AMERICA'S PART.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17327, 29 May 1918, Page 5

AMERICA'S PART.

PRESIDENT WILSON'S WARNING. THE APEX OF THE CRISIS. OONTINUUOUS SESSION NEEDED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. WASHINGTON, May 27. President Wilson announces that the expected German drive on the western front has begun. He emphasises how this fact has added to the solemnity of the country's duty. President Wilson, addressing Congress, said the Houses must lay politics aside and remain in session until they have enacted new war tax laws in order to finance the growing cost of the war, and prepare the country for its coming great burden. The need for suppressing profiteering was now urgent, and Congress must act without fear of political consequences. The plans which involved a working agreement between both political parties had fallen through, therefore Congress must step into the breach. It would be impossible to wait another year to determine the new taxation which was now required. In closing his address President Wilson broke all precedents by addressing the House extempore, announcing that the German drive had begun on the western front, which added point to the solemnity of the duty now devolving on Congress. We are not only in the midst of a war," he said, " but at the very peak of the' crisis. Hundreds of thousands of American troops are in the field, and ships are carrying more to France. Our home efforts muet accordingly be augmented." ADMINISTRATION OF RAILWAYS. WAGES INCREASED. WASHINGTON, Ma- 27. Mr M'Adoo, Secretary of the Treasury and administrator of the railways taken over by the United States Government, has granted increased wages to the railway men amounting to 300,000,000 dollars annually He has also granted recognition of an eighthour day. In order to meet tho increased wages of the railway men, Mr M'Adoo has ° r j 2 £ per cent " frei ght rate increases and a half-cent increase in passenger fares on all railroads. This is the largest'rate increase m the history of the United States railroads. It is expected that* the increase in the annual revenue will be between 800 and 900 million dollars. RED CROSS EFFORT. NEW YORK, May 27. rho nation-wide Red Cross netted 112 million dollars.