at the
ne!m OF the Government very long
oefore he let IT be known that he
was going to initiate a movement to
reduce the taxes. They were far too
nigh and the burden was becoming
unbearable.
Brought Tax Gut.
Legislation finally enacted into law
brought about a reduction Of $685.
ooo,000 year in taxes. His leEisIa-
ton TO bring about repeal of the
taxes on luxuries and messages and
amusements was passed, greatly to
the relief of the public President
Coolidge always has contended, while
advocating q reduction in taxes that
they bear most heavily upon the poor
and that they diminish industry and
commerce. and make agriculture un-
profitable. and he stated in his speech
of acceptance that there must be
further reduction.
To sum up briefly President Cool
idge's year, it would be- only natural
to select his decisive victory at the
polls November last, when he came
before the electorate for election to
full term as President in his own
name. This victory is in the minds s
of most as the one big outstanding
event Of the year. As the Repub-
lican party's standard bearer Presi-
dent Coolidge was elected, receiv-
ing the unprecedented plurality of
7,3se,s27.
His Tax Policy.
IN that. portion Of. his message
urging tax reduction, the President
said that every one desires a lower
ing OF taxes- and that there Is a
great prepondersnce OF sentiment in
favor OF taxation reform. In this
connection he Is opposed to the pub
lication Of income tax returns and he
informed Congress that he believes
that this laws continuation to be
| detrimental to pubIic welfare and
bound to decrease public revenues.
and for those reasons II should be
| repealed. taas,.,-,.''
In line with his policy of govern
mental economy tho President vetoed