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Title: State of the Union Addresses of Herbert Hoover
Author: Herbert Hoover
Posting Date: December 3, 2014 [EBook #5037]
Release Date: February, 2004
First Posted: April 11, 2002
Last Updated: December 16, 2004
Language: English
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State of the Union Addresses of Herbert Hoover
The addresses are separated by three asterisks: ***
Dates of addresses by Herbert Hoover in this eBook:
December 3, 1929
December 2, 1930
December 8, 1931
December 6, 1932
***
State of the Union Address
Herbert Hoover
December 3, 1929
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
The Constitution requires that the President "shall, from time to time,
give to the Congress information of the state of the Union, and recommend
to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and
expedient." In complying with that requirement I wish to emphasize that
during the past year the Nation has continued to grow in strength; our
people have advanced in comfort; we have gained in knowledge; the education
of youth has been more widely spread; moral and spiritual forces have been
maintained; peace has become more assured. The problems with which we are
confronted are the problems of growth and of progress. In their solution we
have to determine the facts, to develop the relative importance to be
assigned to such facts, to formulate a common judgment upon them, and to
realize solutions in spirit of conciliation.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
We are not only at peace with all the world, but the foundations for future
peace are being substantially strengthened. To promote peace is our
long-established policy. Through the Kellogg-Briand pact a great moral
standard has been raised in the world. By it fifty-four nations have
covenanted to renounce war and to settle all disputes by pacific means.
Through it a new world outlook has been inaugurated which has profoundly
affected the foreign policies of nations. Since its inauguration we have
initiated new efforts not only in the organization of the machinery of
peace but also to eliminate dangerous forces which produce controversies
amongst nations.
In January, 1926, the Senate gave its consent to adherence to the Court of
International Justice with certain reservations. In September of this year
the statute establishing the court has, by the action of the nations
signatory, been amended to meet the Senate's reservations and to go even
beyond those reservations to make clear that the court is a true
international court of justice. I believe it will be clear to everyone that
no controversy or question in which this country has or claims an interest
can be passed on by the court without our consent at the time the question
arises. The doubt about advisory opinions has been completely safeguarded.
Our adherence to the International Court is, as now constituted, not the
slightest step toward entry into the League of Nations. As I have before
indicated, I shall direct that our signature be affixed to the protocol of
adherence and shall submit it for the approval of the Senate with a special
message at some time when it is convenient to deal with it.
In the hope of reducing friction in the world, and with the desire that we
may reduce the great economic burdens of naval armament, we have joined in
conference with Great Britain, France, Italy, and Japan to be held in
London in January to consider the further limitation and reduction of naval
arms. We hold high hopes that success may attend this effort.
At the beginning of the present administration the neighboring State of
Mexico was best with domestic insurrection. We maintained the embargo upon
the shipment of arms to Mexico but permitted the duly constituted
Government to procure supplies from our surplus war stocks. Fortunately,
the Mexican Government by its own strength successfully withstood the
insurrection with but slight damage. Opportunity of further peaceful
development is given to that country. At the request of the Mexican
Government, we have since lifted the embargo on shipment of arms
altogether. The two governments have taken further steps to promote
friendly relationships and so solve our differences. Conventions prolonging
for a period of two years the life of the general and special claims
commissions have been concluded.
In South America we are proud to have had part in the settlement of the
long-standing dispute between Chile and Peru in the disposal of the
question of Tacna-Arica.
The work of the commission of inquiry and conciliation between Bolivia and
Paraguay, in which a representative of this Government participated, has
successfully terminated an incident which seemed to threaten war. The
proposed plan for final settlement as suggested by the neutral governments
is still under consideration.
This Government has continued its efforts to act as a mediator in boundary
difficulties between Guatemala and Honduras.
A further instance of profound importance in establishing good will was the
inauguration of regular air mail service between the United States and
Caribbean, Central American, and South American countries.
We still have marines on foreign soil--in Nicaragua, Haiti, and China. In
the large sense we do not wish to be represented abroad in such manner.
About 1,600 marines remain in Nicaragua at the urgent request of that
government and the leaders of all parties pending the training of a
domestic constabulary capable of insuring tranquility. We have already
reduced these forces materially and we are anxious to withdraw them further
as the situation warrants. In Haiti we have about 700 marines, but it is a
much more difficult problem, the solution of which is still obscure. If
Congress approves, I shall dispatch a commission to Haiti to review and
study the matter in an endeavor to arrive at some more definite policy than
at present. Our forces in China constitute 2,605 men, which we hope also
further to reduce to the normal legation guard.
It is my desire to establish more firmly our understanding and
relationships with the Latin American countries by strengthening the
diplomatic missions to those countries. It is my hope to secure men long
experienced in our Diplomatic Service, who speak the languages of the
peoples to whom they are accredited, as chiefs of our diplomatic missions
in these States. I shall send to the Senate at an early date the
nominations of several such men.
The Congress has by numerous wise and foresighted acts in the past few
years greatly strengthened the character of our representation abroad. It
has made liberal provision for the establishment of suitable quarters for
our foreign staffs in the different countries. In order, however, that we
may further develop the most effective force in this, one of the most
responsible functions of our Government, I shall recommend to the Congress
more liberal appropriations for the work of the State Department. I know of
no expenditure of public money from which a greater economic and moral
return can come to us than by assuring the most effective conduct of our
foreign relations.
NATIONAL DEFENSE
To preserve internal order and freedom from encroachment is the first
purpose of government. Our Army and Navy are being maintained in a most
efficient state under officers of high intelligence and zeal. The extent
and expansion of their numbers and equipment as at present authorized are
ample for this purpose.
We can well be deeply concerned, however, at the growing expense. From a
total expenditure for national defense purposes in 1914 of $267,000,000, it
naturally rose with the Great War, but receded again to $612,000,000 in
1924, when again it began to rise until during the current fiscal year the
expenditures will reach to over $730,000,000, excluding all civilian
services of those departments. Programs now authorized will carry it to
still larger figures in future years. While the remuneration paid to our
soldiers and sailors is justly at a higher rate than that of any other
country in the world, and while the cost of subsistence is higher, yet the
total of our expenditures is in excess of those of the most highly
militarized nations of the world.
Upon the conference shortly to be held in London will depend such
moderation as we can make in naval expenditure. If we shall be compelled to
undertake the naval construction implied in the Washington arms treaty as
well as other construction which would appear to be necessary if no
international agreement can be completed, we shall be committed during the
next six years to a construction expenditure of upward of $1,200,000,000
besides the necessary further increase in costs for annual upkeep.
After 1914 the various Army contingents necessarily expanded to the end of
the Great War and then receded to the low point in 1924, when expansion
again began. In 1914 the officers and men in our regular forces, both Army
and Navy, were about 164,000, in 1924 there were about 256,000, and in 1929
there were about 250,000. Our citizens' army, however, including the
National Guard and other forms of reserves, increase these totals up to
about 299,000 in 1914, about 672,000 in 1924, and about 728,000 in 1929.
Under the Kellogg pact we have undertaken never to use war as an instrument
of national policy. We have, therefore, undertaken by covenant to use these
equipments solely for defensive purposes. From a defense point of view our
forces should be proportioned to national need and should, therefore, to
some extent be modified by the prospects of peace, which were never
brighter than to-day.
It should be borne in mind that the improvement in the National Guard by
Federal support begun in 1920 has definitely strengthened our national
security by rendering them far more effective than ever heretofore. The
advance of aviation has also greatly increased our effectiveness in
defense. In addition to the very large program of air forces which we are
maintaining in the Army and Navy, there has been an enormous growth of
commercial aviation. This has provided unanticipated reserves in
manufacturing capacity and in industrial and air personnel, which again
adds to our security.
I recommend that Congress give earnest consideration to the possibilities
of prudent action which will give relief from our continuously mounting
expenditures.
FINANCES OF THE GOVERNMENT
The finances of the Government are in sound condition. I shall submit the
detailed evidences and the usual recommendations in the special Budget
message. I may, however, summarize our position. The public debt on June 30
this year stood at $16,931,000,000, compared to the maximum in August,
1919, of $26,596,000,000. Since June 30 it has been reduced by a further
$238,000,000. In the Budget to be submitted the total appropriations
recommended for the fiscal year 1931 are $3,830,445,231, as compared to
$3,976,141,651 for the present fiscal year. The present fiscal year,
however, includes $150,000,000 for the Federal Farm Board, as to which no
estimate can as yet be determined for 1931.
Owing to the many necessary burdens assumed by Congress in previous years
which now require large outlays, it is with extreme difficulty that we
shall be able to keep the expenditures for the next fiscal year within the
bounds of the present year. Economies in many directions have permitted
some accommodation of pressing needs, the net result being an increase, as
shown above, of about one-tenth of 1 per cent above the present fiscal
year. We can not fail to recognize the obligations of the Government in
support of the public welfare but we must coincidentally bear in mind the
burden of taxes and strive to find relief through some tax reduction. Every
dollar so returned fertilizes the soil of prosperity.
TAX REDUCTION
The estimate submitted to me by the Secretary of the Treasury and the
Budget Director indicates that the Government will close the fiscal year
1930 with a surplus of about $225,000,000 and the fiscal year 1931 with a
surplus of about $123,000,000. Owing to unusual circumstances, it has been
extremely difficult to estimate future revenues with accuracy.
I believe, however, that the Congress will be fully justified in giving the
benefits of the prospective surpluses to the taxpayers, particularly as
ample provision for debt reduction has been made in both years through the
form of debt retirement from ordinary revenues. In view of the uncertainty
in respect of future revenues and the comparatively small size of the
indicated surplus in 1931, relief should take the form of a provisional
revision of tax rates.
I recommend that the normal income tax rates applicable to the incomes of
individuals for the calendar year 1929 be reduced from 5, 3, and 1 1/2;
per cent, to 4, 2, and 1/2; per cent, and that the tax on the income of
corporations for the calendar year 1929 be reduced from 12 to 11 per cent.
It is estimated that this will result in a reduction of $160,000,000 in
income taxes to be collected during the calendar year 1930. The loss in
revenue will be divided approximately equally between the fiscal years 1930
and 1931. Such a program will give a measure of tax relief to the maximum
number of taxpayers, with relatively larger benefits to taxpayers with
small or moderate incomes.
FOREIGN DEBTS
The past year has brought us near to completion of settlements of the
indebtedness of foreign governments to the United States.
The act of Congress approved February 4, 1929, authorized the settlement
with the Government of Austria along lines similar to the terms of
settlement offered by that Government to its other relief creditors. No
agreement has yet been concluded with that government, but the form of
agreement has been settled and its execution only awaits the Government of
Austria securing the assent by all the other relief creditors of the terms
offered. The act of Congress approved February 14, 1929, authorized the
settlement with the Government of Greece, and an agreement was concluded on
May 10, 1929.
The Government of France ratified the agreement with us on July 27, 1929.
This agreement will shortly be before the Congress and I recommend its
approval.
The only indebtedness of foreign governments to the United States now
unsettled is that of Russia and Armenia.
During the past year a committee of distinguished experts under American
leadership submitted a plan looking to a revision of claims against Germany
by the various Governments. The United States denied itself any
participation in the war settlement of general reparations and our claims
are comparatively small in amount. They arise from costs of the army of
occupation and claims of our private citizens for losses under awards from
the Mixed Claims Commission established under agreement with the German
Government. In finding a basis for settlement it was necessary for the
committee of experts to request all the Governments concerned to make some
contribution to the adjustment and we have felt that we should share a
proportion of the concessions made.
The State and Treasury Departments will be in a position shortly to submit
for your consideration a draft of an agreement to be executed between the
United States and Germany providing for the payments of these revised
amounts. A more extensive statement will be submitted at that time.
The total amount of indebtedness of the various countries to the United
States now funded is $11,579,465,885. This sum was in effect provided by
the issue of United States Government bonds to our own people. The payments
of the various Governments to us on account of principal and interest for
1930 are estimated at a total of about $239,000,000, for 1931 at about
$236,000,000, for 1932 at about $246,000,000. The measure of American
compromise in these settlements may be appreciated from the fact that our
taxpayers are called upon to find annually about $475,000,000 in interest
and in addition to redeem the principal of sums borrowed by the United
States Government for these purposes.
ALIEN ENEMY PROPERTY
The wise determination that this property seized in war should be returned
to its owners has proceeded with considerable rapidity. Of the original
seized cash and property (valued at a total of about $625,000,000), all but
$111,566,700 has been returned. Most of the remainder should be disposed of
during the next year.
GENERAL ECONOMIC SITUATION
The country has enjoyed a large degree of prosperity and sound progress
during the past year with a steady improvement in methods of production and
distribution and consequent advancement in standards of living. Progress
has, of course, been unequal among industries, and some, such as coal,
lumber, leather, and textiles, still lag behind. The long upward trend of
fundamental progress, however, gave rise to over-optimism as to profits,
which translated itself into a wave of uncontrolled speculation in
securities, resulting in the diversion of capital from business to the
stock market and the inevitable crash. The natural consequences have been a
reduction in the consumption of luxuries and semi-necessities by those who
have met with losses, and a number of persons thrown temporarily out of
employment. Prices of agricultural products dealt in upon the great markets
have been affected in sympathy with the stock crash.
Fortunately, the Federal reserve system had taken measures to strengthen
the position against the day when speculation would break, which together
with the strong position of the banks has carried the whole credit system
through the crisis without impairment. The capital which has been hitherto
absorbed in stock-market loans for speculative purposes is now returning to
the normal channels of business. There has been no inflation in the prices
of commodities; there has been no undue accumulation of goods, and foreign
trade has expanded to a magnitude which exerts a steadying influence upon
activity in industry and employment.
The sudden threat of unemployment and especially the recollection of the
economic consequences of previous crashes under a much less secured
financial system created unwarranted pessimism and fear. It was recalled
that past storms of similar character had resulted in retrenchment of
construction, reduction of wages, and laying off of workers. The natural
result was the tendency of business agencies throughout the country to
pause in their plans and proposals for continuation and extension of their
businesses, and this hesitation unchecked could in itself intensify into a
depression with widespread unemployment and suffering.
I have, therefore, instituted systematic, voluntary measures of cooperation
with the business institutions and with State and municipal authorities to
make certain that fundamental businesses of the country shall continue as
usual, that wages and therefore consuming power shall not be reduced, and
that a special effort shall be made to expand construction work in order to
assist in equalizing other deficits in employment. Due to the enlarged
sense of cooperation and responsibility which has grown in the business
world during the past few years the response has been remarkable and
satisfactory. We have canvassed the Federal Government and instituted
measures of prudent expansion in such work that should be helpful, and upon
which the different departments will make some early recommendations to
Congress.
I am convinced that through these measures we have reestablished
confidence. Wages should remain stable. A very large degree of industrial
unemployment and suffering which would otherwise have occurred has been
prevented. Agricultural prices have reflected the returning confidence. The
measures taken must be vigorously pursued until normal conditions are
restored.
AGRICULTURE
The agricultural situation is improving. The gross farm income as estimated
by the Department of Agriculture for the crop season 1926-27 was
$12,100,000,000; for 1927-28 it was $12,300,000,000; for 1928-29 it was
$12,500,000,000; and estimated on the basis of prices since the last
harvest the value of the 1929-30 crop would be over $12,650,000,000. The
slight decline in general commodity prices during the past few years
naturally assists the farmers' buying power.
The number of farmer bankruptcies is very materially decreased below
previous years. The decline in land values now seems to be arrested and
rate of movement from the farm to the city has been reduced. Not all
sections of agriculture, of course, have fared equally, and some areas have
suffered from drought. Responsible farm leaders have assured me that a
large measure of confidence is returning to agriculture and that a feeling
of optimism pervades that industry.
The most extensive action for strengthening the agricultural industry ever
taken by any government was inaugurated through the farm marketing act of
June 15 last. Under its provisions the Federal Farm Board has been
established, comprised of men long and widely experienced in agriculture
and sponsored by the farm organizations of the country. During its short
period of existence the board has taken definite steps toward a more
efficient organization of agriculture, toward the elimination of waste in
marketing, and toward the upbuilding of farmers' marketing organizations on
sounder and more efficient lines. Substantial headway has been made in the
organization of four of the basic commodities--grain, cotton, livestock,
and wool. Support by the board to cooperative marketing organizations and
other board activities undoubtedly have served to steady the farmers'
market during the recent crisis and have operated also as a great stimulus
to the cooperative organization of agriculture. The problems of the
industry are most complex, and the need for sound organization is
imperative. Yet the board is moving rapidly along the lines laid out for it
in the act, facilitating the creation by farmers of farmer-owned and
farmer-controlled organizations and federating them into central
institutions, with a view to increasing the bargaining power of
agriculture, preventing and controlling surpluses, and mobilizing the
economic power of agriculture.
THE TARIFF
The special session of Congress was called to expedite the fulfillment of
party pledges of agricultural relief and the tariff. The pledge of farm
relief has been carried out. At that time I stated the principles upon
which I believed action should be taken in respect to the tariff: "An
effective tariff upon agricultural products, that will compensate the
farmer's higher costs and higher standards of living, has a dual purpose.
Such a tariff not only protects the farmer in our domestic market but it
also stimulates him to diversify his crops and to grow products that he
could not otherwise produce, and thus lessens his dependence upon exports
to foreign markets. The great expansion of production abroad under the
conditions I have mentioned renders foreign competition in our export
markets increasingly serious. It seems but natural, therefore, that the
American farmer, having been greatly handicapped in his foreign market by
such competition from the younger expanding countries, should ask that
foreign access to our domestic market should be regulated by taking into
account the differences in our costs of production.
"In considering the tariff for other industries than agriculture, we find
that there have been economic shifts necessitating a readjustment of some
of the tariff schedules. Seven years of experience under the tariff bill
enacted in 1922 have demonstrated the wisdom of Congress in the enactment
of that measure. On the whole it has worked well. In the main our wages
have been maintained at high levels; our exports and imports have steadily
increased; with some exceptions our manufacturing industries have been
prosperous. Nevertheless, economic changes have taken place during that
time which have placed certain domestic products at a disadvantage and new
industries have come into being, all of which create the necessity for some
limited changes in the schedules and in the administrative clauses of the
laws as written in 1922.
"It would seem to me that the test of necessity for revision is, in the
main, whether there has been a substantial slackening of activity in an
industry during the past few years, and a consequent decrease of employment
due to insurmountable competition in the products of that industry. It is
not as if we were setting up a new basis of protective duties. We did that
seven years ago. What we need to remedy now is whatever substantial loss of
employment may have resulted from shifts since that time.
"In determining changes in our tariff we must not fail to take into account
the broad interests of the country as a whole, and such interests include
our trade relations with other countries." No condition has arisen in my
view to change these principles stated at the opening of the special
session. I am firmly of the opinion that their application to the pending
revision will give the country the kind of a tariff law it both needs and
wants. It would be most helpful if action should be taken at an early
moment, more especially at a time when business and agriculture are both
cooperating to minimize future uncertainties. It is just that they should
know what the rates are to be.
Even a limited revision requires the consideration and readjustment of many
items. The exhaustive inquiries and valuable debate from men representative
of all parts of the country which is needed to determine the detailed rates
must necessarily be accomplished in the Congress. However perfectly this
rate structure may be framed at any given time, the shifting of economic
forces which inevitably occurs will render changes in some items desirable
between the necessarily long intervals of congressional revision.
Injustices are bound to develop, such as were experienced by the dairymen,
the flaxseed producers, the glass industry, and others, under the 1922
rates. For this reason, I have been most anxious that the broad principle
of the flexible tariff as provided in the existing law should be preserved
and its delays in action avoided by more expeditious methods of determining
the costs of production at home and abroad, with executive authority to
promulgate such changes upon recommendation of the Tariff Commission after
exhaustive investigation. Changes by the Congress in the isolated items
such as those to which I have referred would have been most unlikely both
because of the concentrations of oppositions in the country, who could see
no advantage to their own industry or State, and because of the difficulty
of limiting consideration by the Congress to such isolated cases.
There is no fundamental conflict between the interests of the farmer and
the worker. Lowering of the standards of living of either tends to destroy
the other. The prosperity of one rests upon the well-being of the other.
Nor is there any real conflict between the East and the West or the North
and the South in the United States. The complete interlocking of economic
dependence, the common striving for social and spiritual progress, our
common heritage as Americans, and the infinite web of national sentiment,
have created a solidarity in a great people unparalleled in all human
history. These invisible bonds should not and can not be shattered by
differences of opinion growing out of discussion of a tariff.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Under the provisions of various acts of Congress $300,000,000 has been
authorized for public buildings and the land upon which to construct them,
being $75,000,000 for the District of Columbia and $225,000,000 for the
country at large. Excluding $25,000,000 which is for the acquisition of
land in the so-called "triangle" in this city, this public building
legislation provides for a five-year program for the District of Columbia
and between an eight and nine year program for the country at large. Of
this sum approximately $27,400,000 was expended up to June 30 last, of
which $11,400,000 has been expended in the District and $16,000,000
outside.
Even this generous provision for both the District of Columbia and the
country is insufficient For most pressing governmental needs. Expensive
rents and inadequate facilities are extravagance and not economy. In the
District even after the completion of these projects we shall have fully
20,000 clerks housed in rented and temporary war buildings which can last
but a little longer.
I therefore recommend that consideration should be given to the extension
of authorizations both for the country at large and for the District of
Columbia again distributed over a term of years. A survey of the need in
both categories has been made by the Secretary of the Treasury and the
Postmaster General. It would be helpful in the present economic situation
if such steps were taken as would enable early construction work.
An expedition and enlargement of the program in the District would bring
about direct economies in construction by enabling the erection of
buildings in regular sequence. By maintaining a stable labor force in the
city, contracts can be made on more advantageous terms.
The earlier completion of this program which is an acknowledged need would
add dignity to the celebration in 1932 of the two hundredth anniversary of
the birth of President Washington.
In consideration of these projects which contribute so much to dignify the
National Capital I should like to renew the suggestion that the Fine Arts
Commission should be required to pass upon private buildings which are
proposed for sites facing upon public buildings and parks. Without such
control much of the effort of the Congress in beautification of the Capital
will be minimized.
THE WATERWAYS AND FLOOD CONTROL
The development of inland waterways has received new impulse from the
completion during this year of the canalization of the Ohio to a uniform
9-foot depth. The development of the other segments of the Mississippi
system should be expedited and with this in view I am recommending an
increase in appropriations for rivers and harbors from $50,000,000 to
$55,000,000 per annum which, together with about $4,000,000 per annum
released by completion of the Ohio, should make available after providing
for other river and harbor works a sum of from $25,000,000 to $30,000,000
per annum for the Mississippi system and thus bring it to early
completion.
Conflict of opinion which has arisen over the proposed floodway from the
Arkansas River to the Gulf of Mexico via the Atchafalaya River has led me
to withhold construction upon this portion of the Mississippi flood control
plan until it could be again reviewed by the engineers for any further
recommendation to Congress. The other portions of the project are being
vigorously prosecuted and I have recommended an increase in appropriations
for this from $30,000,000 of the present year to $35,000,000 during the
next fiscal year.
Expansion of our intracoastal waterways to effective barge depths is well
warranted. We are awaiting the action of Canada upon the St. Lawrence
waterway project.
HIGHWAYS
There are over 3,000,000 miles of legally established highways in the
United States, of which about 10 per cent are included in the State highway
systems, the remainder being county and other local roads. About 626,000
miles have been improved with some type of surfacing, comprising some 63
per cent of the State highway systems and 16 per cent of the local roads.
Of the improved roads about 102,000 miles are hard surfaced, comprising
about 22 per cent of the State highway systems and about 8 per cent of the
local roads.
While proper planning should materially reduce the listed mileage of public
roads, particularly in the agricultural districts, and turn these roads
back to useful purposes, it is evident that road construction must be a
long-continued program. Progress in improvement is about 50,000 miles of
all types per annum, of which some 12,000 miles are of the more durable
types. The total expenditures of Federal, State, and local governments last
year for construction and maintenance assumed the huge total of
$1,660,000,000.
Federal aid in the construction of the highway systems in conjunction with
the States has proved to be beneficial and stimulating. We must ultimately
give consideration to the increase of our contribution to these systems,
particularly with a view to stimulating the improvement of farm-to-market
roads.
POST OFFICE
Our Post Office deficit has now increased to over $80,000,000 a year, of
which perhaps $14,000,000 is due to losses on ocean mail and air mail
contracts. The department is making an exhaustive study of the sources of
the deficit with view to later recommendation to Congress in respect to
it.
The Post Office quarters are provided in part by the Federal construction,
in part by various forms of rent and lease arrangements. The practice has
grown up in recent years of contracting long term leases under which both
rent and amortization principal cost of buildings is included. I am advised
that fully 40 per cent could be saved from many such rent and lease
agreements even after allowing interest on the capital required at the
normal Government rate. There are also many objectionable features to some
of these practices. The provision of adequate quarters for the Post Office
should be put on a sound basis.
A revision of air mail rates upon a more systematic and permanent footing
is necessary. The subject is under study, and if legislation should prove
necessary the subject will be presented to the Congress. In the meantime I
recommend that the Congress should consider the desirability of authorizing
further expansion of the South American services.
COMMERCIAL AVIATION
During the past year progress in civil aeronautics has been remarkable.
This is to a considerable degree due to the wise assistance of the Federal
Government through the establishment and maintenance of airways by the
Department of Commerce and the mail contracts from the Post Office
Department. The Government-improved airways now exceed 25,000 miles--more
than 14,000 miles of which will be lighted and equipped for night-flying
operations by the close of the current year. Airport construction through
all the States is extremely active. There are now 1,000 commercial and
municipal airports in operation with an additional 1,200 proposed for early
development.
Through this assistance the Nation is building a sound aviation system,
operated by private enterprise. Over 6,400 planes are in commercial use,
and 9,400 pilots are licensed by the Government. Our manufacturing capacity
has risen to 7,500 planes per annum. The aviation companies have increased
regular air transportation until it now totals 90,000 miles per
day--one-fourth of which is flown by night. Mail and express services now
connect our principal cities, and extensive services for passenger
transportation have been inaugurated, and others of importance are
imminent. American air lines now reach into Canada and Mexico, to Cuba,
Porto Rico, Central America, and most of the important countries of South
America.
RAILWAYS
As a whole, the railroads never were in such good physical and financial
condition, and the country has never been so well served by them. The
greatest volume of freight traffic ever tendered is being carried at a
speed never before attained and with satisfaction to the shippers.
Efficiencies and new methods have resulted in reduction in the cost of
providing freight transportation, and freight rates show a continuous
descending line from the level enforced by the World War.
We have, however, not yet assured for the future that adequate system of
transportation through consolidations which was the objective of the
Congress in the transportation act. The chief purpose of consolidation is
to secure well-balanced systems with more uniform and satisfactory rate
structure, a more stable financial structure, more equitable distribution
of traffic, greater efficiency, and single-line instead of multiple-line
hauls. In this way the country will have the assurance of better service
and ultimately at lower and more even rates than would otherwise be
attained. Legislation to simplify and expedite consolidation methods and
better to protect public interest should be enacted.
Consideration should also be given to relief of the members of the
Commission from the necessity of detailed attention to comparatively
inconsequential matters which, under the existing law, must receive their
direct and personal consideration. It is in the public interest that the
members of the Commission should not be so pressed by minor matters that
they have inadequate time for investigation and consideration of the larger
questions committed to them for solution. As to many of these minor
matters, the function of the Commission might well be made revisory, and
the primary responsibility delegated to subordinate officials after the
practice long in vogue in the executive departments.
MERCHANT MARINE
Under the impulse of the merchant marine act of 1928 the transfer to
private enterprise of the Government-owned steamship lines is going forward
with increasing success. The Shipping Board now operates about 18 lines,
which is less than half the number originally established, and the estimate
of expenditures for the coming fiscal year is based upon reduction in
losses on Government lines by approximately one-half. Construction loans
have been made to the amount of approximately $75,000,000 out of the
revolving fund authorized by Congress and have furnished an additional aid
to American shipping and further stimulated the building of vessels in
American yards.
Desirous of securing the full values to the Nation of the great effort to
develop our merchant marine by the merchant marine act soon after the
inauguration of the present administration, I appointed an
interdepartmental committee, consisting of the Secretary of Commerce, as
chairman, the Secretary of the Navy, the Postmaster General, and the
chairman of the Shipping Board, to make a survey of the policies being
pursued under the act of 1928 in respect of mail contracts; to inquire into
its workings and to advise the Postmaster General in the administration of
the act.
In particular it seemed to me necessary to determine if the result of the
contracts already let would assure the purpose expressed in the act, "to
further develop an American merchant marine, to assure its permanence in
the transportation of the foreign trade of the United States, and for other
purposes," and to develop a coordinated policy by which these purposes may
be translated into actualities.
In review of the mail contracts already awarded it was found that they
aggregated 25 separate awards imposing a governmental obligation of a
little over $12,000,000 per annum. Provision had been imposed in five of
the contracts for construction of new vessels with which to replace and
expand services. These requirements come to a total of 12 vessels in the
10-year period, aggregating 122,000 tons. Some other conditions in the
contracts had not worked out satisfactorily.
That study has now been substantially completed and the committee has
advised the desirability and the necessity of securing much larger
undertakings as to service and new construction in future contracts. The
committee at this time is recommending the advertising of 14 additional
routes, making substantial requirements for the construction of new vessels
during the life of each contract recommended. A total of 40 new vessels
will be required under the contracts proposed, about half of which will be
required to be built during the next three years. The capital cost of this
new construction will be approximately $250,000,000, involving
approximately 460,000 gross tons. Should bidders be found who will make
these undertakings, it will be necessary to recommend to Congress an
increase in the authorized expenditure by the Post Office of about
$5,500,000 annually. It will be most advantageous to grant such an
authority.
A conflict as to the administration of the act has arisen in the contention
of persons who have purchased Shipping Board vessels that they are entitled
to mail contracts irrespective of whether they are the lowest bidder, the
Post Office, on the other hand, being required by law to let contracts in
that manner. It is urgent that Congress should clarify this situation.
THE BANKING SYSTEM
It is desirable that Congress should consider the revision of some portions
of the banking law.
The development of "group" and "chain" banking presents many new problems.
The question naturally arises as to whether if allowed to expand without
restraint these methods would dangerously concentrate control of credit,
and whether they would not in any event seriously threaten one of the
fundamentals of the American credit system--which is that credit which is
based upon banking deposits should be controlled by persons within those
areas which furnish these deposits and thus be subject to the restraints of
local interest and public opinion in those areas. To some degree, however,
this movement of chain or group banking is a groping for stronger support
to the banks and a more secure basis for these institutions.
The growth in size and stability of the metropolitan banks is in marked
contrast to the trend in the country districts, with its many failures and
the losses these failures have imposed upon the agricultural community.
The relinquishment of charters of national banks in great commercial
centers in favor of State charters indicates that some conditions surround
the national banks which render them unable to compete with State banks;
and their withdrawal results in weakening our national banking system.
It has been proposed that permission should be granted to national banks to
engage in branch banking of a nature that would preserve within limited
regions the local responsibility and the control of such credit
institutions.
All these subjects, however, require careful investigation, and it might be
found advantageous to create a joint commission embracing Members of the
Congress and other appropriate Federal officials for subsequent report.
ELECTRICAL POWER REGULATION
The Federal Power Commission is now comprised of three Cabinet officers,
and the duties involved in the competent conduct of the growing
responsibilities of this commission far exceed the time and attention which
these officials can properly afford from other important duties. I
recommended that authority be given for the appointment of full-time
commissioners to replace them.
It is also desirable that the authority of the commission should be
extended to certain phases of power regulation. The nature of the electric
utilities industry is such that about 90 per cent of all power generation
and distribution is intrastate in character, and most of the States have
developed their own regulatory systems as to certificates of convenience,
rates, and profits of such utilities. To encroach upon their authorities
and responsibilities would be an encroachment upon the rights of the
States. There are cases, however, of interstate character beyond the
jurisdiction of the States. To meet these cases it would be most desirable
if a method could be worked out by which initial action may be taken
between the commissions of the States whose joint action should be made
effective by the Federal Power Commission with a reserve to act on its own
motion in case of disagreement or nonaction by the States.
THE RADIO COMMISSION
I recommend the reorganization of the Radio Commission into a permanent
body from its present temporary status. The requirement of the present law
that the commissioners shall be appointed from specified zones should be
abolished and a general provision made for their equitable selection from
different parts of the country. Despite the effort of the commissioners,
the present method develops a public insistence that the commissioners are
specially charged with supervision of radio affairs in the zone from which
each is appointed. As a result there is danger that the system will
degenerate from a national system into five regional agencies with varying
practices, varying policies, competitive tendencies, and consequent failure
to attain its utmost capacity for service to the people as a whole.
MUSCLE SHOALS
It is most desirable that this question should be disposed of. Under
present conditions the income from these plants is less than could
otherwise be secured for its use, and more especially the public is not
securing the full benefits which could be obtained from them.
It is my belief that such parts of these plants as would be useful and the
revenues from the remainder should be dedicated for all time to the farmers
of the United States for investigation and experimentation on a commercial
scale in agricultural chemistry. By such means advancing discoveries of
science can be systematically applied to agricultural need, and development
of the chemical industry of the Tennessee Valley can be assured.
I do not favor the operation by the Government of either power or
manufacturing business except as an unavoidable by-product of some other
major public purpose.
Any form of settlement of this question will imply entering upon a contract
or contracts for the lease of the plants either as a whole or in parts and
the reservation of facilities, products, or income for agricultural
purposes. The extremely technical and involved nature of such contracts
dealing with chemical and electrical enterprises, added to the unusual
difficulties surrounding these special plants, and the rapid commercial
changes now in progress in power and synthetic nitrogen manufacture, lead
me to suggest that Congress create a special commission, not to investigate
and report as in the past, but with authority to negotiate and complete
some sort of contract or contracts on behalf of the Government, subject, of
course, to such general requirements as Congress may stipulate.
BOULDER DAM
The Secretary of the Interior is making satisfactory progress in
negotiation of the very complex contracts required for the sale of the
power to be generated at this project. These contracts must assure the
return of all Government outlays upon the project. I recommend that the
necessary funds be appropriated for the initiation of this work as soon as
the contracts are in the hands of Congress.
CONSERVATION
Conservation of national resources is a fixed policy of the Government.
Three important questions bearing upon conservation of the public lands
have become urgent.
Conservation of our oil and gas resources against future need is a national
necessity. The working of the oil permit system in development of oil and
gas resources on the public domain has been subject to great abuse. I
considered it necessary to suspend the issuance of such permits and to
direct the review of all outstanding permits as to compliance of the
holders with the law. The purpose was not only to end such abuse but to
place the Government in position to review the entire subject.
We are also confronted with a major problem in conservation due to the
overgrazing on public lands. The effect of overgrazing (which has now
become general) is not only to destroy the ranges but by impairing the
ground coverage seriously to menace the water supply in many parts of the
West through quick run-off, spring floods, and autumn drought.
We have a third problem of major dimensions in the reconsideration of our
reclamation policy. The inclusion of most of the available lands of the
public domain in existing or planned reclamation projects largely completes
the original purpose of the Reclamation Service. There still remains the
necessity for extensive storage of water in the arid States which renders
it desirable that we should give a wider vision and purpose to this
service.
To provide for careful consideration of these questions and also of better
division of responsibilities in them as between the State and Federal
Governments, including the possible transfer to the States for school
purposes of the lands unreserved for forests, parks, power, minerals, etc.,
I have appointed a Commission on Conservation of the Public Domain, with a
membership representing the major public land States and at the same time
the public at large. I recommend that Congress should authorize a moderate
sum to defray their expenses.
SOCIAL SERVICE
The Federal Government provides for an extensive and valuable program of
constructive social service, in education, home building, protection to
women and children, employment, public health, recreation, and many other
directions.
In a broad sense Federal activity in these directions has been confined to
research and dissemination of information and experience, and at most to
temporary subsidies to the States in order to secure uniform advancement in
practice and methods. Any other attitude by the Federal Government will
undermine one of the most precious possessions of the American people; that
is, local and individual responsibility. We should adhere to this policy.
Federal officials can, however, make a further and most important
contribution by leadership in stimulation of the community and voluntary
agencies, and by extending Federal assistance in organization of these
forces and bringing about cooperation among them.
As an instance of this character, I have recently, in cooperation with the
Secretaries of Interior and Labor, laid the foundations of an exhaustive
inquiry into the facts precedent to a nation-wide White House conference on
child health and protection. This cooperative movement among interested
agencies will impose no expense upon the Government. Similar nation-wide
conferences will be called in connection with better housing and recreation
at a later date.
In view of the considerable difference of opinion as to the policies which
should be pursued by the Federal Government with respect to education, I
have appointed a committee representative of the important educational
associations and others to investigate and present recommendations. In
cooperation with the Secretary of the Interior, I have also appointed a
voluntary committee of distinguished membership to assist in a nation-wide
movement for abolition of illiteracy.
I have recommended additional appropriations for the Federal employment
service in order that it may more fully cover its cooperative work with
State and local services. I have also recommended additional appropriations
for the Women's and Children's Bureaus for much needed research as to facts
which I feel will prove most helpful.
PUBLIC HEALTH
The advance in scientific discovery as to disease and health imposes new
considerations upon us. The Nation as a whole is vitally interested in the
health of all the people; in protection from spread of contagious disease;
in the relation of physical and mental disabilities to criminality; and in
the economic and moral advancement which is fundamentally associated with
sound body and mind. The organization of preventive measures and health
education in its personal application is the province of public health
service. Such organization should be as universal as public education. Its
support is a proper burden upon the taxpayer. It can not be organized with
success, either in its sanitary or educational phases, except under public
authority. It should be based upon local and State responsibility, but I
consider that the Federal Government has an obligation of contribution to
the establishment of such agencies.
In the practical working out of organization, exhaustive experiment and
trial have demonstrated that the base should be competent organization of
the municipality, county, or other local unit. Most of our municipalities
and some 400 rural counties out of 3,000 now have some such unit
organization. Where highly developed, a health unit comprises at least a
physician, sanitary engineer, and community nurse with the addition, in
some cases, of another nurse devoted to the problems of maternity and
children. Such organization gives at once a fundamental control of
preventive measures and assists in community instruction. The Federal
Government, through its interest in control of contagion, acting through
the United States Public Health Service and the State agencies, has in the
past and should in the future concern itself with this development,
particularly in the many rural sections which are unfortunately far behind
in progress. Some parts of the funds contributed under the Sheppard-Towner
Act through the Children's Bureau of the Department of Labor have also
found their way into these channels.
I recommend to the Congress that the purpose of the Sheppard-Towner Act
should be continued through the Children's Bureau for a limited period of
years; and that the Congress should consider the desirability of confining
the use of Federal funds by the States to the building up of such county or
other local units, and that such outlay should be positively coordinated
with the funds expended through the United States Public Health Service
directed to other phases of the same county or other local unit
organization. All funds appropriated should of course be applied through
the States, so that the public health program of the county or local unit
will be efficiently coordinated with that of the whole State.
FEDERAL PRISONS
Closely related to crime conditions is the administration of the Federal
prison system. Our Federal penal institutions are overcrowded, and this
condition is daily becoming worse. The parole and probation systems are
inadequate. These conditions make it impossible to perform the work of
personal reconstruction of prisoners so as to prepare them for return to
the duties of citizenship. In order to relieve the pressing evils I have
directed the temporary transfer of the Army Disciplinary Barracks at
Leavenworth to the Department of Justice for use as a Federal prison. Not
only is this temporary but it is inadequate for present needs.
We need some new Federal prisons and a reorganization of our probation and
parole systems; and there should be established in the Department of
Justice a Bureau of Prisons with a sufficient force to deal adequately with
the growing activities of our prison institutions. Authorization for the
improvements should be given speedily, with initial appropriations to allow
the construction of the new institutions to be undertaken at once.
IMMIGRATION
Restriction of immigration has from every aspect proved a sound national
policy. Our pressing problem is to formulate a method by which the limited
number of immigrants whom we do welcome shall be adapted to our national
setting and our national needs.
I have been opposed to the basis of the quotas now in force and I have
hoped that we could find some practical method to secure what I believe
should be our real national objective; that is, fitness of the immigrant as
to physique, character, training, and our need of service. Perhaps some
system of priorities within the quotas could produce these results and at
the same time enable some hardships in the present system to be cleared up.
I recommend that the Congress should give the subject further study, in
which the executive departments will gladly cooperate with the hope of
discovering such method as will more fully secure our national necessities.
VETERANS
It has been the policy of our Government almost from its inception to make
provision for the men who have been disabled in defense of our country.
This policy should be maintained. Originally it took the form of land
grants and pensions. This system continued until our entry into the World
War. The Congress at that time inaugurated a new plan of compensation,
rehabilitation, hospitalization, medical care and treatment, and insurance,
whereby benefits were awarded to those veterans and their immediate
dependents whose disabilities were attributable to their war service. The
basic principle in this legislation is sound.
In a desire to eliminate all possibilities of injustice due to difficulties
in establishing service connection of disabilities, these principles have
been to some degree extended. Veterans whose diseases or injuries have
become apparent within a brief period after the war are now receiving
compensation; insurance benefits have been liberalized. Emergency officers
are now receiving additional benefits. The doors of the Government's
hospitals have been opened to all veterans, even though their diseases or
injuries were not the result of their war service. In addition adjusted
service certificates have been issued to 3,433,300 veterans. This in itself
will mean an expenditure of nearly $3,500,000,000 before 1945, in addition
to the $600,000,000 which we are now appropriating annually for our
veterans' relief.
The administration of all laws concerning the veterans and their dependents
has been upon the basis of dealing generously, humanely, and justly. While
some inequalities have arisen, substantial and adequate care has been given
and justice administered. Further improvement in administration may require
some amendment from time to time to the law, but care should be taken to
see that such changes conform to the basic principles of the legislation.
I am convinced that we will gain in efficiency, economy, and more uniform
administration and better definition of national policies if the Pension
Bureau, the National Home for Volunteer Soldiers, and the Veterans' Bureau
are brought together under a single agency. The total appropriations to
these agencies now exceed $800,000,000 per annum.
CIVIL SERVICE
Approximately four-fifths of all the employees in the executive civil
service now occupy positions subject to competitive examination under the
civil service law.
There are, however, still commanding opportunities for extending the
system. These opportunities lie within the province of Congress and not the
President. I recommend that a further step be taken by authorization that
appointments of third-class postmasters be made under the civil service
law.
DEPARTMENTAL REORGANIZATION
This subject has been under consideration for over 20 years. It was
promised by both political parties in the recent campaign. It has been
repeatedly examined by committees and commissions--congressional,
executive, and voluntary. The conclusions of these investigations have been
unanimous that reorganization is a necessity of sound administration; of
economy; of more effective governmental policies and of relief to the
citizen from unnecessary harassment in his relations with a multitude of
scattered governmental agencies. But the presentation of any specific plan
at once enlivens opposition from every official whose authority may be
curtailed or who fears his position is imperiled by such a result; of
bureaus and departments which wish to maintain their authority and
activities; of citizens and their organizations who are selfishly
interested, or who are inspired by fear that their favorite bureau may, in
a new setting, be less subject to their influence or more subject to some
other influence.
It seems to me that the essential principles of reorganization are two in
number. First, all administrative activities of the same major purpose
should be placed in groups under single-headed responsibility; second, all
executive and administrative functions should be separated from boards and
commissions and placed under individual responsibility, while
quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial and broadly advisory functions should
be removed from individual authority and assigned to boards and
commissions. Indeed, these are the fundamental principles upon which our
Government was founded, and they are the principles which have been adhered
to in the whole development of our business structure, and they are the
distillation of the common sense of generations.
For instance, the conservation of national resources is spread among eight
agencies in five departments. They suffer from conflict and overlap. There
is no proper development and adherence to broad national policies and no
central point where the searchlight of public opinion may concentrate
itself. These functions should be grouped under the direction of some such
official as an assistant secretary of conservation. The particular
department or cabinet officer under which such a group should be placed is
of secondary importance to the need of concentration. The same may be said
of educational services, of merchant marine aids, of public works, of
public health, of veterans' services, and many others, the component parts
of which are widely scattered in the various departments and independent
agencies. It is desirable that we first have experience with these
different groups in action before we create new departments. These may be
necessary later on.
With this background of all previous experience I can see no hope for the
development of a sound reorganization of the Government unless Congress be
willing to delegate its authority over the problem (subject to defined
principles) to the Executive, who should act upon approval of a joint
committee of Congress or with the reservation of power of revision by
Congress within some limited period adequate for its consideration.
PROHIBITION
The first duty of the President under his oath of office is to secure the
enforcement of the laws. The enforcement of the laws enacted to give effect
to the eighteenth amendment is far from satisfactory and this is in part
due to the inadequate organization of the administrative agencies of the
Federal Government. With the hope of expediting such reorganization, I
requested on June 6 last that Congress should appoint a joint committee to
collaborate with executive agencies in preparation of legislation. It would
be helpful if it could be so appointed. The subject has been earnestly
considered by the Law Enforcement Commission and the administrative
officials of the Government. Our joint conclusions are that certain steps
should be taken at once. First, there should be an immediate concentration
of responsibility and strengthening of enforcement agencies of the Federal
Government by transfer to the Department of Justice of the Federal
functions of detection and to a considerable degree of prosecution, which
are now lodged in the Prohibition Bureau in the Treasury; and at the same
time the control of the distribution of industrial alcohol and legalized
beverages should remain in the Treasury. Second, provision should be made
for relief of congestion in the Federal courts by modifying and simplifying
the procedure for dealing with the large volume of petty prosecutions under
various Federal acts. Third, there should be a codification of the laws
relating to prohibition to avoid the necessity which now exists of
resorting to more than 25 statutes enacted at various times over 40 years.
Technical defects in these statutes that have been disclosed should be
cured. I would add to these recommendations the desirability of
reorganizing the various services engaged in the prevention of smuggling
into one border patrol under the Coast Guard. Further recommendations upon
the subject as a whole will be developed after further examination by the
Law Enforcement Commission, but it is not to be expected that any criminal
law will ever be fully enforced so long as criminals exist.
The District of Columbia should be the model of city law enforcement in the
Nation. While conditions here are much better than in many other cities,
they are far from perfect, and this is due in part to the congestion of
criminal cases in the Supreme Court of the District, resulting in long
delays. Furthermore, there is need for legislation in the District
supplementing the national prohibition act, more sharply defining and
enlarging the duties and powers of the District Commissioners and the
police of the District, and opening the way for better cooperation in the
enforcement of prohibition between the District officials and the
prohibition officers of the Federal Government. It is urgent that these
conditions be remedied.
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OBSERVANCE
No one will look with satisfaction upon the volume of crime of all kinds
and the growth of organized crime in our country. We have pressing need so
to organize our system of administering criminal justice as to establish
full vigor and effectiveness. We need to reestablish faith that the highest
interests of our country are served by insistence upon the swift and
even-handed administration of justice to all offenders, whether they be
rich or poor. That we shall effect improvement is vital to the preservation
of our institutions. It is the most serious issue before our people.
Under the authority of Congress I have appointed a National Commission on
Law Observance and Enforcement, for an exhaustive study of the entire
problem of the enforcement of our laws and the improvement of our judicial
system, including the special problems and abuses growing out of the
prohibition laws. The commission has been invited to make the widest
inquiry into the shortcomings of the administration of justice and into the
causes and remedies for them. It has organized its work under subcommittees
dealing with the many contributory causes of our situation and has enlisted
the aid of investigators in fields requiring special consideration. I am
confident that as a result of its studies now being carried forward it will
make a notable contribution to the solution of our pressing problems.
Pending further legislation, the Department of Justice has been striving to
weed out inefficiency wherever it exists, to stimulate activity on the part
of its prosecuting officers, and to use increasing care in examining into
the qualifications of those appointed to serve as prosecutors. The
department is seeking systematically to strengthen the law enforcement
agencies week by week and month by month, not by dramatic displays but by
steady pressure; by removal of negligent officials and by encouragement and
assistance to the vigilant. During the course of these efforts it has been
revealed that in some districts causes contributing to the congestion of
criminal dockets, and to delays and inefficiency in prosecutions, have been
lack of sufficient forces in the offices of United States attorneys, clerks
of courts, and marshals. These conditions tend to clog the machinery of
justice. The last conference of senior circuit judges has taken note of
them and indorsed the department's proposals for improvement. Increases in
appropriations are necessary and will be asked for in order to reenforce
these offices.
The orderly administration of the law involves more than the mere machinery
of law enforcement. The efficient use of that machinery and a spirit in our
people in support of law are alike essential. We have need for improvement
in both. However much we may perfect the mechanism, still if the citizen
who is himself dependent upon some laws for the protection of all that he
has and all that he holds dear, shall insist on selecting the particular
laws which he will obey, he undermines his own safety and that of his
country. His attitude may obscure, but it can not conceal, the ugly truth
that the lawbreaker, whoever he may be, is the enemy of society. We can no
longer gloss over the unpleasant reality which should be made vital in the
consciousness of every citizen, that he who condones or traffics with
crime, who is indifferent to it and to the punishment of the criminal, or
to the lax performance of official duty, is himself the most effective
agency for the breakdown of society.
Law can not rise above its source in good citizenship--in what right-minded
men most earnestly believe and desire. If the law is upheld only by
Government officials, then all law is at an end. Our laws are made by the
people themselves; theirs is the right to work for their repeal; but until
repeal it is an equal duty to observe them and demand their enforcement.
I have been gratified at the awakening sense of this responsibility in our
citizens during the past few months, and gratified that many instances have
occurred which refuted the cynicism which has asserted that our system
could not convict those who had defied the law and possessed the means to
resist its execution. These things reveal a moral awakening both in the
people and in officials which lies at the very foundation of the rule of
law.
CONCLUSION
The test of the rightfulness of our decisions must be whether we have
sustained and advanced the ideals of the American people; self-government
in its foundations of local government; justice whether to the individual
or to the group; ordered liberty; freedom from domination; open opportunity
and equality of opportunity; the initiative and individuality of our
people; prosperity and the lessening of poverty; freedom of public opinion;
education; advancement of knowledge; the growth of religious spirit; the
tolerance of all faiths; the foundations of the home and the advancement of
peace.
The White House,
December 3, 1929
***
State of the Union Address
Herbert Hoover
December 2, 1930
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
I have the honor to comply with the requirement of the Constitution that I
should lay before the Congress information as to the state of the Union,
and recommend consideration of such measures as are necessary and
expedient.
Substantial progress has been made during the year in national peace and
security; the fundamental strength of the Nation's economic life is
unimpaired; education and scientific discovery have made advances; our
country is more alive to its problems of moral and spiritual welfare.
ECONOMIC SITUATION
During the past 12 months we have suffered with other Nations from economic
depression.
The origins of this depression lie to some extent within our own borders
through a speculative period which diverted capital and energy into
speculation rather than constructive enterprise. Had overspeculation in
securities been the only force operating, we should have seen recovery many
months ago, as these particular dislocations have generally readjusted
themselves.
Other deep-seated causes have been in action, however, chiefly the
world-wide overproduction beyond even the demand of prosperous times for
such important basic commodities as wheat, rubber, coffee, sugar, copper,
silver, zinc, to some extent cotton, and other raw materials. The
cumulative effects of demoralizing price falls of these important
commodities in the process of adjustment of production to world consumption
have produced financial crises in many countries and have diminished the
buying power of these countries for imported goods to a degree which
extended the difficulties farther afield by creating unemployment in all
the industrial nations. The political agitation in Asia; revolutions in
South America and political unrest in some European States; the methods of
sale by Russia of her increasing agricultural exports to European markets;
and our own drought--have all contributed to prolong and deepen the
depression.
In the larger view the major forces of the depression now lie outside of
the United States, and our recuperation has been retarded by the
unwarranted degree of fear and apprehension created by these outside
forces.
The extent of the depression is indicated by the following approximate
percentages of activity during the past three months as compared with the
highly prosperous year of 1928:
Value of department-store sales - 93% of 1928
Volume of manufacturing production - 80% of 1928
Volume of mineral production - 90% of 1928
Volume of factory employment - 84% of 1928
Total of bank deposits - 105% of 1928
Wholesale prices--all commodities - 83% of 1928
Cost of living - 94% of 1928
Various other indexes indicate total decrease of activity from 1928 of from
15 to 20 per cent.
There are many factors which give encouragement for the future. The fact
that we are holding from 80 to 85 per cent of our normal activities and
incomes; that our major financial and industrial institutions have come
through the storm unimpaired; that price levels of major commodities have
remained approximately stable for some time; that a number of industries
are showing signs of increasing demand; that the world at large is
readjusting itself to the situation; all reflect grounds for confidence. We
should remember that these occasions have been met many times before, that
they are but temporary, that our country is to-day stronger and richer in
resources, in equipment, in skill, than ever in its history. We are in an
extraordinary degree self-sustaining, we will overcome world influences and
will lead the march of prosperity as we have always done hitherto.
Economic depression can not be cured by legislative action or executive
pronouncement. Economic wounds must be healed by the action of the cells of
the economic body--the producers and consumers themselves. Recovery can be
expedited and its effects mitigated by cooperative action. That cooperation
requires that every individual should sustain faith and courage; that each
should maintain his self-reliance; that each and every one should search
for methods of improving his business or service; that the vast majority
whose income is unimpaired should not hoard out of fear but should pursue
their normal living and recreations; that each should seek to assist his
neighbors who may be less fortunate; that each industry should assist its
own employees; that each community and each State should assume its full
responsibilities for organization of employment and relief of distress with
that sturdiness and independence which built a great Nation.
Our people are responding to these impulses in remarkable degree. The best
contribution of government lies in encouragement of this voluntary
cooperation in the community. The Government, National, State, and local,
can join with the community in such programs and do its part. A year ago I,
together with other officers of the Government, initiated extensive
cooperative measures throughout the country.
The first of these measures was an agreement of leading employers to
maintain the standards of wages and of labor leaders to use their influence
against strife. In a large sense these undertakings have been adhered to
and we have not witnessed the usual reductions of wages which have always
heretofore marked depressions. The index of union wage scales shows them to
be today fully up to the level of any of the previous three years. In
consequence the buying power of the country has been much larger than would
otherwise have been the case. Of equal importance the Nation has had
unusual peace in industry and freedom from the public disorder which has
characterized previous depressions.
The second direction of cooperation has been that our governments,
National, State, and local, the industries and business so distribute
employment as to give work to the maximum number of employees.
The third direction of cooperation has been to maintain and even extend
construction work and betterments in anticipation of the future. It has
been the universal experience in previous depressions that public works and
private construction have fallen off rapidly with the general tide of
depression. On this occasion, however, the increased authorization and
generous appropriations by the Congress and the action of States and
municipalities have resulted in the expansion of public construction to an
amount even above that in the most prosperous years. In addition the
cooperation of public utilities, railways, and other large organizations
has been generously given in construction and betterment work in
anticipation of future need. The Department of Commerce advises me that as
a result, the volume of this type of construction work, which amounted to
roughly $6,300,000,000 in 1929, instead of decreasing will show a total of
about $7,000,000,000 for 1930. There has, of course, been a substantial
decrease in the types of construction which could not be undertaken in
advance of need.
The fourth direction of cooperation was the organization in such States and
municipalities, as was deemed necessary, of committees to organize local
employment, to provide for employment agencies, and to effect relief of
distress.
The result of magnificent cooperation throughout the country has been that
actual suffering has been kept to a minimum during the past 12 months, and
our unemployment has been far less in proportion than in other large
industrial countries. Some time ago it became evident that unemployment
would continue over the winter and would necessarily be added to from
seasonal causes and that the savings of workpeople would be more largely
depleted. We have as a Nation a definite duty to see that no deserving
person in our country suffers from hunger or cold. I therefore set up a
more extensive organization to stimulate more intensive cooperation
throughout the country. There has been a most gratifying degree of
response, from governors, mayors, and other public officials, from welfare
organizations, and from employers in concerns both large and small. The
local communities through their voluntary agencies have assumed the duty of
relieving individual distress and are being generously supported by the
public.
The number of those wholly out of employment seeking for work was
accurately determined by the census last April as about 2,500,000. The
Department of Labor index of employment in the larger trades shows some
decrease in employment since that time. The problem from a relief point of
view is somewhat less than the published estimates of the number of
unemployed would indicate. The intensive community and individual efforts
in providing special employment outside the listed industries are not
reflected in the statistical indexes and tend to reduce such published
figures. Moreover, there is estimated to be a constant figure at all times
of nearly 1,000,000 unemployed who are not without annual income but
temporarily idle in the shift from one job to another. We have an average
of about three breadwinners to each two families, so that every person
unemployed does not represent a family without income. The view that the
relief problems are less than the gross numbers would indicate is confirmed
by the experience of several cities, which shows that the number of
families in distress represents from 10 to 20 per cent of the number of the
calculated unemployed. This is not said to minimize the very real problem
which exists but to weigh its actual proportions.
As a contribution to the situation the Federal Government is engaged upon
the greatest program of waterway, harbor, flood control, public building,
highway, and airway improvement in all our history. This, together with
loans to merchant shipbuilders, improvement of the Navy and in military
aviation, and other construction work of the Government will exceed
$520,000,000 for this fiscal year. This compares with $253,000,000 in the
fiscal year 1928. The construction works already authorized and the
continuation of policies in Government aid will require a continual
expenditure upwards of half a billion dollars annually.
I favor still further temporary expansion of these activities in aid to
unemployment during this winter. The Congress will, however, have presented
to it numbers of projects, some of them under the guise of, rather than the
reality of, their usefulness in the increase of employment during the
depression. There are certain commonsense limitations upon any expansions
of construction work. The Government must not undertake works that are not
of sound economic purpose and that have not been subject to searching
technical investigation, and which have not been given adequate
consideration by the Congress. The volume of construction work in the
Government is already at the maximum limit warranted by financial prudence
as a continuing policy. To increase taxation for purposes of construction
work defeats its own purpose, as such taxes directly diminish employment in
private industry. Again any kind of construction requires, after its
authorization, a considerable time before labor can be employed in which to
make engineering, architectural, and legal preparations. Our immediate
problem is the increase of employment for the next six months, and new
plans which do not produce such immediate result or which extend
commitments beyond this period are not warranted.
The enlarged rivers and harbors, public building, and highway plans
authorized by the Congress last session, however, offer an opportunity for
assistance by the temporary acceleration of construction of these programs
even faster than originally planned, especially if the technical
requirements of the laws which entail great delays could be amended in such
fashion as to speed up acquirements of land and the letting of contracts.
With view, however, to the possible need for acceleration, we, immediately
upon receiving those authorities from the Congress five months ago, began
the necessary technical work in preparation for such possible eventuality.
I have canvassed the departments of the Government as to the maximum amount
that can be properly added to our present expenditure to accelerate all
construction during the next six months, and I feel warranted in asking the
Congress for an appropriation of from $100,000,000 to $150,000,000 to
provide such further employment in this emergency. In connection therewith
we need some authority to make enlarged temporary advances of
Federal-highway aid to the States.
I recommend that this appropriation be made distributable to the different
departments upon recommendation of a committee of the Cabinet and approval
by the President. Its application to works already authorized by the
Congress assures its use in directions of economic importance and to public
welfare. Such action will imply an expenditure upon construction of all
kinds of over $650,000,000 during the next twelve months.
AGRICULTURE
The world-wide depression has affected agriculture in common with all other
industries. The average price of farm produce has fallen to about 80 per
cent of the levels of 1928. This average is, however, greatly affected by
wheat and cotton, which have participated in world-wide overproduction and
have fallen to about 60 per cent of the average price of the year 1928.
Excluding these commodities, the prices of all other agricultural products
are about 84 per cent of those of 1928. The average wholesale prices of
other primary goods, such as nonferrous metals, have fallen to 76 per cent
of 1928.
The price levels of our major agricultural commodities are, in fact, higher
than those in other principal producing countries, due to the combined
result of the tariff and the operations of the Farm Board. For instance,
wheat prices at Minneapolis are about 30 per cent higher than at Winnipeg,
and at Chicago they are about 20 per cent higher than at Buenos Aires. Corn
prices at Chicago are over twice as high as at Buenos Aires. Wool prices
average more than 80 per cent higher in this country than abroad, and
butter is 30 per cent higher in New York City than in Copenhagen.
Aside from the misfortune to agriculture of the world-wide depression we
have had the most severe drought. It has affected particularly the States
bordering on the Potomac, Ohio, and Lower Mississippi Rivers, with some
areas in Montana, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. It has found its major
expression in the shortage of pasturage and a shrinkage in the corn crop
from an average of about 2,800,000,000 bushels to about 2,090,000,000
bushels.
On August 14 I called a conference of the governors of the most acutely
affected States, and as a result of its conclusions I appointed a national
committee comprising the heads of the important Federal agencies under the
chairmanship of the Secretary of Agriculture. The governors in turn have
appointed State committees representative of the farmers, bankers, business
men, and the Red Cross, and subsidiary committees have been established in
most of the acutely affected counties. Railway rates were reduced on feed
and livestock in and out of the drought areas, and over 50,000 cars of such
products have been transported under these reduced rates. The Red Cross
established a preliminary fund of $5,000,000 for distress relief purposes
and established agencies for its administration in each county. Of this
fund less than $500,000 has been called for up to this time as the need
will appear more largely during the winter. The Federal Farm Loan Board has
extended its credit facilities, and the Federal Farm Board has given
financial assistance to all affected cooperatives.
In order that the Government may meet its full obligation toward our
countrymen in distress through no fault of their own, I recommend that an
appropriation should be made to the Department of Agriculture to be loaned
for the purpose of seed and feed for animals. Its application should as
hitherto in such loans be limited to a gross amount to any one individual,
and secured upon the crop.
The Red Cross can relieve the cases of individual distress by the
sympathetic assistance of our people.
FINANCES OF THE GOVERNMENT
I shall submit the detailed financial position of the Government with
recommendations in the usual Budget message. I will at this time, however,
mention that the Budget estimates of receipts and expenditures for the
current year were formulated by the Treasury and the Budget Bureau at a
time when it was impossible to forecast the severity of the business
depression and have been most seriously affected by it. At that time a
surplus of about $123,000,000 was estimated for this fiscal year and tax
reduction which affected the fiscal year to the extent of $75,000,000 was
authorized by the Congress, thus reducing the estimated surplus to about
$48,000,000. Closely revised estimates now made by the Treasury and the
Bureau of the Budget of the tax, postal, and other receipts for the current
fiscal year indicate a decrease of about $430,000,000 from the estimate of
a year ago, of which about $75,000,000 is due to tax reduction, leaving
about $355,000,000 due to the depression. Moreover, legislation enacted by
Congress subsequent to the submission of the Budget enlarging Federal
construction work to expand employment and for increase in veterans'
services and other items, have increased expenditures during the current
fiscal year by about $225,000,000.
Thus the decrease of $430,000,000 in revenue and the increase of
$225,000,000 in expenditure adversely change the original Budget situation
by about $655,000,000. This large sum is offset by the original estimated
surplus a year ago of about $123,000,000, by the application of
$185,000,000 of interest payments upon the foreign debt to current
expenditures, by arrangements of the Farm Board through repayments, etc.,
in consequence of which they reduced their net cash demands upon the
Treasury by $100,000,000 in this period, and by about $67,000,000 economies
and deferments brought about in the Government, thus reducing the practical
effect of the change in the situation to an estimated deficit of about
$180,000,000 for the present fiscal year. I shall make suggestions for
handling the present-year deficit in the Budget message, but I do not favor
encroachment upon the statutory reduction of the public debt.
While it will be necessary in public interest to further increase
expenditures during the current fiscal year in aid to unemployment by
speeding up construction work and aid to the farmers affected by the
drought, I can not emphasize too strongly the absolute necessity to defer
any other plans for increase of Government expenditures. The Budget for
1932 fiscal year indicates estimated expenditure of about $4,054,000,000,
including postal deficit. The receipts are estimated at about
$4,085,000,000 if the temporary tax reduction of last year be discontinued,
leaving a surplus of only about $30,000,000. Most rigid economy is
therefore necessary to avoid increase in taxes.
NATIONAL DEFENSE
Our Army and Navy are being maintained at a high state of efficiency, under
officers of high training and intelligence, supported by a devoted
personnel of the rank and file. The London naval treaty has brought
important economies in the conduct of the Navy. The Navy Department will
lay before the committees of the Congress recommendations for a program of
authorization of new construction which should be initiated in the fiscal
year of 1932.
LEGISLATION
This is the last session of the Seventy-first Congress. During its previous
sittings it has completed a very large amount of important legislation,
notably: The establishment of the Federal Farm Board; fixing congressional
reapportionment; revision of the tariff, including the flexible provisions
and a reorganization of the Tariff Commission; reorganization of the Radio
Commission; reorganization of the Federal Power Commission; expansion of
Federal prisons; reorganization of parole and probation system in Federal
prisons; expansion of veterans' hospitals; establishment of disability
allowances to veterans; consolidation of veteran activities; consolidation
and strengthening of prohibition enforcement activities in the Department
of Justice; organization of a Narcotics Bureau; large expansion of rivers
and harbors improvements; substantial increase in Federal highways;
enlargement of public buildings construction program; and the ratification
of the London naval treaty.
The Congress has before it legislation partially completed in the last
sitting in respect to Muscle Shoals, bus regulation, relief of congestion
in the courts, reorganization of border patrol in prevention of smuggling,
law enforcement in the District of Columbia, and other subjects.
It is desirable that these measures should be completed.
The short session does not permit of extensive legislative programs, but
there are a number of questions which, if time does not permit action, I
recommend should be placed in consideration by the Congress, perhaps
through committees cooperating in some instances with the Federal
departments, with view to preparation for subsequent action. Among them are
the following subjects:
ELECTRICAL POWER
I have in a previous message recommended effective regulation of interstate
electrical power. Such regulation should preserve the independence and
responsibility of the States.
RAILWAYS
We have determined upon a national policy of consolidation of the railways
as a necessity of more stable and more economically operated
transportation. Further legislation is necessary to facilitate such
consolidation. In the public interest we should strengthen the railways
that they may meet our future needs.
ANTITRUST LAWS
I recommend that the Congress institute an inquiry into some aspects of the
economic working of these laws. I do not favor repeal of the Sherman Act.
The prevention of monopolies is of most vital public importance.
Competition is not only the basis of protection to the consumer but is the
incentive to progress. However, the interpretation of these laws by the
courts, the changes in business, especially in the economic effects upon
those enterprises closely related to the use of the natural resources of
the country, make such an inquiry advisable. The producers of these
materials assert that certain unfortunate results of wasteful and
destructive use of these natural resources together with a destructive
competition which impoverishes both operator and worker can not be remedied
because of the prohibitive interpretation of the antitrust laws. The
well-known condition of the bituminous coal industry is an illustration.
The people have a vital interest in the conservation of their natural
resources; in the prevention of wasteful practices; in conditions of
destructive competition which may impoverish the producer and the wage
earner; and they have an equal interest in maintaining adequate
competition. I therefore suggest that an inquiry be directed especially to
the effect of the workings of the antitrust laws in these particular fields
to determine if these evils can be remedied without sacrifice of the
fundamental purpose of these laws.
CAPITAL-GAINS TAX
It is urged by many thoughtful citizens that the peculiar economic effect
of the income tax on so-called capital gains at the present rate is to
enhance speculative inflation and likewise impede business recovery. I
believe this to be the case and I recommend that a study be made of the
economic effects of this tax and of its relation to the general structure
of our income tax law.
IMMIGRATION
There is need for revision of our immigration laws upon a more limited and
more selective basis, flexible to the needs of the country.
Under conditions of current unemployment it is obvious that persons coming
to the United States seeking work would likely become either a direct or
indirect public charge. As a temporary measure the officers issuing visas
to immigrants have been, in pursuance of the law, instructed to refuse
visas to applicants likely to fall into this class. As a result the visas
issued have decreased from an average of about 24,000 per month prior to
restrictions to a rate of about 7,000 during the last month. These are
largely preferred persons under the law. Visas from Mexico are about 250
per month compared to about 4,000 previous to restrictions. The whole
subject requires exhaustive reconsideration.
DEPORTATION OF ALIEN CRIMINALS
I urge the strengthening of our deportation laws so as to more fully rid
ourselves of criminal aliens. Furthermore, thousands of persons have
entered the country in violation of the immigration laws. The very method
of their entry indicates their objectionable character, and our law-abiding
foreign-born residents suffer in consequence. I recommend that the Congress
provide methods of strengthening the Government to correct this abuse.
POST OFFICE
Due to deferment of Government building over many years, previous
administrations had been compelled to enter upon types of leases for
secondary facilities in large cities, some of which were objectionable as
representing too high a return upon the value of the property. To prevent
the occasion for further uneconomic leasing I recommend that the Congress
authorize the building by the Government of its own facilities.
VETERANS
The Nation has generously expanded its care for veterans. The consolidation
of all veterans' activities into the Veterans' Administration has produced
substantial administrative economies. The consolidation also brings
emphasis to the inequalities in service and allowances. The whole subject
is under study by the administrator, and I recommend it should also be
examined by the committees of the Congress.
SOCIAL SERVICE
I urge further consideration by the Congress of the recommendations I made
a year ago looking to the development through temporary Federal aid of
adequate State and local services for the health of children and the
further stamping out of communicable disease, particularly in the rural
sections. The advance of scientific discovery, methods, and social thought
imposes a new vision in these matters. The drain upon the Federal Treasury
is comparatively small. The results both economic and moral are of the
utmost importance.
GENERAL
It is my belief that after the passing of this depression, when we can
examine it in retrospect, we shall need to consider a number of other
questions as to what action may be taken by the Government to remove
Possible governmental influences which make for instability and to better
organize mitigation of the effect of depression. It is as yet too soon to
constructively formulate such measures.
There are many administrative subjects, such as departmental
reorganization, extension of the civil service, readjustment of the postal
rates, etc., which at some appropriate time require the attention of the
Congress.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Our relations with foreign countries have been maintained upon a high basis
of cordiality and good will.
During the past year the London naval pact was completed, approved by the
Senate, and ratified by the governments concerned. By this treaty we have
abolished competition in the building of warships, have established the
basis of parity of the United States with the strongest of foreign powers,
and have accomplished a substantial reduction in war vessels.
During the year there has been an extended political unrest in the world.
Asia continues in disturbed condition, and revolutions have taken place in
Brazil, Argentina, Peru, and Bolivia. Despite the jeopardy to our citizens
and their property which naturally arises in such circumstances, we have,
with the cooperation of the governments concerned, been able to meet all
such instances without friction.
We have resumed normal relations with the new Governments of Brazil,
Argentina, Peru, and Bolivia immediately upon evidence that they were able
to give protection to our citizens and their property, and that they
recognized their international obligations.
A commission which was supported by the Congress has completed its
investigation and reported upon our future policies in respect to Haiti and
proved of high value in securing the acceptance of these policies. An
election has been held and a new government established. We have replaced
our high commissioner by a minister and have begun the gradual withdrawal
of our activities with view to complete retirement at the expiration of the
present treaty in 1935.
A number of arbitration and conciliation treaties have been completed or
negotiated during the year, and will be presented for approval by the
Senate.
I shall, in a special message, lay before the Senate the protocols covering
the statutes of the World Court which have been revised to accord with the
sense of previous Senate reservations.
The White House,
December 2, 1930
***
State of the Union Address
Herbert Hoover
December 8, 1931
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
It is my duty under the Constitution to transmit to the Congress
information on the state of the Union and to recommend for its
consideration necessary and expedient measures.
The chief influence affecting the state of the Union during the past year
has been the continued world-wide economic disturbance. Our national
concern has been to meet the emergencies it has created for us and to lay
the foundations for recovery.
If we lift our vision beyond these immediate emergencies we find
fundamental national gains even amid depression. In meeting the problems of
this difficult period, we have witnessed a remarkable development of the
sense of cooperation in the community. For the first time in the history of
our major economic depressions there has been a notable absence of public
disorders and industrial conflict. Above all there is an enlargement of
social and spiritual responsibility among the people. The strains and
stresses upon business have resulted in closer application, in saner
policies, and in better methods. Public improvements have been carried out
on a larger scale than even in normal times. The country is richer in
physical property, in newly discovered resources, and in productive
capacity than ever before. There has been constant gain in knowledge and
education; there has been continuous advance in science and invention;
there has been distinct gain in public health. Business depressions have
been recurrent in the life of our country and are but transitory. The
Nation has emerged from each of them with increased strength and virility
because of the enlightenment they have brought, the readjustments and the
larger understanding of the realities and obligations of life and work
which come from them.
NATIONAL DEFENSE
Both our Army and Navy have been maintained in a high state of efficiency.
The ability and devotion of both officers and men sustain the highest
traditions of the service. Reductions and postponements in expenditure of
these departments to meet the present emergency are being made without
reducing existing personnel or impairing the morale of either
establishment.
The agreement between the leading naval powers for limitation of naval
armaments and establishment of their relative strength and thus elimination
of competitive building also implies for ourselves the gradual expansion of
the deficient categories in our Navy to the parities provided in those
treaties. However, none of the other nations, parties to these agreements,
is to-day maintaining the full rate of construction which the treaty size
of fleets would imply.
Although these agreements secured the maximum reduction of fleets which it
was at that time possible to attain, I am hopeful that the naval powers,
party to these agreements, will realize that establishment of relative
strength in itself offers opportunity for further reduction without injury
to any of them. This would be the more possible if pending negotiations are
successful between France and Italy. If the world is to regain its
standards of life, it must further decrease both naval and other arms. The
subject will come before the General Disarmament Conference which meets in
Geneva on February 2.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
We are at peace with the world. We have cooperated with other nations to
preserve peace. The rights of our citizens abroad have been protected.
The economic depression has continued and deepened in every part of the
world during the past year. In many countries political instability,
excessive armaments, debts, governmental expenditures, and taxes have
resulted in revolutions, in unbalanced budgets and monetary collapse and
financial panics, in dumping of goods upon world markets, and in diminished
consumption of commodities.
Within two years there have been revolutions or acute social disorders in
19 countries, embracing more than half the population of the world. Ten
countries have been unable to meet their external obligations. In 14
countries, embracing a quarter of the world's population, former monetary
standards have been temporarily abandoned. In a number of countries there
have been acute financial panics or compulsory restraints upon banking.
These disturbances have many roots in the dislocations from the World War.
Every one of them has reacted upon us. They have sharply affected the
markets and prices of our agricultural and industrial products. They have
increased unemployment and greatly embarrassed our financial and credit
system.
As our difficulties during the past year have plainly originated in large
degree from these sources, any effort to bring about our own recuperation
has dictated the necessity of cooperation by us with other nations in
reasonable effort to restore world confidence and economic stability.
Cooperation of our Federal reserve system and our banks with the central
banks in foreign countries has contributed to localize and ameliorate a
number of serious financial crises or moderate the pressures upon us and
thus avert disasters which would have affected us.
The economic crisis in Germany and Central Europe last June rose to the
dimensions of a general panic from which it was apparent that without
assistance these nations must collapse. Apprehensions of such collapse had
demoralized our agricultural and security markets and so threatened other
nations as to impose further dangers upon us. But of highest importance was
the necessity of cooperation on our part to relieve the people of Germany
from imminent disasters and to maintain their important relations to
progress and stability in the world. Upon the initiative of this Government
a year's postponement of reparations and other intergovernmental debts was
brought about. Upon our further initiative an agreement was made by
Germany's private creditors providing for an extension of such credits
until the German people can develop more permanent and definite forms of
relief.
We have continued our policy of withdrawing our marines from Haiti and
Nicaragua.
The difficulties between China and Japan have given us great concern, not
alone for the maintenance of the spirit of the Kellogg-Briand Pact, but for
the maintenance of the treaties to which we are a party assuring the
territorial integrity of China. It is our purpose to assist in finding
solutions sustaining the full spirit of those treaties.
I shall deal at greater length with our foreign relations in a later
message.
THE DOMESTIC SITUATION
Many undertakings have been organized and forwarded during the past year to
meet the new and changing emergencies which have constantly confronted us.
Broadly the community has cooperated to meet the needs of honest distress,
and to take such emergency measures as would sustain confidence in our
financial system and would cushion the violence of liquidation in industry
and commerce, thus giving time for orderly readjustment of costs,
inventories, and credits without panic and widespread bankruptcy. These
measures have served those purposes and will promote recovery.
In these measures we have striven to mobilize and stimulate private
initiative and local and community responsibility. There has been the least
possible Government entry into the economic field, and that only in
temporary and emergency form. Our citizens and our local governments have
given a magnificent display of unity and action, initiative and patriotism
in solving a multitude of difficulties and in cooperating with the Federal
Government.
For a proper understanding of my recommendations to the Congress it is
desirable very briefly to review such activities during the past year.
The emergencies of unemployment have been met by action in many directions.
The appropriations for the continued speeding up of the great Federal
construction program have provided direct and indirect aid to employment
upon a large scale. By organized unity of action, the States and
municipalities have also maintained large programs of public improvement.
Many industries have been prevailed upon to anticipate and intensify
construction. Industrial concerns and other employers have been organized
to spread available work amongst all their employees, instead of
discharging a portion of them. A large majority have maintained wages at as
high levels as the safe conduct of their business would permit. This course
has saved us from industrial conflict and disorder which have characterized
all previous depressions. Immigration has been curtailed by administrative
action. Upon the basis of normal immigration the decrease amounts to about
300,000 individuals who otherwise would have been added to our
unemployment. The expansion of Federal employment agencies under
appropriations by the Congress has proved most effective. Through the
President's organization for unemployment relief, public and private
agencies were successfully mobilized last winter to provide employment and
other measures against distress. Similar organization gives assurance
against suffering during the coming winter. Committees of leading citizens
are now active at practically every point of unemployment. In the large
majority they have been assured the funds necessary which, together with
local government aids, will meet the situation. A few exceptional
localities will be further organized. The evidence of the Public Health
Service shows an actual decrease of sickness and infant and general
mortality below normal years. No greater proof could be adduced that our
people have been protected from hunger and cold and that the sense of
social responsibility in the Nation has responded to the need of the
unfortunate.
To meet the emergencies in agriculture the loans authorized by Congress for
rehabilitation in the drought areas have enabled farmers to produce
abundant crops in those districts. The Red Cross undertook and
magnificently administered relief for over 2,500,000 drought sufferers last
winter. It has undertaken this year to administer relief to 100,000
sufferers in the new drought area of certain Northwest States. The action
of the Federal Farm Board in granting credits to farm cooperatives saved
many of them from bankruptcy and increased their purpose and strength. By
enabling farm cooperatives to cushion the fall in prices of farm products
in 1930 and 1931 the Board secured higher prices to the farmer than would
have been obtained otherwise, although the benefits of this action were
partially defeated by continued world overproduction. Incident to this
action the failure of a large number of farmers and of country banks was
averted which could quite possibly have spread into a major disaster. The
banks in the South have cooperated with the Farm Board in creation of a
pool for the better marketing of accumulated cotton. Growers have been
materially assisted by this action. Constant effort has been made to reduce
overproduction in relief of agriculture and to promote the foreign buying
of agricultural products by sustaining economic stability abroad.
To meet our domestic emergencies in credit and banking arising from the
reaction to acute crisis abroad the National Credit Association was set up
by the banks with resources of $500,000,000 to support sound banks against
the frightened withdrawals and hoarding. It is giving aid to reopen solvent
banks which have been closed. Federal officials have brought about many
beneficial unions of banks and have employed other means which have
prevented many bank closings. As a result of these measures the hoarding
withdrawals which had risen to over $250,000,000 per week after the British
crisis have substantially ceased.
FURTHER MEASURES
The major economic forces and weaknesses at home and abroad have now been
exposed and can be appraised, and the time is ripe for forward action to
expedite our recovery.
Although some of the causes of our depression are due to speculation,
inflation of securities and real estate, unsound foreign investments, and
mismanagement of financial institutions, yet our self-contained national
economy, with its matchless strength and resources, would have enabled us
to recover long since but for the continued dislocations, shocks, and
setbacks from abroad.
Whatever the causes may be, the vast liquidation and readjustments which
have taken place have left us with a large degree of credit paralysis,
which together with the situation in our railways and the conditions
abroad, are now the outstanding obstacles to recuperation. If we can put
our financial resources to work and can ameliorate the financial situation
in the railways, I am confident we can make a large measure of recovery
independent of the rest of the world. A strong America is the highest
contribution to world stability.
One phase of the credit situation is indicated in the banks. During the
past year banks, representing 3 per cent of our total deposits have been
closed. A large part of these failures have been caused by withdrawals for
hoarding, as distinguished from the failures early in the depression where
weakness due to mismanagement was the larger cause of failure. Despite
their closing, many of them will pay in full. Although such withdrawals
have practically ceased, yet $1,100,000,000 of currency was previously
withdrawn which has still to return to circulation. This represents a large
reduction of the ability of our banks to extend credit which would
otherwise fertilize industry and agriculture. Furthermore, many of our
bankers, in order to prepare themselves to meet possible withdrawals, have
felt compelled to call in loans, to refuse new credits, and to realize upon
securities, which in turn has demoralized the markets. The paralysis has
been further augmented by the steady increase in recent years of the
proportion of bank assets invested in long-term securities, such as
mortgages and bonds. These securities tend to lose their liquidity in
depression or temporarily to fall in value so that the ability of the banks
to meet the shock of sudden withdrawal is greatly lessened and the
restriction of all kinds of credit is thereby increased. The continuing
credit paralysis has operated to accentuate the deflation and liquidation
of commodities, real estate, and securities below any reasonable basis of
values.
All of this tends to stifle business, especially the smaller units, and
finally expresses itself in further depression of prices and values, in
restriction on new enterprise, and in increased unemployment.
The situation largely arises from an unjustified lack of confidence. We
have enormous volumes of idle money in the banks and in hoarding. We do not
require more money or working capital--we need to put what we have to
work.
The fundamental difficulties which have brought about financial strains in
foreign countries do not exist in the United States. No external drain on
our resources can threaten our position, because the balance of
international payments is in our favor; we owe less to foreign countries
than they owe to us; our industries are efficiently organized; our currency
and bank deposits are protected by the greatest gold reserve in history.
Our first step toward recovery is to reestablish confidence and thus
restore the flow of credit which is the very basis of our economic life. We
must put some steel beams in the foundations of our credit structure. It is
our duty to apply the full strength of our Government not only to the
immediate phases, but to provide security against shocks and the repetition
of the weaknesses which have been proven.
The recommendations which I here lay before the Congress are designed to
meet these needs by strengthening financial, industrial, and agricultural
life through the medium of our existing institutions, and thus to avoid the
entry of the Government into competition with private business.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE
The first requirement of confidence and of economic recovery is financial
stability of the United States Government. I shall deal with fiscal
questions at greater length in the Budget message. But I must at this time
call attention to the magnitude of the deficits which have developed and
the resulting necessity for determined and courageous policies. These
deficits arise in the main from the heavy decrease in tax receipts due to
the depression and to the increase in expenditure on construction in aid to
unemployment, aids to agriculture, and upon services to veterans.
During the fiscal year ending June 30 last we incurred a deficit of about
$903,000,000, which included the statutory reduction of the debt and
represented an increase of the national debt by $616,000,000. Of this,
however, $153,000,000 is offset by increased cash balances.
In comparison with the fiscal year 1928 there is indicated a fall in
Federal receipts for the present fiscal year amounting to $1,683,000,000,
of which $1,034,000,000 is in individual and corporate income taxes alone.
During this fiscal year there will be an increased expenditure, as compared
to 1928, on veterans of $255,000,000, and an increased expenditure on
construction work which may reach $520,000,000. Despite large economies in
other directions, we have an indicated deficit, including the statutory
retirement of the debt, of $2,123,000,000, and an indicated net debt
increase of about $1,711,000,000.
The Budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 next, after allowing for
some increase of taxes under the present laws and after allowing for
drastic reduction in expenditures, still indicates a deficit of
$1,417,000,000. After offsetting the statutory debt retirements this would
indicate an increase in the national debt for the fiscal year 1933 of about
$921,000,000.
Several conclusions are inevitable. We must have insistent and determined
reduction in Government expenses. We must face a temporary increase in
taxes. Such increase should not cover the whole of these deficits or it
will retard recovery. We must partially finance the deficit by borrowing.
It is my view that the amount of taxation should be fixed so as to balance
the Budget for 1933 except for the statutory debt retirement. Such
Government receipts would assure the balance of the following year's budget
including debt retirement. It is my further view that the additional
taxation should be imposed solely as an emergency measure terminating
definitely two years from July 1 next. Such a basis will give confidence in
the determination of the Government to stabilize its finance and will
assure taxpayers of its temporary character. Even with increased taxation,
the Government will reach the utmost safe limit of its borrowing capacity
by the expenditures for which we are already obligated and the
recommendations here proposed. To go further than these limits in either
expenditures, taxes, or borrowing will destroy confidence, denude commerce
and industry of its resources, jeopardize the financial system, and
actually extend unemployment and demoralize agriculture rather than relieve
it.
FEDERAL LAND BANKS
I recommend that the Congress authorize the subscription by the Treasury of
further capital to the Federal land banks to be retired as provided in the
original act, or when funds are available, and that repayments of such
capital be treated as a fund available for further subscriptions in the
same manner. It is urgent that the banks be supported so as to stabilize
the market values of their bonds and thus secure capital for the farmers at
low rates, that they may continue their services to agriculture and that
they may meet the present situation with consideration to the farmers.
DEPOSITS IN CLOSED BANKS
A method should be devised to make available quickly to depositors some
portion of their deposits in closed banks as the assets of such banks may
warrant. Such provision would go far to relieve distress in a multitude of
families, would stabilize values in many communities, and would liberate
working capital to thousands of concerns. I recommend that measures be
enacted promptly to accomplish these results and I suggest that the
Congress should consider the development of such a plan through the Federal
Reserve Banks.
HOME-LOAN DISCOUNT BANKS
I recommend the establishment of a system of home-loan discount banks as
the necessary companion in our financial structure of the Federal Reserve
Banks and our Federal Land Banks. Such action will relieve present
distressing pressures against home and farm property owners. It will
relieve pressures upon and give added strength to building and loan
associations, savings banks, and deposit banks, engaged in extending such
credits. Such action would further decentralize our credit structure. It
would revive residential construction and employment. It would enable such
loaning institutions more effectually to promote home ownership. I
discussed this plan at some length in a statement made public November 14,
last. This plan has been warmly indorsed by the recent National Conference
upon Home Ownership and Housing, whose members were designated by the
governors of the States and the groups interested.
RECONSTRUCTION FINANCE CORPORATION
In order that the public may be absolutely assured and that the Government
may be in position to meet any public necessity, I recommend that an
emergency Reconstruction Corporation of the nature of the former War
Finance Corporation should be established. It may not be necessary to use
such an instrumentality very extensively. The very existence of such a
bulwark will strengthen confidence. The Treasury should be authorized to
subscribe a reasonable capital to it, and it should be given authority to
issue its own debentures. It should be placed in liquidation at the end of
two years. Its purpose is that by strengthening the weak spots to thus
liberate the full strength of the Nation's resources. It should be in
position to facilitate exports by American agencies; make advances to
agricultural credit agencies where necessary to protect and aid the
agricultural industry; to make temporary advances upon proper securities to
established industries, railways, and financial institutions which can not
otherwise secure credit, and where such advances will protect the credit
structure and stimulate employment. Its functions would not overlap those
of the National Credit Corporation.
FEDERAL RESERVE ELIGIBILITY
On October 6th I issued a statement that I should recommend to the Congress
an extension during emergencies of the eligibility provisions in the
Federal reserve act. This statement was approved by a representative
gathering of the Members of both Houses of the Congress, including members
of the appropriate committees. It was approved by the officials of the
Treasury Department, and I understand such an extension has been approved
by a majority of the governors of the Federal reserve banks. Nothing should
be done which would lower the safeguards of the system.
The establishment of the mortgage-discount banks herein referred to will
also contribute to further reserve strength in the banks without
inflation.
BANKING LAWS
Our people have a right to a banking system in which their deposits shall
be safeguarded and the flow of credit less subject to storms. The need of a
sounder system is plainly shown by the extent of bank failures. I recommend
the prompt improvement of the banking laws. Changed financial conditions
and commercial practices must be met. The Congress should investigate the
need for separation between different kinds of banking; an enlargement of
branch banking under proper restrictions; and the methods by which enlarged
membership in the Federal reserve system may be brought about.
POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS
The Postal Savings deposits have increased from about $200,000,000 to about
$550,000,000 during the past year. This experience has raised important
practical questions in relation to deposits and investments which should
receive the attention of the Congress.
RAILWAYS
The railways present one of our immediate and pressing problems. They are
and must remain the backbone of our transportation system. Their prosperity
is interrelated with the prosperity of all industries. Their fundamental
service in transportation, the volume of their employment, their buying
power for supplies from other industries, the enormous investment in their
securities, particularly their bonds, by insurance companies, savings
banks, benevolent and other trusts, all reflect their partnership in the
whole economic fabric. Through these institutions the railway bonds are in
a large sense the investment of every family. The well-maintained and
successful operation and the stability of railway finances are of primary
importance to economic recovery. They should have more effective
opportunity to reduce operating costs by proper consolidation. As their
rates must be regulated in public interest, so also approximate regulation
should be applied to competing services by some authority. The methods of
their regulation should be revised. The Interstate Commerce Commission has
made important and far-reaching recommendations upon the whole subject,
which I commend to the early consideration of the Congress.
ANTITRUST LAWS
In my message of a year ago I commented on the necessity of congressional
inquiry into the economic action of the antitrust laws. There is wide
conviction that some change should be made especially in the procedure
under these laws. I do not favor their repeal. Such action would open wide
the door to price fixing, monopoly, and destruction of healthy competition.
Particular attention should be given to the industries rounded upon natural
resources, especially where destructive competition produces great wastes
of these resources and brings great hardships upon operators, employees,
and the public. In recent years there has been continued demoralization in
the bituminous coal, oil, and lumber industries. I again commend the matter
to the consideration of the Congress.
UNEMPLOYMENT
As an aid to unemployment the Federal Government is engaged in the greatest
program of public-building, harbor, flood-control, highway, waterway,
aviation, merchant and naval ship construction in all history. Our
expenditures on these works during this calendar year will reach about
$780,000,000 compared with $260,000,000 in 1928. Through this increased
construction, through the maintenance of a full complement of Federal
employees, and through services to veterans it is estimated that the
Federal taxpayer is now directly contributing to the livelihood of
10,000,000 of our citizens.
We must avoid burdens upon the Government which will create more
unemployment in private industry than can be gained by further expansion of
employment by the Federal Government. We can now stimulate employment and
agriculture more effectually and speedily through the voluntary measures in
progress, through the thawing out of credit, through the building up of
stability abroad, through the home loan discount banks, through an
emergency finance corporation and the rehabilitation of the railways and
other such directions.
I am opposed to any direct or indirect Government dole. The breakdown and
increased unemployment in Europe is due in part to such practices. Our
people are providing against distress from unemployment in true American
fashion by a magnificent response to public appeal and by action of the
local governments.
GENERAL LEGISLATION
There are many other subjects requiring legislative action at this session
of the Congress. I may list the following among them:
VETERANS' SERVICES
The law enacted last March authorizing loans of 50 per cent upon
adjusted-service certificates has, together with the loans made under
previous laws, resulted in payments of about $1,260,000,000. Appropriations
have been exhausted. The Administrator of Veterans' Affairs advises that a
further appropriation of $200,000,000 is required at once to meet the
obligations made necessary by existing legislation.
There will be demands for further veterans' legislation; there are
inequalities in our system of veterans' relief; it is our national duty to
meet our obligations to those who have served the Nation. But our present
expenditure upon these services now exceeds $1,000,000,000 per annum. I am
opposed to any extension of these expenditures until the country has
recovered from the present situation.
ELECTRICAL-POWER REGULATION
I have recommended in previous messages the effective regulation of
interstate electrical power as the essential function of the reorganized
Federal Power Commission. I renew the recommendation. It is urgently needed
in public protection.
MUSCLE SHOALS
At my suggestion, the Governors and Legislatures of Alabama and Tennessee
selected three members each for service on a committee to which I appointed
a representative of the farm organizations and two representatives of the
War Department for the purpose of recommending a plan for the disposal of
these properties which would be in the interest of the people of those
States and the agricultural industry throughout the country. I shall
transmit the recommendations to the Congress.
REORGANIZATION OF FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS
I have referred in previous messages to the profound need of further
reorganization and consolidation of Federal administrative functions to
eliminate overlap and waste, and to enable coordination and definition of
Government policies now wholly impossible in scattered and conflicting
agencies which deal with parts of the same major function. I shall lay
before the Congress further recommendations upon this subject, particularly
in relation to the Department of the Interior. There are two directions of
such reorganization, however, which have an important bearing upon the
emergency problems with which we are confronted.
SHIPPING BOARD
At present the Shipping Board exercises large administrative functions
independent of the Executive. These administrative functions should be
transferred to the Department of Commerce, in keeping with that single
responsibility which has been the basis of our governmental structure since
its foundation. There should be created in that department a position of
Assistant Secretary for Merchant Marine, under whom this work and the
several bureaus having to do with merchant marine may be grouped.
The Shipping Board should be made a regulatory body acting also in advisory
capacity on loans and policies, in keeping with its original conception.
Its regulatory powers should be amended to include regulation of coastwise
shipping so as to assure stability and better service. It is also worthy of
consideration that the regulation of rates and services upon the inland
waterways should be assigned to such a reorganized board.
REORGANIZATION OF PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRATION
I recommend that all building and construction activities of the Government
now carried on by many departments be consolidated into an independent
establishment under the President to be known as the "Public Works
Administration" directed by a Public Works Administrator. This agency
should undertake all construction work in service to the different
departments of the Government (except naval and military work). The
services of the Corps of Army Engineers should be delegated in rotation for
military duty to this administration in continuation of their supervision
of river and harbor work. Great economies, sounder policies, more effective
coordination to employment, and expedition in all construction work would
result from this consolidation.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
I shall present some recommendations in a special message looking to the
strengthening of criminal-law enforcement and improvement in judicial
procedure connected therewith.
INLAND WATERWAY AND HARBOR IMPROVEMENT
These improvements are now proceeding upon an unprecedented scale. Some
indication of the volume of work in progress is conveyed by the fact that
during the current year over 380,000,000 cubic yards of material have been
moved--an amount equal to the entire removal in the construction of the
Panama Canal. The Mississippi waterway system, connecting Chicago, Kansas
City, Pittsburgh, and New Orleans, will be in full operation during 1933.
Substantial progress is being made upon the projects of the upper Missouri,
upper Mississippi, etc.
Negotiations are now in progress with Canada for the construction of the
St. Lawrence Waterway.
THE TARIFF
Wages and standards of living abroad have been materially lowered during
the past year. The temporary abandonment of the gold standard by certain
countries has also reduced their production costs compared to ours.
Fortunately any increases in the tariff which may be necessary to protect
agriculture and industry from these lowered foreign costs, or decreases in
items which may prove to be excessive, may be undertaken at any time by the
Tariff Commission under authority which it possesses by virtue of the
tariff act of 1930. The commission during the past year has reviewed the
rates upon over 254 items subject to tariff. As a result of vigorous and
industrious action, it is up to date in the consideration of pending
references and is prepared to give prompt attention to any further
applications. This procedure presents an orderly method for correcting
inequalities. I am opposed to any general congressional revision of the
tariff. Such action would disturb industry, business, and agriculture. It
would prolong the depression.
IMMIGRATION AND DEPORTATION
I recommend that immigration restriction now in force under administrative
action be placed upon a more definite basis by law. The deportation laws
should be strengthened. Aliens lawfully in the country should be protected
by the issuance of a certificate of residence.
PUBLIC HEALTH
I again call attention to my previous recommendations upon this subject,
particularly in its relation to children. The moral results are of the
utmost importance.
CONCLUSION
It is inevitable that in these times much of the legislation proposed to
the Congress and many of the recommendations of the Executive must be
designed to meet emergencies. In reaching solutions we must not jeopardize
those principles which we have found to be the basis of the growth of the
Nation. The Federal Government must not encroach upon nor permit local
communities to abandon that precious possession of local initiative and
responsibility. Again, just as the largest measure of responsibility in the
government of the Nation rests upon local self-government, so does the
largest measure of social responsibility in our country rest upon the
individual. If the individual surrenders his own initiative and
responsibilities, he is surrendering his own freedom and his own liberty.
It is the duty of the National Government to insist that both the local
governments and the individual shall assume and bear these responsibilities
as a fundamental of preserving the very basis of our freedom.
Many vital changes and movements of vast proportions are taking place in
the economic world. The effect of these changes upon the future can not be
seen clearly as yet. Of this, however, we are sure: Our system, based upon
the ideals of individual initiative and of equality of opportunity, is not
an artificial thing. Rather it is the outgrowth of the experience of
America, and expresses the faith and spirit of our people. It has carried
us in a century and a half to leadership of the economic world. If our
economic system does not match our highest expectations at all times, it
does not require revolutionary action to bring it into accord with any
necessity that experience may prove. It has successfully adjusted itself to
changing conditions in the past. It will do so again. The mobility of our
institutions, the richness of our resources, and the abilities of our
people enable us to meet them unafraid. It is a distressful time for many
of our people, but they have shown qualities as high in fortitude, courage,
and resourcefulness as ever in our history. With that spirit, I have faith
that out of it will come a sounder life, a truer standard of values, a
greater recognition of the results of honest effort, and a healthier
atmosphere in which to rear our children. Ours must be a country of such
stability and security as can not fail to carry forward and enlarge among
all the people that abundant life of material and spiritual opportunity
which it has represented among all nations since its beginning.
The White House,
December 8, 1931
***
State of the Union Address
Herbert Hoover
December 6, 1932
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
In accord with my constitutional duty, I transmit herewith to the Congress
information upon the state of the Union together with recommendation of
measures for its consideration.
Our country is at peace. Our national defense has been maintained at a high
state of effectiveness. All of the executive departments of the Government
have been conducted during the year with a high devotion to public
interest. There has been a far larger degree of freedom from industrial
conflict than hitherto known. Education and science have made further
advances. The public health is to-day at its highest known level. While we
have recently engaged in the aggressive contest of a national election, its
very tranquillity and the acceptance of its results furnish abundant proof
of the strength of our institutions.
In the face of widespread hardship our people have demonstrated daily a
magnificent sense of humanity, of individual and community responsibility
for the welfare of the less fortunate. They have grown in their conceptions
and organization for cooperative action for the common welfare.
In the provision against distress during this winter, the great private
agencies of the country have been mobilized again; the generosity of our
people has again come into evidence to a degree in which all America may
take great pride. Likewise the local authorities and the States are engaged
everywhere in supplemental measures of relief. The provisions made for
loans from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, to States that have
exhausted their own resources, guarantee that there should be no hunger or
suffering from cold in the country. The large majority of States are
showing a sturdy cooperation in the spirit of the Federal aid.
The Surgeon General, in charge of the Public Health Service, furnishes me
with the following information upon the state of public health:
MORTALITY RATE PER 1,000 OF POPULATION ON AN ANNUAL BASIS FROM
REPRESENTATIVE STATES - General - Infant
First 9 months of-- - -
1928 - 11.9 - 67.8
1929 - 12.0 - 65.8
1930 - 11.4 - 62.0
1931 - 11.2 - 60.0
1932 - 10.6 - 55.0
The sickness rates from data available show the same trends. These facts
indicate the fine endeavor of the agencies which have been mobilized for
care of those in distress.
ECONOMIC SITUATION
The unparalleled world-wide economic depression has continued through the
year. Due to the European collapse, the situation developed during last
fall and winter into a series of most acute crises. The unprecedented
emergency measures enacted and policies adopted undoubtedly saved the
country from economic disaster. After serving to defend the national
security, these measures began in July to show their weight and influence
toward improvement of conditions in many parts of the country. The
following tables of current business indicators show the general economic
movement during the past eleven months.
MONTHLY BUSINESS INDICES WITH SEASONAL VARIATIONS ELIMINATED
Year and Month - Industrial Production - Factory Employment - Freight-car
loadings - Department Store sales, value - Exports, value - Imports, value
- Building Contracts, all types - Industrial Electric power consumption
1931 - - - - - - - -
December - 74 - 69.4 - 69 - 81 - 46 - 48 - 38 - 89.1
1932 - - - - - - - -
January - 72 - 68.1 - 64 - 78 - 39 - 42 - 31 - 93.9
February - 69 - 67.8 - 62 - 78 - 45 - 41 - 27 - 98.8
March - 67 - 66.4 - 61 - 72 - 41 - 37 - 26 - 88.0
April - 63 - 64.3 - 59 - 80 - 38 - 36 - 27 - 82.2
May - 60 - 62.1 - 54 - 73 - 37 - 34 - 26 - 82.0
June - 59 - 60.0 - 52 - 71 - 34 - 36 - 27 - 78.1
July - 58 - 58.3 - 51 - 67 - 32 - 27 - 27 - 79.2
August - 60 - 58.8 - 51 - 66 - 31 - 29 - 30 - 73.5
September - 66 - 60.3 - 54 - 70 - 33 - 32 - 30 - 84.0
October - 66 - 61.1 - 57 - 70 - 33 - 32 - 29 - 84.4
The measures and policies which have procured this turn toward recovery
should be continued until the depression is passed, and then the emergency
agencies should be promptly liquidated. The expansion of credit facilities
by the Federal Reserve System and the Reconstruction Finance Corporation
has been of incalculable value. The loans of the latter for reproductive
works, and to railways for the creation of employment; its support of the
credit structure through loans to banks, insurance companies, railways,
building and loan associations, and to agriculture has protected the
savings and insurance policies of millions of our citizens and has relieved
millions of borrowers from duress; they have enabled industry and business
to function and expand. The assistance given to Farm Loan Banks, the
establishment of the Home Loan Banks and Agricultural Credit
Associations--all in their various ramifications have placed large sums of
money at the disposal of the people in protection and aid. Beyond this, the
extensive organization of the country in voluntary action has produced
profound results.
The following table indicates direct expenditures of the Federal Government
in aid to unemployment, agriculture, and financial relief over the past
four years. The sums applied to financial relief multiply themselves many
fold, being in considerable measure the initial capital supplied to the
Reconstruction Finance Corporation, Farm Loan Banks, etc., which will be
recovered to the Treasury.
- Public works (1) - Agricultural relief and financial loans
Fiscal year ending June 30 - -
1930 - $410,420,000 - $156,100,000
1931 - 574,870,000 - 196,700,000
1932 - 655,880,000 - 772,700,000
1933 - 717,260,000 - 52,000,000 -
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Herbert Hoover, by Herbert Hoover
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