The state herald., 1919-05-30


war time. can hardly nnd suhicient
justification under the easier circum-
stances Of peace. and can now happily
be got rid Of. Among these. I hope you
will agree. are the exclses upon vari-
Gus manufactures and the taxes upon
retail sales. They are unequal In the
incidence on different industries and
on different individuals. Their ccllec-
tion is dificult and expensive. Those
which are levied upon articles sold at
retail are largely evaded by the read.
1ustment Of retail prices. On the other
hand. should assume that II Is ex-
pedient to maintain q considerable
range Of indirect taxes: and the fact
that alcoholic liquors will presently
no longer afford q source Of revenue
by taxation makes It the more neces-
sary that the field should be carefully
restudied In order that equivalent
sources Of revenue may be found
which OF will be legitimate and not
burdensome to draw upon.
Import Duties Correct.
There Is. fortunately. no occasion
Tor undertaking In the immediate fQ-
turs. any general revision Of our sys
tenn Of import duties. No serious dan
ger Of foreign competition now threat
ems American industries. Our country
has emerged from the war less dis
turbed and less weakened than any Of
the European countries which are our
competitors in manufacture. So far
from there being any danger or need
Of accentuated foreign competition. II
Ia likely that the conditions Of the
next few years will greatly facilitate
the marketing Of American manufac-
lures abroad. Least Of all should we
depart from the policy adopted In the
tariff act Of 1913 Of permitting the
free entry into the United States Of
the raw materials needed to supple
ment and enrich our own abundant
supplies.
Asks Woman Suffrage.
"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 congressl II seems to me that
every consideration Of justice and Of
public advantage calls for the imme-
dlate adoption Of that amendment and
Its submission forthwith to the legis-
latures Of the several states. Through
out all the world this iong-delayed ex.
tension Of the suffrage IL looked for.
''The telegraph and telephone lines
will. Of course. be returned to their
owners 10 soon as the retransfer can
be effected without administrative
confusion; 10 soon that In. as the
change can be made with least pos
sibls Inconvenience TO the public and
to the owners themselves. The rail-
roads will be handed over to their
owners At the end Of the calendar
year; II I were In Immediate contact
with the administrative questions
which must govern the setransfer Of
the telegraph and telephone lines. !
could name the exact date for their re-
turn also. Until I am In direct con.
tact with the practical questions In.
voived eau only suggest In the case
Of the telegrnphs and telephones. A.
In the case Of their railways. Il In
clearly desirable IN the public inter
est that some legislation should be
considered which may tend to make
Of these Indispensable instrumental.
tiles Of our modern life uniform and
co-ordinated system which will afford
those who use them a complete and
certain means Of communication.
"The demobilixntion Of the military
forces Of the country has progressed
to such point that II seems to me en-.
tireiy safe now to remove the ban up.
on the manufacture and sale Of wine
and beers. but am advised that with.
out further legislation I have not the
legal authority 10 remove the present
restrictions. therefore recommend
that the act approved November 2i.
1918. entitled. An net to cntitle the
secretary Of agriculture TO carry out
during the hscal year ending June 10.
1919. the purposes Of the act entitled
"sn act to provide further for the mn.
tionai security and defense by stimn.
iaiing and facilitating tho distribution
Of agricultural products" and for
other purposes. be amended ~ re-
pealed In 20 far ~ II applies to wines
and beerR
~ sincerely trust thnt ! shnii very
soon bs at my post In Washington
again TO report upon the matters
which made my presence At the peace
table apparently imperative. and to
put myself 1t the service Of the con.
gress In every matter Of ndmiDistra.
tion or counsel that may seem TO dc.
msnd executive action or advice.
WOODROW WILSON"