The Bismarck tribune., 1931-12-08

again..
Business depressions al
emerged from each of them with
finance corporation, and the dehab-s
ilitation of the railways and other
such directions.
I am opposed to any direct or
indirect government dole. The break
down and increased unemployment
in Europe is due in part to such
practices. Our people are providing
against distress from unemployment
in true American fashion by mag
nificent response to public appeal
and by action of the local govern
mentS.
GENERAL LEGISLATION
There are many other subjects re-
Quiring legislative action at this ses-
sion of the congress. may list the
following among them:
Veterans Services
The law enacted last March au-
thorizing loans of so per cent upon
adjusted service certificates has, to-
gether with the loans made under
previous laws, resulted in payment of
about 81 ,260, ,000, 900. Appropriations
have been exhausted. The adminis-
traitors of veterans affairs advises
that further appropriation of $780,
O00, 900 is required at once to meet
the obligations made necessary by
existing legislation.
There will be demands for further
veterans legislation: there are in
equalities in our system of veterans
relief; 1t is our national duty to meet
our obligations to those who have
served the nation. But our present
expenditures upon these services now
exceed $1,000, 10000 per annum. !
am opposed to any extension of these
expenditures until the country has
recovered from the present situationj
Electrfcal-Power Regulation
I have recommended in previous
messages the effective regulation OF
interstate electrical power as the es-
Sential function of the reorganlzed
federal power commission. I renew
the recommendation. It is urgently
needed in public protection.
z Muscle Shoals
At my suggestion, the governors
and legislatures of Alabama and Ten
nessee selected three members each
for service on committee to which
I appointed a representative of the
farm organizations and two represen-
tatives of the war department for the
purpose Of recommending plan fol
disposal Of these. properties which
would be in the interest of the peo-
pie of those states and the agricul-
tural industry throughout the cour-
try. I shall submit the recommends
tions to the congress.
Reorganization of Federal Depart
ments,
have referred in previous mes.
sages to the profound need of fur.
ther reorganization and consolidation
Of federal administrative functions Il
eliminate overlap and waste, and tt
enable coordination and definition o.
government policies now wholly i'm.
possible in scattered and conflicting
agencies which deal with parts of ths
same major function. shall la!
before the congress further recon-
mendations upon the subject, partic'
ularly in relation to the department
of the interior. There are two direc'
tions Of such reorganization, how
ever, which have an important bear
ting upon the emergency problem:
with which We are confronted.
Shipping Board
At present the shipping board ex
ercises large administrative function!
independent of the executive. Thes'
administrative functions should b
transferred to the department o
commerce, in keeping with that sin
gle responsibility which has been tn
basis of our governmental structure
since its foundation. There shoult
be created in that department a po
sition Of assistant secretary for mer
chant marine, under whom this worl
and the several bureaus having to d.
| with merchant marine may b.
grouped.
The shipping board should be mad
a regulatory body acting also in ad
visory capacity on loans policies, il
keeping with the original conception
The regulatory powers should b
amended to include regulation o
coastwise shipping so as to assui'
stability and better service. It is ais
worthy Of consideration that the reg
ulation Of rates and services upol
the inland waterways should be as
signed to such a reorganized board.
| pnfR - Iru
| Administration
recommend that all building an
construction activities of the govern
ment now carried on by many de
partments be consolidated into an in
dependent establishment under tn
president to be known as the "publi
works administration directed by
public works administrator. Thi
agency should undertake all con
struction work in service to the dif
ferent departments Of the govern
ment Except naval and militar
work.. The services Of the corps {
the army engineers should be dele
gated In rotation for military dut
to this administration in continuanc
for military duty to this adrninistra
ton In continuation of their super
vision Of river aud harbor worl
Great economies, sounder policie
more efficient coordination to EN-
ployment, and expedition in all cor
| struction work would result from th
consolidation.
Law Enforcement
shall present some recommends
tions in special message looking t
the strengthening of criminal la
enforcement and improvement in ju