Mr. Coolidge's Week

Mr. Coolidge's Week

P:Representative John Q. Tilson of Connecticut, Republican leader in the House (chosen to succeed Nicholas Longworth, who is to be Speaker), called at the White House to discuss the program of the coming Congress: 1) tax reduction; 2) passing of appropriation bills; 3) railroad legislation.

P:Attorney General Sargent resumed his place as a White House guest. His family is still in Vermont.

P:Chairman O'Connor of the Shipping Board called and was closeted with President Coolidge. At a conference with reporters the President's spokesman denied that he was about to request Mr. O'Connor's resignation; also declared that if the League of Nations calls a Disarmament Conference the U. S. will not take part unless Congress so authorizes.

P:A note from a gentleman of Tasmania informed the President that he was about to become the recipient of a wallaby. Dictionaries were consulted, and orders were issued to send the gift to the zoo when it arrives. Said Tine New York Worlds "T. R. never would have been caught like that. 'A wallaby? Bully! Loeb, cable Newman to send an echidna and a platypus along with the wallaby. And, Loeb, see if he can pick up a bandicoot or a phalanger. This country hasn't half enough marsupials and monotremes.' '

P:An automobile driver arrested for almost running over the President on a Washington street (TIME, Sept. 28) was fined $35. Said he: "A gross injustice has been done me. I have driven for six years and never harmed even a chicken or a rabbit. My record is clean, and I have been humiliated and insulted by the Government, not for any wrong, but because I thought the signal of a kiddish' looking Secret Service man was the prank of a small boy, I missed the President by twenty feet."

P:By the President of the United States, a proclamation:

"I am informed that during 1924 fires caused the loss of approximately 15,000 lives, and of property exceeding $548,000,000 in value. The figures are startling; they are yet more so when it is added that this is declared by competent authorities the greatest fire loss in any year of our history.

"This waste results from conditions which justify a sense of shame and horror. ... As a result of careful inquiries, I am informed that whereas the absolute as well as the per capita fire loss of this country tends to increase from year to year, the same losses in comparable European countries tend to decrease. For the most recent comparable periods fire losses in Great Britain are calculated at less than $1 per capita per annum, while those of the United States are placed at approximately $5 per capita. . . . Therefore, I, Calvin Coolidge, President of the United States, recommend that the week beginning Sunday, Oct. 4, be observed as National Fire Prevention Week.

"In witness whereof," etc.

(signed) CALVIN COOLIDGE.

P:Columbia roses, sprays of aboli and maidenhair fern decorated the table in the great dining room of the White House when President Coolidge with 44 guests sat down to meat. The gathering included the French delegation to the Debt Conference (see CABINET), the entire Cabinet (except Messrs. Work and Weeks) ; Senators Smoot, Borah, Swanson; Ambassadors Herrick and Daeschner.

P: President Coolidge agreed to throw the first ball in the World Series baseball championship to open between Washington (American League) and Pittsburgh (National League) at Washington on Oct. 9.

P:The President summoned to the White House and conferred with E. C. Plummer and W. S. Hill, Commissioners of the Shipping Board. Important matters were believed brewing because the President wishes the disposition of the Government's merchant marine placed in the hands of Admiral Palmer, President of the Emergency Fleet Corporation, and the Shipping Board wishes to retain its powers. Recommendations to this end may be placed by the President before the next Congress.

P:President Coolidge having received assurance from Japan that he would be persona grata, appointed Charles MacVeagh Ambassador of the U. S. at Tokyo, to succeed the late Ambassador Bancroft (see CABINET).

P:On Sunday the President and Mrs. Coolidge attended the morning services at the First Congregational Church. Then they boarded the Mayflower. Up the gangplank with them went Attorney General Sargent, Secretary and Mrs. Jardine, Sollicitor General Mitchell and Miss Pollard, a cousin of the President. Steaming down the Potomac, they left Washington for an overnight cruise.