Evening star., 1926-11-14
PRESIDENT STARTS
DRAF TING MESSAGE
Information Is Executive Will
Insist Only on Surplus
for Taxpayers.
BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG.

President Coolidge has already
started work on the first draft of his
annual message to Congress, but there
fs very little in the way of legislation
that he is going to ask.
His message will cover a wide range
of subjects, containing numerous sug
Eestions and recommendations, but
the only thing he is actually going to
be insistent about according to pres
ent information, is the turning back
of the Treasury surplus to the tax
payers of the Nation, and at the same
time let the revenue act remain intact
The President contends that while
this Nation and it's people are pros
porous today, there is no assurance
that they will be so a year, or two
years hence, and, If there is a reces-
sion in prosperity there would natur
ally follow a decided slump in the
Nations revenues.
For Law COdificatiOn.
Although the President has let it
he known that ha hos e~tcrNd ,I~01
the task of framing his message, he
has given little if any indication of
how he intends to treat problems.
other than the tax matter. There are
such controversial subjects as conSGlf-
dation of railroads. agricultur"l relief
legislation and proposed changes in
the immigration laws, but thus far he
has left all questions about his IDEAS
upon these subjects unanswered. And,
Il he follows his habits of the past
regarding the preparation of his mes
sages to Congress, there is little like
lIhood of his doing so, at least pUtS
licly. before the message is submitted
to Congress.
There are indications that the
President will include in this message
a strong recommendation of leglsla'
ton designed to bring about a codin-
cation Of international laws. He is
represented in this connection as
being of the opinion that the United
States by this means, can perform
valuable service in behalf of world
peace. He thinks a cOdiflcation OF the
laws of the various nations would ne
a decisive step in the right direction
and would at least serve to strengthen
The Hague tribunal. He is expected
to recommend adoption of resolu-
ton authorizing him to call an inter
national conference for the purpose
Of codifving the laws. a resolution
Of this nature was introduced at the
last session of Congress by Repre-
sentative Tinkham of Massachusetts.
Very recently Representative Porter
If PENNSYLVANIA. chairman OF the Tor
eign affairs committee OF the House,
who is ardently in favor of a codif1-
cation recommended to the President
the adoption of the Tinkham reSolu-
ton or one very similar to It.
Three Weeks Latitude.
AS for the World Court protocol.
the President has made it unmistak-
ably nlain that he has no intention or
asking for a modification of the Sen
ate's reservations for American ad-
herence. While there has been no m
tirnati0n from him as to his attitude
regarding what step is to be taken IN
the matter of further reduction IN
armaments. it is thought that he VIII
treat this subject at some length In
his message.
It is understood also that the Pres-
Sdent will discuss veteran rellef. leg
tslation looking to the strengthening
Of the merchant marine act, develop,
y,ent of inland waterways and good
roads. disposal of the Muscle Shoals
rroiect. coal regulation, prohlbltlon
enforcement and reclamation.
The President has about three
weeks in which to go over all these
subjects and then put his message IN