El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-05-21
HIGH LIGHTS OF VII SONS MESSAGE;
SOME POINTS ARE GOOD, SOME HAY

THERE three high spots in the message president
Wilson has sent to congress One is his announcement
Of intention to restore the railroad systems to private
ownership at the end CT the calendar and the tee
phone and telegraph systems practicable The
other his recommendation that the wartime restriction
liquors. TO into effect June be modified so as not
include light wines and beer The third is his renewed
suggestion that the constitutional amendment enfTancis
ing be submitted to the states.
The presidents declaration that the railroads VIII be
Tenquished by the government at the end Of 1913 ends
an uncertainty which had been troublesome TO the rail-
roads and annoying to the public It more welcome an
because the public has become thoroughly dis
satisfied with postwar administration Of the railroads BY
the government while realizing that federal operation Of
the transportation system most effective time Of
way for the movement Of troops and war materials.
This announcement puts end to the soeaed McAdoo
plan. Mr McAdo0s fatherinaw evidently sees use IN
putting government operation Of railroads TO three OF
five year test He must understand that the greater part
the American people convinced that while fed
era operation Of railroads has certain advantages IN direct
routing Joint terminals and other facilities the
preponderance good lies the side of private
ownership under the stimulus Of competition There viii
be less complaint against federal control from now on
The people realize they have only little more than SIX
months to put up with it.
There are problems to be solved Of It VIII not
be merely matter Of turning back the roads to their own
ers Rates VIII Be worked out and the question
wages? It may be the roads viii endeavor TO main
the the federal railway administration has liked
high they are, order to uphold the wages OF then
employees and thus avert labor trouble That would be
the easy way.
President Wilson plainly sees the need OF
the telephone and telegraph lines to private ownership as
soon as possible his message he explains that he does
not name specific dates because he IS Of touch with
conditions but he hopes to do the near future
His idea is that the government must relnqush tie lines
as soon as it be effected with least administrative COZ
fusion and with the least Inconvenience to the public and
the owners Of the wire lines The president must be fully
advised Of the complaints made IN al parts Of the United
States about Door serce especially Of the telegraph lines
Of the denuncations to which the postmaster general
has been subjected consequence MI Wilson'S prompt
assurance in regard return Of the lines IS proof Of this
President Wilson follows his announcement regarding
the return Of the wire lines with somewhat hay sugges
fon that LEGISLATION affecting telephone and telegraph
lines and tie railroad systems should be enacted BY con
gTess. Here is what he says:
81 can only suggest that the Of the telephones
and elegraph the OF the railways, It IS clearly
desirable the public interest that some legislation should
be considered which nay tend 10 make OF unese lhes
sable insruuentates OF our modern lie eooIolnelsu
and Uniform system which VII afford those who use them
as complete uniform OF communication with an
parts Of the country has long been afforded BY the pos
system Of the government and at rates uniform and IL
eIeibe Neither the telegraph the telephone system
Of the country be said to be IN any sense nalonai
system There are many confuons and Inconsistencies OF
rates The scientific BY which such INSTRUMENTAL
ties can be rendered thorough and satisfactory mas
been made full use Of An exhaustive suuay o. ~
whole question Of electrical communication ana OF TIE
means BY which the central authority Of the nation can
be used to unity and improve it II undertaken oy the aP
prourata committees Of the congress- would certainly re-
srIf Indirectly Il not directly great public benett
What all that means exactly, every reader IS at liberty
to puzzle out for himself It IS grouping OF genIales
impossible Of definite construction If the president means
tat the telephone and telegraph lines should be merged
into one coordinated system with Just one ed set OF
rates The public may not like IT. however good It may De
The American people VII tolerate no Telephone OF
graph monopoly, VIII they likely sanction any under
Standing between companies tending TO eliminate that
competition without which good service IS unlikely 70 o
ven sthough with proper control such system would
undoubtedly improve the service he means merely that
ons and tariffs Of the companies should be clar
FED SO as 10 eliminate any confusion there may be some
thing in that But to hold up the postal system, at least
under direction Of M Buresons as model Of commune
cation is to make very strong point Pernaps Al
some future time possibly after his return from Europe
the president VIII speak IN terms spec telling US
inst what he has in mind
The suggestion that beer and light vines De ennass
throughout the country the presidents concession 10