New-York tribune., 1919-05-21
Rail Return
To Be Voted
House Beats Him to
Suffrage; Reports
Out Amendment
By Carter Field
Neio York Tribuns
Washington Bureau

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, May 2O.-A fairly
complete canvass of both houses Of
Congress. following the reading Of
President Wilson's cabled message to-
day, disclosed that the many recon-
mendations contained in the message
will not cause material change in the
Congressional programme, as mapped
out by the Republican majorities.
The important features of the mes
sage and the reactions of Congress TO
them may be summed up as follows:
Frst-Prohibition The President
expresses the opinion that the war
time prohibition law, so far as it af
fects light wines and beers, may now
be removed.
Even the most optimistic wet" in
Congress does not think tonight that
Congress will really do this Virtually
every one comedies that the "drys''
have large majority in each house
and do not intend to permit any change
in the law
Second. Railroads, telegraphs and
telephones. The President saws he
will return the railroads to their own
ers at the end of the calendar year.
and he could give the date of the re-
turn of the telegraph and telephones if
he knew more details about them.
Must Wait on Congress
Congressional leaders, including
Senator Cummins, who viii be chair
man of the Interstate Commerce Com
mittee, declared that the railroad
legislation of Congress providing for
the return of the railroads. and the
conditions of the return would be en-
acted before January !, but if it were
not, Mr.. Wilson would not return the
railroads to their owners He would
wait, they declared, until the legisla-
ton was passed.
On telegraphs and telephones Con
gress had practically determined its
own solution, which above all is "a
place the wires back into the hand.
OF their owners as soon as possible.
Third.-Labor The President urges 4
new organization of industry" 40
that, in fact and in deed, capital and
labor may become partners and cease
their struggles, the one to obtain
labor at low enough price to insure a
profit and the other to obtain a wage
which will enable it to live.
Members point out chat no pro-
gramme has been outlined. no single
reform suggested by the President.
Tax Repeal Already Pledged
Fourth.-Taxation. The President
recommended revision of the income
and excess profits taxes, which Con
gress has no intention Of doing at this
session, according to statements by
leaders, made yesterday and to-day
after the message was read. The Presi-
dent recommended the repeal of the
luxury taxes, which Congress tried to
accomplish last session, but was pre-
vented by lack Of time
Leaders have pledged this reform
and bills were introduced yesterday
providing for it,
FVth-Woman suffrage The Presi-
dent asked the passage of the Federal
amendment and its submission to the
states.
Before the message was presented
the suffrage resolution had been re-
ported in the House without waiting
for the organization of the committee.
The House IS expected TO adopt it to-
morrow, and the Senate within two
weeks. This was the programme, how
ever, before it was known that the
President had alluded to suffrage in
his message.
See Bid for denomination
Many Republicans were outspoken in
the declaration that the President in
tended his message to- day as a bid for
denomination for the Presidency in
1920. Particularly did the parts of
the message referring to labor. which
question, he says, Stands at the front
of all others in every country amid
the present great awakening," come in
for caustic comment by the Republi-
cans. They dwelt with emphasis on
the point that in all the Presidents
words on this subject there is not q
single concrete recommendation.
There was much wonder as to lust
what the President meant by n new
organization of industry"
In proposing the beer and wine re-
peal measure. the President said that
rehabilitation of the military forces
has proceeded to such point that It
seems to me entirely safe now TO re-
move the ban upon manufacture and
sale of wines and beers" Legislation
is necessary to remove the prohibition
provisions, the President said he had
been informed by his legal advisers.
Representative Charles H. Randall.
At al