Evening star., 1947-01-10

regulations to protect the working
force, assistance to States In pro-
noting employment opportunities
and gathering Of basic labor tnfor-
nation. 81
In my message on the state OF the
Union, / have asked that the ma
chinery in the Department Of La
Dor for facilitating collective barr
gaining and expediting the settle.
ment of labor-management disputes
be amplified and strengthened.
have included administrative funds
for this purpose under proposed
legislation.
I recommend also that the Con-
gress authorize grants to States
through the Department Of Labor;
for programs fostering safe working
conditions. The toll resulting from
industrial hazards reduces the pro-
ductive capacity Of the labor force.
The new program should be admin
istered by State departments OF Ia
Dor under Federal standards.
Funds for this purpose have like
wise been included under proposed
legislation.
(The President recommended APP
propriations of 118 million dollars
for the labor program.)
The principal types OF expendi-.
lures in general government" are
for I'd legislative and judicial ac-
tivities, and executive management
and control; CD the Government
payment toward civilian employees
retirement; CD other services COW
cred by appropriations which relate
to more than one function, and "a
few special programs necessitated
by the war, such as disposal of sur
plus property, which do not logically
belong in any other category.
Expenditures for these functions
in the fiscal year 1948 are expected
to decline only moderately from the
comparable total for 1947, because
they will still include substantial
amount for war liquidation. Such,
activities will account for more than
one-third of all the expenditures in
this category.
Amount Needed Declines.
".' The appropriation total of
1,341 million dollars for the fiscal
year l948 includes rs million dollars
for anticipated supplemental appro-
priations. The total is well below
the estimated expenditures, mainly
because the War Assets Administers
ton will be paying obligations in
Cured against earlier appropriations.
The volume of interest payments
on the public debt reflects the mag
nitude and composition Of the debt.
as we'll as the level of interest rates.
AS long as prosperity permits, our
objective should be a steady retire.
ment in the outstanding debt. -
The estimated increase Of so mil
lion dollars in interest payments IN
1948 over 1947 is due principally to
% increased interest payments on
the larger volume of special issues
held by trust funds which pay rela-
lively high rates; (2) increased ac-
cruals on savings bonds, owing to q
large volume of bonds reaching
higher accrual brackets; and 90 the
change from semiannual to annual
payment of interest on certificates
of Indebtedness, effective Septem-
ber /, 1946. The net effect Of these
factors has been to increase interest
costs in 1948, even though the debt
has been declining since its peak on
February %, 1916.
Civilian Employment Down.
This budget reflects the continue
ing decline in Federal civilian en-
ployment. Federal agencies have re-
duced their civilian personnel to
2,300, 00-including those In the
territories and possessions and In
foreign countries-fron wartime
peak of 3,770, 600 in June 1945. The
budget estimates contemplate fur.
ther reductions.
Three agencies-the Veterans Ad-
ministration, the Post Office, and
the Treasury-together have almost
as many employees as the 1889 total
of 100000 for the whole Federal
Government. "+
With the termination of wartime
programs, net expenditures Of Gov
ernment corporations in the fiscal
year 1948 will be focused in few
major areas-chief1y purchase Of
veterans housing mortgages, loans
to finance rural electrification, price,
support outlays for farm commodi-.
ties, and disbursements on Export
Import Bank loans to foreign bor-
rowers.
These programs represent, in the
main, capital items recoverable over
a period of years.
In the fiscal year 1948 net ex-
penditures from corporation ac-
counts alone will amount to 829
million dollars, compared with net
receipts of ITS million dollars in
1947. But If we take into account
reduced payments by the Treasury
to the corporations and increased
repayment of capital funds to the
Treasury by the corporations, net
withdrawals from the Treasury for
these programs will remain almost
unchanged, despite the sharp shift
in the methods of financing
them. - s....
In this message every effort has
been made to present the Federal
budget program with as much clarity
as its complexities permit. All citi-
Zens have an interest in the budget.
Both sides Of the budget touch their
everyday lives. I consider 1t my duty
to give them full information on
what their Government proposes
to do. HARRY S. TRUMAN.
43% Increase in Funds
Asked for Soldiers Home