Evening star., 1926-09-20
MELLON RESUMES
= TREASURY TASKS
Secretary, Upon Return From
European Trip, Finds Prob
lens Awaiting Solution.

Secretary of the Treasury Mellon
returned to his desk this morning
after an absence of several weeks in
Europe to take up his burdens. some
ef which have grown increasingly
troublesome during vacation.
Agitation for cancellation Of the
foreign debts owed this Government
as an outgrowth OF the war has in
creased sharply since Mr.. Mellon
sailed, but in his absence Acting Sec
r1etary Of the Treasury Winston has
repeated the administrations fixed
policy that ther- would be no change.
1t is known. hoH ever. that the repeat
ed attacks UpOn this Government
efforts to collect have been trouble
some to the administration and have
caused at least a public reopening OF
the question, which it had been hoped
was closed.
One the heels of Secretary Mellon S
departure came protest from England
that Mr.. Mellon in a letter made pub
lie here had misrepresentsd the ma
ture of the British debt, stirring up
later comment concerning cancella-
ton. From Franco came the acrld
lette of CleInenceau. in which he
flung the phrase France is not for
sale" AT the United SOlteS. asking FOR
amelioration of the terms in settle
ment, which has already been signed
by representatives Of both powers but
not approved by Congress or ParlA-
ment Then came Newton ID. Baker,
American Secretary of War during
the World War. urging cancellation.
During all his travels in Europe
Mr.. Mellon carefully refrained from
making any comment at all pertinent
hA nP or
question. which he has considered all
along as a closed matter.
Democratic demand for another re-
duction in taxes OF about half mil
lion dollars at the next session OF
Congress cropped up during Mr. Mel
Ions absence, but was answered by
Acting Secretary Winston with the
reply that the administration could
not safely proceed toward any other
tax bill until il saw how the present
bill was going TO produce revenue. Ii
Is true that income taxes have IN
creased, Mr.. Winston pointed out, but
there has been a steady falling Off
In the miscellaneous taxes.
An important appointment re
mains to be made in the office OF
Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury
vacated by Mckenzie Moss, several
weeks ago, who was made Judge oil
the United States Court of Claims
Although this is a presidential ap'
pointment, 1t Is known that the Pres
ident is substantially leaving the
choice 10 his Secretary of the Treas
urv.
The appointee will have to deal
With many members of Congress and
come in touch with thousands OF con
stituents in handling this appropria'
ton of $165. 600. 900. 1t is known the
administration has been looking for
a man Of experience both in building
and in public life.
There have been persistent rumors'
though no official reports, that the
administration will wait until after
election in order to give the post 10
some defeated Republican candidate
at the polls.
The building program has been
placed in the hands of Assistant Sec
retary Charles s. Dewey, who has
been handling il in addition to his
other duties as Assistant Secretary in
charge of fiscal affairs. Work and
responsibility of the task have been
enormously increasing. however. with
every passing week, and it is known
that the other Assistant Secretary is
needed at this time to help divide
the burden now on the others.