The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-11-01
FDR Sends Food
Message to Congress
Continued from Page u

CONTINUED
funds for subsidies, with minor ex-
ceptions, after January /, 1914.
Mr.. Roosevelt did not state how
much more money would be needed
to finance his program, but pointed
GU that the Gees l943 program had
cost the government $3.50, 100000 and
the rollback Of meat and butter
prices another $450000,0o0
Expenditure Moderate"
This expenditure Of 100000, 900
per year is q moderate sum to pay
in order to accomplish the objec-
tives we have in kindergarten pro-
duction and lower consumer prices
for o whole year." he said. I'm
fact II Is about equal to the cost to
us Of waging this war for three
days.
He emphasized that food was as
much O weapon Of war as airplanes,
guns, tanks and ships-that 1t was
q potent psychological and morale
weapon to use In countries overrun
by the Axis.
AS the result OF greater need for
more food, he said, the War Food
Administration has raised Its
sights for 1914" calling for $780,
100000 acres Of crops instead OF the
1874, 000, 900 acres In 1o43 - q plant
Ing that should result IN 1.-The
breaking Of food production records
for the eighth successive year.
All acreage restrictions imposed
by the AAA In former years have
been removed for 1914, the president
said. Only tobacco marketing quotas
will be maintained. Furthermore, he
added, 1.-The blunder Of the first
World War'-dlsregard OF soil con-
servation yneasures-will be avoid
ed; no new dust bowl will pc Gre
ated.
Defends Program
The president defended his sup
port price program for food pro-
ducts, pointing out several times
that the same principle was being
used In industry and mines to In
crease production.
1.-THE subsidies that are used ito
meet special farming costs without
raising prices to consumers) can
not properly be called producers
subsidies or consumer subsidies" he
said. They are war subsidies. The
costs which they cover are war
costs,
ION the farm as in industry the
war has pushed costs above the
levels that prevailed before the out
break OF war, and above the levels
that will prevail when victory has
been won. These are costs Of war,
and 1t Is entirely appropriate that
they should be met out OF the pub
lie treasury, just as are the costs OF
producing tanks and planes and
ships and guns"
He reiterated, citing many stalls
tics to support his reasoning, his
determination to hold-the line
against imitation. The nation can
not afford to acquire the "habit" of
imitation he said because I'VE have
children to think Of" Those who
advocate imitation must be pre-
pared to accept the responsibility
for results. he added.
No Time To Wander
This Is no time to start wander
ing into an untried field of con-
trolled and uncomfortable prices
and wages" he said.
The President reviewed the food
production program of 1943 and as.
serted that despite cries in some
quarters OF meat famine" and
food shortage" the American peo-
pie as a whole are eating more now
than they did before Pearl Harbor
"A shortage in sirloin steaks and
IN choice fruits" he said, "does not
mean that the war program has
failed.
Ninety three per cent of
American housewives agree that
good job (of food distribution and
rationing)-a job fair to all-has
been done. Unfortunately the seven
per cent who are not satisfied are
more vocal. :"
Mr.. Roosevelt said the patriotism,
resourcefulness and ability of the
American farmer in l943 to over
come manpower, machinery and
fertilizer shortages produce an in
credible amount of food. He prom
ised that the amount of steel for
farm machinery was being doubled
and that 1t would be unlimited for
production OF repair parts.
He scotched talk about impend-
ing meat famine with a report
that from October until next March
total meat production, excluding
poultry, would amount to i4,400 ,000,-
600 pounds, dressed weight, COM
pared with 1880 100000 during the
same period last year.
He conceded that the armed forces
and lend-lease would take more OF
the food supply next year--l4 per
cent OF production for the armed
forces compared with ~ last year,
Heavy Eaters
Then he added that there would
be more soldiers In both the Amer
lean Army and Navy and the Allied
services and pointed out that seFv-
lleemen eat more than civilians, The
average soldiers or sailor eats 8 Ia
pounds Of food per day-almost half
~ much again ~ the average
civilian who eats only 80 pounds
per day,
Tho BENEFITS Of reverse lend. lease
should continue n ease the food |
situation NJ home, he said, reporting
that through August OF this year |
thiA country received 10000, 900 |
pounds of beef and veal from Aus.
tFalla and New Zealand eomnaFed !