The Benson signal., 1917-12-15


whole force and energy.
1t will be necessary to extend In
certain particulars the legislation OF
the last session with regard to alien
enemies, and also necessary, believe,
to create very definite and particu-
lar control over the entrance and de-
parture of all persons into and from
the United States.
Legislation should be enacted def1n-
ing as criminal offense every willful
violation of the presidential proclama-
tions relating to alien enemies promul-
gated under section 4067 of the Re-
vised Statutes and providing appropr1-
ate punishments, and women as well
as men should be included under the
terms of the acts placing restraints
upon alien enemies. 1t is likely that
as time goes on many alien enemies
will be willing to be fed and housed
at the expense of the government In
the detention camps, and it would be
the purpose of the legislation l have
suggested to confine offenders among
them in penitentiaries and other SIM
liar institutions where they could be
made to work as other criminals do.
Calls for Curb on Profteering.
Recent experience has convinced me
that the Congress must go further In
authorizing the government to set linn
it's to prices. The law of supply and
demand, am sorry to say, has been
replaced by the law of unrestrained
selfishness. While we have elimin-
ated profiteering in several branches
of industry it still runs impudently
rampant in others. The farmers, for
example, complain with great deal
of justice that, while the regulation OF
food prices restricts their incomes, no
restraints are placed upon the prices
of most of the things they must them
selves purchase; and similar iniquities
obtain on all sides.
1t is imperatively necessary that the
consideration of the full use of the
water power of the country and also
the consideration of the systematic
and yet economical development Of
such of the natural resources of the
country as are still under the control
of the federal government should be
Immediately resumed and affirmative
ly and cOnstructively dealt with at the
earliest possible moment. The press
ing need of such legislation is daily
becoming more obvious.
The legislation proposed at the last
session with regard to regulated COM
binations among our exporters, in or
der to provide for our foreign trade
more effective organization and
method of cooperation, ought by all
means to be completed at this session.
hot Of q
House of Representatives will permit
me to express the opinion that it will
be impossible to deal in any but a
very wasteful and eXtravagant fashion
with the enormous appropriations OF
the public moneys which must con-
tinue to be made if the war is to be
properly sustained, unless the House
will consent to return to it's former
practice of initiating and preparing all
appropriation bills through a single
committee, in order that responsibility
may be centered, expenditures stand
ardized and made uniform and waste
and duplication as much as possible
avoided.
Additional legislation may also be.
come necessary before the present
|
effect the most efficient coordination
and operation of the railway and other
transportation systems of the country;
but to that SHALL if circumstances
should demand, call the attention OF
the Congress upon another occasion.
If l. have overlooked anything that
ought to be done for the more effec'
tive conduct of the war, your own
counsels will supply the omission
What l am perfectly clear about is
that in the present session of the
Congress our whole attention and
energy should be concentrated on the
vigorous, rapid and successful prose
cution OF the great task of winning the
war.
We can do this with all the greater
zeal and enthusiasm because we know
that for us this is a war of high prin'
ciple, debased by no selfish ambition
of conquest or spOliatiOn; because we
know, and all the world knows, that
we have been forced into it to save the
very institutions we live under from
corruption and destruction.
The purposes of the Central Pow
ers strike straight at the very heart
of everything we believe in; their
methods of warfare outrage every
principle of humanity, and of knightly
honor; their intrigue has corrupted
the very thought and spirit of many
of our people; their sinister and Sc
cret diplomacy has sought to take our
very territory away from us, and dis.
rupt the union of the states. Our
safety would be at an end, our honor
forever sullied and brought into con-
tempt were we to permit their tri-
umph. They are striking at the very
existence of democracy and liberty.
1t is because it is for us a war of
high, disinterested purpose, in which
all the free peoples of the world are
banded together for the vindication
of right, war for the preservation OF
our nation and of all that it held dear
of principle and of purpose, that we
felt ourselves doubly constrained to
propose for it's outcome only that
which is righteous and of irreproach-
able intention, for our foes as well as
. For ON. Fri Tho 0o1co hpinp II St