The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1919-05-20
PRESIDENT ASKS
Ban ON beer AND
WINES Be LIFTED
Message to Congress Cabled From
Paris Advises Repeal Of War Time
Prohibition on Light Drinks
Advises Return Of Wires
and Railroads.

Washington, May 2O.-Probably the
most striking recommendation in
President Wilson's message, read be-
fore Congress at noon today, Is that
the wartime ban on wine and beers
be lifted. His recommendation does
not extend to the stronger intoxicat-
ing beverages. That part of his mes
sage reads as follows:
"The rehabilitation of the mill
tary forces of the county has pro-
gressed to such point that 1t seems
to me entirely safe now to remove the
ban upon the manufacture and sale
of wines and beers, but am advised
that without further legislation have
not the legal authority to remove the
present restrictions. therefore re-
commend that the act approved No
vember 27, 1918, entitled An act to
enable the Secretary of Agriculture to
carry out during the fiscal year end
ing June 30, 1919, the purposes of the
act entitled, An act to provide fur
ther for the national security and de-
fense by stimulating agriculture and
facilitating the distribution of agri-
cultural products, and for other pur-
poses. be amended or repealed inso-
far as it applies to wines or beers
The second most striking recon-
mendation is that calling for the re-
turn of the railroads, as well as the
telegraph and telephone lines, to pri-
vate ownership and control. This is
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
Mr.. Wilson eventually would propose
some form of permanent Government
operation. On the contrary, the di-
rectness of the Presidents declaration
on that point left no doubt that he was
through with any possible scheme of
permanent retention.
"The telegraph and telephone lines"
the message reads, "will, Of course, be
returned to their powers as soon as
the transfer can be affected without
administrative confusion. The rail
roads 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 readjustments necessary because
Of the change.
The foregoing features are the high
lights" Of the message, which is
unique in that It is the first in Ameri-
can history ever cabled from abroad
by President soiourning in foreign
land, and also the first Wilson mes
sage in six years read to Congress by
a clerk instead of being delivered in
person. In addition to the recommen-
dations noted, the President in his
message reviews his plea in behalf of
woman suffrage; recommends that the
tariff laws be supplied with teeth to
protect American industry against
foreign attack; urges legislation to
facilitate American enterprise through
the expansion of shipping, and ap-
proves Secretary Lanes programme
| for land for returning soldiers.
or the Paris Peace conference and
the League Of Nations the President
says it would be premature to discuss
them or express a judgment. He also
avoids any detailed dicussion Of do
nestle legislation because of his long
absence from Washington.