Evening star., 1945-09-07
The Presidents MESSAGE

The Presidents lengthy and mat
ter of fact message to Congress
makes clear that a vast amount of
legislative labor and debate lies i'm
nediately ahead. The problems to
be met are numerous. and nearly all
OF them are complex. More than
that. the way they are handled will
bear Importantly not only on our
own future but on the future of the
world, for the kind of peace we
shape here will in no small measure
influence the shape of peace abroad.
What Is emphasized most by the
President is the objective of recon-
verting to peacetime production as
fast and in as great volume as pos
sible, guarding at the same time
against the inf1ationary and defla-
tionary pressures inherent in the
situation. To this end his recon-
mendations cover no fewer than
twenty-one different subjects, each
one of which could be elaborated
upon at length. Except for relatively
brief references to the soundness of
canceling most lease-lend obliga-
tions and the indispensability of
American cooperation with the rest
of the world. the message ignores
foreign policy and concentrates on
our domestic problems, many of
which, in fact, have international
significance
Besides advocating establishment
of permanent FEPC and policies
designed to handle labor disputes,
protect agriculture and small busi-
ness, increase veterans benefits,
create scientific research agency,
promote housing, guide government
tai reorganization and develop ma
tional resources, the President urges
that Congress act promptly to Cd
increase unemployment compensa-
ton, (2) make an upward revision in
minimum wage standards. 60 sup
port continuation of selective service
inductions, (4 set up a one-man
surplus property administrator, (5)
enlarge the United States Employ
ment Service, CO. provide for limited
tax reduction, CD enact full-em-
ployment legislation. 90 extend or
keep in being war powers and con-
trolls essential to reconversion, and
90 raise the salaries of Senator
and Representative to $4,000
year.
Some of these recommendations
and the one on surplus property
might we'll have been extended to
include a general revision Of the
present law governing disposal pro-
cedures-are so self evidently right
and necessary that they ought to be
adopted forthwith But several are
open to question, among them being
the one on unemployment compen-
Sation, which seems to make no al
lowance for the fact that State laws
may prevent the action Mr.. Truman
desires. It is difficult, too, to see
why full employment legislation
should be regarded as an emergency
item. Like the Presidents far-reach-
ing proposal for huge program of
public works, this is subject full of
long-term implication and since it
is controversial, it will almost GER
tainly stir up extended debate in
Congress.
BY and large. however. the Presi-
dents message, which is very sparing
in inspiration or rhetorical -four
ishes, constitutes a businesslike ef-
fort to present to the American peo-
pie what the administration has in
mind as prosperity promoting pro-
gram for the Nations development.
Opposition there is bound to be, but
if it is enlightened and patriotic op-
position, we can, as Mr.. Truman
says, face the future with confidence
that this new peace of ours will
mean "a better life here at home
and a better world for generations
to come"