Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-12-04
MESSAGE GIVES
NO TREATY ADVICE
Nations Hesitation in Deter
mining its Peace Policy" Is
Presidents Only Phrase Refer
ing to Pact
MANY RECOMMENDATIONS
Mr.. Wilson's Annual Address to Com
Ercss Suggests Diversified Legislative
Program 10 Restore u Peace Time
business Basis

Washington. Dec a diversified legis-
lative program to restore a peace time
business status. revise the tax system,
curb unrest, reduce the cost of living and
rectify labor and farming conditions was
recommended by President Wilson to-day
in his message to the new session of
Congress
The President asked for new tariff laws
based on the nations changed relation
to the rest OF the world, suggested that
the income and excess profits lax sched-
ue be simpiiied. advocated steps to i'm
prove rural conditions and promote
production, and declared for a genuine
democrs tization Of industry to protect
both labor and capital
The railroad problem he reserved for a
future message. and he made no state
ment of his ittentions regarding the
peace treaty or Mexico. Many of his
recommendations were the same as those
submitted to the special session last spring
and several of them are embraced in
legislation already being formulated in
the two houses.
To meet the cost Of living the Presl-
dent asked extension of the wartime
food control bill. federal regulation of
cold storage. readjustment Of food
transportation, and establishment of
system of federal licensing for all cor
porations engaged in interstate COM
merce
He declared the causes of unrest to
be superficial and temporary and made
his only reference to the Senates fail
ure to ratify the peace treaty in say
ing that restlessness was due largely
to the nations hesitation in determin-
ing it's peace policy. The federal gov
q q dr hn ,od
with fun authority to deal in the
criminal courts with those who pro-
mote violence.
In an extended discussion of labor con-
ditions he declared the workers had just
cause for complaint in many matters,
and there should he full recognition Of
he right of those who work. in what
ever rank. to participate in some organ
ic way In every decision that directly
affects their welfare" He asserted that
the right of individuals to strike must
be held nviolate. but added that there
must be firm hand against tho at
tempt by any class to usurp a power that
only government itself has a right to ex-
ercise protection to all" Finally
he suggested the establishment Of a trib-
unal for peaceful decision of industrial
disputes
" budget system of national financeA
asked for special protection to pro-
mote the dyestuffs and chemical in
dustries, and declared the adminis-
tration bill providing farms for SOL
diers should be passed without delay.
The message. about 5000 words in
length, was transmitted to the Capitol
by messenger. the President express
ing regret that his health would not
permit his delivery of it in person.
1t was read separately in Senate and
House where II drew mixed express
sions of Apr obatlon and disappoint-
ment. The democrats generally praised
it as setting forth decisively a prac-
teal program of reform while on the
republican side there were many com
plants that it lacked definiteness and
omitted mention of important
problems.
tThs full text Of President Wilson's
message may he found page ~