Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-12-17
CONGRESS GIVEN
COOLIDGE MESSAGE
Condition of Country Is One
of Progress and Prosperity
Approves Revenue Bill.


Washington.-In his message to the
Sixty-ninth congress, President Cool
idge said that the general condition
of the nation Is one of progress and
prosperity. The President stated that
he approved of the new revenue bill
as framed by the house ways and
means committee. The Presidents
message in part is as follows:
Members of the Congress:
In meeting the constitutional re-
quirements of informing the congress
upon the state Of the Union, it is ex-
ceedingly gratifying to report that the
general condition is one of progress
and prosperity.
For Government Economy.
It is a fundamental principle of our
country that the people are sovereign.
They hold inviolate in their own hands
the Jurisdiction over their own free
dom and the ownership of their own
property. The wealth of our country
is not public wealth, but private
wealth. 1t does not belong to the gov
eminent, It belongs to the people. 1t
Is always necessary to keep these
principles In mind in the laying Of
taxes and In the making of appro-
priations. All proposals for assuming
new obligations ought to be postponed,
unless they are reproductive capital in
Vestments or are such as are absO-
lutely necessary at this time.
1t has always been our policy to
retire our debts.
The taxpayer will be required to
produce nearly twice the amount of
commodities to pay his debt If the dol
lar returns to the 1913 value. The
more we pay while prices are high,
the easier it will be.
There Is room for further economy
in the cost of the federal government,
but a comparison of current expendl-
tures with pre-war expenditures is not
unfavorable to the efficiency with
which government business is now be-
ing done
l believe that present federal ex-
penses are not far out Of line with
pre-war expenses. We have nearly
accomplished the deflation.
Budget.
The congress has wisely set up the
bureau of budget.
This gives q centralized authority
where a general and comprehensive
understanding can be reached of the
sources Of income and the most equi-
table distribution Of expenditures. How
well it has worked is indicated by the
fact that the departmental estimates
for 1922, before the budget law, were
$4,068, 100000 while the budget esti-
mates for 1927 are $3,156,OOO,OOO This
latter figure shows the reductions In
departmental estimates for the COM
ing year made possible by the opera
ton of the budget system that the
congress has provided.
Taxation.
The purpose of reducing expendi-
lures is to secure a reduction in
taxes. That purpose is about to be
realized. With commendable prompt
ness the ways and means committee
of the house has undertaken In ad-
vance of the meeting Of the congress
to frame a revenue act. In its present
form it should provide sufficient rev.
enue for the government. / approve Of
the bill in principle.
l am advised that the bin will be
through the house by Christmas. The
bill should reach me prior to March
Is.
Foreign Relations.
The policy of our foreign relations,
casting aside any suggestion Of force,
rests solely on the foundation of
peace, good will, and good works.
1t seems clear that it is the reduc-
ton Of armies rather than of navies
that is of the first Importance to the
world at the present time.
Court Of International Justice.
Pending before the senate for near
ly three years is the proposal to adj
here to the protocol establishing the
Permanent Court of International
Justice. A wel-established line of
precedents mark Americas effort to
effect the establishment of a court Of
this nature.
Foreign Debts.
Gradually, settlements have been
made which provide for the liquidation
of debts due to our government from
foreign governments.
immigration.
While not enough time has elapsed
to afford a conclusive demonstration,
such results as have been secured in
dictate that our immigration law is on
the whole beneficial. 1t is undoubted-
ly a protection to the wage earners Of
this country.
National Defense.
Never before in time of peace has
our country maintained so large and
effective a military force as it now
has The army, navy, marine corps,
National Guard and organized re-