Evening star., 1934-01-04
The President Reports Progress.

Expectation that President Roosevelt
would in his annual message to Con"
eress make recommendations Of spe-
cific nature carrying further his pro-
gram Of national recovery were not full
filled In the address which he delivered
yesterday in person to the two Houses.
He confined himself to that injunction
of the Constitution which provides that
''he shall, from time to time. give to
the Congress information of the state
of the Union" having in the course Of
the special session of last Spring pre-
sented his recommendations "for such
measures as he shall judge necessary
and expedient" Those measures have
been enacted in the form of legislation
and have been set in operation. Yes
terday the President summarized in
broad terms the fact Of their adoption
and declared them to be permanent IN
principle. He said:
Now that we are definitely in the
process of recovery, lines have been
rightly drawn between those to whom
this recovery means a return to old
methods-and the number OF these peo-
pie is small-and those for whom re-
covery means reform Of many old
methods. a permanent readjustment of
many of our ways of thinking: and
therefore of many OF our social ana
economic arrangements, Civilization
cannot go back; civilization must not
stand still. We have undertaken new
methods. II was our task to perfect. 10
improve. to alter when necessary. but
in all cases to go forward. To consoli-
date what We are doing, to make our
economic and social structure capable
Of dealing with modern life Is the Joint
task of the Legislative, the Judicial and
the Executive branches OF the natlonal
Government.
This implies that there will be further
recommendations along the lines al
ready adopted. Meanwhile, the urgent
necessity is that of meeting the cost OF
these measures. Today will be pre-
sented the budget of prospective ex-
nenditures and recommendations as to
ways and means Of providing the neces-
sary funds for financing the featues
OF the national recovery program, ooth
permanent and expedient.
Speaking in broad terms Of the
results "of the common counsel be-
tween the Executive and the Congress,
the President notes that the credit OF
the Government "has been fortified by
drastic reduction in the cost Of its
permanent agencies through the re-
covery act" He notes the purchase OF
gold and silver to strengthen the finan-
cial structure and to arrive eventually
at a medium of exchange which will
have over the years less variable pur-
chasing and debt-paying power for our
people than that of the past" He says
that the banks of the country are with
very few exceptions in sound condition
and have been brought within the pro-
lection of Federal insurance Several
millions of the unemployed have been
restored to work Industry is organiz-
ing itself with a greater understand
ing that reasonable profits can be
earned while at the same time pro-
lection can be assured to guarantee to
labor adequate pay in proper condi-
tions Of work"
The President expresses the belief
that the experiment of seeking bal
ance between agricultural production
and consumption has succeeded. In
other respects he holds that the pro-
gram of recovery is progressing. He
epitomizes the situation thus:
We have plowed the furrow and
planted the good seed; the hard begin
ming is over If We would reap the
full harvest we must cultivate the soil
where this good seed is sprouting and
the plant is reaching up to mature
growth.
With this agricultural metaphor the
President closes his report to Congress,
save for word of appreciation for the
fine relationship" shared between the
Executive and the Legislature in this
first phase Of the recovery program.
His message leaves much for later
definition and for more detailed report,
especially in the matter of financing
the immense cost which the new deal
entails.