The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1919-05-23


by other nations is not beyond the
range of possibility and that it may
have to be met by counter legislation.
This subject has fortunately been ex-
haustively investigated by the United
States tariff commission. A recent
report of that commission has shown
very clearly that we lack and that we
ought to have the instruments neces-
sarv for the assurance of equal and
equitable treatment The attention
of the congress has been called to
this matter on past occasions and the
past measures which are now recon-
mended by the tariff commission are
substantially the same that have been
suggested by previous administra-
tons. / recommend that this phase
of the tariff question receive the
early attention of the congress.
Will you not permit me, turning
from these matters, to speak once
more and very earnestly of the pro-
posed amendment to the constitution
which would extend the suffrage to
women and which passed the house OF
representatives at the last session of
the congress? 1t seems to me that
every consideration of justice and
public advantage calls for the imme-
date adoption of that amendment
and it's submission forthwith to the
legislatures of the several states.
Throughout all the world this long de-
layed extension of the suffrage is
looked for; in the United States, long
err, believe, than anywhere else, the
necessity for it and the immense adj
vantage of it to the national life has
been urged and debated by women
and men who saw the need for it and
urged the policy of it when it re-
quired steadfast courage to be so
much beforehand with the common
conviction; and for one covet for
our country the distinction of being
among the first to act in a great re-
form.
Return of Wire Lines
The telegraph and telephone lines
will, of course, be returned to their
owners so soon as the retransfer can
be effected without administrative
confusion, so soon, that is, as the
change can be made with least posi-
BILE inconvenience to the public and
to the owners themselves. The rail-
roads will be handed over to their
owners at the end of the calendar
year; if were in immediate contact
with the administration questions
which must govern the retransfer of
the telegraph and telephone lines l
could name the exact date for their
return also. Until am in direct con-
tact with the practical questions in
volved can only suggest that in the
case Of the telephones and telegraphs,
as in the case of the railways, it is
clearly desirable in the public inter
est that some legislation should be
considered which may tend to make
of these indispensable instrumental
ties of our modern life reform and
co-ordinated system which will afford
those who use them as complete and
certain means of communication with
all parts of the country as has so long
been afforded by the postal system of
the government and at rates as uni
form and ineligible. Expert advice
is. of course, available in this very
practical matter and the public inter
est is manifest. Neither the tele-
graph nor the telephone service of
the country can be said to be in any
sense a national system. There are
many confusions and inconsistencies
of rates. The scientific means by
which communication by such intru-
mentalities could be rendered more
borough and satisfactory has not been
made full use of. An exhaustive study
of the whole question of electrical
communication and of the means by
which the central authority of the
nation can be used to unity and i'm
prove it, if undertaken by the appro-
pirate committees of the congress
would certainly result, indirectly,
even if not directly, in a great public
benefit
For Wines and Beer
The rehabilitation of the military
forces of the country has progressed
to such point that it seems to me
entirely safe now to remove the ban
upon the manufacture, and sale of
wines and beers, but l am advised
that without further legislation have
not the legal authority to remove the
present restrictions. l therefore rec
ommend that the act approved No
vember 81, 1918, entitled can act to
enable the secretary of agriculture to
carry out during the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1919, the purposes of the
act entitled Act to provide further
for the national security and defense
by stimulating agriculture and facili-
tating the distribution of agricultural
products, and for other purposes" be
amended or repealed in so far as it
applies to wines and beers.
| sincerely trust that | shall very