U.S. PROSPERITY

Evening Star, Issue 25994, 8 January 1947, Page 6

U.S. PROSPERITY

CO-OPERATION THE KEY "WE GAH MAKE LASTING PEACE" TRUMAN ADDRESSES CONGRESS . WASHINGTON January 6. President Truman, addressing a joint session of Congress on the state of the Union, said the power to mould the nation’s Ifuture lay in the joint hands of Congress and the President. If the right course were found, and resolutely and courageously taken, in spite of all difficulties a state of well-being unprecedented in history could be achieved.

“ If we continue to work with other nations earnestly, patiently, and wisely, wa can—granting the will to peace on the part of our neighbours—make a lasting peace,” he said. To realise these ends, Congress and the President must work together. President Truman reminded Congress that he was its twentieth President whose ov>n party had been in a minority in one or both Houses. He said that partisan differences had not caused material differences in the conduct of the war, and international relations, and added that there would probably be partisan differences in domestic issues, but these could be settled by working together sincerely for the common good. As 1947 began, the United States had achieved virtually full employment. The national production of goods and services was 50 per cent, higher than in any pre-war year, and the national income was higher than in any peace-time year. The American standard of living was higher than ever before. Emergency controls had been removed at a rapid rate, and the remaining controls would be retained only so long as they were needed to protect the public. Private enterprise must be given the greatest possible freedom to expand the national economy. ' BRAKE ON WAGES INCREASES. An important present danger in America, said President Truman, was the possibility that prices might be raised beyond the consumers’ purchasing power. Recent price increases had denied to many workers much of the value of the recent wage increases. Farmers likewise found that a large part of their increased income was absorbed by increased prices, while persons with fixed incomes suffered hardship. Industry should not only hold the line on existing prices, but should also make reductions whenever profits justified such action. Labour should refrain from pressing for unjustified wage increases that would force increases in price levels. Recommending a labour programme to prevent strikes, Mr Truman cautioned Congress against punitive legislation. “We must not,” he said, “ under the stress of emotion, endanger American freedom by taking ill-considered action.” REDUCTION OF INDUSTRIAL STRIFE. ' Mr Truman recommended a special programme to reduce industrial strife:— First, jurisdictional strikes between rival unions should be prohibited as indefensible. Secondly, secondary boycotts, when used to further jurisdictional disputes or other unjustifiable objectives, should be prohibited. Thirdly, legislation should be enacted by which either party could refer a dispute to a final commission to inquire into the entire field of labour and ■management relations. Mr Truman reminded Congress that the paralysing effects ( of nation-wide strikes in key industries, such as transportation, coal, oil, and street communications, could result in national disaster, which had been avoided in recent years only by using extraordinary war powers, all of which would soon be ended. In their place there must be created an adequate system and effective machinery. Mr Truman urged the commission to make its first report, including . specific legislative recommendations, not later than March 15. He requested Congress to co-operate in preventing whole industries from being dominated by a few large monopolistic organisations, which would restrict production in the interest of higher profits. He recommended that 500.000 low-rental houses should be built in the next four years. EXPANSION OF MARKETS. Issuing a warning that in the next few years American argiculture may face the same dangers as after the First World War, Mr Truman recommended that foreign and domestic markets should be expanded to provide outlets for farm surpluses. He said that the people in the United States had recently witnessed numerous attacks upon the constitutional rights of individual citizens as a result of racial and religious bigotry. New legislation would be necessary to protect the rights thereby jeopardised. The President’s Committee on Civil Rights was now studying the problem with a view to making recommendations to Congress.