Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-05-20
Called Communication Sent
to Congress Advocates
Revision of Taxes.
PARTNERSHIP OF CAPITAL
AND LABOR is SUGGESTED
Mr.. Wilson Favors Suffrage for
Women, Teeth in Tariff Law,
Land for Soldiers.

"Omcu, 4cctu LII Ad1AA Law,
Land for Soldiers.
President Wilson in his message to
rCongress today. recommended repeal
spf the wartime prohibition law, 80 far
vas it applies to wine and beer only;
announced definitely that the railroad
systems and telegraph and telephone
Zines would be returned to private
ownership; urged revision of war
faxes, particularly to abolish the man.
ufaeturers' and retail sales excise, and
outlined generally a program respect
sing labor.
These were the high spots of the
Presidents message cabled from Paris.
Suffrage; Tariff; Soldiers Land.
Besides that. he again urged enact
tnent of the, woman suffrage constitu-
tional amendment; recommended that
the tariff law be supplied with teeth to
protect American industry against for-
eisn attack: spoke for legislation to ia
cilitate American enterprise through the
expansion Of shipping, and backed Sec
rotary Lanes program for land for re-
turning soldiers.
OF the Paris peace conference and the
league of nations, the President merely
said 1t would be premature to discuss
Them or express JUDGMENT He also
avoided discussion of domestic legisla-
ton at length because of his long Alb
sence from Washington.
Congress heard unique document.
the only one of its kind ever transmit
ted across the ocean from President
on a foreign shpre. For the first time
in six years it heard presidential mes
sage read by a reading clerk instead OF
assembling to hear the President deliver
an address in person.
The Recommendations for the repeal
Of wartime prohibition and for return
of the rail and wire system. while not
unexnected By some. contained the
greatest element OF surprise and pro-
voked the most widespread comment o.
the many tasks set before Congress by
the President. ss7-st--...---. - szzE.z-~-
Safe to Remove Ban.
In his references to prohibition the
President did not enter extensively into
the considerations involved Demobili-
zation. bs said merely, has progressed
to such point that II seems to me en-
tirely> safe now to remove the ban upon
IL
beers This ban. laid several months
ago to become effective on July /. could
only be removed. the President said, by
congressional enactment
His recommendation. regarding re-
turn of the railways and wire lines
was the arst authoritative declara-
tion by the administration Of its flu
ture policy and greatly surprised
many members who had Interpreted
the developments of the past few
months to mean that Mr.. Wilson
eventually would propose some form
of permanent government operation.
On the contrary, the directness of the
President's declaration on that point
left no doubt that he was through
with any possible scheme of perra-
Nent retention.
The telegraph and telephone lines"
said the message. will of course be-
returned to their owpers as soon as
the transfer can be effected without
administrative confusion. .
The railroads Will be handed over to
their owners at the end of the calen-
dar year.
Legislation for Readjustment.
In the case of each the President
asked for legislation to make easier
the read1ustments necessitated by the
change.
In his recommendatio ton for readjust-
ment of taxation. the President made
u a
fundamental readjustment of the
democratic tariff rates that have been
operative for the past six years. He
asked for tariff changes only to pro-
tsct special new interests 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.
What the reply of the republican
C0nKTAaQ L. h
has become the topic Of discussion
everywhere about the Capitol In
returning the railroads. 1T generally
was conceded. the republican leaders
VIII readily give the President their
co operation. But as to prohibition and
tariff and internal revenue taxation the
case was more doubtful.
These are problems on which no
very clear sentiment apparently has
been formed in either of the great
parties.
The recommendations regarding
labor were general. but the President
called attention to the need for a
partnership between capital and labor
end . genuine characterization of in
dustry."
Tariff Revision.
On tariff revision the President said
the United States should have the
means of properly protecting itself
when there was danger Of discrim-
ination against 1t by foreign nations.
Though we are as far as possible
from desiring to enter upon a course
of retaliation" he said. I'VE must
frankly face the fact that hostile
legislation by other nations IL not be-
yond the range of possibilities. and
that 1t may have to be met by counter
legislation.
Although the United States will
gladly and unhesitatingly join in the
program Of international disarma-
rnent. il will. nevertheless. be a policy
~ obvious prudence to make certain
90 :he successful maintenance of
many strong and well equipped chem
icai plants"
$4,000 GET MORE PAY.
Increase Given Textile Workers at
Lawrence, Mass.