The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-21
WILSON SENDS
PLAN TO CONGRESS
Continued from First Page.

cabled kicks against Postmaster General
Burleson's actions-are believed 70 have
been responsible for the recommended
ton that the wires be turned back Just
as soon as they can to private operation.
So far as the railroads are concerned
this part Of the message was construed
as more or less OF a threat. In the
message the President announced fatty
that the roads would be turned back at
the end Of the present calendar year.
This was taken to mean that they would
be turned back then regardless of their
condition unless Congress acted to turn
them back sooner.
This recommendation In the Presi-
cents message is an abandonment Of the
NcAdoo five year programme. which was
understood to have the backing Of the
PRESIDENT. It provided for extension OF
Inc period OF Government control and on
GRAFTON Tor five years in order to give
moro time to adjust the SYSTEMS TO after
the war conditions and thus return them
10 their owners In something like the sit
uation they occupied when they were
taken over.
e.
Icf of the Republican leaders that the
President intends to turn the railroads
Pack to private ownership by the end of
THIS year. no matter whether additional
legislation has been finally acted upon
oy thnt time or not. the programme of
congress VIII be to repeal the authority
given the President TO retain or dispose
of the roads, as he chooses Senator
Cummins tla) and Representative Esch
(Wis.). chairmen respectively OF the
committees Of the Senate and House
which will handle the railroad Iegisla-
ton. have outlined the plans that they
have for railroad legislation. but they in
tend to hold exhaustive hearings and
ma out the exect situation To-day in
stead OF urging haste In acting on the
problem.
No Talk of Economy.
There was some comment on the COM
plete failure of the President to touch in
MS message upon the necessity for econ
omy In the administration and conduct
OF the affairs of the Government
In view of the former public utter
ances OF the President on this subject.
particularly in favor Of the establish
inent of budget system, there was some
disappointment on the part Of Republi-
cans who have made this a part of their
legislative programme for the session.
However. they do not anticipate a COM
plete reversal on this subject by Mr.
Wilson and confidently look to him for
support Of the projected legislation to
provide this economical system of ham
ding governmental financial affairs.
So far as suffrage is concerned the
edge was taken off of this part of the
message by the fact that before the COM
munication had been read in the House
Representative Mann Cll), chairman of
the Suffrage Committee, had arranged
things In such a manner that the House
will have the suffrage resolution before
it Tomorrow and probably will pass 1t
before adjournment
To Protect War Industries.
Tho protection for infant war indus
tries through high import duties on SIM
liar foreign products. advocated in the
message. is virtually certain of early
enactment as this. too, is a part Of the
Republican programme OF legislation.
Revision Of the taxes to do away with
some of the most obnoxious ones had
already been decided upon also and the
Republican programme in this respect
may go far beyond Mr.. Wilson's wishes
The lengthy discourse on the subject
of labor embodied in the message at
tractcd some attention. but the greatest
amount of comment on this part Of the
message as matter of fact was be-
cause of the fact that che President
spelled the word repeatedly '1abour."
Congressional leaders said that they
wanted a more denite statement from
the President touching the labor prob
lem before they would venture to draw
up and enact laws based on their con-
fiicting views of exactly what the Pres
ident meant to convey.
Briefly, these men want the President
to give them a more concrete view Of
what legislation he considers necessary
to bring about the desired "demonstra-
ton OF labour."
The message was a novel one in that
II is the lrst which has been delivered to
Congress since the Presidents initial
address which he has not spoken in per-
son. The message evoked little en-
thusiasm. Some of the Democrats at
tempted a demonstration. but without
the physical presence of their party
leader even they lacked the inspiration.
Republican leaders virtually all prom
ised to give every recommendation made
by the President their close study. and
as most of the recommendations made
are in line with Republican policy and
the announced programme their task is
expected to be made easy.