Evening star., 1945-09-06


Is Second Long
President Truman's message te
Congress today, which the White
House estimated was about $4,000
words, was one of the longest presi-
Dental messages in history-but not
the longest.
White House Press Secretary
Charles G.. Ross, who made what he
called a rough count" of the Tru-
man wordage. estimated that the
first message which Theodore Roose-
welt sent to the Capitol in 1901 con-
tained 10000 words.
goods, the same speculative excesses
that developed in 1919. We must
be in a position to overcome that
danger If we expect to achieve ar
orderly transition to peacetime
levels of full production and full
employment. However, we must not
allow inf1ationary dangers to OBJ.
scure our vision of the possibilities
of lower incomes and widespread
unemployment. Our policy must
guard against both contingencies.
Immediately after the japanese
decision to surrender, the Office OF
Price Administration moved prompt
ly to eliminate rationing on gaso-
line, fuel oil, stoves and processed
foods.
During the transition period the
price administrator, of course, will
eliminate rationing and price con-
trolls on one commodity after an
other just as soon as supply comes
into balance with demand. At the
same time he will make whatever
price adjustments are required to
facilitate rapid reconversion and re-
employment.
However, it will be necessary for
him to continue to resist unreason-
able pressures for higher prices on
some commodities, just as he has
resisted them all through the war
In resisting these pressures and in
carrying out his difficult respon-
slbilities, I must state clearly that
he has both my backing and my
confidence.
Must Resist Pressure.
1t will similarly be necessary for
the Government to resist pressures
for increases in wage rates which
would imperil price ceilings.
Without some general stabiliza-
ton the consumer cannot be pro-
tected. Without Stabilization. re-
conversion cannot proceed as ran
Idly as 1t should; for stability OF
cost is indispensable to sound busi-
ness planning.
The price control and stabiliza-
tlon program has received the back
ing OF the great majority of bust
nessmen throughout the war period
with few exceptions, business
groups have realized clearly their
own personal stake and the stake
OF our basic economy in the success
OF the anti-infiation program.
During the months that lie ahead
however. some groups in business
may be tempted to substitute for
TINS long-range wartime thinking. a
short-range policy designed to Sc
cure prices high enough to provide
immediate profits over and above
their temporarily high costs of pro-
duction due to their initial low
volume.
Ihese preSSures must be resisted
Prices must be held firmly on recon-
version items as we'll as on cost of
llVlng items during the coming
months.
Entitled to Assurance.
The American people are entitled
TO firm assurance not onlv on thr
part OF the administration, but from
the Congress itself, that rents and
the prices of clothing, food, and
other essentials will be held in line
Ihey are also entitled to buy wash
ing machines, vacuum cleaners
automobiles and other products AT
prices based on our traditional svs-
tenn OF high output and low unit
costs.
The promise of good profits for
businessmen must not be based on
small initial volume. It must he
based on the full all-out production
which it is my belief that American
industry will rapidly achieve,
Because of heavy wartime needs
1t has been necessary to allocate
available supplies of manv foods
among various claimants within this
country, and among other countries
IL has been necessary to set aside
large blocks Of specified commodities
IN order to make these commodities
available for military and other es.
sentlal needs. Rationing of fooo
Tor consumers has been necessarz
In the interest of fair distribution
Many of these controls have al.
reaoy been eliminated and all re.
naming ALLEGATIONS, set-asides anc
ratlonlng will be removed as RAPIDLY
as she supply situation will permit
however, supplies of some of ou,
principal foods will continue be.
yond the end of 1945 to be too small
for the demand.
for example, the world will he
snort OF requirements for fats anc
OILS and sugar for some months anc
ailocatlon and rationing will prob.
aDly nave to be continued into 1946
We must not move so rapidly as te
endanger the orderly distribut;or
OF goods on which we have basec
our living during the emergency
Must Continue Rationing.
Let me add that in no case should
ratloning controls be removed Il
by so doing we should jeopardize OIL,
reilet shipments to Europe anc
other distressed war areas. We have
a moral obligation to the peonlf
OF these liberated areas. More
than that, our own enlightened self
interest tells us that hungry people
are rarely advocates of democracy
The rehabilitation of these coun.
tries, and indeed the removal OF
american occupational troops, ma,
oe unnecessarily delayed if we fai
to meet these responsibilities dur.
ing the next few months.
During the reconversion nerioc
and as long as shortages in certair