Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-25
CO0L|DGE-H0OVER
HARMONY PREVAILS
Hope for Split on Flood Con-
troll Plans Is Quickly
Dissipated.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

All hope OF forcing political break
between President Coolidge and Secre-
tary Hoover on the theory that they
disagreed on flood control plans. not
only has been disSipated. but there
now is every indication that the Presi-
dent will use the changed situation with
reference to appropriations for the Mis-
sissippi Valley as an argument against
excessive tax reduction and possibly
against any tax reduction at all.
Ever since it became apparent that
the Democrats in the Senate were get
ting ready to tack a tariff bill on the
tax reduction measure when it came out
of the House. the talk OF veto OF that
tax bill has been growing stronger in
administration quarters Mr.. Coolidge's
original recommendations to Congress
did not contemplate extensive expendi-
lures for flood control.
Question Of Expense.
Now that the States have objected to
footing the bill. Mr.. Coolidge is willing
for the first years OF expense to be
borne entirely BY the Federal Govern
ment and then II the economic condi-
ton of the States warrant 1t he believes
commission can fix the debt OF the
States on the basis OF capacity to pay
Whether Congress will accept the
compromise plan remains to be seen.
but in any event 1t places Mr.. Coolidge
in a position whereby he can modify
his position hitherto taken that the
States should bear 20 per cent and the
Federal Government 80 per cent
Mr. Hoover was known to have felt
that the Federal Government should
pay the fun bill. but when he got back
TO Washington he did not publicly adj
vocatc such course and when he was
summoned to testify before a Senate
committee, his political opponents as
sumed he would have TO break with
the President on the issue. But Mr..
Coolidge was familiar with the situa-
ton and let 1t be known that he. too.
was changing his position as TO the
amount that need be paid at the out
set. Mr.. Hoover told the Senate COM
mittee that some proportion of the ex-
pense should be paid by the States.
but he did not indicate any detailed
plan A few hours afterward word
came TO the Capitol that the President
favored the idea OF a commission to
fixe the expense for later years that the
States should bear
Senator Willis of Ohio was a member
Of the committee interrogating Mr..
Hoover. but he has consistently main.
tanned that he was mot in favor of
questioning Mr.. Hoover for political
purposes. but merely to get the Sec
retary's views on a subject which con-
Germs Ohio as vitality as other States
in the Mississippi River system.
Presidents Position.
Perhaps more important than the
elimination OF what might have become
political episode In the Hoover cam
paign Is the disclosure OF the presi-
dents willingness to modify his views
on the method OF paying for food
control. This is really believed 10 have
been the object of Senator Halves
Democrat, OF Missouri in insisting that
the Secretary OF Commerce be sum-
moned.
Mr. Halves as q Democrat isn't In
terested in the Republican presidential
contest so much. but he Is vitality con-
cerned In what shall be done In the
Mississippi Valley. and the effect of the
calling Of Mr., Hoover has been, 10 de-
velop clearly the compromise plan OF
the President. something which marks
steady advance for the forces which
have insisted that the problem Of food
prevention Is national and not local.
sConSrieht i9.s