The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-12-03
HoOver's Report to Congress

Those who hoped that the November election re-
suits would encourage President Hoover to present
liberal program to congress will be disappointed by his
message Tuesday 1t contained very little that was
positive and less that was liberal.
Properly the President devoted most of his atten-
on to the depressed economic condition of the coun-
try and unemployment. He minimized the seriousness
Of the situation and seemed satisfied with the achieve
ment Of the federal government in meeting the
emergency.
He repeated the incomplete and thus misleading
government unemployment figures. For instance, he
gave the meaningless census figure of 100000
wholly" out of employment, which does not include
the large numbers laid off for many months
Unlike the President we are far from satisfied with
what the federal government has done and is doing.
We think the lack of reliable government unemploy-
ment Statistical this late day the government is
asking private insurance company to estimate the
extent of unemployment for it-amounts almost to
criminal negligence.
Similarly, the lack of enough advance plans for
emergency federal public works construction is mex
cusable
Why the President did not make proposals to con-
gress on these two vital matters or economic passage
of the pending Wagner bills for that purpose, we
can not understand
The Hoover public works proposal is good in it
SELF His request for additional appropriation of
$1OOOOOOOO to $15OOOOOOO bringing the total federal
construction program for 1881 to $65OO0O0OO, prob
ably is the limit of practical unemployment relief by
this method considering the unfortunate lack of ade-
qUate advance planning.
At best, however, the proposed 1881 public build
ing program not relieve the wholesale suffering
this winter. For such relief the President looks to
private charity in the cities and Red Cross charity
the farms
That would be simple enough if private charity
adequate, but it is not. Except in a few large
exceptional cities of great wealth. it is clear that
local agencies can not cope with their local prob
lemS This is especially true in smaller communities
Because the basis of this depression is national
and because the need is national, some method of
direct federal aid to the community relief organiza
tons will have to be found before Chrstmas-other-
wise the suffering will be dangerously acute in many
localities
Hoover says "Our country today is stronger and
richer in resources in equipment, in skill, than
in its history" That is the final reason why no
must be left to starYe this winter.
Apart from the economic situation it had been
hoped that the liberal mandate of the November
election might swing the President to the support
Of some of the popular legislation SO long blocked by
the Republican machine in congress.
But he has nothing to say in his message about
the anti-injunction bill the Norris lame duck
amendment and only a noncommittal reference to
Muscle Shoals
Those three measures and the Wagner unemploy-
ment bills should be passed at this session. They
should be passed with the Presidents support; but,
if necessary they ought to be passed regardless of
the President.