U.S.A. CONGRESS

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 December 1929, Page 7

U.S.A. CONGRESS

MR. HOOVER’S ADDRESS A NATIONAL REVIEW (By Cable —Press Assn. —Copyright.) WASHINGTON, December 3. In liis annual address to Congress, President Hoover, commenting on the National Budget, said: “The total appropriations recommended for the present year of 1931 are 3,830,445,231 dollars, compared with 3,976,141,065 for the present fiscal year.” President Hoover commented on what he termed the large degree of prosperity that the country was enjoying, and referred to the wave of uncontrolled speculation having resulted in a diversion of capital from business to the stock market, with an inevitable crash. He pointed out that capital which hitherto had been absorbed by speculation was now returning to noripal channels, adding: “And if, through measures we already have undertaken,- we have re-established confidence, wages should remain stable.” The President advocates important administrative changes to assure the better enforcement of the Eighteenth Amendment. He indicated that an attempt would also be made to control effectively organised crime. He added: “The foundations for future peace are being substantially strengthened through the KelloggBriand pact.” Referring to the Court of Interna tional Justice, he said: “I believe that it will be clear to everyone that no controversy or question in which this country has, or claims, an interest can be adjudicated on by the World Court without our consent at the time that the question arises. Our adherence to the International Court is, as it now is constituted, not the slightest step toward an entry into the League of Nations. I shall direct that our signature be affixed to the Protocol of adherence. We have joined in a conference for the further limitation and reduction of naval arms. We hold high hopes that success may attend this effort. I recommend Congress to give its earnest consideration to the possibilities of prudent action which will give relief from our continuously mounting military expenditure. We have undertaken never to use war as an instrument of national policy. We have, therefore, undertaken ,to use these equipments solely for defensive purposes. From a defence point of view, other forces should be proportioned to our national needs, and should, therefore, to some extent be modified by the prospects of peace, which were never brighter than today.” LATER.

Referring to naval expenditure, Mr Hoover said: “If we shall be compelled to undertake construction as implied in the Washington Arms Treaty as well as other construction which would appear to be necessary if an international agreement is not completed, we shall be committed during the next six years to construction expenditure approximating one billion two hundred million dollars besides' necessary further increase in costs of annual upkeep.” The President contended that the country could, well bo deply concerned at the growing expense of national defence. While its forces were comparatively small, the expenditures were in excess of the most highly militarised nations of the world. Discussing the tariff, he asked for an effective tariff on agricultural products, and some limited changes in the industrial schedules. He reiterated that he desired that the broad principle of the flexible provision of the pending Bill be retained. Mr Hoover’s views in this connection were recently disregarded by the Senate. Touching on Prohibition, Mr Hoover stated the enforcement of laws enacted to give effect to the Eighteenth Amendment was far from satisfactory.