Evening star., 1947-01-06
#.s II
Of Presidents Message to Congress on State Of the Union

- ~ ~
The tert of President Trunsan's
state-of-the- Union message fol-
IoaDs::
MIR. President, MIR. Speaker, mem
bers Of the Congress of the Unite
States:
I come before you today to repoi
on the State Of the Union and, 4
the words of the Constitution, t
recommend such measures as
judge necessary and expedient.
I come also to welcome you a
you take up your duties and t
discuss with you the manner Il
which you and should fulfill ou
obligations to the American peopl
during the next two years.
The power to mold the future O
this Nation lies in our hands-your
and mine, joined together.
II In this year, and In the next
we can find the right course Il
take as each issue arises, and If, II
spite of all difficulties, we have tn
courage and the resolution to TAX
that course, then we shall achiev'
q state Of well-heing for our people
without precedent in history. Ant
If we continue to work with tn
other nations of the world earnestly
patiently, and wisely, we can
granting a will for peace on th'
part of our neighbors-make q last.
ing peace for the world.
But, If we are to realize thess
ends, the Congress and the Presi.
dent, during the next two years
must work together. It is not un.
usual In our history that tht
majority of the Congress repre-.
sents a party In opposition to ths
Presidents party. I am the 20tf
President of the United States who
at some time during his term o1
Office, has found his own party to be
in the minority in one or bott
Houses of the Congress.
I realize that on some matters
the Congress and the President may
have honest differences of opinion
Partisan differences, however, die
not cause material Disagreement
as to the conduct of the war. Nor
in the conduct of our international
relations, during and since the war
have such partisan differences been
material.
On some domestic issues we may
and probably shall, disagree. That
in itself is not to be feared. 1t is
inherent in our form of govern
ment. But there are ways of dis
agreeing; men who differ can still
work together sincerely for the
common good. We shall be risking
the Nations safety and destroying
our opportunities for progress If
we do not settle any disagreements
in this spirit, without thought Of
partisan advantage.
General Domestic Economy
Offers Great Opportunities.
AS the year 1947 begins, the state
of our national economy presents
great opportunities for all. We have
virtually full employment. Our ma
tional production of goods and serv-
ices is SO per cent higher than in
any year prior to the war emerg-
ency. The national income in 1946
was higher than in any peacetime
year. Our food production is
greater than it has ever been. Dur
ing the last five years our produc-
tive facilities have been expanded
in almost every field. The Ameri-
can standard of living Is higher
now than ever before, and when
the housing shortage can be over
come, it will be even higher.
During the past few months we
have removed atea rapid rate the
emergency controls that the Federal
Government had to exercise during
the war. The remaining controls
will be retained only so long as they
are needed to protect the public.
Private enterprise must be given the
greatest possible freedom to continue
the expansion Of our economy.
In my proclamation of December
81, 1916, I announced the termina-
tion of hostilities. This automati-
cally ended certain temporary legis-
iation and certain executive powers.
Two groups of temporary laws still
remain: The first are those which
by congressional mandate are to last
during the emergency; the second
are those which are to continue until
the termination of the war;"
I shall submit to the Congress rec
concentrations for the repeal OF GER
tain of the statues which by their
terms continue for the duration OF
the emergency" I shall at the
same time recommend that others
within this classification be extended
until the state of war has been ended
by treaty or by legislative action. AS
to those statutes which continue
until the state of war has been
terminated, urge that the Congress
promptly consider each statute indi-
vidually, and repeal such emergency
legislation where advisable.
Now that nearly all wartime con-
trolls have been removed, the opera
tion of our industrial system de-
pends to a greater extent on the
decisions of business men, farmers
and workers. These decisions must
be wisely made with genuine con-
Germ for the public welfare. The
welfare of business men, farmers
and workers depends upon the eco
nomic well-being Of those who buy
their products.
Rising Prices Are Threat
To Buying by Public
An important present source Of
danger to our economy Is the posi-
bility that prices might be raised te
such an extent that the consuming
public could not purchase the tire.
mendous volume Of goods and serv-
ices which will be produced in ls47
We all know that recent price In
creases have denied to many OF oul
workers much OF the value OF recent
wage increases. Farmers have foune
that large part of their increase
income has been absorbed by In
creased prices. While some OF oul
people have received raises in in
come which exceed price increases
.-~t&,, I.oua y,af Thncf