ARMT 1,1556TTI MICHIGAN DAILY
Text
of Eisenhower's Message
To
Congress
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Following is
the condensed text of President
Dwight D. Eisenhower's State of
the Union message.)
To the Congress of the United
States:
The opening of this new year
must arouse in us all grateful
thanks to a kind Providence
whose protection has been ever
present and whose bounty has
been manifold and abundant.
The state of the union today
demonstrates what can be accom-
plished under God by a free peo-
ple; by their vision, their under-
standing of national problems,
their initiative, their self-reliance,
their capacity for work-and by
their willingness to s a c r i f i c e
whenever scarifice is needed.
In the past three years, re-
sponding to what our people want
their government to do, the Con-
gress and the executive have
done much in building a stronger,
better America. There has been
broad progress in fostering the
energies of our people in provid-
ing greater opportunity for the
satisfaction of their needs and in
fulfilling their demands for the
strength and security of the re-
public.
Our country is at peace, our
security posture commands re-
spect. A spiritual vigor marks our
national life. Our economy, ap-
proaching the 400 billion dollar
mark, is at an unparalleled level
of properity. The national income
is more widely and fairly dis-
tributed than ever before. The
number of Americans at work has
reached an all-time high. As a
people, we are achieving ever
higher standards of living-earn-
ing more, producing more, con-
suming more, building more and
investing more than ever before.
Virtually all sectors of our so-
ciety are sharing in these good
times. Our farm families, if we
act wisely, imaginatively and
promptly to strengthen our pres-
ent farm programs, can also look
forward to sharing equitably in
the prosperity they have helped
to create.
War in Korea ended 212 years
ago, The collective security sys-
tem has been powerfully strength-
ened. Our defenses have been re-
inforced at sharply reduced costs.
Programs to expand world trade
and to harness the atom for the
betterment of mankind have been
carried forward. Our economy
has been freed from governmental
wage and price controle. Inflation
has been halted; the cost of living
stabilized.
SPENDING, TAXES CUT
Government spending has been
cut by more than 10 billion dol-
lars. Nearly three hundred thou-
sand positions have been elim-
inated from the federal payroll.
Taxes have been substantially re-
duced. A balanced budget is in
prospect. Social Security has
been extended to 10 million more
Americans and unemployment in-
surance to four million more. Un-
precendented, advances in civil
rights have been made. The long-
standing and deep-seated prob-
lems of agriculture have been
forthrightly attacked.
This record of progress has
been accomplished with a salf-
imposed caution against unneces-
sary and unwise interference in
the private affairs of our people,
of 'their communities and of the
several states.
If we of the executive and leg-
islative branches, keeping this
caution ever in mind, address
imourselves to the business of the
year before us-and to the unfin-
ished business of last year-with
resolution, the outlook is bright
with promise.
Many measures of great national
importance recommended 1 a s t
year to the Congress still demand
immediate attention - legislation
for school and highway construc-
tion; health and immigration leg-
islation; water resources legisla-
tion; legislation to complete the
implementation of; our foreign
policy; such labor legislation as
emandments to the Labor-Man-
agement Relations Act; extension
of the" Fair Labor Standards Act
to additional groups not now cov-
ered, and occupational safety leg-
islation; and legislation for con-
struction of an atomic-powered
exhibit vessel.
NEW ITEMS OF BUSINESS
Many newitems of business like-
wise require our attention-meas-
ures that will further promote the
release of the energies of our
people; that will broaded oppor-
tunity for all of them; that will
advance the republic in its leader-
ship toward a. just peace; meas-
ures, in short, that are essential
to the building of an ever-strong-
er, ever-better America.
Every political and economic
guide supports a valid confidence
that wise effort will be rewarded
by an even more plentiful harvest
of human benefit than we now
we are enriched by a heritage of
our forebears; that, for our child-
ren's children, we are trustees of
a great republic and a time-tested
political system; that we prosper
as a co-operating member of the
family of nations.
In this light, the Administration
has continued work on its pro-
gram for the republic, begun three
years ago. Because the vast spread
of national and human interests
is involved within it, I shall not
in this message attempt its detail-
ed delineation. Instead, from time
to time during this session, there
will be sumbitted to the Congress
specific recommendations, within
specific fields. In the comprehens-
ive survey required for their pre-
paration, the Administration is
guided by enduring objectives. The
first is:
The discharge of our world re-
sponsibility:
,Our world policy and our actions
are dedicated to the achievement
of peace with justice for all na-
tions.
With this purpose, we move in
a wide variety of ways and
through many agencies to remove
the pall of fear; to strengthen
the ties with our partiers and to
improve the co-operative cohesion
of the free world; to reduce the
burden of armaments, and to
stimulate and inspire action
among all nations for a world of
justice and prosperity and peace.
These national objectives are
fully supported by both our polit-
ical parties.
SEARCH FOR PEACE
In the past year, our search for
a more stable and just peace has
taken varied forms. Among the
most important were the two con-
ferences at Geneva, in July and in
the fall of last year. We explored
the possibilities of agreement on
critical issues that jeopardized the
peace.
The July meeting of heads of
government held out promise to
the world of moderation in the
bitterness,-of word and action,
which tends to generate conflict
and war. All were in agreement
that a nuclear war would be an
intolerable disaster which must
not be permitted to occur. But in
October, when the foreign min-
isters met again, the result dem-
onstrated conclusively that the
Soviet leaders are not yet willing
t create the indispensable con-
ditions for a secure and lasting
peace.
Nevertheless, it is clear that the
c o n f 1i c t between international
communism and freedom has
taken on a new complexion.
We know the Communist lead-
ers have often practiced the tac-
tics of eretreat and zigzag. We
know that Soviet and Chinese
communism still poses a serious
threat to the free world. And in
the Middle East recent Soviet
moves are hardly compatible with
the reduction of international
tension.
Yet Communist tactics against
the free nations have shifted in
emphasis from reliance on vio-
lence and the threat Vf violence
to reliance on division, entice-
ment and duplicity. We must be
well prepared to meet the cur-
rent tactics which pose a danger-
ous though less obvious threat.
At the same time, our policy must
be dynamic as well as flexible,
designed , primarily to forward
the achievement of our own ob-
jectives rather than to meet each
shift and change on the Commu-
nist front. We must act in the
firm assurance that the fruits of
freedom are more attractive and
desirable to mankind in the pur-
suit of happiness than the record
of communism.
In the face of Communist mili-
tary power, we must, of course,
continue to maintain an effective
system of collective security. This
involves two things - a system
which gives clear warning that
armed aggression will be met by
joint action of the free nations,
and deterent military power to
make that warning effective.
Moreover, the awesome power of
the atom must be made to serve
as a guardian of the free com-
munity and of the peace.
MAJOR SECURITY GAINS
In the last year, the free world
has seen major gains for the sys-
tem of collective security: The
accession to the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization and Western
European Union of the sovereign
Federal German Republic; the
developing co-operation under the
Southeast Asia Collective Defense
Treaty; and the formation in the
Middle East of the Baihdad Pact
among Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Paki-
stan and the United Kingdom. In
our own hemisphere, the inter-
American system has continued
to show its vitality in maintain-
ing peace and a common approach
to world problems. We now have
security pacts with more than 40
other nations.
successful atomic energy confer-
ence held in Geneva under United
Nations auspices and our atoms-
for-peace program have been
practical steps toward the world-
wide use of thisnew energy
source. Our sposorship of such
use has benefited our relations
with other countries. Active ne-
gotiations are now in progress to
create an international agency to
foster peaceful uses of atomic
energy.
DISARMAMENT
During the past year the crucial
problem of disarmament has mov-
ed to the forefront of practical
political endeavor. At Geneva, I
declared the readiness of the
United States to exchange blue-
prints of the military establish-
ments of our nation and the
USSR, to be confirmed by re-
ciprocal aerial reconnaissance. By
this means, I felt mutual suspi-
cions could be allayed and an at-
mosphere developed in which ne-
gotiations looking toward limita-
tion of arms would have improv-
ed chances of success.
In the United Nations subcom-
mittee on disarmament last fall,
this proposal was explored and
the United States also declared it-
self willing to include reciprocal
ground inspection of key points.
By the overwhelming vote of 56,
to 7, the United Nations on Dec.
16 endorsed these proposals and
gave them a top priority. There-
by, the issue is placed squarely
before the bar of world opinion.
We shall persevere in seeking a
general reduction of armaments
under effective inspection and
control which are essential safe-
guards to ensure reciprocity and
protect the security of all.
In the coming year much re-
mains to be done.
While maintaining our military
deterrent, we must intensify our
efforts to achieve a just peace. In
Asia we shall continue to give
help to nations struggling to
maintain their freedom against
the threat of Communist coercion
or subversion. In Europe, we shall
endeavor to increase not only the
military strength of the N o r t h
Atlantic alliance but also its po-
litical cohesion and unity of pur-
pose. We shall give such assist-
ance as is feasible to the recently
renewed effort of Western Eu-
ropean nations to achieve a great-
er measure of integration, such as
in the field of peaceful uses of
atmoic energy.
In the Near East we shall spare
no effort in seeking to promote
a fair solution of the tragic dispute
between the Arab states and Is-
rael, all of whom we want as our
friends. The United States is
ready to do its part to assure en-
during peace in that area. We
hope that both sides will make
the contributions necessary to
achieve that purpose. In Latin
America, we shall continue to co-
operate vigorously in trade and
other measures designed to assist
economic progress in the area.
TRADE POLICY
Strong economic ties are an
essential element in our free
world partnership. Increasing
trade and investment help all of
us prosper together. Gratifying
progress has been made in this
direction, most recently by the
three-year extension of our trade
agreements legislation.
I most earnestly request that
the Congress approve our mem-
bership in the Organization for
Trade Co-Operation which would
assist the carrying out of the gen-
eral agreement on tariffs and
trade to which we have been a
party since 1948. Our membership
in the OTC will provide the most
effective and expeditious means
for removing discriminations and
restrictions against American ex-
ports and in making our trade
agreements truly reciprocal.
United States membership in the
organization will evidence our
continuing desire to co-operate in
promoting an expanded trade
among the free nations. Thus the
organization, as proposed, is ad-
mirably suited to our own inter-
ests and to those of like-minded
nations in working for steady ex-
pansion of trade and closer eco-
nomic co-operation. Being strict-
ly an administrative entity, the
Organization for Trade Co-Opera-
tion cannot, of course, alter the
control by Congress of the tariff,
import, and customs policies of
the United States.
We need to encourage invest-
ment overseas by avoiding unfair
tax duplications, and to foster
foreign trade by further simplifi-
cation and improvement of our
customs legislation.
We must sustain and fortify
our mutual security program. Be-
cause the conditions of poverty
and unrest in less developed areas
make their people a special tar-
get of international communism,
there is a need to help them
achieve the economic growth and
4 i
I ask Congress to grant limited
authority to make longer - term
commitments for assistance to
such projects, to be fulfilled from
appropriations to be made in fu-
ture fiscal years.
These various steps will pow-
erfully strengthen the economic
foundation of our foreign policy.
Together with constructive action
abroad, they will maintain the
present momentum toward gen-
eral economic progress and vital-
ity of the free world.
In all this, change is the inex-
orable law of life. In much of the
world the ferment of change is
working strongly; but grave in-
justices a erstill uncorrected. We
must not, by any sanction of ours,
help to perpetuate these wrongs.
I have particularly in mind the
oppressive division of the Ger-
man people, the bondage of mil-
lions elsewhere, and the exclu-
sion of Japan from United Nations
membership.
We shall keep these injustices
in the forefront of human con-
sciousness and seek to )naintain
the pressure of world opinion to
right these vast wrongs in the in-
terest both of justice and secure
peace.
Injustice thrives on ignorance.
Because an understanding of the
truth about Americais one of
our most powerful forces, I am
recommending a substantial in-
crease in budgetary support of the
United States Information Agen-
cy.
The sum of our international
effort should be this: The waging
of peace, with as much resource-
fulness, with as great a sense of
dedication and urgency, as we
have ever mustered in defense of
our country in time of war. In
this effort, our weapon is not
force. Our weapons are the prin-
ciples and ideas embodies in our
historic traditions, applied with
the same vigor that yin the past
made America a living promise of
freedom for all mankind.
To accomplish these vital tasks,
all of us should be concerned with
tie strength, effectiveness and
Mforale .of our State Department
and our Foreign Service.
NATIONAL SECURITY
Another guide in the prepara-
tion of the Admin:stration's pro-
gram is the constant improve-
ment of our national security.
Because peace i the keystone
of our national plGcy, our def .ae
program emphasize:s an effec -ive
flexible type of power calcn'ated
to deter or repulse any aggresson
and preserve the peace. Short of
war we have veer had military
strength better adapted to our
needs with improved readiness for
emergency use. The maintenance
of this strong military capability
for the indefinite future will con-
tinue to call for a large share of
our national budget. Our military
programs must meet the needs of
today. To build less would expose
the nation to aggression. To build
excessively, under the influence of
fear, could defeat our purposes
and impair or destroy the very
freedom and economic system our
military defenses are designed to
protect.
We have improved the effective-
ness and combat readiness of our
forces by developing and making
operational new weapons and by
integrating the latest scientific
developments, in cl1u d ing new
atomic weapons, into our military
plans. We continue to push the
production of the most modern
military aircraft. The develop-
ment of long-range missiles has
been on an accelerated basis for
some time. We are moving as
rapidly as practicable towards nu-
clear-powered aircraft and ships.
Combat capability, especially in
terms of fire-power, has been sub-
stantially increased. We have
made the adjustments in person-
nel permitted by the cessation of
the Korean War, the, buildup of
our allies and the introduction of
new weapons. The services are all
planning realisticaHy on a long-
term basis.
To strengthen our continental
defenses the United States and
Canada, in the closest co-opera-
tion, have substantially augment-
ed early warning networks. Great
progress is being made in extend-
ing surveillance of the Arctic, the
Atlantic and the Pacific approach-
es to North America.
CIVIL DEFENSE
Closely related to the mission
of the Defense Department is the
task of the Federal Civil Defense
Administration. A particular point
of relationship arises from the
fact that the key to civil defense
is the expanded continental de-
fense program, including the dis-
tant early warning system. Our
federal civil defense authorities
have made progress in their pro-
gram, and now comprehensive
studies are being conducted joint-
ly by the Federal Civil Defense
Administration, the states, and
critical target cities to determine
base requirements change with b
changing technology and strategy. t
We must maintain flexibility to c
meet new requirements. I am re- d
questing, therefore, that the Con- n
gress once again extend the De- t
fense Production Act.e
Of great importance to our na-v
tion's security is a continuing r
alertness to internal subversive ac-r
tivity within or without our gov- I
ernment. This Administration willr
not relax its efforts to deal forth-e
rightly and vigorously in protec-
tion of this government and itsv
citizens against subversion, at thee
same time fully protecting the2
constitutional rights of all citizens.,
CONTROL OF THE BUDGETC
A third objective of the Ad-x
ministration is fiscal integrity.
A public office is, indeed, a pub-
lic trust. None of its aspects is
more demanding than the proper{
management of the public finances.
I refer now not only to the in-
dispensable virtues of plain hon-
esty and trustworthiness but also
to the prudent, effective and con-
scientious use of tax money. I1
refer also to the attitude of mind
that makes efficient and economi-
cail service to the people a watch-
word in our government.
Over the long term, a balanced
budget is a sure index to thrifty
management - in a home, in a
business or in the federal govern-
ment. When achievement of a
balanced budget is for long put
off in a business or home, bank-
ruptcy is the result. But in sim-
ilar circumstances a governmeit
resorts to inflation of the money
supply. This inevitably results in
depreciation of the value of the
money, and an increae in the
cost of living. Every investment9
in personal security is threatened
by this process of inflation, and
the real values of the people's3
savings, whether in the form of
insurance, bonds, pension and re-
tirement funds or savings ac-
counts, are thereby shriveled.
We have made long strides
these past three years in bringing
our federal finances under con-
trol. The deficit for fiscal year;
1953 was almost 9/ billion dol-
lars. Larger deficits seemed cer-
tain-deficits which would have.
depreciated the value of the dol-
lar and pushed the cost of living
still higher. But government
waste and extravagance were
searched out. Non-essential activ-
ities were dropped. Government
expenses were carefully scrutin-
ized. Total spending was cut by
14 billion dollars below t h e
amount planned by the previous
Administration for the fiscal year
1954.
This made possible-and it was
appropriate in the existing cir-
cumstances of transition to a
peacetime economy - the largest
tax cut in any one year in our his-
tory. Almost 72 billion dollars
were released and every taxpay-
er in the country benefited. Al-
most two-thirds of the savings
went directly to individuals. This
tax cut also helped to build up
the economy to make jobs in in-
dustry and to increase the pro-
dfiction of the many things de-
sired to improve the scale of liv-
ing for the great majority of
Americans.
The strong expansion of the
economy, coupled with a constant
care for efficiency in government
operations and an alert guard
against waste and duplication
has brought us to a prospective
balance between income and ex-
penditure. This is being done
while we continue to strengthen
our military security.
I expect the budget to be in
balance during the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1956.
I shall propose a balanced
budget for the next fiscal year
ending June 30, 1957.
TAXES
But the balance we are seeking
cannot be accomplished without
the continuing every-day effort
F of the executive and legislative
branches to keep expenditures un-
der control. It will also be neces-
sary to continue all of the present
excise taxes without any reduc-
tion and the corporation income
taxes at their present rates for
another year beyond next April
1.
It is unquestionably true that
our present tax level is very bur-
densome and, in the interest of
long-term and continuous econo-
mic growth, should be reduced
when we prudently can. It is es-
sential, in the sound management
of the government's finances, that
we be mindful of our enormous na-
tional debt and of the obligation
we have toward future Americans
to reduce that debt whenever we
- can appropriately do so. Under
conditions of high peacetiie pros-
perity, such as now exist, we can
never justify going further into
debt to give ourselves a tax cut
at the expense of 'our children. So,
in the present state of our finan-
cial affairs, I earnestly believe that
I a tax cut can be deemed justifiable
only when it will not unbalance
Bute production, and spurred by p
he prospect of reward for suc- s
cessful effort. This system has
developed our resources. It has
marvelously expanded our produc- p
tive capacity. Against the record c
of all other economic systems de- n
vised through the ages, this com- p
petitive system has proved the L
most creative user of human skills f
n the development of physical c
resources, and the richest reward- i
er of human effort. y
This is still true in this era
when improved living standards t
and rising national requirements 1
are accompanied by swift ad- d
vances in technology and rapid s
obsolescence in machines and v
methods. Typical of these are the U
strides made in construction of b
plants to produce electrical en- e
ergy from atomic power and of I
laboratories and installations fora
the application of this new force f
in industry, agriculture and thet
healing arts. These developments t
make it imperative-to assure ef-r
fective functioning of our enter-
prise system - that the federal
government concern itself withE
certain broad areas of our eco- E
nomic life.1
AGRICULTURE1
Most important of these is ag-t
riculture.A
Our farm people are not shar-
ing as they should in the general
prosperity. They alone of all ma-r
jor groups have seen their incomes
decline rather than rise. They are
caught between two millstones-
rising production costs and de-l
clining prices. Such harm to at
part of the national economy so
vitally important to everyone is of
great concern to us all. No other
resourcb is so indispensable as thet
land that feeds and clothes us. Not
group is more fundamental to our
national life than our farmers.'
In successful prosecution of thec
war, the nation called for the ut-
most effort of its farmers. Their
response was superb, their con-
tribution unsurpassed. Farmers
are not now to be blamed for the
mountainous, price-depressing sur-
pluses produced in response tot
wartime policies and laws that
were too long continued. War
markets ae not the markets of;
peacetime. Failure to recognize
that basic fact by a timely ad-,
justment of wartime legislation
brought its inevitable result in
peacetime-surpluses, lower prices
and lower incomes for our farm-
ers.
The dimensions of government
responsibility are as broad and I
complex as the farm problem it-
self. We are here concerned noto
only with our essential continuing
supplies of food and fiber, but
also with a way of life. Both are+
indispensable to the well-being
and strength of the nation. Con-
sideration of these matters must
be above and beyond politics. Our
national farm policy, so vital to
the welfare of farm people and
all of us, must not become a field
for political warfare. Too much
is at stake.
Our farm people expect of us,
who have responsibility for their
government, understanding of
their problems and the will to
help - solve them. Our objective
must be to help bring production
into balance with existing and
new markets, at prices that yield
farmers a return for their work
in lint with what other Americans
get.
To reach this goal, deep-seated
poblems must be subjected to a
stepped-uip attack. There is no
single-'asy solution. Rather, there
must be a many-sided assault on
the stubborn problems of sur-
pluses, prices, costs, and market;
and a steady, persistent, imagi-
native advance in the relation-
ship between farmers and their
government.
In a few days, by special mes-
sage, I shall lay before the Con-
gress my detailed recommenda-
tions for new steps that should
be taken promptly to speed the
transition in agriculture and thus
assist our farmers to achieve
their fair share of the national
income.
Basic to this program will be
a new attack on the surplus prob-
lem-for even the best-conceived
farm program cannot work under
a multi-billion dollar weight of
accumulated stocks.
I shall urge authorization of
a soil bank program to alleviate
the problem of diverted acres
and an overexpanded agricultural'
plant. This will include an acre-
age reserve to reduce current and
accumulated surpluses of crops in
most serious difficulty, and a con-
servation reserve to achieve other
needed adjustments in the use
of agricultural resources. I shall
urge measures to strengthen our
surplus disposal activities.
I shall propose measures to
strengthen individual commodity
programs,' to remove controls
where possible, to reduce carry-
ull down the price-depressing
urpluses and raise farm income.
DISASTER ASSISTANCE
A modern community is a com-'
lex combination of skills, spe-
ialized buildings, machines, com-
nunications and homes. Most im-
ortantly it involves human lives.
Disaster in many forms-by flood,
rost, high winds, for instance -
an destroy on a massive scale
n a few hours the labor of many
years.
Through the past three years,
he Administration has repeated-
y moved into action wherever
disaster struck. The extent of
state participation in relief acti-
vities, however, has been far from
uniform and, in many cases, has
been either inadequate or non-
existent. Disaster assistance legis-
ation requires overhauling and
an experimental program of
flood-damage indemnities should
be undertaken. The Administra-
tion will make detailed recom-
mendations on these subjects.
HIGHWAYS
Legislation to provide a mod-
ern interstate highway system is
even more urgent this year than
last, for 12 months have now
passed in which we have fallen
further behind in road construc-
tion needed for the personal
safety, the general prosperity, the
national, scrt of the Ameri-
can people. During the year, the
number of motor vehicles has in-
creased from 58 to 61 million.
During the past year more than
38,000 persons lost their lives in
highway accidents, while the fear-
ful toll of injuries and property
damage has gone on unabated.
SMALL BUSINESS
Aside from agriculture and the
four subjects specifically men-
tioned, an integral part of our ef-
forts to foster a strong and ex-
panding free economy is keeping
open the door of opportunity to
new and small enterprises, check-
ing monopoly, and preserving a
competitive environment in this
past year the steady improvement
in the economic health of small
business has reinforced the vitality
of our competitive 9conomy. We
shall continue to help small busi-
ness concerns to obtain access to
adequate financing and to compe-
tent counsel on management, pro-
duction, and marketing problems.
GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY
Essential to a prosperous eco-
nomic environment for all busi-
ness, small and large - for agri-
culture and industry and com-
merce - is efficiency in govern-
ment. To that end, exhaustive
studies of the entire governmental
structure were made by the Com-
mission on Intergovernmental Re-
lations and the Commission on the
Organization of the Executive
Branch of the Government. The
reports of these commissions are
now under intensive review and
already in the process of imple-
mentation in important areas.
EDUCATION
To fulfill the individual's aspira-
tions in the American way of life
good education is fundamental
Good education is the outgrowth
of good homes, good communities
good churches, and good schools
Today our schools which will not
yield to swift and easy solutions
or to any single action. They wil
yield only to a continuing, active
informed effort by the people to-
ward achieving better schools.
This kind of effort has been
spurred by the thousands of con-
ferences held in recent months by
half a million citizens and educa-
tors in all parts of the country
culminating in the White House
Conference /on Education. In tha
conference, some 2,000 delegates
broadly representative of the na-
tion, studied together the prob-
lems of the nation's schools.
They concluded that the peopl
of the United States must make
a greater effort through their
local, state, and federal govern-
ments to improve the education
of our youth. This expression
from the people must now b
translated into action at all leve
of government.
So far as the federal share o
responsibility is concerned, I urge
that the Congress move promptly
to enact an effective program o
federal assistance to help erase
the existing deficit of schoo
classrooms. S u c h a program
which should be limited to, a five
year period, must operate to in
crease rather than decrease loca
and state support of schools an
to give the greatest help to th
states and localities with the leas
financial resources. Federal aic
should in no way jeopardize th
freedom of local school systems
There will be presented to th
Congress a recommended progranr
of federal assistance for schoo
construction. -
Such a program should be ac
companied by action to increas
services, to the nation's schools bi
the Office of Education and b3
legislation to provide continua
can workers and their families
against loss of income in old age
or on death of the breadwinner,
The system is sound. It must be
kept so. In developing improve-
ments in the system, we must give
the most careful consideration to
population and social trends, and
to fiscal requirements. With these
considerations in mind, the Ad-
ministration will present its re-
commendations for further expan-
sion of coverage and other steps
which can be taken wisely at this
time.
LABOR LEGISLATION
The response of government to
human concerns ,embraces, of
course, other measures of broad
public interest, and of special in-
.terest to our working men and
women. The need still exists for
improvement of the Labor Man-
agement Relations Act. The rec-
ommendations I submitted to the
Congress last year take into ac-
count not only the interests of la-
bor and management but also the
public welfare. The needed amend.
ments should be enacted without
further delay.
We must also carry forward the
job of improving the Wage-Hour
Law. Last year I requested the
Congress to broaden the coverage
of the minimum wage. I repeat
that recommendation and I pledge
the full resources of the executive
branch to assist the Congress in
finding ways to attain this goal,
Moreover, as requested last year,
legislation should be passed to
clarify and strengthen the eight-
hour laws for the benefit of work-
ers who are subject to federal wage
standards on federal and federally-
assisted construction and other
public works.
The Administration will shortly
propose legislation to assure ade-
quate disclosure of the financial
affairs of each employe pension
and welfare plan and to afford
substantial protection to their
beneficiaries in accordance with
the objectives outlined in my mes-
sage of Jan. 11, 1954. Occupation-
al safety still demands attention,
as I pointed out last year, and
legislation to improve the Longg-
shoremen's and Harbor Workers'
Compensation Act is still needed.
The improvement 'of the District
of Columbia unemployment insur-
ance law and legislation to provide
employes in the District with non-
occupational disability insurance
are no less necessary now than 12
months ago. Legislation to apply
the principle of equal pay for equal
work without discrimination be-
cause of sex is a matter of simple
justice. I earnestly urge the Con-
gress to move swiftly to implement
these needed labor measures.
HOUSING
For the housing program, most
of the legislative authority all
ready exists. However, a firm
program of public housing is es-
sential until the private building
industry has found ways to pro-
vide more adequate housing for
low-income families. The Admin-
istration will propose authority to
contract for 35 thousand addition-
al public housing units in each
of the next two fiscal years for
communities which will partici-
pate in an integrated attack on
slums and blight.
1 CIVIL RIGHTS
We are proud of the progress
our people have made in the field
of civil rights. In executive
branch operations throughout the
- nation, elimination of discrimina-
tion and segregation is all but
- completed. Progress is also being
, made among contractors engaged
in furnishing government serv-
t ices. Every citizen now has the
, opportunity to fit himself for and
- to hold a position of responsibil-
- ity in the service of his country.
In the District of Columbia,
e through the voluntary co-opera-
e tion of the people, discrimination
r and segregation are disappearing
- from hotels, theaters, restaurants
n and other facilities.
I It is disturbing that in some
e localities allegations persist that
s Negro citizens are being deprived
of their right to vote and are
f likewise being subjected to un-
e warranted economic pressures. I
y recommend that the substance of
f these charges be thoroughly ex-
e amined by a bi-partisan commis-
1 sion created by the Congress. It
, is hoped that such a commission
- will be established promptly so
- that it may arrive at findings
l which can receive early considera-
d tion.
e The nature of our leadership in
t the free world has increased
d through the past three years be-
e cause we have made more prog-
;. ress than ever before in a similar
e period to assure our citizens
n equality in justice, in opportunity
}1 and in civil rights. We must ex-
pand this effort on every front.
- We must strive to have every per-
e son judged and measured by what
y he is, rather than by his color,
y race or religion. There will soon
- be recommended to the Congress
.. ~ y .v., w f « - ..#n r J. vtnn}gy