Evening star., 1945-12-24
Veto Memorandum Text
President Disopproves Return of USES
To Control Of Various States

President Disoppr
To Control of Va
The tert OF President Tru-
mans memorandum OF disdp-
propdl, explaining his pocket
Deto OF legislation to return the
United States Employment Serp-
ice to State control, tolloiDs:
I am withholding my approval Of
H. r. 4407, Reducing certain ap-
preparations and contract authori-
cations available for the fiscal year
1916, and for other purposes"
1t is with sincere regret that I
am unable to approve this legislation.
In response to my communication
of September S. l945, and in con-
| formity with their own careful plans,
the Appropriations Committees of
the House and the Senate held ex-
tended hearings and gave mature
consideration to the readjustment
of Executive programs and finances
to the problems of the reconversion
period.
The Congress has acted expedite
ously and considerably to develop
the basis for the continuing peace
time operations Of the Government.
It has demonstrated a fine spirit Of
economy in reducing appropriations
without complicating the delicate
adjustment from wartime to peace
time functions, and without sacrific-
ing the basic progress which has
been made during the war years in
the long-term development OF Gov
ernment activity.
Preserving Full Value.
So far as the basic purpose Of this
bill resembling appropriations is
concerned, I am in thorough agree
ment with the action of the Con-
gress. Far from wishing to sacrifice
the care and effort which have gone
into its development, I shall by
Executive action preserve the full
values Of those RECESSION provisions
in the exact terms which the Con-
ress itself has approved. II those
provisions stood 4lone I should
gladly approve the bill. have
asked the director of the Bureau Of
the Budget to place these RECESSION
amounts in a reserve, nonexpend-
able status, and so 10 advise the de-
partments and agencies concerned.
In addition to its effect on appro-
priations, however, the bill contains
provisions which require our system
of public employment ofiices-now
unified in a single national system
to be broken up within 100 days
and transferred to operation as 81
separate State and territorial sys-
TENS.
While I believe such a transfer
should be made at the proper time, I
am convinced that this bill requires
that 1t be made at the wrong time,
and in the wrong way. Such dis
persion and transfer at this time
would immeasurably retard our re-
employment program. And as the
basis for Federal-State cooperation,
in a fundamental program Of ma
tional Importance, the provisions of
the bill dealing with the public en-
ployment offices are unsound and
unwise from any point of view.
Disadvantageous Period.
So far as the timing of the trans
fer is concerned, the period desig-
mated by this bill-the next 100
days-is the most disadvantageous
that could have been chosen. 1t will
result in a disrupted and inefficient
employment service at the very time
when efficient operation is most vi
tally needed by veterans, workers
and employers.
Our local public employment Of
fees are now and will be during the
next several months, in the midst
of the peak work load in their his
tory. This is because the officers
are now engaged in counseling and
placing millions of applicants who
require individualized service. These
applicants include able-bodied vet
Grams seeking assistance in their re-
adjustment to civilian life, handi-
capped veterans requiring even
more time and guidance in finding
the jobs most suitable for them, and
unemployed war workers WHO are
confronted by diff1cult readjust-
ments because Of substantial re-
ductions In job opportunities at
their wartime skills and wage rates.
At such time, any change in
management and direction is neces-
sarily disruptive to the service. A
change which would replace our
present single and unified manage
ment by 81 separate managements
would be very harmful. Even with
every effort by the States to pro-
mote q smooth transition, the trans
fer Of some $4,000 employees to new
conditions Of employment and the
adjustment Of operations to the re-
quirements OF 81 different State
agencies, win inevitably cause con-
fusion and delay.
Responsibility to Veterans.
In my reconversion message OF
! September 6 to the Congress,
pointed out our national RESPONSE
bility and problems In connection
with unemployment during the re-
conversion period. During this Pc
riod, displaced war workers, and the
veterans who are returning to civil
ian life at the rate of more than q
], ,000, 900 per month, win need and
have q right to expect from Their
National Government an effective
ob-cotnseling and placement serv-
lice. These problems and responsi.
hilities cannot, in a period wher
millions OF veterans and other work.
|ers are moving across State lines
BE met adequately through 81 rep.