Evening Star Newspaper, February 13, 1924, Page 4

r4 THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTQN, . D. C., WEDN ESPAY, ;FEBRUARY 13, 1924. Coolidge Pledges Oil Prosecution, Upholds Tax Cut, Farm Aid, Mexican Arms Sales DETERMINED TO BARE * ALL GUILTY, HE INSISTS Tells Republican Club No Politics, Only Speed and Justice, Will Enter Scandal Purging. Mr. Chairman: One hundred and fifteen years ago today Abraham Lincoln was born. How great he became can- not yet be accurately measured, although nearly sixty vears have passed since his death. Frohably there has been no one justly en- titled to be termed “the greatest man in the world.” As there are many different talents, so there are many difterent kinds of greatness. This makes comparisons somewhat barren of results. But measured by ability, achievement and character, America has long placed Washing- ton and Lincoln as the two men in our history pre-eminently entitled 1o be termed “truly great.” In this opinion we have the general con- currence of mankind. ' While oth- ers approach them, they are not outranked by any of the other fig- ures which all civilization has pro- duced, throughout its record of thousands of years. In & way all men are great. It 15 on that conception that Ameri- can institutions have been found- ed. Perhaps the differences are not #o much as many suppose. Yet there are differences which set oft some men above their fellows. What these differences are in a par- ticular case is a matter somewhat of personal opinion. To me the greatness of Lincoln consisted very Jargely of a vision by which he saw more clearly than the men of his time the moral relationship of things. His greut achievement lay in bringing the different elements of his country into a more truly moral relationship. He was the commander-in-chief of the great- est armles the world had then seen. They were victorious. Yet we. do 1ot look upon him as a conqueror. He directed the raising and expen diture® of vast sums of mon fet we do not think of him as a financier. The course which he followed cost many lives and des lated much territory. Yet we think ©of him not as placing & burden on the nation, but removing one from it, not as a destroyer but a re- slorer. He was a llberator. He struck the fetters not only from the bodies but from the minds of men. He was a great moral force. Mude Freedom Seourer. Wkhen _Lincoin had finished his course ne had made the foundu- tion of freedom stronger and firmer on which to bulld national unity. Strengthening that prinei- ple was the chicf accomplishment ©of his life. He pointed out that the nution could not endure half slave and: half free. The mighty work which he did finaily leit it to endure all froe. Hi restored na- tional unity by reswring moral unit The questions ercd in his day W hesitation in_concluding were finally and definitely settled. There is no difference of opinion, no ar- bout them now. The which he drew have which he consid- > need have no is time developments new problems been met. The industrial struggle which came, lasting up to tho days af the.world war, for increased compensziion to wage earners, for the beitering of thelr condition, while it has never been fully settled, does not appear at present to bé acute, The rewards of labor: engaged 'in commerce, transportation _and industry are now such as to afford the most liberal participation in all the es- sentlals of life. What this tre- mendous opportunity now held by the wage earncr, if wisely and justly administered, will mean to the well being of the mnation is almost beyond comprehension. It opens up the prospect of a new era In_human existence. Tt justi- fies the assertion that. While America has problems, it is not lacking in _the abllity or courage to comprehend and seolve them. It is a warrant for confldence in the future. That national unity for which Lincoln laid the foundation re- quires perpetual adjustment for its maintenance. How great our country really is, how diversiffed are its interests, Is almost beyond the comprehension of any one man. Yet great and diversified as it s, any pretense of sound morals or sound economics re- quires that each part, each sec- tion and each interest should be looked upon by the government with llke solicitude, all sharing the common burdens, all partaking of the common welfare. There I no soung. policy which is narrow, or sectional, or limited. Every sound policy must be national in its scope. It is always necessary to determine what will be good for the whole country. Importance of. Farming. The 'necessary observance of, these. principles requires, at the present time, that a large amount, of attention' should be given to agriculture. This is an _Interest on which it 1s estimated that more than forty 'millions of our people are ~ directly er indirectly de pendent. It represonts an invest- ment several times as large a< that of all the railroads of tho country, It has gn aggregate pro- duction ‘of .over &§8,000,000,000 each vear. Yet with all these vast re- sources of production and con- sumption, and the vast purchasing power. for the products of ' the farm, which is represented by the prosperity of our indystry and commerce, with here and there an exceptlon, agriculture as a whoie languishes. Production has outrun the power of distribution and consumption. The farm population is not in- creasing, but the impvoved meth- ods of tillage and inventions in farm machinery, have all con- tributed to increase the per capita output. It 18 in this direction that the agricuitural schools and col- leges have placed their major em- phasis. Thelir education has been substantially all on the side of improved methods of production and none on the side of distribu- tion, consumption and marketing. When there is a difficulty which affects so large a. population, so large an area and so important an interest as that of agriculture it is distinctly a national question. Tt scarcely needs to be pointed out that agriculture is of vital im- portance to our country. It is the primary source of sustenance, enterprise, industry and wealth. Every one ought to know that it 18 basic and fundamental. With- out 2 healthy, productive and. prosperous agriculture, there can be no real national prosperity. It 18 perfectly obvious that there is something radically wrong when agriculture is found in its present statc of depression at a time when manufacturing, transportation and commerce are on the whole in a remarkable state of prosperity. No_one would deny, I suppose, that induatrially we are very flour- ishing. Hvery standard by which prosperity is measured, whether it be production, movement of freight, corporate earnings, em- ployment of labor, or bank clear- ings, all point to the same conclu- sion. Disregarding the abnormal ‘war-time condition, for every im- portant enterprise save cul- ture the year 1923 undoubte holds the record. Earnings. h been very greatly inoressed, e except here and there, as in the case of some rallroads, must be looked upon with a great deal of satistaction. Only Partially Revived. Rut agriculture hes only par- tlally revived. Its position has been improved, and the returns for the year are nearly 30 per cent in excess of two years ago. ‘But the great food staples do not sell on a parity with the products of indus- try. “Thelr average price la little above the pre-war level, while manufactures are about 50 per cent higher. The farmer is not receiv- ing his share. The result has been a decrease in the value of farm lands, the choking of the avenues of oredit with obligations which are worth- less or doubtfyl, the foreclosure of mortgages, and the suapension of a large number of: banks. To this depression there have been other contributing causes, but the main difficulty has been the price of farm produce. Very likely you are wondering why agriculture should be dis- cussed here in tlis metropolis, One reason is that I want to emphasize as foreibly as possible your very intimate dependence upon agricul- tural welfare. That great interest cannot be affected without the necessity of your being, affected. The farm is one of the chiet mar- kets for the industries of the na- tion. You have a direct economic and financlal interest. You cannot Tong prosper with that great popu- lation and great area in distress. You have a political interest. The people of those numerous states cast_an enormous influence upon the making of the laws by which you are governed. Unsound eco- nomic conditions are not conducive to sound legislation. The farm has a social value which cannot be overestimated. It is the natural home of liberty and the support of courage and charecter. In all the natfon it is the chief ahiding place of the spirit of Independence. I do not need to dwell upon the moral requirement for the equitable dis- tribution of prosperity and the re- lief of distress by the application of every possible and sound rem- edy. This problem is not merely the problem of the agricultural sections of our country: it is the problem likewlise of Industrty, of transportation, of commerce, and of banking. I bring it to you be- cauge I know that in part it is our problem. I have already en- couraged organization and co-op- erative marketing that organize agricuiture may cope with organ- ized_industry. 1 have promoted tariff investigations for increased rates on wheat. 1 have extended rellef through the War Finance Corperation and the federal re- serve bank system. Need of Support. 1 shall not now discuss the de- talls of legislation or enter upon a presenation of peculiarly agri- cultural remedies. I made specific recommendations in my message to the Congress, and there are bills pending for carrying my sug- zestions into effect. What 1 am most anxious to impress upon the prosperous part of our country Is the utmost necessity that they should be willing to make sacri- fices for the assigtance of the un- successful part. I do not mean by that any unsound device like price ng. which I oppose hecause it would not make prices higher, but would, in the end, make them lower: it would mot’ be successful and would not prove a remedy. But 1 do mean that the resources of the country ought to came ta the support of agriculture. The or- ganizatlon recently perfected to supply money and management for the larger aspects of agriculture ought to have vour sympathetic and_active support. I am glad financial America is moving in that direction. It will be less work and less expenge for you to meet thig situation in that way, for vou will meet it; you will be affected by its economic, pollitical sd_moral results. Whi an examination is made to ascertain some of the causes of these conditions, among the first which suggest themaelves is the amount and the method of na- tional taxation. Out of an Income of about $60.000.000.000 the peonie of this country pay nearly $7,500,- 000,000 in taxes, which is over $68 for every inhabitant of the lan Of this amount the national ernment collects about. $3,200. 000,000, and tire state and logal governments about $4,300.000,000. As a direct burden this is 2 stu- pendous sum, but when it is real- ized that in the course of our cconomic life it is greatly aug- mented when' it reaches the con- sumer in the form of the high cost of living, its real significance be- gins to be appreclated. The na- tional and Jocal governments ought to be unremitting In their -efforts to reduce expenditures and pay their debts, This the national government is earnestly seeking to do. The war cost of fore than $40,000,000,000 is e2iready nearly half pald. Amid. the disordered currencies of the warring natlons our money is. and has been main- tained, at the ‘gold standard. O budget has. long since been bal anced, and our debt-paying pro- gram is at the rate of $600,000,000 each vear. In_ spita of all these expenditures, the next flscal year has an estimated surpius revenue of_aver $300,000,060. This represents a great financial achievement in_ the paat - three years. In- the firat :laca, it was necessary to provide for more than $7,000,000,000 of short~time maturities, These haye all either been paid ar refunded, so. that they will become- due in the future at orderly intervals, when they can be retired or further extended. When it ix realized that such large loans were made in & way that not only left business undisturbed, but was scarcely perceptible to the puplic, the skill with which Secre-~ tary Mellon managed them can ‘well be appreciated. Reduciag Expeaditares, Coincident this was the even greater task of reducing na- tional expenditures, Through leg. islative enactment and executive effort this has gone steadily for- ward, and is now proceeding from day to day. Under the watchful care of the hudget bureau every department is constantly- strivin to eliminate all waste and discar every. unnecessary se. Every reasonable effort has been made to secure tha liguidation of our international debts. The largest, which was that of Great Britain, and which amounted with accum interest to 94,600~ 000,000, has been settled on terms that provide for ite payment over & period. of mixty-two years. In- terest nuns at 3 per cent until 1833, and after that 33 per cent. This calls for' payments in the ifmmediate future of over $160, 000,000 a year. They have the op- tion to pay us in our own bonds, and In its practical working this agreement does not_involve. cash payments to this country, but sim- ply & mutual cancellation of debts The funding of the British debt was one of the greatest af inter- national financial transactions. It hed its. effect on business confl- donce, which was: world wide, It demonstrated the determination of the great empire to faithfully dis- ‘chasge its. international obliga- tions, In this respect it was much - if the more than a financial trgnsactlon; it was an exhibition of the highest tyne of international homor. It showed that the moral standard sf the world was going to be man- tained. All of this has lald the founda- tion for national tax reduction and reform. In time of war fin- ances, like all must yield to natlonal defense and preserva- tion. In time of peace finances, like all else, should minister to the &eneral welfare. Immediately upon my taking office it was de- terminated, after conference with Secretary Mellon, that the Treas- ury Department should study the possibility of tax reduction for the urpose of securing relief to all taxpayers of the country and emancipating business from un- reasonable and hampering exac- tions. The result was the pro- posed bill, which is now pending before the Congress. It is doubt- ful if any measure ever received more generous testimony of ap- proval. Opposition has appeared to_some of its details, but to the polidy of immediate and drastic reduction of taxes, 80 arranged as to benefit all classes and all kinds of business, there has been the most general approbation. These recommendations have been made by the Treasury as the expert ad- viser of the government. They follow, in thelr main principle of a decrease in high surtaxes, which is_only another name for war texes, the views of the two preceding Secretaries of the Treasury, both of them democrats of pronounced abllity. They are nonpartisan, well thought out, and sound. They carry out the policy of reducing the taxes of every- body. especlally people of moder- ate income. They give to the country almost a million dollars every working day. Fixed Policy of Rates. The proposed bill maintains the fixed policy of rate graduated in proportion to the ability to pay. That policy has recelved almost unlversal sanction. It is sustained by sound arguments based on eco- nomic, social and moral grounds. But in taxation, like everything cise, 1t 1s-nocossary to teat a theory by practical results. The first ob- Ject of taxation is to secure reve- Nue. When the taxation of large incomes is approsched with this in view, the problem is to find a rate which will produce the laragest returns. Experience does not show that the higher rate produces the Experience is all When the surtax incomes of $300,000 and s but 10 pen cent, the reve- = about the same as It was 5 per cent. There is no escap- ing the fact that when the taxi- tion of large {ncomes in excessive they tend to disappear. In 1916 there were 208 incomes of $1,000,- 000 or more. Then the high tax rate went into effect. The next year there were only 141, and in 1918 but 67. In 1919 the number declingd to 65. In 1920 it fell to and in 1821 it was further reduce to 21. Iam not making any urzu- ment_with the man who believes that 55 per cent ought to be taken away from the $1,000,000 income, or 68 per cent from a $5,000,000 income; but when it is considered that in the effort to get th amounts we are rapidly approach- ing”the point of getting nothing at all, it is necessary to look for a more practical method. T be done only by a reduction high surtaxes when viewed solely as a revenue proposition, to about 26_per cent. I agree perfectly with those who wish to reffeve the small taxpayver by getting the largest possible con- tribution from the people with large incomes. But if the rates on large incomes are so high that they" disappear, the small taxpayer will be left to bear the entire bur- den. If, on the other hand, the rates are placed where they will produce the most revenue from large incomes, then the smzll tax- payer will be relieved. The ex- perience of the Treasury Depart- ment and the opinion of the best experts place the rate which will collect most from the people of great wealth, thus giving the larg- est’ relief to people_of wealth, at not over 25 per cent. A very Important soclal and eco- nomic question is also involved in high rates. That is the result tax- ation has upon national develop- ment. Our progress in that direc- tion depends upon two factors— personal ability and surplus in- come. An expanding prosperity requires that the:largest possible amount of surplus income should be invested in productive enter- prise under the direction of the best personal ability. This will not be done if the rewards of such action are very largely-taken awsy by taxatlon. If we had a ta whereby on the first working day the government took b per cent of your wages, on the second day 10 Der cent, on the third day 20 per cent, on the fourth day 30 per cent. on the fifth day 50 per cent, and on the sixth day 60 per cent, how many of you would continue to work_on the last two days of tho week? It I8 the same with capital. Surplus income will go into tax- exempt securities. It will refuse to take the risk incidental to em- barking in business. This will raise the rate which established business wiil have to pay for new capital, and result In a marked foerease In the cost of living. If new capital will not flow into com- peting enterprise the present con- cerns tend toward monopoly, in- creasing again the prices Which the people must pay. The high prices paid and low prices received on the farm are directly due to our unsound meth- od of. taxation. I shall illustrate by a simple example: A farmer ships a steer to Chicago. His tax, the tax on the rallroad transport- ing- the animal, and of the yards ‘where. the animal is sold go into the peice of the animalto the packer. The packer’'s tax goes into the price of the hide to the New England shoe manufacturer. The manufacturer's tax goes into the price to the wholesaler, and the Wholesaler's tax goes into the price to.the retailer, who in turn adde his tax in his price to his purchaser. So it may be sald that farmer ultimately wears the shoes he peys everybods's Ull- es from the farm to his feet. It is for this reason that high taxes mean a high price level, and a high price level in its turn means difficulty in meeting: world compe- tition. Most of all, the farmer suffers from the effect of this high price lsvel, In what he buys he meets domestic comts of high taxes and the high price level. In what he sells he meets world comDeL', ttion with a low price level Tt is easential, therefore, for the go0d of the people as a whole that we pay not so much attention to the tax paid directly by a certain number of the taxpayers, but we must devote our efforts to reliev- ing the tax pajd indirectly by the whole people. Method of Taxation. “faken sitogether, L think it is easy enough to see that I wish to include in the program & p.d‘llctrl:’n in the high surtax rates, not that small incomes may be required to pay more and large. incomes be re- Qquired to pay less, but that more revenug may be seouned from large incomes and taxos on small in- comes. may be reduced: mot be- cause 1 wish to relieve the wealth, but because I wish to relleve the country. The practical working out of the proposed schedules is best sum- mariged by the TPreasury expert: who find that $92.000,000 a year will be saved to those who have incomes upder $6,000; $52,000,000 to those who have incomes be- tweon 86,000 and $10,000; and that less than 3 per cent of the pro- pomed reduction would accrue to those who have incomes of over $100,000. A married man with two chijdren, ‘baving - an income of 4,000, would have'his tax reduced 'rom $28 to $16.753 having $5,000, gon 68 to $38.: havi 6,000, om $138 to $72;, havh 8,000, moderate . High Spots in President’s’ Speech LINCOLN. ion b, c moral relationship of things. To nt_the greatness of Lincoln convisted very largely of which he saw more clearly than the men of hig time the He struck the fetters not, only from 1y of a vis- the bodies. but from the minds of men. EE : PROBLEMS. e B s This tremendous opportunity * * * justifies the assertion that while America has problems, it is not lacking in the ability or courage to <omprehend and solve. them. y I . . That national umity for which Lincoln laid the Houndation re- quires perpétual adjustment for its maintenance. There is no sound policy which #s narrow or sectional or limited. * ¥ K X ' AGRICULTURE. Without 2 healthy, productive and prosperous agriculture there can be no real national prosperity. The farm has a social value which cannot be overestimated. It is the natural home of liberty and the support of courage and char- acter. What I am most anxious to impress upon the prosperous part of our country is the utmost necessity that they should be willing to make sacrifices for the assistance of the unsuccessful part. * %k ¥k k¥ FOREIGN DEBTS. The funding of the British debt waa one of the greatest of international financial transactions. * * * {t showed that the moral standards of the world are going to be maintained. * k k ¥ TAX REDUCTION. 1f we had a tax whereby on the first working day the govern- ment took S per cent of your wages, on the second day 10 per cent, on the third day 20 per cent, on the fourth «lay 30 per cent, on the fiith day 50 per cent and on the sixth day 60 per cent, how many of you woukd continue to work on the last two days of the week? It is the same with capital. I wish to include in the program a reductfion in the high surtax rates, not that small incomes may be required to pay more and large incomes be required to pay less, but that more revenue may be se- cured from large incomes and taxes on small not because I wish to relieve the wealthy, but because I wish duced;; to relieve the country. incomes may be re- I stand on the simple proposition that the country is entitled to all the relief from the burden of taxation which it is possible to give. The people must understand that this is their fight. {'nless they make their wishes known to the Congress can win it. without regard to party this bill will not pass. newed efforts, They alone I urge them to re- * % ¥ % BONUS. I¢ is of the utmost importance, in order to meet a fast-approach- ing foreign competition, that to keep business good and prevent de- pression we must reduce our debt and keep amr expenditures as low as possible. These are the economic reasons why the granting of a bonus would jeopardize the welfare of the whale country. A fiew months of ood times are worth mare to the service men themselves than anything they could receive im the way of a bonus. The American soldier of sccurfilg personal gain. not enter the serwice for the purpose d kK ¥ REPARATIONS. Three Americans of outstanding and well sesoned ability have been called to give their expert assistance and adwice. They do not represent our government. Their only ofiicial standing comes from their beingr agents of the reparation commission. Yet they cannot help being Americans and will bring to their problem not the point of view of the American government, but, what may be more ei- fective, the point of view of the American mind. 3 * % MEXICO. When disorder arose there President Obregon sought the pur- chase of a small amount of arms and munitions of our government for the purpose of insuring his own domestic tranquillity. We had ecither to refuse or to comply. To refuse would have ipreared to be h equivalent to deciding that a friendly government, wi recognized, g@ught not to be permitted to protect itseli. cision ran in a counter direction. ich we had My de- * k ¥ X OIL SCANDAL. There will be immediate, adequate, unshrinking prosecution, criminal and civil, to punish the guilty and to protect every national interest. 1 1t will be speedy, it will be just. In this effort there will be no politics, no partisanship. I am a republican, but I cannot on that account shield any one because he is a republican. Iam a re- publican, but I cannot on that account prosecute any one because he is a democrat. I want no hue and cry, no min ing of innocent and guilty in unthinking condemnation, no confusion of mere questions of law with questions of fraud and corruption. It is_at such a time that the quality of our citizenry is tested—unrelenting toward evil, fair- minded and intent upon the requirements of due process, the shield of the innocent and the safeguard of society itseli. I ask the sup- port of the people, as Chief Magistrate, intent on the enforcement of our laws, without fear or favor, no matter who is hurt or what the consequences. * % ok R CONCLUSION. .. We have our trials and perplexities of our day, but they seem insignificant compared with those which taxed the genius of Lin- coln. The government maintained itself then; the government will maintain _itself now. The forces of evil do_not long triumph. The power of justice cannot long be delayed. The moral force of Lin- coln is with us still. nor sleep.” “He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber T ————— from $276 to $144; and havin, $10,000, from $456 to $234. ® Taxes On Imcomen. In order to secure these results, the administration bill proposes to reduce the tax on earned in- come 25 per cent, and the normal tax on unearned income also 25 per cent. This would.apply to all incomes alike, great and small, and would provide general and ex tensive relief. Further reductions would be secured by increasing the amount of income exempt from surtaxes from $6.000 to $10,000. Such surtaxes increase progress- ively until on incomes of $100,000 or more they reach the maximum of 25 per cent, .which, with the nor- mal tax of 6 per cent, make lar, incomes pay in all 31 per cent. Tt is_also proposed to repeal many troublesome and annoying rates, such as admission taxes and.sales taxes, the existence of which is re- flocted in the increased cost of doing business and the higher Pprices required from the people. That is the tax measure which has been proposed, and which has my support Because I wish to glve to all the people all the relief which It contains, I am opposed to material alteration and compro- mise. It is about as far removed 28 anything could be from any kind of partisanship: ~At least, I g:r:x’ot cherge that thers is any ¥ _or any responsible party leadership that admits it is opposed to making taxes low and in favor of ' keeping taxes high. But the actions and proposals of some aro liable to have just that result. I stand on the ‘simple proposition that the country is entitled to all the relief from the burden of tax- ation which it is possible to give. The proposed measure gives such relief. Other measures which have been brought forward do not meet this requirement. They have the apparance of an Indirect attempt to defeat a good measure with & bad measure. - You have heard much of the Gardner plan. Brbught forward to have something differ- ent, it purported to relieve the greatest number of taxpayers. It f.ve not the slightest heed to the ndirect effect of high taxes, or to Athe approaching drying up of the source of revenue and consequent failure of the progressive income tax, or to the destruction of busi- mess Initlative. It is political in theory. When the effect of its provisions was estimated, tt meant & loss of revenue heyend any pected surplus. It is impossible in practice. The people will not be misled by such proposals. It is entirely possible to have a first- class bill. I want the coumtry to have the best there fs. 1 am for it because it will reduce taxes on all classes of income. I am for it Dbecause it will encourage business. Y am for it because it will decrease the cost of living. I am for it be- .cause it is economically, soclally, and morally sound. But the people must understand this is their fight. They alone can' win it. Unless they make their wishes known to the Congress without regard te party this hill will not pass. I urge them to re- mewed efforts. Since, August, 3919, the public debt has been decreasing. t $4.500,000,000 has been ‘ul:b?l, This means a reduction in interest of almost $200.000,000. It 1s of the utmost importance, in order to be able to meet a fasd approaching foreign competition, that to keep business good and prevent depres- slon we reduce our debt and keep our expenditures as low as pos sible.” These are the economic rea sons why the granting of a bonus would jeopardize the welfare of the whole country. It was esti- mated that under the bonus bill Wwhich was vetoed, If all the bene- ficlaries had taken the certificates ‘which it was proposed to ssue, the plan would have cost $225,000,000 annually for the first four years, and a fotal of $5,400,000,000. This would more than' destroy all the great labor which the country has gone through for the purpose of reducing its debt. It would mean the indefinite postponement of any tax reduction, another increase in the cost of living, more drying up of the sources of credit, and a robable ralsing of the rates of nterest; all of which would re- sult in {nflation and higher prices, with tife grave danger of ultimate disaster to our financial system. We have been through one period of deflation. Nearly all the men on the farms and many of the men in business have not yet recovered from it, apd the country certainly does not want to take the rilik of another like experience. A few months of good times are worth more to the service men them- selves than anything.they could receive in the way of a honu: But this question goes deeper than that. I am aware that some men made mongy out of the war. Many of them lost what they made, but nat all. - No doybt there are some such who are justly to be criticized for greed ‘and selfish- mess, i Unfortunately they would not pay the bonus. It would have ta be pald by the country. I have already undertaken to demonstrate that taxes are paid by the great mass of the people. It is neces- sary to consider.whether there be any moral justification for placing all the people under. this great burden, in erder to Day some meney to & part of the people, many of whom do not want it and are offering pronounced. objection to it. A very large body of serv- ice men ‘do not want the bonus, and object to being taxed in order that it may be paid. Thelr re- quest is entitled ‘to just as much consideration as the rc;unu of those who do want it. They are just as eager now to save. their country from financlal disaster as they were formerly to save it from military disaster.’ They are en- titled to be . - This question ought to be.decided in accordance with the . welfsre of the whole country. Beyoud Al Price. No'one doubts the patriotism of those who advocate the bonus, No one denfes that the country owes a dedt ‘which it meyer can pay to those’” who .were: in the seryice. X! upt be recom. nged, gflr healf\restored, thetr jents supporyt: sli at public E rCentitled to the | { 1 ' 1 { Russian jgay_ relief in | Rimsky-Korsako! highest honor. But the service they rendered was of such & nature that it cannot be recompensed to ‘t‘hem by the payment of money. merica was not waging war for the purpose of securing spolls. The American goldier did not enter the service for the purpose of se- curing personal gain. I have lately undertaken to de- fine the outline of the foreign pol- ey of the present government. Nothing has occurred since my message to the Congress that re- auires any change in that policy. The prospect of a European settle- ment, however, has arisen, which holds some promise. Three Ameri- cans of outstanding and well sea- soned ability have been called to give their expert assistance and advice. They do not represent our government. Thelr only official standing comes from their being agents of the reparation commis- sion. Yet they cannot help being Americans. and will bring to their problem not the point of view of the American government but, what may be more effective, the point of view of the American mind. Without doubt any settle- ment would call for a European funding and financing, which would be of doubtful success with- out American participation, ~ The export of such capital as Is not required for domestic business, and which the American people feel can be profitably done, having in_view the financial returns, en- largement of our trade, and the discharge of the moral obligation of bearing our share of the bur- dens of the world, entirely in ac- cordance with the choice of our own independent judgment, ought to be encouraged. Our government does not want war anywhere. It wants peace everywhere. It does not look with sympathy upon the manufacture or sale of arms and munitions by wh one country might make war upon another country. It rec- ognizes, however, that every gov- ernment must necessarily ~main- tain some military establishment for national defense and the po- licing of its own domain. For such incidental purposes there could be little criticism if our government or private interests, having the necessary equipment, should fur- nish it. " But it is a trafic which we wish to discourage rather than encourage. We do not belfeve in great armaments. Especially are We opposed to anything like com- petitive armaments. While the present time does not appear pro- pitious for u further effort at limi- tation, should a European settle- ment e accomplished, something might be hoped for In' that direc- tion. The United States stands ready to Join witi the other great there appears reasonuble prospect of agree- ment, in a further limitation of competitive armaments. Situation in Mexieo. A situation has recently arisen in Mexico which has caused some solicitude. We recognize that the people of that country have a per- fect right to set up and puil down governments without any inter- ference from us, so long as there is no interference with the lawful rights of our government or our citizens within their territory. We do not harbor the slightest desire 1o dictate to them in the smallest degree. We have every wish to be friendly and helpful. After a long period of shifting and what appeared to us to be unsubstantial STOKOWSKI CONCERT WINS HIGH TRIBUTE Leads Philadelphia Symphony Or-! chestra in All-Russian Program. Leopold Stokowski's mastery of the baton was strongly in evidence at the concert of the Theater yesterday afternoon. orchestra is in itself a great organ- ization. With Stokowskl leading it in a program of all-Russian music, | the combination seems perfect. Rare- 1y has Washington enjoyed so beau- tiful a concert. “The overture was from “Rouslane second opera by Glinka, father of Russlan music. In this selection is sounded the blend of that is et Ludmila,” the oriental and Slavic musie typical of the land of the Steppes. The symphony was Tschaikowsky’'s 'No. 4 in F,” written to portray the nd the | phantom character of romantic bliss | 28 opposed to the crude clamor of The Mr. | generously insisted that clusiveness of true happines existence. and human reality in superb symphon: is Stokow: the orchestra members who played important passages rise to receive the ovations that greeted the completion of each movement. Particularly fantastic and colorful was the scherzo with continuous plzzicato by the strings. Representative of the schoo} of Russian _music Rimsky-Korsakoff's _“Dance. “Snegourotchka,” which s brilliant finale to the program. Another phase of Russian music was presented in_two groups of songs by Nina Koshetz, the soprano, Who won_popularity when touring with the,Ukrainian chorus & year ago. Mme. Roshetz sang a group of Moussorgsky's dramatic songs, most- iy in a minor vein, as only the true artist can sing them, “Humoresque,” the one quaint bit of the group, was par- delightful. In her second sang compositions by There was_the aria of Marpha from the opera “The Tzar's Bride. a delicate “Eastern Romanze,” beautifplly sung, and “Conjurement,” basdd on a poem by the great Pushkin. notes, fairly within the contralto range, seemed most mellow and full. Her sustained high notes also were well rounded and her dramatlc in- terpretation vivid. Gy o newer from the ticularly group, she | BEVERIDGE SEES “RIOT” OF OFFICIAL CORRUPTION ! Former Senator, in Address, Says No Political Party Has Corner on Scoundrels. By the Associated Press. ST. LOUIS, Mo., February 13.—Cor. ruption “rlots throughout officialdom itself with no political party having Albert J.! Beveridge, former United States sen. ator from Indiana, declared last night a cormer on scoundrels,” in an address before the Young Re- publican Association of Missouri, at its Lincoln day meeting. “We have enough government guardians of business conduct to stop a wife from taking loose change from the pockets of a sleeping and stingy husband; and vet fraud pollutes the! Veterans' Bureau at Washington, the | Teapot Dome rottenness contaminates the national government and an out-~ standing prohibiflon leader is co victed of forgery and graft. “For years we have been riding for Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra at the National This was Madame's lower Baltimore Birmingham. Bismarck Boston . Ruffalo . Charleston Chicago Cineinnat Cleveland Horon, S.D. Jackeonvilie. ' Okla. Oity.” 30.06 Omana . 23 : . 20.88 S. Lake City 30,34 San_Antoato. 30.16 San_Die X PROSPERITY OF FARMERS HELD VITAL TO NATION Executive Asks Non-Partisan Support for, Lower Taxes—Questions Soundness of Soldier Bonus Legislation. governments in that country, we recently reached the opinion that President Obregon has established a government which is stable and eftective, and disposed to observe international obligations. We therefore recognized it. When dis- order arose therc, President Ob- regon sought the purchase of a small amount of arms and muni- tions from our government for the purpose of insuring_his own do- mestic tranquillity. We had either to refuse or to comply. To refuse would have appeared to be equiv- alent to deciding that a friendly government, which we had recog- nized, ought not to be permitted to protect itself. Stated in another way, it would mean that we had decided that it ought to be over- thrown, and that the very agency which we had held out as able to Drotect the interests of our citizens within its borders ought not to be permitted to have the means to make such protection effective. My decision ran in a counter di- rection. It was not a situation of our making, but one which came and had to be met. In meeting it I did what I thought was necessary to discharge the moral obligation of one friendly government to an- other. The supremacy of the Ob- regon government now appears to be hopeful. Whatever may be the outcome, we are not responsible for it. 'We did what I believed was right to do under the circum- stances. It was done, not for the purpose of protecting any particu- lar indlviduals or interests, but to exercise a legal right, while at the same time throwing our Influence in favor of orderly procedure and evidencing our friendship toward the friendly government of Mexico. Any other course would appear to me to be unworthy of our coun- ry. I propose to continue whatever course of action is customary be- tween friendly governments. While 1 trust no further action may be necessary, 1 shall continue to af- ford protection in accordance with the requirements of international law. I propose to protect Ameri- can lives and American rights. Lately there have been most startling _revelations coneerning the leasing of government ol lands. It is my duty to extend to every individual the constitutional right to the presumption of inno- cence until proven gullty. But I have another duty equally consti- tutional, and even more important, of securing the enforcement of the law. In that duty 1 do not intend to fail. Character is the only secure foundation of the state. We know well that all plans for improvipg THE WEATHER District of Columbia—Increasing cloudiness tonight, followed by snow late tonight or tomorro owly ris- ing temperature tomorrow, lowest to- night about 26 degrees; moderate north, shifting to east or southeast | winde. | | Maryland—Increasing cloudiness to- night, followed by snow or rain on the coast and snow in the Interior late tonight or tomorrow; slowly ris- ing temperature; diminishing north, shifting to northeast or east winds. Virginia—Increasing cloudiness to- night, followed by rain or snow on the coast and snow in the interior late tonight or tomorrow; slowly rising temperature tomorrow; diminishing north, ehifting to east and southeast | winds. West Virginla—Snow tonight and tomorrow; slightly warmer tomorrow in east portlon. Records for Twenty-Four Hours. Thermometer—4 p.m., 42; 8 p. 5 | 12 midnight, 34; 4 am., 30; $ am. noon, 31. Barometer—4 p.m., 29.59; § p.m. midnight, 29.70; 4 a.m., 29.74 ., 29.84; noon, 29.88. Iighest temperature, 42, occurred at p.m. yesterday. Lowest temperature, 26, occurred at 0 a.m, today. Tomperature same date last year— Highest, 58; lowest, 32. i emperature and condition of the water at 8 am.: Great Falls—Tem- perature, 34¢ condition, muddy. Tide Tables. (Furnished by United States coast and geodetic survey.) Today—low tide, §:45 am,, and 9:24 p.m.; high tide, 2:04 am. and'2:32 p.m. and and :37 am. Tomorrow—Low tide, 55 a.m. 8 p.m.; high tide, P The Sun and M Today—Sun rose 7:04 am., sun sets 5:42 pm. Tomorrow—Sun rises 7:03 a.m,, sun sets 5:43 p.m. Moon rises 11:54 a.m., 6ets 1:15 a.m. Automobile lamps to be lighted one- ‘half hour after sunset. Stations. Albany Atlazia Atlantic Clear Clear Clear Clear P.cioudy Suow Clear Snow Cloudy Snow! Clear P.eloudy Clear Clear Clear Clear [loudy lear Clear Denver . elena, Indlanapolis. bt 11 o % 2gEs £REE Stations, N~ London, England. | Paris. Coperihagen, Deamark. a fall. “The Teapot Dome is but one . Stockholm, Sweden. evil shoot from sucking the financidl vitality of the nation. No matter what political . the upas tree of ' Glbraitar, 'Spain 2 Horta (¥ spoliation that for years has been | Morta (Fars San Juan, ‘Bermuda, Porte Rico. vane, Quba.. party is hurt, ne”matter what nioral; Golon. Cagal Zos organization is discredited, no matter what eminent personage suffers, let investigation tear that poisonous plant root and branch out of Ameri- can soll.” Former Senator Beveridge made a plea for fewer laws, better enforce- ment, less government but better ad- ministration. .- - Corn ARGENTINA. Week ending Monday, February 11, 1924 Met t. Avg.Depart. tempre: Feom pre- " Hrom thre. normal. clp. norm. ind *jgorthe: Wheat ore " e 08 —02 2 -8 03 -0d the machinery of government an 2ll measures for social bettermen miserably fail, and the hopes of progress wither, when corruption touches administration. At the revelation of greed making its subtle approaches to public officers, of the prostitution of high place to private profit, we are filled witih scorn and indignation. We have a deep sense of humiliation at such Bross betrayal of trust, and we 1 ment the undermining of publ: confidence in official integrit: But we cannot rest with righteous wrath; still less can we permit ourselves to give way to cyniciem The heart of the American people is sound. Their officers, with rare exception, are ithful and high- minded. For us, we propose to fo low the clear, open path of justic There will be immediate, adequate unshrinking prosecution, crimival and civil, to punish the guilty and to protect every national interest In this effort there will be no poli tics, no partisanship. It will he specdy, it will be just. 1ama re- publication, but I cannot on ti account shield any one because in a repubifcan. 1 am a repub Jean, but I cannot on that accou prosecute any one because he is democrat, Need of Support. I want no hue and cry, no mir sling of innocent and guilty in thinking condemnatlon, no confu slon of mere questions of law with questions of fraud and corruption It is at such a time that the qual- ity of our citizenry is tested—un- relenting toward evil, fair-minded and intent upon the requirements of due process, the shicld of the iu- nocent and the feguard of ¥ ciety itself. 1 ask the support our people, as Chief Magistrat tent on the enforcement of our laws without fear or favor. no matter who It hurts or what the consequences, Distressing as this been, it has its reassuring side. The high moral standards of the people were revealed by their in- stant reaction against wrongdoin The officers of the government. without respect to party, ha have demonstrated a common pu pose to protect government prol erty and to bring guilt to justice We have the trials and perplexi- ties of our duty, but they eignifica compared which taxed the geniu The government maint then; the government main- tain itseif now. The forces of evil do not long triumph. The pov of justice cannot long be delave ‘The moral force of Lincoln is with us still. “He that keepeth I el shall neither slumber nor slecp. SCORES PRESIDENT FORKEEPING DENBY in- tuation has Hull Says Outraged Public Demanded Resignation of Navy Secretary. ’ President Coolidge's failure to a the resignation of Secretary Denb) as requested by the Senate resoluti “failed to meet thepublic expectation, according to Chalrman Hull of the democratic natlonal committee, who issued & statement last night assert- ing that no President “ever had a | clearer case or better justification to act.” . | The statement said: | *1t is greatly to be regretted ti | President Coolidge did not seize t opportunity to demand the resig tion of Secretary Denby immediatel | following the revelations of the loans {from Doheny and Sinclair to forme Secretary of the Interior Fall. Hav ing failed to act then, it is not su prising that he fails to act now response to a Senate resolution $ ing for Secretary Denby's resign tion. Faced Alternative, “President Coolidge was confron by the alternative when these reveli- tions were made of demanding the resignation of his Secretary of tha Navy and beginning a thorough clean- ing up of his administration or of temporizing in order to hold together the forces represented by the predi- tory special interests and individual which controlled the republican con- vention of 1920, nominated his pred.- cessor and have since controlied th republican administration for the own private gain, and which are no behind his own candidacy “He fafled then to wmeet the p expectation, as he fails now to mucy public demand by following the sus gestion of the cnate. Instead of grasping the situation by the throat, he resorts to a citation of technical precedents concerning the functlons of the Executive and of the Congress. “No President ever had a clearer case or better justification to act than President Coolidge had in tha case of Secretary Denby. 3 “The people are in no mood fo quibbling or resort to techniculities and long delays consequent upon court procedurs in the matter of ridding the national administration of offictals whose unfitness to hold ofien is patent and cbvious to,cyer one, and whose continuance in of jmay further endanger the public i | terests. 4 s Opportunity for Service. “Office-holding is not a privilo<e or even a right: it is an opportuniiy to render a public service—an op- portunity that ceases when publi confidence ends. A declaration of constitutional rights and power not to discharge his cabinet when tho Senate votes a lack of copfidence i3 | utterly ‘irrelevant, a mere quibble with which an outraged public will have and ought to have na patience. “It is apparent that the predaiery special interest groups and indiviaus als with designs upon the gover: ment, who Wil control thej next republican national convention, have more power and influence with this administration than have public: sentiment and 'opinion, even when crystallized in the voice of a great legislative body like the United States Senate.” T s KELLOGG ENTERTAINED. Envoy Honor Guest at American Society Dinner. LONDON, February 13.—The Amer~ ican Soclety entertained the Amer can ambassador, ¥rank B. Kellog: and Mrs Kellogg, at a Lincoln d ner last night. About thirty members of the em- bassy also were present. e e In ourselves we suffer for the sins we commit; in our communities we suffer for the sins we. permit.