Evening star., 1936-03-18
Text of Presidents Relief Message

also contributing large amounts to
the Federal works program.
To expect that States and
municipalities should at the present
time bear q vastly increased pro-
portion Of the cost of relief Is to
ignore the fact that there are State
constitutional limitations and the
fact that most OF our counties and
municipalities are only now emerg-
ing from tax delinquency difficult
ties. Let us further remember that
by far the largest part of local
taxes is levied on real estate. To
increase this form of tax burden on
the small property owners of the
Nation would be unjustif1ed. 1t is
true that some States, fortunately
few, have taken an undue advan-
tage Of Federal appropriations. but
most States have co-operated
Fundamentally in raising relief
funds, even to the extent of amend
ing State constitutions. 1t is not
desired in the next fiscal year to
encourage any States to continue to
shirk. The Federal Government
cannot maintain relief for unem-
ployables in any State.
Federal Responsibility.
The Federal Government, then,
faces the responsibility Of continu-
ing to provide work for the needy
unemployed who cannot be taken
care of by State and local funds.
During the current fiscal year,
the cost of relief actually paid out
of the Treasury will amount to ap-
proximately $500, 100000
During the next fiscal year. 1887,
more than $1,O00,000,000 will be
spent out of the Treasury from
prior year appropriations. Practi-
cally all of these expenditures will
be from ALLEGATIONS made to large
projects which could not possibly
be completed within this fiscal
year. In addition to this amount,
the budget contains estimated ex-
penditures aggregating $600,000,-
900 from appropriations recon-
mended for the Civilian Conserva-
ton Corps and various public
works.
If to this total of 1900 900 900
there were added $4,000, 100000 TO
be expended for relief in the fls-
cal year 1887, the total for this
purpose would just about equal the
amount that is being now expend-
ed in the fiscal year 1886. An ap-
preparation in this amount would
be within the limit set by the
budget message, and would in ef-
feet provide for the third success
sive year a reduction in the deficit.
This statement as to the budget
program, Of course, depends upon
the action Of the Congress with
respect to the substitute taxes, the
reimbursement taxes and the new
taxes which / have recommended
to replace the lost revenues and
to supply the new revenue made
necessary by the decision Of the
Supreme Court invalidating the
agricultural adjustment act and by
the action of the Congress in ap-
propriating for the immediate pay
ment at the 1945 value of the
veterans adjusted service certifi-
Gates. This latter action, as you
will recall, requires additional rev.
enue in the amount of Sl20,000,-
900 annually for nine years. The
agricultural program requires an
nual substitute taxes of $500,000,-
600 and there must be raised within
the next three years $5l7 100000
of revenue to reimburse the Treas
ury for processing taxes lost in this
fiscal year by reason of the Su-
preme Courts decision.
I am, however, not asking this
Congress to appropriate s2,000,-
600, 900.
am asking only for an appro-
priation of 100000 to the
Works Progress Administration. 1t
will be their responsibility to pro-
vide work for the destitute unem-
ployed. This request, together with
those previously submitted to the
Congress to provide for the Ci-
william Conservation Corps and Ger
tain public works will, II acted
upon favorably by the Congress,
give security during the next fis-
cal year to those most in need, on
condition, however, that private
employers hire many of those now
on relief rolls.
The trend of unemployment is
upward. But this trend, at its
present rate Of progress, is made
quate. propose. therefore, that
we ask private business to extend
its operations so as to absorb an
increasing number of the unem-
ployed.
Frankly, there is little evidence
that large and small employers by