Bills

The Brule decision, while the most sensational event in President Coolidge's last week, was not the most significant to citizens. The day Congress rose, the President signed 236 bills and resolutions. Some new laws:

P:. The Revenue Act of 1928, carrying $222,495,000 tax reduction. The Coolidge signature was affixed at 8 a. m., before business hours. Automobile dealers were notified in advance so that they could make good promptly on their promises to reduce auto prices when the 3% sales tax came off.*

Among other taxpayers rejoicing were theatre-owners, whose admissions are now tax-free up to $3. Producer Florenz ("Show Boat") Ziegfeld and the Theatre Guild, in Manhattan, had to make refunds on advance sales.

P:. The Welch Bill, raising the salaries of 135,000 Federal employes a total of $20,000,000 per annum, the first general Federal pay-rise since 1853, effective July 1. The average annual increase per employe is $148 per annum, or $2.85 per week. President Luther Steward of the Federation of Federal Employes was so pleased that he carried off the pen used to sign the bill and sent it to be framed.

P:. The Post Roads Bill--$150,000,000 pro-rated among the States in proportion to their own outlays.

P:. The Griest Bill--reducing postal rates on second, third and fourth class matter and restoring the one-cent postcard. Publishers and by-mail advertisers were pleased. The reductions will cut Post Office revenues some $16,285,000.

P:. The Second Deficiency Bill--providing for Government expenses authorized since last autumn.

P:. The amendment to the Bonus Bill of 1924, permitting belated collection of War bonuses up to Jan. 2, 1930.

.. A resolution for a survey of Boulder Dam (see p. 12).

P:. A resolution authorizing the President to call an international air congress this year.

P:. Bills about pensions, Indian lands, medals, rural mail boxes, corn borers, the Gila River, military camps, monuments, State relief, bridges, salaries.

P:. Not signed remained the Muscle Shoals Bill, to put the U. S. in the nitrate and power business with its Wartime plant on the Tennessee River in Alabama. A "pocket veto" was urged, feared, hoped, predicted for this measure which the Congress took a decade to pass.

*Some price reductions promptly made:

Ford $7 to $15

Lincoln $107 to $170

Chevrolet $12.30 to $17.45

Buick $27.96 to $46.68

Packard $49.70 to $183.23

Chrysler $25 to $75

Hudson $40.95