Evening star., 1935-04-29

Our responsibility is to all OF
the people In this country. This
Is a great national crusade to de-
stroy enforced idleness. which Is
an enemy Of the human spirit gen.
Grated by this depression. Our at
tack upon these enemies must be
without stint and without discrim-
ination. No sectional, no political
distinctions can be permitted.
It must however, be recognized
that when an enterprise OF this
character Is extended over more
than 5000 counties throughout the
Nation there may be occasional
instances of inefi1ciency, bad man
agement or misuse Of funds. When
case Of this kind occur there will
be those, of course, who will try to
tell you that the exceptional fall
ure is characteristic of the entire
endeavor. It should be reu.em-
bered that in every big job there
are some imperfections. There
are chiselers in every walk OF life.
there are those in every industry
who are guilty of unfair practices.
every profession has its black
sheep, but long experience IN gov
ernment has taught me that the
exceptional instances Of wrong
doing in Government are prob bly,
less numel Gus than in almost every
other line OF endeavor.
Vigilance of People
Asked to Subdue Graft.
The most effective means Of
preventing such evils in this work
relief program will be the eternal
vigilance of the American people
themselves. call upon my fell
low citizens everywhere to CO.
operate with me in making this
the most efficient and the cleanest
example Of public enterprise the
world has ever seen. 1t Is time to
provide a smashing answer for
those cynical men who say that
q democracy cannot be honest
and efficient. II you will help
this can be done. I therefore hope
YOU will watch the work in every
corner. Of this Nation.
Feel free to criticize. Tell me OF
instances where work can be done
better or where improper prac-
tices prevail. Neither you nor 1
want criticism conceived In
purely fault-finding or partisan
spirit, but I am jealous Of the
right of every citizen to call to
the attention of his Government
examples of how the public money
can be more effectively spent for
the benefit of the American peo-
pie.
now come, my friends, to the
remaining business before the
Congress. 1t has under consider
alton many measures which pro-
vide for the rounding out OF the
program OF economic and social
reconstruction with which We have
been concerned for two years. I
can mention only a few OF them
tonight, but do not want my
mention of specific measures to be
INTERPRETED as lack of interest or
in disapproval of many other i'm
portant proposals that are pend
ing.
The national industrial recovery
act expires on the 18th of June.
After careful consideration, I have
asked the Congress to extend the
life of this useful agency Of gov
ernment. As We have proceeded
with the administration Of this
act we have found from time to
time more and more useful ways
of promoting its purposes. No
reasonable person wants to aban-
don our present gains-we must
continue to protect children. to
enforce minimum wages, to pre-
vent excessive hours, to safeguard.
define and enforce collective bar
gaining and, while retaining fair
competition, to eliminate. so far
as humanity possible, the kinds Of
unfair practices by selfish minorl-
ties which, unfortunately, did
more than anything else to bring
about the recent collapse Of in
dustries.
Holding Company Bill
Il Measure for Recovery.
There is likewise pending before
the Congress legislation to pro-
vide for the elimination of un-
necessary holding companies In
the public utility field.
consider this legislation a posi-
tive measure. Power production
in this country Is virtually back
to the 1929 peak. The operating
companies in the gas and electric
field are by and large in good
condition. But under holding
company domination the utility
industry has long been hopelessly
at war within itself and with pub
lie sentiment.
BY far the greater part Of the
general decline in utility securities
had occurred before was inaugu-
rated. The absentee management
of unnecessary holding company
control has lost touch with and
has lost the sympathy Of the COM
munities it pretends to serve. Even
more significantly. it has given the
country as whole an uneasy
apprehension of overconcentrated