Evening star., 1931-12-08

We must avoid burdens upon the
Government which will create more
unemployment in private industry
than can be gained by further ex-
pansion OF employment by the Fed
eral Government. We can now
stimulate employment and agricul-
ture more effectually and speedily
through the voluntary measures In
progress, through the thawing out
OF credit, through the building up
OF stability abroad, through the
nome loan discount banks, through
an emergency finance corporation
and the rehabilitation of the rail-
ways and other such directions.
L am opposed to any direct or in
olrect Government dole. The break
down and increased unemployment
IN Europe is due in part to such
practices. Our people are proving
against distress from unemployment
IN true American fashion by mag
hHlcent response to public appeal
ana 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 payments
OF about Sl,260.000, 900. Appropri-
ations have been exhausted. The
administrator of veterans affairs
advises that further appropriation
of $200,000,o00 is required at once
to meet the obligations made neces-
cary 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
expenditure upon these services now
exceeds sl,0oo,00o 900 per annum. I
am opposed to any extension of these
expenditures until the country has
recovered from the present situation.
EIectrical-power
Regulation.
1 have recommended in previous
messages the effective regulation Of
interstate electrical power as the es-
sential function of the reorganized
Federal Power Commission. / renew
the recommendation. 1t is urgently
needed in public protection.
Muscle
Shoals.
At my suggestion, the Governors
and Legislatures of Alabama and
tennessee selected three members
each Tor service on a committee to
which appointed representative
OF the farm organizations and two
representatives of the War Depart
ment Tor the purpose of recon-
mendlng a plan for the disposal of
these properties which would be in
the interest of the people of those
States and the agricultural industry
throughout the country. I shall
transmit the recommendations to
the Congress.
Reorganization of
Federal Departments.
/ have referred In previous mes
sages to the profound need of fur
ther reorganization and consolida-
tion of Federal administrative func-
tions to eliminate overlap and waste
and to enable coordination and
definition of Government policies
now wholly impossible in scattered
and conflicting agencies which deal
With parts OF the same major func-
ton. shall lay before the Con-
gress further recommendations upon
this subject, particularly In relation
TO the Department of the Interior.
Ihere are two directions of such re-
organization, however, which have
an important bearing upon the
emergency problems with which we
are confronted.
Shipping
Board.
At present the Shipping Board
exercises large administrative func-
tlonS independent of the execu-
tive These administrative functions
should oe transferred to the Depart
ment of Commerce, in keeping with
thai single responsibility which has
been the basis of our governmental
structure since its foundation. There
should be created in that depart
ment position of assistant secre-
tary for merchant marine, under
whom this work and the several
bureaus having to do with merchant
marine may be grouped.
The Shipping Board should be
made regulatory body acting also
in advisory capacity on loans and
policies, in keeping with its origi-
nal conception. Its regulatory
powers should be amended to in
clude. regulation of coastwise ship
ping so as to assure stability and
better service. 1t is also worthy of
construction that the regulation of
rates and services upon the inland
waterways should be assigned to
such reorganized board.
Reorganization of
Public Works Administration,
I recommend that all building and
construction activities of the Gov
eminent now carried on by many
departments be consolidated into an
independent establishment under
the President to be known as the
public works administration" di-
rected by public works admins
traitor. This agency should under
take all construction work in serv-
ice to the different departments of
the Government Except naval and
military work.. The services of the
corps OF Army engineers should be
delegated in rotation for military
duty to this administration in con-
tinuation Of their supervision of
river and harbor work. Great econo-
mics, sounder policies, more effective
coordination to employment and
expedition in all construction work
would result from this consolidation,
Law
Enforcement.
I shall present some recommended
tionS in a special message looking
to the strengthening cf criminal law