The Coolidge Week

P: A nightmare at this time last year to the millions who live in its lower basin, the Mississippi River is a nightmare to President Coolidge now. Last week, alarmed by reports that the Flood Control bill, which the Senate shoved through last fortnight, might cost the U. S. a billion or $1,500,000,000, the President sent for Chairman Martin B. Madden of the House Appropriations Committee, his Flood Control spokesman. Mr. Madden was sick abed but up he got and to the White House he went. When Mr. Madden emerged from the conference he said the President was "not very happy." He was convinced that the pending bill was a Treasury raid embracing "every proposal, like the creek that happens to be out of doors when it rains." A veto loomed unless the House Flood Control Committee could be persuaded to restrain its generosity to the $400,000,000 or so total cost which the Administration thinks is all the U. S. Treasury can stand.

P: With Mrs. Coolidge off at Northampton, Mass., by her mother's sickbed, President Coolidge was again a White House bachelor, as he was during Mrs. Coolidge's attack of grippe last month. One evening the President appeared at the theatre, for the first time in months, to see Criss Cross, a Fred Stone musical comedy. With him went Mrs. Frank W. Stearns of Boston, oldtime family friend. Next day Actor Fred Stone and his daughter, Dorothy, were luncheon guests at the White House. Mrs. Coolidge stayed in Northampton over Easter. Her absence was not allowed to interfere with egg-rolling on the White House lawn, annual Easter diversion of Washington's when-we-were-very-young people. In Northampton, Mrs. Coolidge had a thrilling escape when she almost stepped on a live trolley wire that fell upon the street.

P:C. Four boys from Michigan went to the White House--Abrain Abgarian, Jack Loughner, Charles Dybvig, William Chaffee. They were holders of indoor and outdoor records for model airplane flying. Representatives Clancy and McLeod introduced them to President Coolidge, who went with them to the lawn and watched them fly their toys. Two of the planes crashed in a tall poplar tree, stuck there.

P: The week's White House callers included:

Imperial Potentate Clarence M. Dunbar of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of North America, and a party, to pay respects.

Senator Edge of New Jersey, seeking the President's support for a proposed survey of the Panama Canal and the often-discussed Nicaraguan canal route. Senator Edge assured President Coolidge that the capacity of the Panama Canal would be overtaxed within ten years.

The Duchess of Athol, Parliamentary Secretary of the Board of Education, to be presented to the President by British Ambassador Sir Esme Howard.

Senator Hale and Representative Hersey of Maine, to tender a 15-lb. salmon, "first-of-the-season" from the Penobscot River.