Evening star., 1928-12-31

PERIOD OF PROSPERITY
ALMOST UNPARALLELED
Z. S.. Marines and Diplomats End
Nicaraguan Warfare and Give
Nation Real Election.

recognized this principle and appropri-
ated 1925, 100000 for the work. The
President was equally insistent against
the McNary Haugen farm relief meas
ure and when both houses passed it he
vetoed it. Another major piece of legis-
lation was the finance bill which reduced
taxes more than $200000,000. The
Boulder Canyon dam project, so dear to
California, was the subject of long and
bitter fight. The House passed the bill,
but when Congress adjourned on May
% it was left as unfinished business in
the Senate.
Congress assembled for the short term
on December with small prospect of
passing any important measures except
the necessary supply bills. The Repub-
licans decided that the matter of tariff
revision should be taken up early in
January, but it was virtually agreed
upon that this and farm relief should be
passed on to a special session which Mr..
Hoover had said he would call. Presi-
dent Coolidge in his message gave an
account of his stewardship for five and
a half years and pictured the state of
the Nation as most favorable, with
peace, prosperity and good will unprece-
dented. Chief among his recommend
ations to the law makers were:
A system of farm relief consisting of
Federal farm board and stabilization
corporations to handle crops surpluses,
financed in the beginning by the Gov
ernment revolving fund.
Passage of the bill providing for 10
additional cruisers and one airplane
carrier, but without the requirement. for
laying them down in three years.
Ratification of the Kellogg multi
lateral treaty for the remuneration of
war as an instrument of national policy.
A more effective law to promote the
consolidation of the railroads into few
great systems.
Budget Submitted.
Next day he submitted budget for
the fiscal year 1880, calling for expen-
ditures of S3,780, ,719,647. This would
leave a Treasury surplus estimated at
$50 1915, 1872, which he declared offered
no immediate prospect of further tax
reduction.
President and Mrs Coolidge spent
their Summer vacation at fishing
ladge in Northern Wisconsin. Their
son John went to work in the offices
of an Eastern railroad, and in Noyem-
ber his engagement to Miss Florence
Trumbull, daughter of the Governor OF
Connecticut, was announced.
Prohibitions best friends could not
say much for the success of its en-
forcement during the year. and its foes
were provided with ammunition by the
rather frequent cases of reckless use OF
firearms by enforcement agents. The
Attorney Generals annual report adj
mitted that little progress has been
made in suppressing the smuggling of
| liquor across the Canadian border, al
though the Dominion government did
what it could to help in various ways.
| There was, however. no reason to be-
lieve that the dry law would be modi-
fed, for the newly elected Congress
was believed to be strongly dry.
The convention of the American
Legion was held in San Antonio, Tex,
| in october and Paul V. McNutt was
| elected national commander. At the
same time the United Spanish War Vet
Grams met in Havana, Cuba. In
| September the Grand Army of the Re-
public held its encampment in Denver
| and chose John Reese for its COM
mander-in-chief.