The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-12-04

themselves as the war and its under
takings develop. but I 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 our
whole force and energy.
It will be necessary to extend in
certain particulars the Legislation OF
the last session with regard to alien
enemies; and also necessary, l 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-
filming as a criminal offense every
wilful violation Of the Presidential
proclamations relating to alien enc
mics promulgated under section 4067
Of the Revised Statutes and providing
appropriate punlshments; and women
( as well as men should be included
under the terms of the acts placing
restraints upon alien enemies. II ia
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 10 con-
fine offenders among them In peniten-
t,.aries and other similar institutions
| Ehere they could be made TO work as
other criminals do.
Recent experience has convinced
me that the Congress must 90 further
| in authorizing the Government to- set
/ limits to prices. The law Of supply
and demand, / am sorry TO say, has
| been replaced by the law Of unre-
strained selfshness. While we have
| eliminated pTofteerinE in several
[ branches Of industry it still runs
1 impudently rampant in others. The
I farmers, for example. complain with
/ a 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 themselves purchase: and
! similar inequitics obtain on all sides.
II is imperativcly necessary that
, the consideration OF the full use OF
/ the water power Of the country and
also the consideration OF the sys-
tematic and vet economical develop
ment of such Of the natural resources
/ Of the country as are still under the
control OF the Federal Government
/ should be Immediately resumed and
affirmatively and c0nstTuctively dealt
with at the earliest possible moment
/ Tho pressing need 81 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
a more effective organization and
method Of cooperation. ought by all
I means to be completed at this session.
/ And / beg that the members Of the
I House Of Representatives will permit
I me to express n" opinion that II viii
| be impossible to deal in any but a
very wastcfuI and eNtravagant
! fashion with H." enormous apprOpri-
ations Of the public moneys which
must continue to he made n the war
is to be properly sustained. unless the
! House will consent to return TO its
former practice Of Initiating and pre-
pairing all appropriation bills through
a single committee. In order that re-
| sponsibility may he conferred. expen-
dItIres standardized and made uni
| form. and waste and duplication as
much NJ possible avoided.
Additional legislation may also be
come necessary before the present
Congress again adJourus in order Ia
effect Ia" most efficient ro-Ordina
tion and operation Of tho railway and
other transportation systems OF the
country; but to that ] shall, II cir
cumStances should demand, call the
attention Of the Congress upon an
other occasion.
| II ] have overlooked anything that
ought to b" done for the moro effec
tive conduct OF the war. your own
counsels Will supply the omission
What ! am perfectly clear about Is
that In the present session Of the
Congress our whole attention and en-
ergy 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 Tor US this is IA war OF higi
principle, debas"d b" no selfish am
oltloh OF conquest or spolHtlon; be
cause we Know, Hnd all the world
KNOWS that We have been forced
INTO II 70 rave the very institutions
We i've under fI"m corruption anC
destruction. The purposes OF the cen
tral powers strike straight at III,
very heart OF everything We believe
IN their methods OF warfare out.
rage every Principl, Of humanity and