The White House Week
The President signed the Tax Reduction Bill. (See TAXATION).
President Coolidge declared that he thought the tax reduction of $387,000,000 carried in the bill was dangerously large, and Congress would have to be very economical in its appropriations in order to prevent a deficit.
Charles Hoff and Helmer H. Bryn, both of Norway, one an extraordinary pole-vaulter, the other Minister to the U. S., called at the White House and shook the President's hand. Other callers on the same day were members of the swimming team of the Brooklyn Central Y. M. C. A.
Ambassador Prince Antoine Bibesco called upon the President to pay a parting visit, for he has been recalled to Roumania. His recall is supposed to have been occasioned by a quarrel with M. Titulesco, who headed the Roumanian debt mission to this country in the fall.
President Coolidge having practically recovered from his recent cold (TIME, March 1), Mrs. Coolidge caught it. She was not seriously ill, but on physicians' advice stayed in bed for a day in order to make quick recovery. It so happened that that was the day that Attorney General and Mrs. Sargent were giving a dinner for the President and his lady. Since Mrs. Coolidge could not go, Mrs. William M. Jardine, wife of the Secretary of Agriculture, was invited to accompany the President. In recent years no President has ever escorted a lady other than his wife. Proper procedure had to be looked to. It was found that President McKinley, whose wife was frequently ill, had escorted other ladies. So precedent was followed. A White House car with one of the President's aides went to the Jardine home and called for Mrs. Jardine. The car then stopped at the White House, the President entered and they drove to the Willard Hotel, where the banquet and 40 New England guests were waiting. Mrs. Jardine was seated at the right of the Attorney General.