The Carlisle independent., 1917-12-06

force as a fighting unit.
One very embarrassing obstacle that
stands in our way is that we are at
war with Germany but not with her
allies. | therefore very earnestly
recommend that the congress imme-
diately declare the United States in a
state of war with Austria-Hungary.
Does it seem strange to you that this
should be the conclusion of the argu-
ment have just addressed to you? 1t
is not. 1t is in fact the inevitable
logic of what | have said. Austria
Hungary is for the time being not her
own mistress but simply the vassal
of the German government.
We must face the facts as they are
and act upon them without sentiment
in this stern business. The govern
ment of Austria Hungary is not act
ing upon it's own initiative or in re.
Spouse to the wishes and feelings oil
its own peoples, but as the instru-
ment of another nation. We must meet
its force with our own and regard the
central powers as but one. The war
can be successfully conducted in no
other way. The same logic would
lead to a declaration of war against
Turkey and Bulgaria.
They also are the tools of Germany.
But they are mere tools and do not
yet stand in the direct path of our
necessary action. We shall go wher-
ever the necessities of this war carry
us, but it seems to me that we should
go only where immediate and practi-
cal consid lead us and not
heed any others.
The financial and military measures
which must be adopted will suggest
themselves as the war and it's under
takings develop, but l will take the
liberty of proposing to you certain
other acts of legislation which seem
to me to be needed for the support
of the war and for the release OF ouI
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 a 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 de
hning as a criminal offense every will
full violation of the presidential proc
lamation relating to alien enemies
promulgated under section 4067 of the
Revised Statutes and providing ap
propriate punishments; and women as
we'll as men should be included under
the terms of the acts placing re
straints upon alien enemies. 1t is
likely that as time goes on many alien
enemies will be willing to be fed anG
housed at the expense of the govern
ment in the detention camps and il
would be the purpose of the legisla
ton suggested to confne offenders
among them in penitentiaries and 9th
er similar institutions where they
could be made to work as other Grim
inals do.
Must Limit Prices.
Recent experience has convinced me
that the congress must go further il
authorizing the government to SET
limits to prices. The law of supply
and demand, l am sorry to say, has
been replaced by the law of unre
stricted selfshness. While we have
eliminated profiteering in severa
branches of industry, it still runs i'm
pudently rampant in others. The
farmers, for example, complain with
regulation of food prices restricts
their incomes, no restraints are
placed upon the prices of most of the
things they must themselves pur
chase; and similar inequities obtair
on all sides.
| 1t is imperatively necessary tina
the consideration of the full use O.
| the water power of the country anG
also the consideration of the system
attic and yet economical development
of such of the natural resources o.
| the country as are still under the con
troll of the federal government shoulC
| be Immediately resumed and affirma
| lively and constructively dealt witt
at the earliest possible moment. The
pressing need of such legislation il
daily becoming more obvious.
The legislation proposed at the las
session with regard to regulated com
| binations among our exporters, in or
! der to provide for our foreign trade
a more effective organization ant
method of cooperation ought by al
means to be completed at this ses
sion.
And i beg that the members of the
house of representatives will permi
me to express the opinion that it viii
be impossible to deal in any but {
very wasteful and extravegalt fash
ion with the enormous appropliGttca
of the public moneys which must Coz
tinue to be made, if the war is to BIZ
properly sustained, unless the house
will consent to return to its forme
practice of initiating and preparing
all appropriation bills through a sin
gle committee, in order that response
bility may be centered, expenditure
standardized and made uniform, anC
!