Le MeschaceÌbeÌ. [volume] ([Lucy] La.) 1853-1942, 1918-12-14
CONGRESS ADDRESSED
BY PRESIDENT WILSON
PRESIDENT BEFORE JOINT sEs-
SION OF CONGRESS TELLS OF
AFTER-THE-WARP PROBLEMS.
SIGNING EARL YPEAcE IS HOPE
Solution of Railroad Problem Recon-
mended to Careful Consideration of
congress-Trlbute Paid to Wo-
men for Splendid War Work.

Washing ington.-Congress in joint ses-
sion Monday heard President Wilson
announce formally his purpose to at
tend the peace conference and give
his views on the part the government
should play in dealing with after-the-
war problems.
Democrats of the house received the
announcement with cheers in which
some senators joined; the republicans
were silent almost throughout the ad-
dress except when the president re-
ferred to the valor and efficiency OF
Americas soldiers and mentioned the
names of Pershing and Sims.
The president said he hoped to see .
formal declaration of peace by treaty by
the time spring has come"
Declaring he had no private thought
OF purpose" in going to France, but that
he regarded il as his highest duty the
president added:
'It is now my duty to play my full
part in making good what they Gamer
ica's soldiers1 offered their 1ife's blood
to obtain"
The president said he will be in close
touch by cable and wireless and that
congress win know all that he does on
the other side.
Referring to his announcement that the
French and British governments had re-
moved all cable restrictions upon the
to America, the president said he had
taken over the American cable systems
on expert advice so as to make unified
system available.
He expressed the hope that he would
have the cooperation of the public and
congress. saying that through the cables
and wireless constant counsel and ad-
vice would be possible
Much of the address was devoted ted
transmission of news of the conference
the railroad problem, for which the pres
ident said he now had no solution % CT &
fer. He recommended careful study BY
congress, saying it would be a dlsservicet
to the country and to the railroads tor
permit return to old conditions under
private management without modlfIca-
tions.
The president declared he stood ready
TO release the railroads from government
control whenever a satisfactory plan for
readjustment could be worked out
No definite program of reconstruction
can be outlined now, Mr.. Wilson said,
but as soon as the armistice was signed
government control of business and in
dustry was released as far as possible
He expressed the hope that congress
war trade board some other agency
the right of fixing export prierities 10
assure shipment Of food to starving peo-
pie abroad.
As to. taxation the president endorsed
the plan for levying six billion dollars
in 1919 and fer notifying the n1 #gin
advance that the 1920 levy bill VIII be
four billion dollars
The new three-year naval building pro-
gram was endorsed because, the presi-
dent said it would be unwise to attempt
to adjust the American program to
future world policy, yet undetermined.
Paying tribute to the peoples conduct
in war. he spoke particularly of the work
of women and again appealed for woman
suffrage by federal amendment,
The president concluded after speaking
- minutes and left the chamber amid
applause. Interruptions of the address
for questions which had been threatened
by some republican members of the house
did not materialize.
During the first hour of the new ses-
sion Senator Cummings of Iowa, repub
lican, introduced resolution to send a
committee of eight senators to Paris to
keep the senate advised of the progress
of the peace conference and in the house
Representative Rodenberg of Illinois, re-
publican. had offered resolution pros
posing that the vice president take over
the executive functions upon the aepar-
ture of Mr.. Wilson from the country.