Evening star., 1932-09-04
Text of Roosevelt Speech
Relief of Taxpayers Put First in Economic Revival
REORGANIZATION of Federal and Local
Government Costs Adyocdfed.


They are moreover making sensible
far-reachine attempts not to 60 further
into debt.
For example, the State Of New York
/ in 1892 cut millions OF the tax budget.
The net result has been q decrease of
50 millions, exclusive Of unemployment
relief. The general reduction Of our
| expenses has been obtained in part
| by executive action and In part by the
Legislature.
Not satisfied with that I am making
| an additional saving Of 10000 this
year in the actual operation OF Govern
ment. I have no control. 1t should be
remembered over $50. 100000 of the
New York State budget because these
appropriations are either for debt serv-
ice or for mandatory payments. such
as State aid to localities for the sup
port Of schools and other purposes.
In other words my net saving OF $l0,-
900 900, Is made out Of Government
operation appropriation OF only lit
tie more than sl00, ,00o, 900.
But the vast appropriations that are
being made in New York State for local
government must and should also be re-
duced. Over these my control Is indi-
rect. but I propose that constant ham,
mering home the Importance OF econ
omy upon local authority some substan-
tiai improvement may be brought
about
Built for Past Conditions.
It should be remembered that our in
stitutions Of local government were oe-
vised for quite different social conoi-
ticns. They were built for the condl-
tions of the past and not the present
They should be modernized, simpnned
and thus made less Of a burden to the
taxpayer. do not know all the local
conditions in Connecticut, but II New
York is typical of conditions through
out the country, there is need every
where for a concentrated attention upon
local government As / have pointed
out, so per cent Of the burden OF tax
alton Is in these local communities.
There should be Nationwide eHort 10
effect substantial relief.
I pointed this out in my acceptance
sneech and summoned Democratic
candidates in all the States to stand
solidly by the party declaration for re-
duced governmental expenditures.
In the main, Connecticut has reason
to be proud of It's heritage OF local gov
ernment; It's town government was
framed out of the finest democratic
principles. 1t was the embodiment OF
the aspiration for pure democracy that
grew out of the great political reforms
of three centuries ago. These New
England institutions have stood for
generations as the most complete ap-
uroach to pure political democracy that
the world has seen. But II may draw
inferences from other States the nne
structure has been encumbered by use
less encumbrance Of unnecessary gov
al
particularly the farmer, Is blanketed by
too many layers of local taxing au-
thorities. The relieving Of this Is our
first responsibility in restoring his eco
nomic well being.
Source Of Distress.
In a fundamental way this problem Is
the source of much Of our present dis
tress. The mortgages on our farms
and the foreclosures thereon burden our
banks, which strains the entire credit
structure of the country. Moreover
the railroads are likewise burdened by
this local tax expense and 1t requires
only a moments reflection to see that
when we burden the railroads IN this
way and force them to the brink OF
receivership, we are endangering the
savings of the people in their savings
banks and their insurance company.
The economic life Of the country Is
a seamless web. 1t must be adjusted
SO that strains are equally distributed
and constant vigilance must be exer-
cised to avoid break In any one place:
My principle. however, and that OF
the Democratic party Is that every
part of this seamless web Is precious
to the welfare of the Nation, and that
the small farmer and the small nome
owner must be the object Of our most
careful solicitude in these times OF
distress and relief.
1t Is. my friends, because the leader
ship OF the Republican party during
these recent years has failed to under
stand that government must consider
the high, middle and the low-has
failed to consider the forest. the farm,
the village and the city with equal
Justice. that millions OF voters are
turning today to the leadership OF .
revitalized democracy. Change Of party
leadership does not strike at the funda-
mental principles Of the Republic. On
the contrary It gives opportunity to
strip from those fundamentals OF the
fathers, the weeds and vines which
today obscure the simplicity and the
cleanliness of its outline.
II you believe in that new deal you
will have done your part towards the
restoration of the purity and the sue
cess Of representative government. We
face that crisis with singleness Of pur-
pose and above all with faith.