Evening star., 1948-07-27
Text of 7runon's Message to Special Session

of imitation. More children are en-
tering school than ever before. But
imitation has cut down the pur-
chasing power of the money devoted
to educational purposes. Teachers
salaries, for the most part, have
Jagged for behind increases in the
cost of living. The overcrowding of
our schools is seriously detrimental
to the health and the education of
our boys land girls. Every month
that we delay in meeting this prob
lem will cause damage that can
never be repaired. Several million
children of school age are unable
to attend school, largely because of
lack Of facilities or teachers.
To meet these vital educational
needs, the Congress should complete
action on Senate bill 472, which
passed the Senate on April /. AL
that remains to be done is its pass
age by the House of Representatives.
Prompt action by the Congress is
also needed to help another group
of our people who are suffering from
imitation. These are the workers
who depend on the protection of q
minimum wage law. The present
minimum wage is pitifully made
quate in the face of today's high
prices. Proposals to raise minimum
wages have long been before the
Congress. I urgently recommend
that the minimum wage be raised
to at least rs cents an hour at this
session. Senate bill 2O62 and it's
companion House bills would be
suitable measures for this purpose.
I urge also that action be taken
by the Congress to relieve ~other
victims of imitation. These are the
people who depend upon the bene-
fits being paid under the old-age
and survivors insurance system.
The average old-age retirement
benefit for a man and his wife Is
only $50 month. For widow with
two children, the average monthly
benefit is only $40. These benefits
are utterly inadequate. I urge that
they be increased by at least so per
cent and that the age at which
women can receive benefits be low
cred from 65 to 60 years. I also
hope that the protection OF this
system will be extended to the mil
lions who are not now covered.
Other Measures Needed.
In our relations with the rest of
the world, action is also needed at
once, and can be taken quickly, to
afford additional proof that we
mean what we say when we talk
about freedom, humanity, and inter-
national cooperation for peace and
prosperity. Three measures are in
volved.
First, the Displaced Persons Act
In its present form discriminates
unfairly against some displaced per-
sons because of their religion, land
of origin or occupation. These pro-
visions are contrary to all American
ideals. This act should be promptly
amended to wipe out these discrim-
nations. Furthermore, the present
act permits the entry of only 2O0,-
900 persons, and charges them
against future immigration quotas.
I believe strongly that the act
should provide for the entry of AGO.
600 persons over four-year period,
and they should be outside the
normal immigration quotas. The
act can and should be amended
promptly.
Second, many people in the world
must wonder how strongly we sup
port the United Nations when we
hesitate to assist the construction
of its permanent home in this
country. Legislation can and should
be passed at once to authorize a
loan by the United States Govern
ment to the United Nations, for the
construction of U. N. headquarters
buildings in New York City.
The International Wheat Agree
ment is another vital measure on
which the Congress should act. This
agreement is designed to insure sta
bility in the world wheat market in
the years ahead when wheat will
be more plentiful. 1t would guar
antee American farmers an export
market of 185.000,0O0 bushels of
wheat at fair price during each of
the next five years. Since the agree
ment is in the form of a treaty it
requires only ratification by the
Senate. Although this agreement
should have been ratified by July
1 of this year, we have good reason
to believe that it can still be made
effective if it Is now ratified
promptly.
Finally, I wish to call to the at
tention Of the Congress three other
problems on which action can and
should be taken at this session.
Power Projects Necessary.
The Congress should reconsider
its recent actions which cut sharply
into onr national electric power
policy. There is an acute shortage
of electric power in this country
now. I am therefore re-submitting
to the Congress appropriation re-
quests for certain power projects
which must be provided right away.
These requests include the iva
steam plant at New Johnsonville,
Tenn. and certain other projects on
which Congressional reductions, If
allowed to stand, will delay the pro-
AMIR