Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-01-06


sources.
A modern. efhcient highway
system Is essential TO meet the
needs Of our growing population.
our expanding economy. and our
national security. We are accel-
Grating our highway improve
meilt program as rapidly as
possible under existing State and
Federal laws and authorizations.
However. this effort win not in
itself assure our people Of an
adequate highway system. On
my recommendation. this prob
lem has been carefully consid-
cred BY the Conference Of State
Governors and by 9 special ADJ
yisory Committee on Q National
Highway Program. composed Of
leading private citizens. ! have
received the recommendations of
the Governors Conference and
win shortly receive the views Of
the special advisory committee.
Aided BY their findings. ] shall
submit On January % detailed
recommendations which viii
meet our most pressing national
highway needs.
In further recognition of the
Importance of transportation to
our economic strength and secur-
ity. the administration, through
q cabinet meeting. Is thoroughly
examining existing Federal trans
portation policies to determine
their effect on the adequacy Of
transportation services. This is
the first such comprehensive re-
view directly undertaken BY the
Executive Branch Of the govern
ment In modern times. We are
not only examining major prob
lens facing the various modes Of
transport, we are also studying
closely the nter-relationships Of
civilian and government require
ments for transportation. Legis-
lation win be recommended to
correct policy deficiencies which
we may find.
The Nations public works &C..
tiyities are tremendous In scope.
It is expected that more than $l2
billions viii be expended In 1855
for the development Of land, !.
water and other resources; con-
troll Of floods. and navigation and
harhor improvements: construc-
ton of roads. schools. and muni-
cipal water supplies, and disposal
OF domestic and industrial
wastes. Many of the Federal,
State AND local agencies respon-
sible for this work are, In their
separate capacities. highly EN-
cient. But public works activities
are closely inter related and have
a substantial influence on the
growth of the country. Moreover,
In times Of threatening economic
contraction, they may become q
valuable sustaining force. To
these ends, efficient planning and
execution Of the Nations public
works require both the co-ordi-
nation Of Federal activities and
effective cooperation with State
and local governments. +.
The Council Of Economic Adj
visers. through It's public works
planning section, has made i'm
portant advances during the past
year in effecting this co-ordi-
nation and cooperation. In veiw
Of the success of these initial eff
forts. and to give more emphasis
and continuity to this essential
coordination, I shall request
the Congress to appropriate
funds for the support Of an Of
flee Of Co-ordinator of Public
Works in the Executive Once of
the President.
A most significant element in
our growing economy Is an agri,
culture that is stable. prosperous
and free. The problems Of our
agriculture have evolved over
many years and cannot be solved
overnight: nevertheless. govern
mental actions last year hold
great promise Of fostering a bet
ter balance between production
and markets and. consequently,
q better and more stable income
for our farmers.
Through vigorous administra-
ton and through new authority
provided by the SD Congress,
surplus farm products are now
moving into consumption. From
February. 1853. through Noyem-
Der. 1854. the rate of increase Of
Government-held SURPRISES has
been reduced by our moving into
use more than $2.3 billion worth
Of Governmental wned farm
commodities: this amount Is
equal to more than Z per cent Of
. years production OF all our
farms and ranches. Domestic
consumption remains high, and
farm exports viii be higher than
last year. As Q result of the
fiexibility provided by the Agri-
cultural Act Of 1854, we can
move toward less restrictive
acreage controls.