Evening star., 1949-01-05
Presdent Truman Finds the State of the Nation Is Good

background for these recommended
tionS.
One of the most important fac
tors in maintaining prosperity Is
the Governments fiscal policy. At
this time, it is esential not only
that the Federal budget be balanced,
but also that there be a substantial
surplus to reduce ipf1ationary pres
sures, and permit a sizable reduction
in the national debt, which now
stands at 1882 900 100000. I recon-
mend, therefore, that the Congress
enact new tax legislation to bring
in an additional $4,000, 100000 of
Government revenue. This should
come principally from additional
corporate taxes A portion should
come from revised estate and gift
taxes. Consideration should be given
to raising personal income tax rates
in the middle and upper brackets.
If we want to keep our economy
running in high gear, we must
be sure that every group has the
incentive to make its full contribu-
ton to the national welfare. At
present. the working men and wo-
men of the Nation are unfairly dis
criminated against by a statute
that abridges their rights, curtails
their constructive efforts, and ham
perS our system of free collective
bargaining. That statute is the
Labor Management. Relations Act
OF 1947, sometimes called the Taft
Hartley Act.
That act should be repealed.
Re-enact Wagner Act.
The Wagner Act should be re-
enacted. However, certain improve
ments, which I recommended to
the Congress two years ago, are
needed. Jurisdictional strikes and
unjustifiable secondary boycotts
should be prohibited. The use of
economic force to decide issues aris-
ing out of the Interpretation of
existing contracts should be pre-
vented. Without endangering our
democratic freedoms, means should
be provided for settling or prevent
ing strikes in vital industries which
affect the public interest.
The Department Of Labor should
be rebuilt and strengthened and
those units properly belonging with
in that Department should be
placed in it.
The health Of our economy and
its maintenance at high levels fur
ther reveal that the minimum wage
fixed by law should be raised to at
least rs cents an hour.
II our free enterprise economy is
to be strong and, healthy. we must
reinvigorate the forces OF COM
petition. We must assure small
business the freedom and oppor-
tunity to grow and prosper. To
this purpose, we should strengthen
our antitrust laws by closing those
loophole that permit monopolistic
mergers and consultations.
Our national farm program should
be improved-not only in the in
terest Of the farmers, but for the
lasting prosperity of the whole Ma
tion. Our goals should be abundant
farm production and parity of in
come for agriculture. Standards Of
living on the farm should be just
as good as anywhere else.
Farm Price Supports.
Farm price supports are an es-
sential part of our program to
achieve these ends. Price supports
should be used to prevent farm price
declines which are out of line with
general price levels. to facilitate
adjustments in production to con.
sumer demands, and to promote
good land use. Our price support
legislation must be adapted to these
objectives. The authority Of the
Commodity Credit Corp. to provide
adequate storage space for crops
should be restored.
Our program for farm prosperity
should also seek to expand the do
mestic market for agricultural pro-
ducts, particularly among low in
come groups, and to increase and
stabilize foreign markets.
We should give special attention
to extending modern conveniences
and services to our farms. Rural
electrification should be pushed for
ward. And in considering legisla-
tion relating to housing, education,
health, and social security, special
attention should be given to rural
problems
Our growing population and the
expansion OF our economy depend
upon the wise management of our
land, water, forest and mineral
wealth. In our present dynamic
economy, the task of conservation
is not to lock up our resources but
to develop and improve them. Fail
ure, today, to make the investments
which are necessary to support our
progress In the future would be
false economy.
Lawrence Project.
We must push forward with the
development of our rivers for power,
irrigation, navigation, and flood
control. We should apply the lessons
OF our Tennessee Valley experience
to our other great river basins.
I again recommend that action
be taken by the Congress to approve
the st. Lawrence Seaway and Power
Project.
We must adopt a program for the
planned use of the petroleum re-
serves under the sea, which are
and must ~remain-vested in the
Federal Government. We must ex-
tend our programs Of soil conserva-
ton. We must place our forests
on sustained yield basis, and en-
courage the development of new
sources of vital minerals.
In all this we must make sure
that the benefits Of these public
undertakings are directly available
to the people. Public power should
be carried to consuming areas bv
public transmission lines where nee
essary to provide electricity at the
lowest possible rates. Irrigation
waters should serve family farms
and not land spectators.
The Government has still other