The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-04-15

N&SN~
of Federal dollars. although not
with the prodigality of five years
ago. The pattern is the same, but
the cloth will be cut more eco
nomically.
HARD DAY OF WORK
Recognizing the existence OF a
grave national emergency, Presl
dent Roosevelt appealed to Con
eress, in a special message, and
to the people in a fire-side chat
to support his efforts to combat
what has become a post-depreSsion
recession" in business.
Seldom has q President put in
a harder day than did Mr.. Roose
welt yesterday in addressing Con
gresS at noon and the whole
country last night. He described
his message to both as Of far
reaching Importance.
Briefly summarized, the Pre5i-
dent proposed:
/. The expenditure of $2,062,'
100000 in direct relief expendi-
lures for the WPA, NYA, CCC,
PWA, for highway construction,
flood control, ETC., during the next
fiscal year.
z. Federal land supposedly re-
coverable) loans aggregating al
most q billion dollars for Farm
Security, Pubic Works and Hous-
ing-this to be added to the ST.
SOC, 100000 which the RFC was
recently authorized to lend to
business for recovery.
TOTAL STILL SPECULATIVE
The grand total of the proposed
Federal outlay was still a matter
of pencilled calculations, but it
was generally agreed that almost
five billion dollars is to be tossed
into the pot to try to stimulate
the tagging economy OF the coun.
try. Yet it has been so contrived
that Administration sources In
sisted today the whole program
will not entail more than $l,712,
100000 in new money" Utillza
ton Of hitherto sterilized gold, Of
unexpended balances, and the re
coverable nature of the contem
plated loans, are expected to take
care of the difference.
I'VE are a rich nation" said
the President. I'VE can afford
to pay for security and prosper
ity without having to sacrifice
our liberties into the bargain"
In the messages to Congress and
the country, the President EN-
phaSized that the principal trouble
is lack of purchasing power on
the part of the masses, and that
buying power has failed to keep
pace with the country's power OF
production. Every effort, he said,
must be put forward toward in.
creasing the national income, and
thereby nat ional purchasing
power.
FORCE ALTERNATIVE
eve must start again." he
said, ION a long steady upward
incline in national income"
Otherwise, he intimated, the
United States may have to follow
the same course that some coun
tries abroad have been obliged to
take-the load of economic com
pulSion. and worse.
Democracy has disappeared
in several other great nations"
he said. Not because the peo-
Piles OF those countries disliked
democracy, but because they
had grown tired of unemploy-
ment and insecurity, of seeing
their children hungry while
they sat helpless in the face Of
government weakness through
lack of leadership in govern
ment. Finally, in desperation,
they chose to sacrifice liberty in
the hope Of getting something
to eat. We in America know
that our democratic institutions
can be preserved and made to
work. But in order to preserve
them we need to act together,
to meet the problems Of the ma
ton boldly and to prove that
the practical operation of demo-
cratic government is equal to
the task of protecting the Sc
curity Of the people"
It appeared today that Nj
Roosevelt, despite the recalc
trancy shown by Congress on tn
reorganization fight, will hav
little difficulty in obtaining al
proval for his new Spending-lenC
ing program.
APPEALS TO CONGRESS BLOC
His calendar of projects-far,
relief, housing, PWA, WPA, Fe
eral highway aid, flood contrc
reclamation, and Federal buildi1
was sufficient to attract II
support Of all the minority grou
that have been ringing the Viii
House doorbell for months, ]
questing special consideration.
There is a lot Of grumbling frc
Republicans and conservati
Democrats, who don't like the Id
OF increased Federal spending a
a larger national debt, but t
program has been so framed tt
their protests probably will av
little. There will be plenty
smoke to the opposition. but lit
real fire.
Nationwide editorial CONNER
on President RooSeUeIt's speec
n 4