Evening star., 1928-12-04
Message to Congress
Stresses Need for
More Cruisers.
RAIL MERCER BILL
ENACTMENT URGED
Passage of Measure Great
ing Federal Farm Board
Also Recommended.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.


nual message submitted to Con-
greSs today, gave a report of his
stewardship and his recommended
tionS for the future. No more
remarkable picture of American
development and no more virile
and optimistic view of the future
have been drawn by a President
of the United States. At the same
time, President Coolidge warns
the country that effort is needed
to retain the fortunate position
in which the United States now
finds itself.
The President outlined his
recommendations for legislation
at the present short session OF
Congress. Chief among them
were:
Enactment of bill creating a
Federal farm board to aid the
farmers in solving the problem of
handling crop SurpluSeS.
Passage of the naval construc-
: tion bill to give the country
needed cruisers.
Ratification of the Kellogg
multilateral treaty renouncing
war.
Additional laws to promote the
consolidation of railroads.
Must Retain Position.
While the Chief Executive declared
In unequivocal terms that never IN
history has nation been in better con-
dition from every point OF view, he Is
sued a warning that it "iS easy for
nation to become selfish and degen-
crate" with continued peace and pros
perity. His concluding paragraphs
were:
"The country Is in the midsAN0fw wans
era of prosperity more extensive and OF
peace more permanents than it has
ever before experienced. But, having
reached this position, we should not
fail to comprehend that it can easily
be lost. 1t needs more effort for its
support than the less exalted places OF
the world. We shall not be permitted
10 take our ease, but shall continue to
be required to spend our days in ur1-
remitting toll The actions of the Gov
ernment must command the confidence
of the country. Without this our pros
perity would be lost. We must extend
to other countries the largest measure
of generosity, moderation and patience.
In addition to dealing justly, we can
well afford to walk humbly
THE end of government is to keep
open the opportunity for more abun-
dant life. Peace and prosperity are not
finalities; they are only methods. It
is too easy under their influence for a
nation to become selfish and degen-
crate. This test has come to the United
States Our country has been pro-
vided with the resources with which 1t
can enlarge its intellectual, moral and
spiritual life The issue is in the
hands of the people. Our faith in man
and God is the justification for the
belief in our continuing success"
Credits People for Advances.
The President gave credit to "the
integrity and character" of the Amer
ican people for the great advances
which have been made. He declared
that in the domestic field there is
tranquility and content; in the for
eign field, peace, the goodwill which
comes from mutual understanding.
"The requirements of existence, -
said the President, have passed be-
yond the standard of necessity into the
region or luxury.
I'VE have substituted for the various
circle of increasing expenditures" con-
tinued the President. increasing tax
rates, and diminishing profits, the
charmed circle of diminishing expendi
lures and increasing profits.
-Four times we have made a drastic
revision of our internal revenue syS-
tenn, abolishing many taxes and SUBJ
stantially reducing almost all others.
"One-third of the national debt has
been paid"
The President called attention to the
fact that much of the other two-thirds
of the national debt has been refunded
at lower rates of interest saving many
millions of dollars to the people. The
tax rates have been lowered, he said
with scarcely any diminution of the
Government revenue.
Economy Is Stressed.
THAT" said the President, sis con-
structive economy in the highest
degree. 1t is the corner stone of pros
perity. 1t should not fail to be con-
tinued."
It was at this point in his message
that the President warned the Con.
gress that there must be no new ap'
propriations made for new projects al
this time unless the Congress was will
lIlS 10 1lilQ IIledIlS OI TdlSulB JIle I6NeIlu'
to cover the costs. He said emphati
cally he would veto bills which were
calculated to unbalance the budget
Urging continued economy in govern
mental expenditures, he said:
This action began by the application
of economy to public expenditure. If i
is to be permanent, it must be made 81
by the repeated application of economy
There is no surplus on which to bas'
further tax revision at this time Las
June the estimates showed threatened
deficit for the current fiscal year o
100000. Under my direction tn
departments began saving all they coult
out of their present appropriations
The last tax reduction brought an en-
couraging improvement in business, be
ginning early in October, which vii
also increase our revenue. The com
bination of economy and good time
now indicates a surplus of about $37,
100000.
Must Provide Revenue.
'"This is a margin of less than / pc
cent on our expenditures and make
It obvious that the Treasury is in n
condition to undertake increases in eX
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