U.S.A. BUDGET

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 December 1928, Page 2

U.S.A. BUDGET

AN UNEXPECTED SURPLUS. j .Australian Press Association.) <By Cable—Press Aesn.—Copyright.) WASHINGTON, December 5. President Coolidge submitted the ■1930 Budget to Congress, with estimated receipts 3841 million dollars, expenditure 3780 million. The largest items of expenditure are 597 millions for War Veterans’ Bureau, 3-19 millions for the Navy Department. 444 millions for the War Department. The President pointed out that while it had been feared that 1929 would show a 94 millions deficit, it was now estimated that there will be a surplus for 192!) of 36 millions, due to the returns from revenue being larger than expected. TARIFF REVISIONS WASHINGTON, December 5. By agreement among the House of Representatives’ leaders presumably with the knowledge and approval of Mr. Hoover, wheels were set in motion to-day for a general revision of the tariff which Republicans believe will be undertaken at a special session of Congress, before the end of 1929. The Committee of Ways and Means passed a resolution for the beginning of a hearing on fifteen schedules of the tariff law on June 7. It is intimated that the tariff will be revised from the bottom upwards, and a completely drawn tariff bill will be ready for submission to a special congressional session. MR. COOLIDGE’S MESSAGE WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.

The President, Mr. Coolidge, in his late annual message to Congress, advocated the passage of the Fifteenth Cruiser Bill now pending in Senate, with the elimination of the so-cai’ed time clause which states that the vessels must be begun and finished by a certain date, and the enactment of a farm relief measure providing marketing surpluses due to the weather and seasonal conditions. He advocated the appointment of a Federal Farm Board for this purpose, with a revolving temporary loan fund. The President, in describing the condition of the country, said: “In the domestic field there is tranquility, contentment, and harmonious relations between managements and wage-earners, freedom from industrial strife, and thehighest record of years of prosperity, while in the foreign field there was peace and goodwill, which comes from mutual understanding and the knowledge that problems which, a short time ago. appeared ominous, are yielding to the touch of manifest friendship.” Mr. Coolidge added: “No Congress of the United States ever assembled, and on surveying- the state of the Unon, met with a more pleasing prospect than that which appears at the present time.” To other lands the United States must extend “the largest measure of generosity, moderation, and patience,” he declared. He then added: “In addition to dealing justly, we can well afford to walk humbly in peace and prosperity, which are not finalities, they are only methods. It is too easy, under their influence. for the nation to become selfish and degenerate.”

BATTLESHIP IMPROVEMENTS

WASHINGTON. December 5

The House passed without recording a vote the Bill authorising the modernisation. including elevation of gnus, on the battleships Pennsylvania and Arizona. at a cast not. to exceed 14.800 dollars. The Bill now goes to the Senate.

Jt is authoritatively stated that opposition to the I’act appeared in committee, initiated by Senator Reed, of Alissouri. who forced the calling of Dlr Kellogg on Friday. Opposition is based on the ground that the treaty “would lead the United States into the World Court by a back door.’’ It is believed that further hearings will be sought after Mr Kellogg testifies, thus delaying Senator Borah’s plan for immediate and favourable repoi-t to the Senate.

MR. BRITTEN GRATIFIED

(Recd. Dec. 6., 2 p.m.) "WASHINGTON, December 6

The House passed and sent to the Senate, the nine million dollars Omnibus Naval Housing Bill. The largest item authorised was 1,700,000 dollars for Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, of which 1,200,000 is for the water front development, five hundred thousand for improving tlie channel, and harbour authorisations, designed io enable housingfacilities to keep pace with aviation and other expenses of the service. With the naval committee on record favouring extending the 5/5/3 ratio beyond the major battlecraft, Mr. Britten said he hopes to gather legislators from file United States, Britain, France, Italy and Japan in conjunction with the inter-Parliamentary Union for a session at Geneva next August. He said that he desires to see such Conference or union of delegates in the event of the Powers themselves not moving for another arms reduction session in the meantime.

Mr. Britten was manifestly cheered by Mr. Baldwin’s response to his suggestion which indicated the Premier’s appreciation of the spirit promoting his cablegram. He would not agitate for the proposed British-American conference at present. “It is now up to the other fellow.” He feels that the House Naval Committee by adoption of the motion concerning the ratio signified complete approval of his hopes for a conference, although the committee diil not agree with the method of approaching Mr. Baldwin, outside of Jhe diplomatic channels.

DEPARTMENT’S D E NIAI /

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5

The State Department denies that Mr. Hugh Gibson. United States delegate to Geneva Disarmament Conference, was responsible for the AngloFrench naval accord, as suggested by M. Briand in Paris.