Evening star., 1936-03-18
-HE text of President Roose-
velt's message to Congress
today on relief follows:
Il In my budget message Of


today on relief follows:
l. In my budget message OF
January 3, 1896, ] reserved making
a recommendation for an appropri-
ati6n for the relief of unemploy-
ment, stating that an estiamte and
recommendation could be better
made at a later date. I am now
prepared to submit such a recon-
mendation, and this message
should be regarded as supplemental
to the budget message.
In asking the Congress for an
appropriation to meet the needs
of the destitute unemployed during
the coming fiscal year certain facts
should be clearly set forth.
l. Since the Spring of 1888 there
has been a gain in unemployment
in each successive year. At least
five million more people were at
work in December, 1885, than in
March, 1888.
2. In spite of these great gains
there are at present approximately
100000 families and unattached
persons who are in need Of some
form of public assistance-3,80 ,800,-
900 families and unattached per-
sons on the works program and L.
100000 on local and State relief
rolls. Every thinking person knows
that this problem of unemployment
is the most difficult one before the
country.
3. These figures, large as they
are, do not, of course, include all
those who seek work in the United
States. In none Of these figures is
included the many unemployed
who are not on relief, but who are
experiencing great difficulties in
maintaining independent support.
Neither are there included many
others not on the relief rolls who
are content with occasional en-
ployment; nor some who are so
constituted that they do not desire
to work; nor many young people
who cannot get work and are
obliged to share the livelihood
earned by their parents. Because
Of the impossibility of an exact
definition Of what constitutes unem-
ployment, no figures which purport
to estimate the total unemployed
in the Nation can be even approxi-
mately accurate.
4. Nearly all the 100000 unem-
playable families or unemployable
unattached persons are being cared
for almost wholly from State or
local funds. A very small number
of these families or individuals have
begun to receive a comparatively
small amount Of Federal aid under
the provisions Of the social security
act.
Problem for All.
The foregoing figures indicate
the problem before US. 1t is a
problem to be faced not merely by
the Congress and the Executive,
not merely by the representatives
Of government in the States and
localities, but by all of the Ameri-
can people. 1t is not exclusively
the problem of the poor and the
unfortunate themselves. 1t is
more particularly the problem of
those who have been more fortu-
nate under our system of govern
ment and our economy.
1t will not do to say that these
needy unemployed must or should
shift for themselves. It will not be
good for any Of us to take that at
titude. Neither will it do to say
that it is a problem for the States
and the localities. If we concede
that it is primarily the duty of each
locality to care for its destitute un-
employed, and that If its resources
are inadequate, it must then turn
to the State for help, We must still
face the fact that the credit and
the resources of local governments
and States have been freely drawn
upon in the last few years and they
have not been sufficient.
1t has been said by persons
ignorant or careless of the truth
that Federal relief measures have
encouraged States, counties and
municipalities to shirk their duty
and shift their financial response
bilities to the Federal Government.
The fact is that during 1885 State
and local governments spent 1885,
100000 for emergency relief, which
was 13 per cent more than these
governmental bodies spent in 1894;
40 per cent more than they spent
in 1888 and SO per cent more than
they spent in 1882. Let it also be
noted that the great majority of
State and local governments are
today taking care not only of the
100000 unemployables, but are