Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-05-22

| an address in person.
| The recommendations for the repeal of
wartime prohibition and for return of the
| railroad and wire systems, while not UNI
| expected by some, contained the great
| est element of surprise and provoked the
most widespread comment of the many
| tasks set before Congress by the Presi-
dent
In his reference to prohibition. the
| President did not enter extensively into
the considerations involved. Demobliza-
ton he said, merely, has progressed to
such n point that it seems to me entirely
| safe now to remove the ban upon the
| manufacture and sales of wines and
| beers.
This ban laid several months ago to be-
come effective on July l. could be re-
moved the President said, only by con-
| gressional enactment.
| His recommendation regarding return
of the railways and wire lines was the
| first authoritative declaration by the
| administration of its future policy and
greatly surprised many members who
had interpreted the developments of the
last few months to mean that MIR. Will
son eventually would propose some form
of permanent government operations On
the contrary the directness of the Presi-
doubt that he was through with any
possible scheme of permanent control.
1.-THE telegraph and telephone lines"
said the message, will of course be re-
turned to their owners as soon as the
transfer can be effected without admins
trative confusion
THE railroads will be handed over to
their owners at the end of the calendar
year"
In the case of each the President asked
for legislation to make easier the read
justment necessitated by the change.
In his recommendation for readjustment
of taxation the President made it clear
that he did not expect fundamental
readjustment of the democrat tariff rates
that have been operative for the last six
years. He asked for tariff changes only
to protect special new interest like the
dyestuffs industry. Some reductions were
advocated in wartime excess profits taxes,
and the present taxes on retail sales, the
President thought, could be dispensed
with entirely.
HOW WILL REPUBLICANS REPLY?
What will be the reply of the republi-
can Congress to the proposals became
at once the topic of discussion every
where about the Capitol.
III RETURNING lne railroads, II generally
was conceded, the republican leaders will
readily give the President their cooper
alton. But as to prohibition and tariff
and internal revenue taxation, the case
was more doubtful Those are problems
on which no very clear sentiment appar-
emily has been formed in either of the
great parties.
The recommendations regarding labor
were general but the President called
attention to the need for partnership
between capital and labor and a genuine
characterization of industry
On tariff revision the President said the
United States should have the means
Of properly protecting itself when there
was danger of discrimination against it
by foreign nations
Though we are as far as possible from
desiring to enter upon course of re-
taliation," he said. 1--WE must frankly
face the fact that hostile legislation by
other nations is not beyond the range of
possibilities and that 1t may have to
be met by counter legislation.
Although the United States will gladly
and unhesitantly join In the program Of
international disarmament, 1t will, never
theless. be q policy Of obvious prudence
to make certain of the successful main
'ona'.o VI many s.rohs ana wen equip
ped chemical plants"
THE MESSAGE
The Presidents message follows;
Gentlemen of the Congress:
IT deeply regard my inability to be
present at the opening of the extraor-
binary session of the Congress- II still
seems to be my duty to take part in the
counsels of the peace conference and con-
tribute what I can to the solution of
the innumerable questions To whose set
!, Element II has had to address itself. For
thew are questions which effect the neace
, of the whole world and from them there
fore. the United States cannot stand
apart I deemed II NV duty IN call the
Congress- together at This tive hecause
II was MT wise 70 nostnono ,ongar tho
provisions which n,ust ha r,ada To- TIC
! sunnort ~ tho ooyarrr,.nt NJ, -, ~
appropriations which ORC oh.oIutaIy
necessary for tho mairtoranca or tbo
go,orrmart ord ,ho f,ue,,.,,,. -, a.,
varied oh,ioo,iors for ~. e., -
1a1e- ION have M, va No., ,,aa.. 49,
1 and 90 .ha rroso,t e., - =, -,
r hand. and action mon these annronr,o :.