The Washington herald., 1919-05-21

We ought to have the instruments
necessary for the assurance OF equal
and equitable treatment. The attcn-
tion of the Congress has been called
TO this matter on past occasions, and
the past measures which are now
recommended by the tariff commits
sion are substantially the same that
have been suggested by previous ad-
ministrations. / recommend that this
phase of the tariff question receive
the early attention of the Congress
I Woman sanrage.
VIII 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 of
public advantage calls for the imme-
diate adoption of that amendment
and its submission forthwith to the
legislatures OF the several States
throughout all the world this long
delayed extension of the suffrage is
looked for; in the United States, long
er. ] believe, than anywhere else. the
necessity for II. and the immense ad-
vantage of 1t to the national life. has
been urged and debated, by women
and men who saw the need for il and
urged the policy OF II when it re-
duired steadfast courage to be so
much beforehand with the common
conviction; and /, for one coyet for
our country the distinction OF being
among the first to act in a great re-
form.
Railroads md 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
lconfusion: so soon, that is, as the
change can be made with least pos
sible 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; IL I were in immediate contact
with the administrative questions
which must govern the retransfer OF
the telegraph and telephone lines,
could name the exact date for their
return also. Until am in direct
contact with the practical questions
involved l can only suggest that in
the case OF the telegraphs and tele-
phones. as in the case of the rail-
ways. it Is clearly desirable IN the
public interest that some legislation
/, should be considered which may tend
! to make of these indispensable in
| strumentalities of our modern life a
, uniform 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 govern
ment. and at rates as uniform and in
teligible. Expert advice lis. of course,
available In this very practical mat
ter. and the public interest is mani
fest. Neither the telegraph 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 SCI
lentific means by which communica-
ton by such instrumentalities could
he rendered more thorough and salts
factory has not been made fun use of.
An exhaustive study of the whole
question of electrical communica-
tion and OF the means by which
the central authority of the nation
can be used to unity and improve IL.
| If undertaken. by the appropriate
committees of the Congress. would
certainly result. indirectly even if
not directly. in great public bene-
fit.
wartime Prohibition.
The rehabilitation of the military
forces of the country 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. but l am ad-
vised that without further legisla-
tion / have not the legal authority
to remove the present restrictions.
j therefore recommend that the act
approved November 81. 1918. en-
titled. An act to enable the Secre-
tary of Agriculture to carry out.
during the fiscal year ending June
80, 1919. the purposes of the act
entitled An act to provide further
for the national security and de-
fense by stimulating agriculture
and facilitating the distribution OF
agricultural products and for other
purposes" be amended or repealed
in so far as it applies to wines and
beers.
4 sincerely trust that I shall very
soon be at my post in Washington
again to report upon the matters
which made my presence at the
Peace Table apparently imperative.
and to put myself at the service of
the Congress in every matter of
administration or counsel that may
seem to demand executive action or
advice.
WOODROW WILSON.
May DO 1919.