The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-12-08
DAVID LAWRENCE
DISCUSSES MESSAGE
OF THE PRESIDENT
By DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright by The Intelligencer

Washington. Dec. 7.-President Will
4, son deals with the treaty and league OF
nations only in the most abstract way
IN his annual message to congress. He
does however, make specific reference to
the state OF the nations finances. and
seeks to put the burden partly on the
war, partly on the failure OF the last
congress TO reduce the cost of living and
partly on the indifference Of the legtsla-
tive body to the recommendations made
b. the Wilson administration in the last
session.
The president insists that our eco
nnmic future depends upon the main
tcnnnce Of tax receipts at sufficiently
high level" and he emphasizes the
fundamental fact that seven and half
billions OF war Indebtedness mature
within the next two and half years
Mr. Wilson advocates economy out
brings out A fact seldom realized about
the method Of making appropriations
namely the practice of taking money out
OF the so-called revolving funds. The
president couldn't resist the temptation
To point out by implication that al
though the Republicans in the last con-
gress boosted about, reducing the esti-
mates of the executive departments by
a billion dollars. they turned around and
authorized the expenditure OF over
billion dollars "in addition TO the
amounts shown In the usual compiled
statements OF appropriations"
The Railroads!
The president takes a qHiet fling At
the people who insisted upon the prompt
return Of the railroads to private owner
ship by pointing out that the hnances
OF the entire government have been as
turbed "by the extraordinary burdens
thrown upon the treasury by the trans
portation act" He declares that over
ILL koa nj l,,
been paid to the railroads, and that
further payments estimated to aggrc-
gate about six hundred and fifty million
dollars more must still be paid to the
railroads during the current year. In
other words. the president points out
that the railroads cost the government
In the neighborhood Of a billion dollars
which wasn't mentioned very much
when the Republicans were talking
about the amount OF money they saved
during the last session.
Mr.. Wilson's message was regarded
by many who heard it as having plainly
the partisan touch. 1t was looked upon
as n parting shot at the Republicans
who shouted economy and are now con-
frontcd with the serious responsibility
OF meeting seven and half billion dol
lars Of Indebtedness and other big OBJ
legations. Mr.. Wilson approves Secre-
tary Houston's program for tax revision
which will be made public In hts annual
report tomorrow
Loan Tor Armenia
Specifically the president takes occa-
sion to urge q loan for Armenia to be
supervised by special commission. and
he lays on the doorstep Of congress a
recommendation that the Philippines be
given their Independence as a proof OF
Americas sincerity In talking about
sclf-determination for small nations.
The only reference TO the tarin Is
suggestion that the manufacture Of dye
stuffs and related chemicals be pro-
trrted. Mr.. Wilson repeats the recon-
mendations he made to the Republicans
during the last congress, namely, the
passage OF cold storage law regulating
the time that goods may be kept In stor-
age and the marking Of prices on every
commodity shipped In Interstate com
MERGE including the selling OF market
price at the time the goods went into
storage so that the purchaser might be
able TO learn the profits Of the middle
man. He also refers again to his recon-
mendation in regard to federal licenses
for all corporations engaged in inter-
state commerce. The closing paragraph
Ia looked upon as a valedictory on the
treaty question and an earnest Of MI.
Wilson's intention to keep on fighting
FOR the league OF nations In his con-
clusion, the president said:
IT have not 10 much laid before you
a series Of recommendations. gentleman.
as sought TO utter q confession OF faith.
which 1t Is my solemn purpose to stand