Republican farmer., 1919-05-23
ANNOUNCED SURE RETURN
 RAILS, PHONES, AND WIRES

suggested by previous administrations. I recommend that this phase of the tariff question receive the early at- tention 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? It seems to me that every consideration of justice and of public advantage calls for the immediate adoption of that amend ment and it's submission forthwith to the legislators of the several states. Throughout all the world this long delayed extension of the suffrage is looked for; in the United States, longer. I believe, than anywhere else the necessity for it and the immense advantage of it to the national life has been urged and debated, by wom- en and men who saw the need for 1t and urged the policy of 1t when it re- quired steadfast courage to be so much beforehand with the common conviction and I, for one, covet for our country the distinction of being among the first to act in a great re- form.
 The telegraph and telephone lines will, of course, be returned to their owners so soon as the transfer can be effected without administrative confu- sion, so soon that is, as the change can be made with least possible in- convenience to the public and to the owners themselves. The railroads will be handed over to their owners at the end of the caleIfdar year; if I were in wit ha trative questions which must govern the transfer of the telegraph and tele- phone lines, I could name the exact date for their return also. Until I am in direct contact with the practical management involved, 1t is clearly. de- sirable that legislation should be con- sidered that may tend to make of these dispensible instruCnentalities of our modern life a uniform and co-or- dinated 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 intelligible.
 Expert advice is, of course. avail able in this matter, and the public in- terest 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 in strumentalities could be rendered more thorough and satisfactory has not been made full use of An exec utive study of the whole question of electrical communication and of means by which the central authority can use and improve it, 1t is important by the appropriate committees of the Congress would certainly result in directly, even if not directly, in great public benefit.
 The demobilization of the military forces in our 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 I am advised that without further legislation I have not the legal authority to remove the present restriction. I, therefore recommend that the act approved November 21, 1918, entitled an act to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out. during the fiscal year ending June 30. 1919, the purchase of the act entitled an act to provide further for the national security and defense by stimulating agriculture and facilitating the distribution Of agricultural products and for other purposes be amended or repealed in solar as it applies to wines and beers.
 T sincerely trust that I shall very soon be in Washington to report on the matters which made my presence at this peace table apparently imper- ative, and to put myself at the ser vice of the Congress in every matter of administration or council that may seem to demand executive action or advice.
 0Signed)
 WOODROW WILSON,
 Mo