Evening star., 1948-01-12

the welfare programs, the president
said. Details are still to be worked
out, but the message says that an
initial payroll tax Of one,half of
one per cent annually on individ.
uals up to the first $4,000 earned i,
projected to start the health plan
by setting up trust fund for bene.
nts. This would be effective next
January l.
Old age and survivors insuranc.
under the Social Security Act would
be broadened to cover all gainful
workers, including agricultural and
domestic employees, farmers, and
other self employed. These benefits
now are financed by q ! per cent
tax on employees and employers, re-
spectively, up to the first $4,000 Of
individual earnings. The message
says that an increase in taxes and
benefits is under study.
Elementary and secondary edu-
cation would get $500, ,000, 900, and
the proposed National Science Foun.
dation, SIS. 5.o00, 600.
Housing Law Sought.
The President also called once
more for comprehensive housing
legislation" with emphasis on efforts
to cut "the current excessive level
Of housing costs" In . total Of
s292 900, 900 of appropriations sought
for 1s4s, $37,o0o,o00 would 60 for
q long-range housing program. The
President also asks $4,000. 900 for
repayable loans to States and COM
munities to reinstitute the advance.
planning program for public works.
He said that "all Federal pro-
grams to furnish financial aids to
private housing will show net re-
ceipts in 1949.".
The President wants to spend
$116 6o00, 900 on the Labor Depart
ment next year, as compared with
$97, ,000,0 900 currently, declaring that
under present conditions, tho
agency's capacity to perform some
statutory functions has been I'M
paired.
The President said also that Ma
tional Labor Relations Board costs
will rise because of the new re-
sponsibilities imposed by the Taft
Hartley Act. and he incorporated
in the same section the proposal for
renewal Of the FEPC which Is des-
ignated now as the National Com
mission Against Discrimination In
Employment.
The budget proposes $655, 900 900
for agricultural programs and $780,.
000, 900 for rural electriflcation loans,
but the President said that the price
support program should be reviewed,
in view of the level of agricultural
commodities so as not to encourage
overproduction of particular COM
modities (which sometimes can oc-
cur even under conditions Of full
The present support
law which guarantees farmers 90
per cent of parity operates until
next December 81.
National Resources Discussed.
In asking an appropriation Of
81 ,581 900, 900 to build a program
for development of natural re-
sources to cost $1,626 ,000. 900, Presi-
dent Truman said that "the key OBJ
jectives of the national resources
program in the fiscal year 1919 are
to find new reserves, to reduce de-
struction and waste, to discover new
of resources, to pro-
mote greater reliance on resources
known to be abundant. and particu-
larly to develop the use of atomic
energy. The President singled out
the oil situation, declaring that de-
pletion of reserves "is one of our
most serious and reaching prob
lems." He asked for enlargement
of the Bureau Of Mines program for
coal and oil shale and
natural gas into liquid fuel as .
remedial measure in dealing with
the shortage.
Urging expanded transportation
and communication facilities. the
President recommended Maritime
Commission expenditures of $222,-
900, 1000, and $211,000, 900 for the pro-
motion of aviation, through estab-
lishment and operation of air navi-
CATION facilities and grants-in-aid
for airport construction.
The President also advised Con-
gress that "the subject of a sea level
canal connecting the Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans and its location u
under study. and my recommenda-
tions thereon will be submitted 70
the Congress at later date"