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Show LM OF ACTION I ON PEACE UNO I H. C. LSdED I President Tells Brotherhood H Nothing Could Be Expected H From Lawmakers H ATTEMPT MADE TO I DEFER ADJOURNMENT Political Expediency Rather H Than Lofty Service Actuates H Bodv. He Savs H WASHINGTON. June 5. President Wilson, in" a telegram today, to ol-ficials ol-ficials of the railroad brotherhoods, jH criticized congress for failing to tako action with regard to the-high cost of living, the conclusion of peace 'and important domestic legislation. ll The telegram was in reply to a message asking the president to pre-vent pre-vent the adjournment of congress to-day. to-day. The executive said that in the light of the record of the present con-gress con-gress "I have no reason whatever to hope that its continuance in session would result in constructive mea3-uros mea3-uros for the relief of the economic conditions to which you call at-tention." at-tention." Political Expediency "It must be evident to all," the president said, "that the dominating motive which has actuated this con gross Is political expediency rather ' than-rlofty purpose-.. to -sorvejile--pTib-lie welfare." accepted some of the legislation en-acted en-acted by this congress because ho "despaired of anything better." The text of tho president's tele-gram tele-gram follows: "I received your telegram of Juno 3rd. You call my attention to mat-ters mat-ters that I presented to the present congress in a special message de-livered de-livered at a joint session of the two houses on August S, 1919. In nine months this congress has, however, taken no important remedial action with respect to the problem of the cost of living on the lines indicated in that address or on any other line. Not only has the present congress failed to deal directly with the cost of living, but Jt has failed even to give serious consideration to tho tir-gent tir-gent appeal, oft repeated by me and by tho secretaries of the treasury, to revise the tax law as which in their present form they are indi-rectly indi-rectly responsible in part for the high cost of living. The protracted delay in dealing with the problem of the railroads, the problem of the government-owned government-owned merchant marine, and other similar urgent matters has resulted in unnecessary burdens upon the public treasury, and ultimately in legislation so unsatisfactory that I could accept it, If at all, only because I despaired of anything better Tho I present congress has not only pre- vented the conclusion or peace in Europe but has failed to present any constructive plnn for dealing with I the deplorable conditions there, tho j continuance of which can only reflect I upon us. "In the light of the record .of the I present congress I have no reason J ; whatever to hope that its continu- ' jance in session would result in con-istmctlve con-istmctlve measures for the relief of j tho economic conditions to which I you call attention. It must be evi-jdent evi-jdent to all that the dominating mo-j mo-j tivo which Ms actuated this congress jis political expediency rather than lofty purpose to serve the public jH I welfare.' |
