Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-07

mally to 60 to the Capitol if necessary.
1t is part of the tragedy of the
Presidents final service 10 office that
he should cling obstinately to the idea
of personally addressing the American
people and that the state of his health
should rob him Of the opportunity of
delivering himself what is to all intcnts
and purposes his farewell address.
The message Is bare of recommends =
tions except rather perfunctory sug
gestions Of measures, most of which
Congress will not have time to consider
in the few months that remain until
March 4. The President addresses deaf
ears as a President always does who is
in the final months of his service, and
who speaks to Congress which has
gone over to the opposition. And the
| President knows he is writing to body
which is waiting for the coming of thu
| new administration.
Silent on Treaty
On the subject which Is nearest to his
heart the treaty and the League oil
Nations, Mr.. Wilson says nothing, and
he is keeping his plans so much TO him
self since the issue arose as to whether
| he should go to the Capitol or not that
no one knows with certainty what his
plans with respect to the treaty are
| From the fact that he left out all refer
cnce, even indirect, to the situation
created by the failure of the treaty, II
is assumed that he will later address
a special message to the Senate nnt
send the treaty back to 1t for consider
alton. His friends expect him to fol-
low this course. When he does this M
may again insist upon personally ap'
pearing at the Capitol.
The recommendations which the Pres
ident does make touch chiefly the budget
the need of economy and in general th'
reconstruction problems which the wal
has left in it's wake.
Budget Bill Law Forecast
President. elect Harding's plea to tn
Senate Yesterday to cooperate with tn
present administration may result II
the passage of the budget bill law. Th
fnte of this measure in the short scs
sion is in doubt. The Republican n
one time planned to put the measur
through, but lntely they have been in
clined to stand their ground and retus
70 modify the bill to meet the Presi
dents constitutional objections raise
in a veto message last year. Mr.. Hard
ing is said to regard the issue as nc
yet worth hghting ABOUT.
Mr.. Wilson's financial programs dill
fer radically from that which the Hard
ing administration Is likely to follow
, This issue will not arise in what re
| mains of Mr.. Wilson's term. III
President recommends that the govern
ment pay off out of income the toatir
; debt and part of the Victory Loan an
war savings certificates which fall d'
within the next two and onc-half year
= The total of this debt soon maturing
81, 800 ,OOO. 900, a large sum to pay
out of income in two and half year
The Republican plan is to refund mo
! of this indebtedness in long term bond
, Either plan has its difficulties, for Il
t market for further government bon'
t is bad. TO attempt paying off lari
e part Of this debt out Of income mca1
0 high taxes. The Republican are n
likely to heed Mr.. Wilson's declarati'
that sound finance requires this cours
1t is the only sharp party issue ou
lined in the message. There cannot
0 much difference of opinion about cariT
t for the disabled soldiers or protecti
II the new industries which sprang ,
@ during the war or encouraging agricn
= ture or regulating cold storage.