Evening star., 1946-01-21
Message
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Continued From First Page)
nonagricultural and nongovern-
mental establishments, have re-
ceived increases-generally from 10
to IS per cent-since August Is, the
day after Japan capitulated, the
message amplified.
incidentally, the President for the
first time committed himself to a
specific figure for boosting the 40
cent rate of the minimum wage
law. saying he favored a projected
65-70-75-cent scale.
Despite the strike wave, President
Truman Injected note of optimism
in his message He said that for
the immediate future, the business
prospects are generally so favorable
that there is danger of such fever
ish and opportunistic activity that
grave postwar problems may be
neglected" Again, while conceding
that amy precise appraisal of the
economic outlook at this time is
particularly difficult" the President
said that "in general, the outlook
for business is good, and is likely to
continue good-provided we control
imitation and achieve peace in man
agement-l Labor relations"
Pledges Small Business Aid.
Reviewing business prospects, the
President spoke of his hope to en-
courage industrial expansion in
West and South and said he was
asking the Secretaries of Agricul-
ture, Commerce and Labor Ito ex-
plore jointly methods for stimulat-
ing new industries, particularly in
areas with surplus labor He
pledged financial aid to small busi-
ness, along with strict trust law en-
forcement to curb monopolies.
Further, on the job front, the
message disclosed that approximate
ly $1,740,000000 will be spent or
Federal public works and for loans
and grants to States and municipal
tiles for public works next year.
The budget is based on a prospec-
tive national income of $4,000, ,OO0.-
600 for the year. Describing imitation
, as our greatest immediate domestic
problem" President Truman re-
newed his argument for re-enact-
ment of rent and price control laws
and the Second War Powers Act
which includes ALLEGATION powers-to
carry them beyond next June 30.
IF we expect to maintain a steady
economy we shall have to maintain
price and rent control for many
months to come" he said. The in
f1ationary pressures ON prices anG
rents, with relatively few exceptions
are now at an all-time peak. Unless
the Price Control Act is renewed
there will be no limit to which ou1
price levels would soar. Our country
would face national disaster
budget in New Form.
AS a complementary proposal tt
extension of price control for a year
Mr.. Truman urged the continuation
of food subsidies, explaining that
the expected drop in prices hac
failed to materialize after the war
and food prices are pressing hare
against the ceilings" An 8 per cent
food price rise was held out as the
possibles > alternative to continuing
subsidies beyond the contemplated
expiration date of June 30.
= The new budget is shaped on diff
.ferent lines than those of Other
years. NThe s35, 1850 900 900 approved
by the President covers not only
items for which there already is
statutory authority, but includes
also approximately $4,000, ,000, 900 for
proposed programs, which would
mean that if Congress failed to
back any of these, expenditures
would be reduced by that much. In
other years supplemental appro-
spriations have been asked for such
items after the regular budget was
submitted.
This $4,000, O,ooo,ooo would care for