The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-02-20
President In Message To Congress
 Urges NRA Be Continued Two Years

Washington, Feb 20 - (UP) -FolIowing Is the text of Presi- dent Roosevelt's message to congress on extension of the na- tional industrial recovery act:-- To the Congress of the United States:
 On May IT, 1893, asked the congress tp provide for the ma chinery necessary for a great cooperative movement through out all industry in order to ob- tain wide reemployment, to shorten the working week, to pay 8 decent wage for the shorter week and to prevent un- fair competition and disastrous Overproduction.
 The national industrial recov- cry act was passed by the con- gress in June, 1883, and the ad- fninistrative machinery to carry 1t into effect was set up during the succeeding month.
 CHALLENGES IMAGINATION
 It Is worth remembering that the purpose of this law chal- lenged the imagination of the American people and received their overwhelming support. En- forcement during the earlier life of the act was not a problem which gave the country concern flor the very good reason that public opinion served as an en- forcing agency which potential violators did not dare to oppose. The immediate objective was to check the downward spiral of the great depression and 1t met this objective and started us on our forward path. It is now clear that in the spring and summer of 1893 many estimates of unemployment in the United States were far too low and we are therefore apt to forget today that the national industrial re- covery act was the biggest factor in giving unemployment to approximately 100000 people.
 CURSE OF CHILD LABOR In our progress under the act the age long curse of child
 
 sweatshop outlawed, millions of wage earners have been released from the starvation wages and excessive hours of labor. Under it a great advance has b e @ n assurances of collective bargain- ing between employers and em- ployes. Under 1t the pattern Of An tt,I trta tions is definitely taking shape.
 Industry as a whole has also made gains. It has been freed, in part at least, from dishonorable competition brought about not only by overworking and under- paying labor but by destructive business practices. We have be- gun to develop new safeguards important of all, business itself recognizes more clearly than at any previous time in our history the advantages and the obliga- tions of cooperation 8 n d self discipline, and the patriotic need of ending unsound financ- ing and unfair practices of all kinds.
 CONSUMING PUBLIC
 Hand in hand with the im- proving of labor conditions and of industrial practices we have given representation and con- sideration to the problems of the consuming public. And it is reasonable to state that with certain inevitable exceptions in hn r,f inI iui here has been less gouging In any similar period of increasing demand and rising markets.
 FIRST CODES IN JULY
 The first codes went into ef- feet in July, 1883. Since th n approximately 800 have been added. The average age of these codes of fair competition which have been approved - ninety per cent of the 'coverable em- ployments were under cOde-~is less than eleven months a achievements already m a d e. who seek either political ad-
 
 indulge in unfair practises or sumers deliberately seek to that a great code of law, of or- der and of decent business can- not be created in day or a year.
 CORRECT SOME THINGS
 We must rightly move to cor rect some things done or left undone. We must work out the coordination of every code with every other code. We must slm-s pllfy procedure. We must con- tinue to obtain current informa. code processes. We must con. stantly improve personnel which. of necessity, was hastily assembled but which has given loyal and unselfish service to the government of the country. We must check and clarify such provisions In the various codes as are puzzling to those operat- Ing under them. We must make moro and more definite the responsibilities of all of the par- ties concerned.
 MUST AVOID CHAOS
 This act, which met in its principles with such universal public approval and under which such great general gains have been made. will terminate on June I6, next. The funda. mental nuPn0aea and npieNAv.lam of the act are sound. To abaYf. don them is unthinkable. It would spell the rturn of indus trial and labor chaos.