Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-21
RETURN RAILROADS
To OWNERS AT END
OF CALENDAR YEAR
President Gives Clear-Cut
Statement of Program
in Message.
FAVORS PARTIAL REPEAL
OF WARTIME PROHIBITION
Congress Docs Not Take Kindly
to Suggestion and May Not
Amend Law.
TAKE uP SUFFRAGE TO-DAY
FIRST Measure to Reach Vote in
House VIII Be Resolution TO
Submit Amendment.
First Measure to Reach Vote ir
House VIII Be Resolution TO
Submit Amendment.
I.By Associated Press. ,

WASHINGTON. May 2o.-President
Wilson'S cablcd message outlining
legislation for the extra session OF the
new Congress was read separately in
the Senate and House today by clerks
and arrangements were made by con-
Sressional leaders for immediate con.
sideratton OF the vast legislative pro-
gram with the equal suffrage rcsolu-
t'on 10 come up tomorrow in the House
Major recommendations of the Presi-
dent were for early return to private
ownership Of railroads, telesraphs and
telephones. for repeal OF wartime pro-
and wines. for woman suffrage. re-
s.ifSt'ory ss.ft 'rs,, tariffs proteetlon of the dye
'nent measures. The President an
noGnced his intention TO turn back the
Year.
Republican leaders met the prcsi-
,,',hi, m1hEs pror1sais for carly return of
Icgtslation already was planned a. 10
me prohibition recommendation. both
hepubltcan and Democratic dry lead i.
senting from the Presidents suEgcs-
ions. and predicting 4 at no beer and
",oe on,,inm riepea, Touid h nc passed.
IS ascertsined by, leaders. was general
mat the ban on beer and wine would
not be lifted
"esSake FrtnctPhi business.
Presentation OF the Presidents mes
SAGE the first ever transmitted to This
country by cable-was the principal
business Of today's session.
~ "essnsr sesa;a, me sn senate nor House were
inc iormer adjournius until next Fri,
9ay, and the House until tomorrow. Be-
tore the Presidents message Was read.
the House arranged to take .upS
iuorro~ the woman suffrage resolution.
Is adoption before adjournment is
To las ,ior -. =,
pr1inpt action in the upper body prob
ao.y carly next month.
me princtpal measures introduced In
The Senate asked for copies OF the peace
Nreat!' for cehnition OF the America
po!icS In Russia. adoption OF woman
suffrage. establishment OF Fedora
nuoSet system and repeal OF the luxury
lakes and tho daylight saving law. Al
were referred TO committees. Demo.
Tor immediate consideration. Rcpubli-
Gan plans for many Investigations were
lsuncheo: In resolution by Chairman
Commi,9ee comm G '"e ,rooosfr nouse MERCHANT Marine
operations of the Shipping Board and
LINERS Eme5G,eneyu " Elect Cooperation, Repre-
Investigation by nonpartisan com
niittee Of irregular and unlawful en-
penditures."
oreanIzation of Senate and House
was pushed forward today AL con.
ference Of House Republicans at a
meeting of the steering committee
with Speaker Gillett and an initial
meeting OF the Republican Senator's
committee on committees. The Demo
cratic nators' steering committee
VIII meet tomorrow 10 consider mi.
ror!ty cha jEcs
Discuss Rccomm n atIop.
OF the recommendations in tho Presi-
dents message those for return to pri-
Hate o"nershin OF railroads and wires
and repeal OF wartime prohibition
against beer and wines drew most com
ment from congressional leaders.
1t WAS agreed that legislation deal
ing With the public utilities virtually
L. assured at the present session. Lead
crs also were interested in the presi
dents statement that IL he was IA
miliar with administrative questions
affecting the telegraph and systems he
could name the exact date for their
return also }"
In proposing the beer and wine re-
,oal measure. the President said that
"demobilizatton Of the military forces
has proceeded to such a point that il
seems TO me entirely safe now 10 re-
move the ban upon manufacture and
sale Of wines and beers" Legislation
lion provisions. the President said he
had been informed by his legal ad-
NiSers.
Senator Sheppard, OF Texas. Demo
crat. and Representative Randall Of
California. prohibitionists, champions
of the wartime dry" law. and other
prohibition advocates issued statements
announcing determined opposition to
repeal legislation. They declared n
large maturity OF Congress favors FRO
hibition, and predicted the repeal meas
ure would not be enacted Some Re-
publican leaders charged the Pres-
dent with shifting responsibility to
the Republican Congress. and said that
al he would gain would he criticism
OF rrohihitinnists.
Republicans of the House Ways and
Means Committee plan to meet before
the end Of the week to consider tariff
and other revenue legislation. Repre-
sentative Fordney. of Michigan. chair
man of tho committee. declined to com
rlent OF the Presidents assertion that
a general revision OF tho tariff was
Unnecessary. Other Republican mem
bcrs said that hearings Of business
mon should decide whether there
should be tariff revision, while some
said a general revision was impos-
siblc because Of the unsA:: ed conu!-
tion OF world affairs.