Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-05
Johnson Ties Rights, Tax Cut
To Goal of IS Million Jobs

| o Goal
BY CECIL HOLLAND
Star staff Writer
President Johnson has set u
million employed workers as T,
goal of his administration anC
appealed to labor and bushes,
for help in attaining it through
supporting tax-cutting and civil
rights legislation.
He made the appeal in separ.
ate White House meetings vest.
erday with the AFL-CIO execu.
tive council and top leaders IL
business and industry rep.
resenting the Business Council
At the same time the Presi
dent expressed hope the SSH
Congress. will adopt a medicare
program before it adjourns. HI
also promised again that the
strictest economy will be prac.
ticed in next years budget
which is expected to top sl0C
billion.
Tax Bill "Languishing"
In words both direct and
emotional, the new President
urged adoption of both tax anc
civil rights legislation.
He called more jobs the
Number l in priority today
and tomorrow.
He referred to the tax bill a,
"languishing" and as "frustrat.
ed" in Congress and said 1t ha.
lain unenacted when 1t ought
to be alive and working for
every one Of U.S."
The proposed tax cuts, the
President declared, can pour ar
additional Sill billion into the
gross national product.
II don't intend to sit idly BY
while this problem of unem.
ployment swells and coarsens,
Mr.. johnson declared. This
tax bill must pass"
Criticizes Delays
He dashed out at the delays
in the civil rights bill which he
said is denied a hearing" anC
added:
The endless abrasions of de.
lay. neglect and indifference
have rubbed wrong the nation.
al conscience. We've talked tor
long, done too little, and all o.
it is too late"
The President said the medi.
care bill before Congress "crieI
out for enactment" Unless 1t 4
adopted, he declared, "a largI
segment of our population viii
been denuded financially b!
severe illness"
The words "languishing" ant
frustrated were in the tex
of the Presidents remarks pre-
pared for delivery before tn
meeting with labor representa-
tives in the cabinet room. Il
repeating the statement befor
television and the same groul
in the rose garden the Presi
dent substituted pending" an,
delayed" However, the Whit
House said it stood by tn
words in the prepared text
} and in his remarks to the bust
ness leaders the President use
the word "languishing."
Asks Help
He asked the labor leaders t
: rise up, roll up your sleeve:
stick out your chin and let
, be known that you are in thi
, fight that you are in it 70
keeps, to the finish, withou
reservation or doubt"
Then he added in an appes
. he made only in differen
words to both the labor an
the business groups:
, IT am the President, but
, can do nothing without tn
! people. You represent the pee
pie. I need you, and I want 70
: by my side"
: In asking the support {
business, Mr.. Johnson said Nv
will not harass you or perse
= cute you've want to help q.
I am the only President 70
have. If you have me fail, the
you fail, for the Nation fails"
He urged the business Leaf
ers to support the civil right
program and help destroy "fc
all time the numbing attritio
of discrimination"
The President referred
Speaker McCormack's requel
for the House Rules Commute
to hold a hearing on the civ
rights bill and the fact that h
was told to come back In Janu
airy.
II would not think any Am
erican would be against a hear
ing and a chance to vote" on
bill reported by a committe,
the President said.
In his references to employ
ment, Mr.. Johnson remarke