The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-05-20
WILSON ASKS
TAX CHANGE
IN MESSAGE
TO CONGRESS
War Debt Should Not be Bur-
den, He Urges Suf-
frage and Repeal of War
time Prohibition.
WANTS RAILs;RETURNED
tBy Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, May 20.-President
Wilson in his message to congress to-
day recommended repeal Of the war
time prohibition law-so far as it ap-
plies to wine and beer only. announced
definitely that the railroad systems
and telegraph and telephone lines
would be returned to private owner
ship; urged a revision Of war taxes
particularly to abolish the manufac-
turers and retail sales excuses; and
outlined generally a program respect
ing labor.
These were the ''high spots of the
presidents message, cabled from
Paris
Besides that, he again urged enact
ment of the woman suffrage constitu-
tfonal amendment; recommended that
the tariff laws be supplied with teeth
to protect American industry against
foreign attack; spoke for legislation
to facilitate American enterprise
through the expansion of shipping,
and backed Secretary Lanes program
for land for returning soldiers.
OF the Paris peace conference and
the league of nations the president
merely said it would be premature to
discuss them or express Judgment.
He also avoided discussion of domestic
legislation at length because of his
long absence from Washington.
Recommendations Expected.
Congress heard unique document; J;
the only one of its kind ever trans
mftted across the ocean from a presi-
dent on a foreign shore. For the first
time in six years 1t heard a presiden-
tial message read by reading clerk
instead Of assembling to hear the
president deliver an address in person.
The recommendation for the repeal
of wartime prohibition and for return
of the rail and wire systems. while not
unexpected by some. contained the
greatest element of surprise and pro-
voked the most widespread comment
of the many tasks set before congress
by the president.
In his reference to prohibition, the
president did not enter extensively In
to the considerations involved. De-
mobilization, he said, merely has PRO
gressed 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" This ban, laid sew
eral months ago to become effective
on July /, could only be removed, the
president said, by congressional enact
ment.
His recommendation regarding re.
turn 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 de
velopments of the past few months to
mean that Mr.. Wilson eventually
would propose some form of perman
ent government operation. On the
contrary, the directness of the presi
dents declaration on that point left
no doubt that he was through with any
possible scheme of permanent reten
ton.
Tariff Changes.
"The telegraph and telephone lines,'
said the message, will of course be
returned to their owners as soon al
the transfer can be effected without
administrative confusion.
The railroads will be handed over tt
their owners at the end of the calen
dar year"
In the case of each the presiden
asked for legislation to make easier
the readjustments necessitated by thu
change.
In his recommendation for readjust
ment of taxation the president made
1t clear that he did not expect funda
mental readjustment of the democra
tic tariff rates that have been opera
tive for the past six years. He asket
for tariff changes only to protect spe
cial new interests like the dyestuffs In
dustry. Some reductions were advo
Gated in war time excess profits taxe
and the present taxes on retail sale
which the president< thought could b,
dispensed entirely
What will be the reply of the Re
publican congress to the proposal
became at once the topic Of the dis
cussion everywhere about the cap!
tol. In returning the railroads it wa
leaders will readily give the presfden
their cooperation. But as to the prob
bition and tariff and international re,
enue taxation, the case was NOR
doubtful.
Labor Suggestions
Those are problems on which n
very clear sentiment apparently ha
been formed in either of the grea
parties
The recommendations regardin
labor were general, but the presiden
called attention to the need for par
nership between capital and labor an
a genuine characterization of indus
try
On tariff revision the president sal
the United States should have th
means of properly protecting itse
where there was danger of discrimini
ton against it by foreign nations.
Though we are as far as possibl
from desiring to enter upon a cours
of retaliation he said, I'VE mus
frankly face the fact that hostile lei
islation by other nations is not beyon
the range Of possibilities. and that
may have to be met by counter legi
lation.
although the United States wi
: gladly and unhesitatingly join in tn
program of international disarmament
fCeptinued on Pace Nine)