Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-05-20
MESSAGE is
BIG SURPRISE
TOCONGRESS
President Plans Aid for
Soldiers and Appeals
For Suffrage.

Washington, May a0.-Presl-
dent Wilson. in his message 10
congress today, recommended
repeal of the war time prOhi-
bitiOn Law. so far as II applies
TO wine and beer only: an
nOunced definitely that the
railroad systems and telegraph
and telephone lines would be
returned to private owner
ship: urged a revision OF war
taxes. particularly 20 abolish
the manufactures and retail
sales excises; and outlined
generally a program respect
ing labor.
These were the @high spots
OF the presidents message ca
bled from Paris.
Besides that. he again urged
enactment of the woman sufs
frage constitutional amend
ment. recommended that the
tariff laws be supplied with
teeth to protect American in
dustry against foreign attack;
spoke for legislation 10 facili-
tate American enterprise
through the expansion Of ship
ping. and backed Secretary
Lanes program for land for
returning soldiers.
OF the Paris peace conference
and The league of nations. the
president said it would be prema-
ture 10 discuss them or express a
Judgment. He also adyocated dis
cussion of domestic legislation at
length because OF his long absence
from Washington.
Congress heard a unique docu-
ment the only one Of its kind ever
transmitted across the ocean from
a president on a foreign shore, For
the first time in six years il heard
a presidential message read by a
reading clerk instead of assembling
to hear the president deliver an ad-
dress in person.
Message Proves Surprise.
The recommendations for the re-
peal OF wartime prohibition and
for return of the rail and wire sys-
tens. while not unexpected bv
some, contained the greatest ele-
ment of surprise and provoked the
most widespread comment Of the
many tasks set before congress by
Tie president
In his reference to prohibition.
the president did not enter eXten-
sively into the considerations In
volved. Demobilization, he said
merely. has progressed TO such a
point that it seems to me entirely
safe now to remove the ban upon
the manufacture and sale Of wines
and beers"
This ban laid several months ago
to become effective On July /, could
only be removed. the president said,
BY congressional enactment
Show Abandonment Of Ownership.
His recommendation regarding
return of the railways and wire
lines was the first authoritative
declaration by the administration
OF it's future policy and greatly sur
prised many members vino had in
tcrpreted the developments OF tho
last few months to mean that Mr..
Wilson eventually would propose
some form of permanent govern
ment operation On the contrary
tie directness OF the presidents
declaration on that point left no
doubt that he was through with
any possible scheme Of permanent
retention
win Return Roads and Phones.
THE telegraph and telephone
lines" said the message will or
course be returned 10 their owners
IS soon as the transfer can be ef-
fected without administrative con-
fusion. The railroads Will be hand
ed over 10 their owners at the end
of the calendar year.
In the case OF each the president
asked for legislation necessary 20
complete the readjustments necessi-
tsted by the change,
In his recommendation for re-
adjustment Of taxation the presi-
dent made T. clear that he did not
expect a fundamental readjustment
Of the Democratic tariff rates that
have been operative for the past
six years. He asked for tariff
changes ONLY TO pro ect special new
interests like the dyestufs indus
try. Some reductions were advo-
Gated in war time excess prohtS
taxes and the present taxes on To-
tail sales the president thoUght
could be dispensed with entirely
What VIII BE Congress- AnsWer3
What will be the reply Of the Re
publican congress TO these pro-
nosaIs became at once the topic OF
everywhere about the
capitol. In returning the railroads
Il generally was conceded, the Re-
nnblican leaders will readily give
tire president their cooperation.
But as to prohibition and tariff and