Evening star., 1946-01-21

| 10 very uucCt anu personal because
working conditions, wages and
prices affect the very life and hap
piness of the worker and his family.
Management has no less direct
Interest because on management
rests the responsibility for conduct
ing a growing and prosperous busi-
ness. =
Most industries and most COM
panies have adequate Ieeway within
which to grant substantial wage in
creases. These increases will have
direct effect in increasing con-
sumer demand to the high levels
| needed.
Concerned About Strikes.
Everyone who Eealizes the extreme
need for a swift and orderly recon-
version must feel a deep concern
about the number of major strikes
now in progress. If long continued,
these strikes could put a heavy
brake on our program.
have already made recommen-
dations to the Congress as to the
procedure best adapted to meeting
the threat of work stoppages in Ma
tion-wide industries without sacri-
ficing the fundamental rights of
labor to bargain collectively and ul-
tlmately to strike in support of
their position.
II we manage our economy prop
erly, the future will see us on a level
OF production half again as high as
anything we have ever accomplished
in peacetime. Business can, in the
future, pay higher wages and sell
for lower prices than ever before.
This is not true now for all COM
panies, nor will it ever be true for
all, but for business generally it is
true.
We are relying on all concerned to
develop, through collective bargain
ing. wage structures that are fair to
labor, allow for necessary business
incentives and conform with a policy
designed to hold the line" on prices.
-
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
economic health of the Nation. =
Gives Reasons for Requests.
To attain some of these objectives
and to meet the other needs of the
United States in the reconversion
and postwar period, I have from
time to time made various recon-
mendations to the Congress.
In making these recommendations
I have indicated the reasons why II
deemed them essential for progress
at home and abroad. A few-a very
feW-of these recommendations have
been enacted into law by the Con-
gress. Most of them have not. Il
here reiterate some of them and
discuss others later in this message.
I urge upon the Congress early con-
Sideratlon of them. Some are more
urgent than others, but all are nee
essary.
Cd Legislation to authorize the
President to create fact finding
boards for the prevention of stop
pages of work in Nationwide in
dustries after collective bargaining
and conciliation and voluntary arbi-
tration have failed-as recommended
by me on December 8, 1945.
(2) Enactment of a satisfactory
full employment bill such as the
Senate bill now in conference be-
tween the Senate and the House
as recommended by me on Septem-
Der 6, 1945.
(3) Legislation to supplement the
unemployment insurance benefits for
unemployed workers now provided
by the different States-as recon-
mended by me on May %, 1945.
a. Adoption of a permanent Fair
Employment Practice Act-as rec
commended by me on September 6,
1945.
go Legislation substantially rais-
ing the amount of minimum wages
now provided by law-as recon-
mended by me on September 6, l945.
60 Legislation providing for a
comprehensive program for scientific
research-as recommended by me on
September 6, 1945.
CD Legislation enacting a healthy
and medical care programmes rec
commended by me on November 10,
1945.
90 Legislation adopting the pro-
gram of universal training-as rec
commended by me on October %,
1945.
(s) Legislation providing an ade-
quate salary scale for all Govern
ment employees in all branches of
the Government-as recommended
by me on September 6, 1945.
NO Legislation making provision
for succession to the Presidency in
the event of the death or incapacity
or disqualification of the President
and Vice President as recon-
mended by me on June 10, 1945.
GD Legislation for the unifica-
tion Of the armed services-as rec
commended by me on December 10.
1945.
Q2) Legislation for the domestic
use and control of atomic energy
as recommended by me on October
3, 1945.
(13) Retention of the United
States Employment Service in the
Federal Government for a period
at least up to June 30, 1947-as rec
commended by me on September 6,
1945.
Q4 Legislation to increase un-
employment allowances for veterans
in line with increases for civilians
as recommended by me on Sep
tember 6, 1945.
Q5) Social security coverage for
veterans for their period of military
service-as recommended by me on
September 6, 1945.
Q6) Extension of crop insurance
as recommended by me on Sep
tember 6, 1945.
QD Legislation permitting the
sale of ships by the Maritime Com
mission at home and abroad-as
recommended by me on September
6, 1945. further recommend that
this legislation include adequate
authority for chartering vessels both
here and abroad.
18) Legislation to take care of
the stock piling of materials in