Evening star., 1939-03-08
Business
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- ~s1u 49, ~
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business legislation statement of the
President and similar promises.
Mr.. Hopkins said he was confer
ring daily with officials in various
agencies of the Government on
means of helping business, but did
not want to talk about the details
until something actually was done.
Directly discussing his promise of
definite action to cooperate with
and stimulate business, Secretary
Hopkins declared.
Some of us live in goldfish bowls
and how absurd it would be to make
statements and have the American
people assume we meant business If
we did not follow up our words by
action.
Working on Tax Revision.
II certainly was never brought up
in the school of thought to like the
notion of simply getting up and
making speeches.
ANY assumption that we don't
mean to act is either inspired by
politics or type of cynicism that
cannot fathom. =
"All I can say as to details is that
I am carrying on discussions on a
number OF fronts concerning recov-
cry. None Of them are panaceas-all
together will help. and help substan-
TALLY. would rather not comment
on the details of any until they find
expression in affirmative proposals" +"
One of the things he is working on,
Mr.. Hopkins said, is tax revision.
He added that he and Undersecre-
tary OF the Treasury Hanes were in
agreement on what ought to be done.
Mr.. Hopkins said. however, it was
erroneous to call the present atti-
tude Of the administration a "busi-
ness apeaSement" program. Every.
thing the administration has done
since 1888. the former w. P. A. as
serted, was designed to promote
business recovery and employment.
and the only difference between the
attitude now and in previous years
was that the administration now has
on the statute books the social re-
forms it had in mind.
Emphasis on Recovery.
AT the same time, he implied a
new emphasis on promoting recov-
cry, saying recovery problems had
become more pressing because Of
the decline in the national income
from $70000,0OO 900 in 1897 to s62,.
600 900 900 in 1898 and because of the
troubled world situation.
Secretary Hopkins estimated busi-
ness improvement this year would
lift national income again to be-
tween $68OO0,0 100000 and s7OOO0,-
100000. This amount of business ac-
tivity would compare with the $780,
600 100000 level at which President
Roosevelt said in January the budget
could be balanced without any in
crease in tax rates.
MIR. Hopkins objected strenuouslv
TO any suggestion that the present
business attitude of the administra-
tion was retreat" He. said pres
ent actions of the administration
were mot on the basis of appeasing
anybody or of retreating. 1 don't
see any signs of retreat on any re-
form programs anywhere.
In announcing the tax conferences
Stephen Early. White House secre-
tary, also said the President would
confer later today with Secretaries
Hull, Morgenthau, Wallace and Hop
kins. The subject of this confer
ence may be cotton. Mr.. Early said
he believed.
AT his press conference yesterday
Mr.. Roosevelt indicated he may re-
wise downward in the next few days
his recent request to Congress for
a $150,000,000 appropriation for re-
lief.
To Send Relief Message.
He told reporters that on the basis
OF new information being prepared
by the Works Progress Administra-
ton, he might recommend any
amount from nothing to $l50.OOO,-
600 to finance relief needs through
June. He will send a special mes
sage to Congress on the subject,
probably Monday.
The President recommended an
additional $l50,0OO,O0 for relief sew
eral weeks ago. Congress had lust
trimmed that amount from his pro-
posed $875 100000 ALLEGATION to run
the w. P. A. from February Z to
July l, the end of the present fiscal
year.
Mr.. Roosevelt responded with a
special message in which he said
that in his view the additional
amount was needed and he urged
Its appropriation. Neither house has
acted on that request.
The President said he would 20
over these statistics today or tomor-
row with Col. F. C. Harrington, w.
P. A. administrator, and determine
whether any more money than that
already appropriated is needed.
Mr.. Roosevelt cautioned reporters
against speculating on the sum be-
cause he said he did not know him.
self.