Evening star., 1938-06-25
Text OF Presidents Fireside Chat
FolloaDin0 10 the tert Of President
Rooseuelts fyestde chat last ni0ht:

oSys Ao pSIt O1 tnc
~ J democratic process, you,
President is again fakina
IN opportunity to report on the prog
ress OF national Affairs to the real
rulers Of this country-the voting
public.
The seventy-fifth Congress, elected
IN November, 1886, on . platform un-
compromisinsly liberal. has adjourned.
Barring unforeseen events, there will
be no session until the new Congress,
to be elected In November, assemblies
next January.
On the one hand, the Seventy-fi NTH
Congress has left many things undone.
For example, 1t refused to provide
more bustnesslike machinery for run
ming the executive branch of the
Government. The Congress also failed
to meet my suggestion that 1t take
the far-reaching steps necessary to
put the railroads Of the country back
on their feet.
But, on the other hand, the Con-
gress, striving to carry out the plat
form on which most Of them were
elected, achieved more for the future
good Of the country than any Congress
between the end Of the World War
and the spring Of 1898.
Most Important Achievements
OF Congress Listed.
mention only the more important
Of these achievements.
l. 1t improved still further our agri-
cultural laws to give the farmer q
fairer share Of the national income, to
preserve our soil, to provide an ALL
weather granary, to help the farm
tenant toward independence, to find
new uses for farm products, and to
begin crop insurance.
2. After many requests on my part
the Congress passed . Fair Labor
Standards Act. That act-applying to
products in interstate commerce
ends child labor, sets q floor below
wages and . ceiling over hours of
labor.
Except perhaps for the Social Sc
curity Act. 1t Is the most far r-sighted
program for the benefit of workers
ever adopted. Without question II
starts US toward q better standard Of
living and increases purchasing power
to buy the products of farm and
factory.
Do not let any calamity-howling
executive with an income of 81 900 q
day. who has been turning his en-
ployes over to the Government relief
rolls in order to preserve his company IS
undlstributed reserves, tell you-using
his stockholders money to pay the
postage for his personal opinions-that
wage Of $ll a week is going to
have a disastrous effect on all Ameri-
can industry. Fortunately for business
as q whole. and therefore for the Ma
tion, that type Of executive is q rarity
with whom most business executives
heartily disagree.
Americans Persist in Belief
In individual Enterprise.
3. The Congress has provided fact
finding commission to find a path
through the jungle of contradictory
theories about wise business practices
to flnd the necessary facts for any
intelligent legislation on monopoly, on
price-f1xing and on the relationship
between big business and little busi-
ness. Different from q great part of
the world, We in America persist in our
belief in individual enterprise and in
the profit motive, but We realize we
must continually seek improved prac-
| tices to insure the continuance OF rea-
sonable profits, together with scientific
progress, individual initiative, opportu-
mites for the little fellow, fair prices,
decent wages and continuing employ
ment
4. The Congress has co-ordinated
the supervision Of commercial avia-
ton and airmail by establishing = new
Civil Aeronautics Authority; and it
has placed all postmasters under the
civil service for the first time in our
history.
S. The Congress set up the United
States Housing Administration to helu
finance large-scale slum clearance and
provide low-rent housing for the low
income groups in our cities. And by
improving the Federal Housing Act,
the Congress made 1t easier for private
capital to build modest homes and low
rental dwellings
r. F. C. Can More
Readily Aid Business.
6. The Congress has properly re-
duced taxes on small corporate enter
prises, and has made 1t easier for the
Reconstruction Finance Corporation
to make credit available to all busi-
ness. I think the bankers Of the
country can fairly be expected to
participate In loans where the Govern
ment, through the Reconstruction
Finance Corporation, offers to take q
fair portion of the risk.
7. The Congress has provided ad-
ditional funds for the Works Progress
Administration, the Public Works Ad-
ministration, the Rural Electrification
Administration, the Civilian Conserva-
ton Corps and other agencies, in
order to take care Of what we hope
Is temporary additional number Of
unemployed. and to encourage produc-
ton of every kind by private enter
prise.
All these things together call our
program for the national defense of
our economic system. 1t is q program
Of balanced action-of moving on all
fronts at once in intelligent recogni-
ton that all our economic problems,
OF every group, of every section, are
essentially one.
8. Because Of increasing armaments
IN other nations and an international
situation which Is definitely disturb
ing to all of us. the Congress has
authorized important additions to the
national armed defenses Of our shores
and our people.
On another important subject the
net result Of struggle in the Congress
has been an important victory for the
people Of the United StAtes-a lost
battle which won . war.
Attitude Of Supreme Court
Held Changed.