Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-06-05
President Wilson Criticizes
Congress in Telegram
to BrOtherhOOds.
NOTHING TO GAIN IN
CONTINUING SESSION
President Tells Railroad Men That
Politics Aetuates Present Congress
Rather Than Desire to Serve Pub
lie-Accepts Some Of It's Legisla.
ton Because He "Despaired of
Anything Better"
BY Associated Press.

By Associated Press.
Washington, June 5.-Prcsiden,
Wilson. in a telegram today to Of
ficials OF the railroad brotherhoods
criticized congress for failure to take
action with regard to the high cost
OF living, the conclusion OF peace and
important domestic legislation.
The telegram was in reply to a
message asking the president to pre-
vent the adjournment Of congress to-
day. The executive said that, in the
light OF the record of the present
congress, Il have no reason what
ever to hope that its continuance In
session would result in constructive
measures for the relief OF the Geo.
nomic conditions to which you call
attention"
1T must be evident to ALL the
president said, that the dominating
motive which has actuated this con-
gress is political expediency rather
than lofty purpose to serve the public
welfare"
The president declared that he had
accepted some OF the legislation en-
acted by. this congress because he
"despaired OF anything better"
| The Presidents Telegram.
The text OF the presidents tele-
gram follows:
/ '"I received your telegram OF June
3. You call my attention to matters
that 4 presented to the nf1sent con.
gress In a special message delivered
at joint session OF the two houses
on Aug. 1S, 1918. In nine months this
congress has, however. taken no Inn
portant remedial action with respect
to the problem of the cost Of living
on the lines indicated in that ad-
dress, or on any other line. Not only
has the present congress failed to
deal directly with the cost OF living.
nbut it has failed even to give serious
consideration to the urgent appeal,
oft repeated by me and by the secre-
taries of the treasury, to revise the
tax laws which, in their present form,
are indirectly responsible in part for
the high cost of living. The pro-
tracted delay in dealing with the
problem OF the railroads, the prob
lem of the government-o mer-
chant marine, and other similar mat
ters has resulted in unnecessary bur-
dens upon the public treasury, and
ultimately in legislation so unsatis-
factory that could accept it, II at
all, only because I despaired of any
thing better. The present congress
has not only prevented the conclu-
sion Of peace in Europe, but has
failed to present any constructive
plan for dealing with the deplorabIe
conditions there, the continuance Of
which can only reflect upon us.
I'm the light Of the record OF the
present congress, nave no reason
whatever to hope that its contin-
uance in session would result In
constructive measures for the relief
of the economic conditions to which
you call attention. 1t must be evil
dent to all that the dominating mo-
tive which has actuated this con-
gress is political expediency rather
than lofty purpose to serve the pub
lie welfare"
What Brotherhoods Asked.
The letter to the president from the
brotherhoods' chief said:
"As the responsible head Of rail-
road labor Organizations, represent
ing more than two million workers,
we protest most earnestly and most
emphatically against the proposed
adjournment of congress next Sat-
urday, in accordance with the plan
reported in the public press. We call
attention to the fact that, despite the
revelations as to the profiteering
scandal congress has done nothing
to check the evil or to punish the
evil doers; that the cost of living
| continues to advance without q single
remedial measure having been passed
and that there has not been even
serious consideration of constructive
legislation dealing with the serious
problem Of Industrial unrest.
I'm the circumstances it appears to
us incredible that the responsible
leaders Of the government at Wash
ington can assent to this seeming
agreement to continuation Of a do
nothing policy, which means that the
grave economic problems of the peo-
pie are to be made the playthings OF
politics and politicians for the next
five months. It invites political chaos
and business disaster. Congress
should remain in session"
BUDGET BILL ADOPTED.