Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-01-22
Message on Budget
Called Comprehensive
Outline of Federal Function Is
Significant, Says Writer
By David Laurence

Significant, Says Writer
BY David Laurence
President Truman's aides put to-
gether for him rather remarkable
message in what is called a report on
''the state of the Union" No one mar,
could write such report alone, be-
cause 1t must necessarily comprise
digests of dozens Of long reports and
memoranda from nearly every major
activity of the Government.
Mr.. Truman was right in combining
his budget recommendations and analy-
sis with his general policy message, for
the two logically go together. Unless
one knows where the money Is coming
from and why it should be spent, it is
difficult to explain a budget program
anyway.
One may disagree with some of the
recommendations or the reasons for the
expenditures and yet find the whole
message comprehensive panorama of
our Federal Government in the all
important period of transition from
war to peace. The outline of the Fed
eral function is particularly significant,
Concept of Government.
These passages tell Mr.. Humans
concept of government:
while our peacetime prosperity will
be based on the private enterprise
system, Government can and must
assist in many ways. .
During the year ahead the Govern
ment will be called upon to act in many
important fields of economic policy from
taxation and foreign trade to social
security and housing. 80
There is no question in my mind
that the Government, acting on be-
half of all the people, must assume
the ultimate responsibility for the eco
nomlc health Of the Nation There
Is no other agency that can. No other
organization has the scope or the au-
thority, nor is there any other agency
accountable to all the people. 80
"All the policies Of the Federal Gov
eminent must be geared to the OBJ
jective Of sustained full production and
full employment-to raise consumer
purchasing power and to encourage
business investment. The programs we
adop this year and from now on will
determine our ability to achieve our
detectives. '*'
For example, the kinds of tax meas
ures we have at different times
whether we raise our revenue in way
to encourage consumer spending and
business investment or to discourage it
have vital bearing on this oues-
ton. 80
IN short, the way we handle the
proper functions OF government, the
way we time the exercise of our tradi-
| tional and legitimate governmental
functions, has vital bearing on the
economic health of the Nation"
| Summary and Forecast,
The message Is an attempt to give
the people summary Of what has hap
pened during the past year and what is
now happening and at the same time
to give forecast Of what might be ex-
pected. Many general policy and long
term objective Is interviewer with rec
concentrations for immediate situations.
principles are stated first and then some
examples of the application of the prin-
capies to concrete problems. The labor
management section is not detailed but
the public is already familiar with Mr..
Humans approach. There is one SEN
tence, however, which states the Presi-
dents determination succinctly and
ought to be noted. He says:
industrial peace between manage
ment and labor will have to be achieved
through the process of collective bar
galnlng-With governmental assistance
but not government compulsion"
AS for tax policy in the future, there
Is no hope held out for reduction of in
dlvidual income taxes for some time tn
come, and this must inevitably mean a
sharper scrutiny Of Government budgets
by Congress than heretofore. Manv of
the expenditures recommended sound
plausible enough when stated in general
terms, but 1t becomes the duty and re-
sponsibility of the Congress to INQUIRE
whether some Of them are not, in the
present state of the Nations finances.
perhaps bit extravagant If not luxuri-
| GUS.
Mr.. humans message marks return
10 the type of state of the Union" mes
sage which Presidents many years ago
used to send to Congress. 1t is a re-
freshing change because the public can
well absorb generalities and contro-
Versial policy statements in separately
written messages. A lot of useful in
formation can be derived from "state
OF the Union" message which gives the
facts and outlines briefly the nature Of
all the major problems confronting the
FEDERAL Government and the nation.
Reproduction Rights Reserved)