The Washington herald., 1919-05-21
legislation to Coordinate
Operation of Different
transportation Systems
Urged in Message to
Congress = President
Asks Respite for Light
Alcoholic Beverages
Until Prohibition Amend
ment Is Operative -Op-
poses General Tariff Re-
vision.

President Wilson. in his message
to Congress yesterday. declared:
That he would return the rail-
roads to their owners at the end
Of the calendar year.
That the telegraph and telephone
lines will be returned to their own
ers as soon as possible.
That in the case of both the wires
and the railroads there should be
legislation to develop a more uni
form and co-ordinated system Of
operation.
For wines and Beers.
Tn" wartime prohibition act
should be amended or repealed so
far as it applies to wines and beers.
There is no occasion for amy gen.
cral revision" of the present system
of import duties. with the exception
of the necessary protection for the
new dye industry.
Revision of Federal taxes to sim
plify administration. elimination Of
minor taxes. such as excuses upon
various manufactures. and taxes
upon retail sales. and adjustment
of income. excess profits and estate
taxes as the mainstay of revenue
sources was necessary.
Linking Capital and Labor.
That a new organization of in
+, dustry'' is ncce ssary to make oper-
ative a community of interests be-
tween capital and labor.
The United States Employment
Service should be continued and
several agencies of conciIiation and
adjustment coordinated by setting
up of new federal agencies of ad-
vice and information. similar to
those created for internal coun-
sci and suggestion under the
LcaEu. of Nations.
That undeveIoped land should be
allotted to returning soldiers.
That woman suffrage should be
adopted. so the United States may
have the distinction "of being among
the first to act in the great reform
Prohibition Clause Startles.
President Wilson threw a bomb
into Congress when he advocated re-
peal or amendment of the wartime
prohibition act.
With a heavier dry majority than
existed in the last session. Congress
leaders declared il would be a difh-
cult matter to lift the beer and wine
ban
Il am astounded." said Representa-
tive Randall. of California, House
dry leader. However. | don't be-
lieye either Democrats or Republic
cans will burn their fingers with pro-
hibition just before Presidential
election"
senator Sheppard. dry leader in
the upper branch. was equally out
spoken
we will not yield even this
much" he said emphatically. "Presi-
dent Wilson evidently thought he
had power to set aside the wartime
prohibition act with respect to wine
and beer without further leSisla-
tion. but finds he can't do it. In
nv opinion. the legislation will be
long time coming"
other "drys" united in saying that
pubIic opinion would not stand for
change in the law.
Interest In Railroads.
Next to wartime prohibition. the
Presidents reference to the return of
the railroads claimed most interest
among Congressman.
His pIan gives Congress something
to shoot at" Representative Esch. of
wisconsin, chairman of the House
Interstate Commerce Committee. be-
Iieyed. "A definite basis upon which
l., laI ~
cause ongress knows what the ad-
n,inistration proposes to do" he said.
And we will he ready with appro-
,,riate legislation. So far as the House
i concerned. there will be no delay in
4 cnactinG laws covering the subject"
bound On Leather.
The message was delivered to the
Sepate at 12:T by White House
,,,nsseucer and Immediately there
,rrr 70 the House. II was bound in
Hack leather. engraved with gold let
fors
Tho senate clerk began its reading
ir,r,ediatrIv hut in the House the
ra~dir~ did not hegin until 1923.
Senators and House members were
.-iyen individual copies and followed
Tho reading closely. now and then
,.a,LOrinG in groups to discuss various
points.
There were smiles on the -Repub-
Iiosn side at the Presidents sug-
20 sstinr that fortunately" there Is
No need for general revision Of i'm
p~~ts.
Tho Presidents announcement of
his intention to return the railroads
created a stir in both houses.
Reading Of the Presidents mes
sage took % minutes in the House
and was without incident. Mem
hers gave close attention. but the
only display Of approval came from
the Democratic section as the read
ing ended.
, When the part touching prohfbi-
ton was reached. many smiles ap-
peared.