The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-12-08
WILSON SPEECH
APARTINC SHOT
Couldn't Resist Referring to
G. 0. P. Expenditures Des-
pite Economy Boast.
VALEDICT0RY ON TREATY
(eY DAVID LAWRENCE,

Washington. Dec. S.-(Copyrlght for
The Chattanooga News,)-President
Wilson deals with the treaty and
league OF nations only In the most alb
stract way In his annual message IA
| congress.
He does. however, make specific
reference II the state OF the nations
finances and seeks TO put the burden
parity on the war, partly on the fall
iIre OF tho last congress to reduce the
cost OF living and partly on the in
difference OF the legislative body to
the recommendations made by the
Wilson administration in the last ses-
sion.
The president insists that our eco
monte future depends upon the main
tenance OF tax receipts at n sufficiently
high level" and he emphasizes tho
fundamental fact that Seven and n
half billions OF war indebtedness ma
ture within the next two and half
years"
Mr.. Wilson advocates economy, but
brings out fact seldom realized about
the method OF making appropriations,
namely. the practice OF taking money
out of the so-called revolving funds.
temptation to point out by implica-
ton that although the republicans in
the last congress boosted about re-
ducing the estimates OF the executive
departments by a billion dollars, they
turned around and authorized the ex-
penditure OF over a billion dollars "in
ADDITION to the amounts shown in the
usual compiled statements OF ap-
propriations."
Takes Quiet Fling.
The president takes a quiet fling at
the people who insisted upon the
prompt return OF the railroads to
private ownership by pointing out that
n NJ H.
have been disturbed by the extraor-
binary burdens thrown upon the treas
try by the transportation act" He
declares that over 5000, 90, 900 has al
ready been paid to the railroads and
that further payments estimated to
aggregate shout $3.50, 600 more must
still be paid to the railroads during
the current year
In other words, the president points
out that the railroads cost the gov
eminent In the neighborhod of a billion
collars which wasn't mentioned very
much when the republicans We're talk
ing ABOUT the amount of money they
saved during the last session.
Mr.. Wilson'S message was regarded
py many who heard it as having plainly
tho partisan touch. II was looked upon
as parting shot at the republicans who
shouted economy and are now con-
fronted with the serious responsibility
OF meeting seven and half billion dol
lars OF Indebtedness and other big OBJ
legations. Mr.. Wilson approves Sec
rotary Houston's program for tax re-
vision. which will be made public in his
annual report tomorrow.
To Prove U. S, Sincerity.
Specifically the president takes occa-
sion to urge a loan for Armenia to be
supervised by a 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
self determination for small nations.
The only reference to the tariff is a
suggestion that the manufacture of
dyestuffs and related chemicals be pro-
tected Mr.. Wilson repetts the rec
concentrations he made to the repub-
leans during the last congress- namely,
the passage of a cold storage law regu-
lating the time that goods may be kept
in storage and the marking of prices on
every commodity shipped interstate
commerce. including the selling or mar
ket price at the time the goods went
into storage so that the purchaser might
be able to learn the profits of the mid
die man. He also refers again to his
recommendation in regard to federal
licenses for all corporations engaged in
interstate commerce.
Treaty Valedlctory.
IHe NloSlib pdihbi dph Is ipOhcu hpOn
as a valedictory on the treaty question
and an earnest of Mr.. Wilson's inten-
ton to keep on fighting for the league
Of nations In his conclusion, the pres
ident said:
II have not so much laid before you,
series of recommendations, gentle
men. as sought to utter confession OF
faith, of the faith in which l was bred
and which 1t is my solemn purpose to
stand by until my last fighting day.
believe this to be the faith OF America,
the faith OF the future and of all the
victories which await national action
in the days to come, whether in Amer
lea or elsewhere"
The president did not go to congress.
Clerks read the message in each OF the
two houses. Meanwhile. Mr.. WILSON
himself chafed under the advice OF his
physician and others in the household
who thought that while he might be
well enough to read the address. he
ought not take the risk Of excitement
or the consequences OF a wave OF emo
tion in addressing congress for the last
time. .