AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1923, Page 3

AMERICAN ITEMS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION. PRESIDENT COOLIDGK'S SPEECH. ((Received this day at S.Mu a.m.) WASHINGTON, Dec. o. President Coolidge’s appearance beloro Congress was notable lor the dismissal of foreign affairs with only it few brief announcements oi policy and the devotion of nine-tenth - of his address to domestic alfairs winch, he declares, furnished (lie country's main problems. The chic! topics of the domestic [iris "1-111111111' are that Con tin s, immediately reduces taxation in order to save the rnitetl States from the postwar economic disorders which have affected all nations. The tariff law should remain unchanged, the elastic provisions being sullieient to jirevent inequalities and the Government owned merchant marine should he transferred to private ownership.

F.S.A. POLITICS AGAIN TRANQUIL (Received this day at S.bO a.m.) WASHINGTON, Dee.

Frederick Gillett has been re-elected Speaker of the House, the Hejnibliean insurgents voting for him for the first time since the deadlock- developed on Monday and they thus paved the way for Rresidcn tCnnlidge to deliver liis first message to Congress on Thursday. The insurgents abandoned the field when assured thaf they would gd an opportunity to oiler amendments to the House Hides Hill.

THE TWKIA'F MILE LI M FT. JAPS WANT SIMILAR TRKATV. Uteoeived this day at B.On a.m.i TOKIO. Dec. r,. The Japanese .Minister i- watching the progre.,- ( .| the Anglo-American ship liquor treaty with a view oi at--Icm piling to negotiate a similar one. ''Jicials believe that .Japan would lose nothiuy in permitting a twelve mile search as there tire no Japanese smugglers : while a reciprocal right to brine liquor, under seal, into and from Honolulu would he highly valuable mi view of the shipping competition.

KIiAXCK’S 1 >!•:IJT TO F.S.A. SI G XIF K' AN T I'lto Nor N (IvM p; \• p. (Iteoe'ved lliis ilav at 0.0 a.in.) WASHINGTON'. December d. \\ liai. is considered an important proln• itlic-fmei!i rcgar(lino tin- French Govm nmeul’s attitude regarding her <!f-0t to the I n i Let I Stales, was made hy ('aid Dupuv. a Krenrli Senator a.nd owner e; the "I’etit I’ai i.'.iemie” and a close friend id M. I’nirieaic. Al. Dupuv said tlni! Klimee Inn always kept leu word and lioinmred her signature. Sli<' lias never denied her debts and naturally the question of reparation soinewliat Complicated the niaLter. Continuing lie said: “We are unable to pay you now because the Germans ate not paying us. but l''i'iinee does not cuiisidci Ihe German failure as Freeing herself from the debt to tlm (Tided States.” The statements are deemed highly significant because it is known that Dnpiioy conferred with Al, Poincare, specifically to eel instructions, as how to answer American enquiries concerning France’s attitude on the debt question. Observers discern an intimation that France will presently seek a debt settlement.

CLIQUE GAIN THEIR POINT

(Received tin’s day at 0.0 a.in.) WASHINGTON. December 5. The minority clique ultimately gained their point when the i’cpuMieaii leader promised them :i radical revision of the rules, thus assurin'; unlimited debate. Tile clique thereupon withdrew their opposition to the elioiee of a speaker ni,(| proceeded to clci t Air Gilletl 1.0 the chair. Thereupon the llou.-e proceeded to ordinary business. I'.S.A. BGDGFT. (Received this dav at 11.2 d a.m.) WASHINGTON, Dee. 7. A reduction in taxation by three hundred million dollars is recommended to the opening Congress by President Coolidgc in presenting the Dudpet, which estimates the expenditure at 8,2f!5,f)80,!M4 dollars and receipts at (i9.'i.7b.‘i.078. A reduction in income tax is possible because of the big surplus. The President also recommends drastic economies in the cost of Government Dims clfertiug a saving of about 27" million dollars. The appropriations asked for the year beginning next July aggregate 20) million dollars less than the current year. The President is opposed to the soldiers’ bonus. ’I be proposed cost of National delencc is estimated at -T18,mi1.2:18 dollars, a. reduction of thirty-live millions. Alilitnry ],elisions, retirement, pay, etc., is estimated at Odd.•’’(10.00(1. a reduel inn of lifly millions. Swift power boats are. needed to proven t- the liquor .smuggling. Prohibition must and will be entnreed. Tim rights of twelve millions of tmgioes must, l e prelected and lyneliings prevented.

The army and navy should he strong (honed, and tlm aii'plane and subnmrin pei-on no! slimtld nut he Ittrthei 1 re duced.

The rest!ictiun of immigration shorn lie continued. Federal pine living an other artificial aid to tlie farmer wool, he valueless as In's problems arc soluh! Uv a diversilicatinu oi the crops an

co-opeiative marketing. President (,’oolidge endorsed Mr Harding’s iironusal for mo in I icmslj i|i. with reservations, in a M orlil (ourr. Ihe President, mid tlnil the American foreign policy would always he guided by principles ol avoidance of IC| nianei.it political alliances, sacrificing iiidependclicc and ol a pea:etui settleuient oi intoniatioiial qae-Tions. '1 11'. 1 President, eon tinning saiil:

‘■Ah V wish to see the Point established and since the proposal presents the only practical plan on which many nations are iigierd, though it may rot meet every desire. 1 commend it to the I'nvoralde consideration of the Senate, with reservations, indicating ocr refusal to adhere to the I .oil one

of Nations.” Tlie President opposed the cancellation of the foreign debts and favoured an adjustment by the principle adopted in connection with the British debt. Russia would not he recognised until she recognised private propel ty

ownership and the Russian debt. Alter the overthrow ol the 'lsar the listed .....charges on account of the public debt >*n amounted to Rb ,'2'27, .!b dollars ineluding 8P millions interest. Naval construction is estimated to absorb thirty-live millions, the air service fifteen millions, naval pay one hundred and sixteen millions It is estimated that the prohibition enforcement would cost 30.-i.’tl.o—l dollars. an increase of two millions. The President said that the TTiiteii States had already spent two billion

dollars on disabled soldiers and was preparing to spend another half a billion. hilt there was no sound reason tor

Compensation being paid to able bodied men when the country was prosperous an.l employment was available. The supplementary estimates will Inter include twenty million dollars for additional vessels for the prevention of liquor importation, Mr Coolidiw thinks that a much bigger field force j* necessary to enforce {tiv’dibltian.