Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 27 April 1942 — Page 3
MONDAY, APRIL 2 27,1042
Text Of Roosevelt's Address On High Cost Of Liv
WASHINGTON, April 27 (U. P.).—Following is the text of President Roosevelt's message to congress. To the congress of the United States:
In certain w . 8ents problems world war. _
the present world encircling war preich were unimaginable during the first
The theaters of combat today cover vastly greater areas. Many more millions of human beings are involved. The new factors of mechanical power, in the air and on the land and on the sea, have produced radical changes in
basic strategy and tactics.
In this new war the nations resisting the axis powers face an even greater challenge to their very existence. They
fight more powerful, more sinister foes; but their understanding. of the magnitude of . the task and the very firmness of their determination makes victory certain in the
long days to come. In some other ways, however. the circumstances of today parallel those of 1917-18. Now, as in the last war, the common enemy has had all the advantage at the outset. Now, as then, bitter defeats and heavy losses must be endured by those who are ‘defending civilization, before we will be able to establish the vital superiority - in men and munitions which will turn the tide.
GRADUAL SHIFT TO WAR
The United States was far better prepared for actual war on Dec. 7, 1941, than it was on April 6 1917. For over two years, by a succession of ‘congressional acts, we had carried out or initiated safety
measures for our own defense in growing volume and importance. There were the revisions of the neutrality laws, the adoption of the selective service law and the lendlease law, and the great increases of our army and ndvy and the instruments of war which they needed. After Pearl Harbor, the American people adopted a national program of war production which would have been called fantastic by ‘most people two years before. It has required the, shifting of the ‘major part of American industry from the products of peace to the weapons of war. Inevitably—but with the full approval of the nation—this enormous program is dislocating industry, labor, agriculture and finance. It is ‘disrupting, and will continue to disrupt, the normal manner of life of every American and every American family. In this, we repeat the pattern of the first world war, although on a vastly greater scale. During that earlier war there ‘were certain economic factors which produced unnecessary hardships; and these hardships continued long after the signing of the armistice. . I use the word “unnecessary” because it is my belief that a very ‘great deal of the suffering which : was caused then can be avoided now. ”
WIDE ACTION NECESSARY
These economic factors relate primarily to an easily understood phrase which affects the lives of all of us—the cost of living. Because rises in the cost of living which came with the last war were not checked in the beginning, people in this country paid more than twice as much for the same things in 1920 as they did in 1914, The rise in the cost of living during this war has begun to parallel the last. The time has definitely come to stop the spiral. And we can face the fact that there must be a drastic reduction in our standard of living. While the cost of living, based on the average prices of necessaries, has gone up about 15 per cent so far since the autumn of 1939, we must now act to keep it from soaring another 80 per cent or 90 per cent during the next year or two—
IN INDIANAPOLIS
Here Is the Tr Ate
County
: ¢ Record;
y Total |s 26 51 28
1041 ......... 1942 .............. 17 —April 25-26— Accidents ... 49 | Arrests . 7 |Dead ......
‘MEETINGS TODAY
Congress of Confraternity of Christian [000
Bucis e¢, convention, Claypool hotel, all Xe fu diana Bakers association, convention,
otel Lincoln, all da oh district, Aacmblies of God, conference, Roberts Park Methodist ron,
all all a, elub of Raps § Banpa Gamma Sorority, dinner meeting, 37th st.,
m: Harmonie club, meeting, D. A. R. chapter house, Indiana seunei], oe
Banner-
m. Fh Sales Executive = Sala W dianapolis Athletic club, ore club, ‘meeting, Y. W. wu Irvi Si Cc T. U, Whitehill Doria, 2 p. m. gue Sn Better Government, meeting,
Lea, Hotel Ain 8p Se asa: Athietle club, meeting, club,
m. Dist No. 11, Knights of Byihisg,
annual convention, 612 E. 13th st., 8 p. Central Indiana fudance go Ry
eeting, Canary cottage, ens club, a0 Hotel Washington, noon
fudlina sui auto 0 ASUINIS 230 association, lunch- . oon. 2 €OPhi Chi Epsilon roy. meeting, Hotel
Indiana lis Yarbter, Indiana society of ects, luncheon, Spink-Arms hotel, noon
entech club, Board of Tiervice a club, luncheon, Claypool hotel, ba Knights of Columbus, meeting, 1305 N. je luncheon, Canary
tea,
luncheon,
. m. North Jide tors,
oon. co re Dame club, luncheon, Board of
Trade, n
MEETINGS TOMORROW of Confraternity of Christian
posirioe, conference, Claypool hotel, diana ers association, convention, rR ag day. . al district, Assemblies of God, con-
H fer . Roberts Park Methodist church, BY.
er, Mu Phi Epsilon meeting, 19003 Slants ot st. sp.m
on © er, American Yar Mothers, meeting, war memorial, 2:30 p. m
Riley i oi c war Ap Shemotial, 8 BE. Raion : C., spring convenPrien y, all 387. co Washington high school, ye 730 | Bece publie affairs forum,
pital cheer guild, meeting, D.
to hold it to somewhere near the present; level. There are obvious reasons for taking every step necessary to prevent this rise, I emphasize the words “every step” because no single step would be adequate by itself. Action in one direction alone would be offset by inaction in other directions. Only an all-embracing program will suffice. When the cost of living spirals upward week after week and month after month, people as a whole are bound to become poorer, because the pay envelop will then lag behind rising retail prices. The price paid for carrying on the war by the government and, therefore, by the people, will increase by many billions if prices go up. Furthermore, there is an old and true saying that that which goes up must always come down—and you and I know the hardships and heartaches we all went through in the bad years after the last war, when Americans were losing their homes and their farms and their savings and were looking in vain for jobs. We do not intend after this war to present the same disastrous situation to those brave men who today are fighting our battles in all parts of the world. Safeguarding our economy at home is the very least that our soldiers, - sailors and marines have a right to expect of us civilians in government, in industry, on the farm, and in all other walks of life. We must therefore adopt as one
‘of our principal domestic objectives
the stabilization of the cost of living, for this is essential to the fortification of our whole economic structure.
LISTS SEVEN-POINT -PROGRAM
Reap Rid
Relying on past and present experience, and leaving out masses of details which relate more to questions of method than to the objective itself, I list for the congress the following points, which, taken together, may well be called: our present national economic policy.
1. To keep the cost of living from spiraling upward, we must tax heavily, and in that process keep personal and corporate profits at a reasonable rate, the word “reasonable” being defined at a low level. 2. To keep the cost of living from spiraling upward, we must fix ceilings on the prices which consumers, retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers pay for the things they buy; and ceilings on rents for dwellings in all areas affected by war industries. . 3. To keep the cost of living from spiraling upward, we must stabilize the remuneration received by individuals for their work. 4. To keep the cost of living from spiraling upward, we must stabilize the prices received by growers for the products of their lands. 5. To keep the cost of living from spiraling upward, we must encourage all citizens to contribute to the cost of winning this war by purchasing war bonds with their earnings instead of using those earnings to buy articles which are not essential. : 6. To keep the cost of living from spiraling upward, we must ration all essential commodities of which there is a scarcity, so that they may be distributed fairly among consumers and not merely in accordance with financial ability to
a5), .00
all.
«| Mar; C
pay high prices for them.
S1udy club, luncheon, Colonial tearoom,
Madden Nottingham unit 348, American ie auxiliary, luncheon, 1130 W. 30th
t m. otfoan Chegvionl society, luncheon, Hote Severin, hist club, Poeeting. Hotel Severin, Exchange Iu, board meeting, Hotel Severin, no Bowling alley proprietors, meeting, Hotel Severin, 10:30 Rotary club, luncheon, Claypool hotel, oi Alpha T Tau Omega, luncheon, Board of Gyro club, luncheon, Spink-Arms hotel, luncheon, Hotel Lincoln,
n. co liversal club, luncheon, Columbia club,
Mercator club,
University of a club, luncheon, Bord bi Trade. no al society,
Indi ABolis ‘Me dic Ingo aaa s Atijetics club, Indianapolis Home Buil os atoctation, dinner, Hoosier Athletic club, 6:30 p
MARRIAGE LICENSES
These lists are from official records in the county court house. The Times, therefore, is not responsible for errors in names and addresses.
Edward G. Michaelis, 21, of 807 N. LaSalle: Kathryn Hammond,’ 19, of 2424 E.
Ind.;
meeting,
Low Caney, 31 V. Enlow, 33, of 23
Sinton, Doane 3d.
emen, 23, of ‘6041 Indianola; Bessie M. Sutherland, 22, of 6041 In-
dianola vester L. Brine 24, of 1410 N. Mount; Jul of 1028 N. King.
a MW ket; Jeaneti F. 1] Ph pits J. 1 thers,
ington; Kathryn Murphy. 27, of 6
Oliver Jundy. 55, of 2702 N. Oxford; Hettie Richards son, 52, of 707 W. 11th. Marvin Jones Jr., 21, of 2873 N. LaSalle; Dorothy L. McGill, 18, of 2135 N. Station. Wayne L. Carter, 23, of 1037 S. State; Eldeen .R. Blair, 21, of 1028 8. Randolph. Kenneth W. Clack, 17, of 2508 Roosevelt: i M. Sparks, 30, of 961 E. Dr. Wood-
Arnold C. Brown, 26, of 128 N. Ea, Meraverite P. Foster. 24, of 2329 E. RiverWalter Stilaner, 24, of 4948 W. Vermont; De 25 Tics Field Te er, e| e! exas; Elizabeth Cook, 25, of 2010 N. erid dian E. Stanley, 22, of “910 E
: of 31 8. , Snyder, 21, of 261 man; Betty A. po, 30, of 75 N. Belle Vieu oye C. Offett, 152 of
2058 10th; ia Secu of 147 N. L. Maze, 26, of 1
055 Per "Jessie M. Dixon, 21, of 1045 RI Robert Gibson, 33, of ¥ aajnols; Madeline Brak, 27, of 115 5% ot LY 2
era ited § 5 Ee Mieke. 50 is, i,
Salle N.
bama; Bahl EE 2
NN 150 Beech Grove, FEA
Franklin D. Roosevelt
7. To keep the cost of living from spiraling ‘upward, we must discourage credit and instalment buying, and encourage the paying off of debts, mortgages, and other obligations; for this promotes savings, retards excessive buying and adds to the amount available to the creditors for the purchase of war bonds.
PROMISES CLOSE WATCH
I know that you will appreciate that these seven principal points, each and every one of them, will contribute in substantial fashion to the great objective of keeping the cost of living down. It is my best judgment that only two of these points require legislation at the present time, for the very good reason that the congress has already passed laws with respect to the others which seem adequate to meet the national policy enunciated. I assure the congress that if the required objectives are not attained, and if the cost of living should continue to rise substantially I shall so advise the congress, and shall ask for any additional legislation which may be necessary. In the first item, legislation is necessary, and the subject is now under consideration in the house of representatives. Its purpose is to keep excess profits down and, at the same time, raise further large sums for the financing of the war. On this subject, I believe that the objective can be attained through tax processes. We are now spending, solely for war purposes, the sum of about one hundred million dollars every day of the week. But before this year is over that rate of expenditure will be doubled. This means that a sum equal to more than half of the entire national income will be spent in the war effort. Almost the whole of these billions is being and will be spent within the United States itself. Profits must be taxed to the utmost limit consistent with continued production. This means all business profits—not only in making munitions, but in making or selling anything else. Under the proposed new tax law we seek to take by taxation all undue or excess profits. It is incumbent upon the congress to define undue or excess profits; and anything in excess of that specific figure should go to. the government.
AIMS AT EXCESS INCOMES
One of our. difficulties is to write a law in which some clever people will not find loopholes, or in which some businesses will not be equitably included. I have suggested to the chairman of the committee on ways and means in the house of representatives that some blanket clause could well cover, by a special tax, all profits of any kind of business which exceeds the expressed definition of the legal profit figure. At the sam: time, while the number of individual Americans affected is small, discrepancies between low personal incomes and very high personal incomes should be lessened;
st; | carcinom
Owen B. Seaney, 27, of 2049 N. Meridian; Lucy C. Dyer, 21, Bloomington, Ind. Roy C. Sims, 55, of 556 N. Central ct.; Laura M. Fuss, 38, of 2342 Coyner, Earl L. Hughes, 19, of 462 Holt Joad; Mary % Buttman, 20, of 2610 E. North Elmer D. Hauser, 30, of16 14 English; Elizabeth M. Rieser, 34, of 429 N. Wa cott.
y 2 Marjorie . McKasson, 24, of 1300 N
Pennsylvania,
BIRTHS Girls
George. Jessie Sohm, at St. Vincent's. George, Louis Helb, at St. Vincent's. Jeffe, Leola Pedigo, at St. Vincent's. Bernard, Ellen Alerdine, at St. Vincent's. mu H. W., Rita Mathiasen, at St. Vin-
Raymond, Anna Fuller, at St. Vincent's. Lemuel, Margie Riddle, at St. Vincent's. Michael, Ruth Sullivan, at Methodist. Wendell, Mary . Mark, Buelah R Oran, Bernice 1 Emery, Ruby E s . Albert, Madge Wikoff, at Methodist. Don, Effie Russell, at Methodist. David, Marie Foster, at Methodist. mold, Alice Kidwell, at Methodist.
LeRoy. Mary Dusing, at Meth Charles. Eleanor ava Meise, Mark, Margaret Williatasen. at 44 Chase. Boys
James, Julietta Jameson, at Cit n, Opal Bright, at St. Vincent's. Urban, Julia Pflum, at St. Vincent's. Robert, Mary Voyles, at St. Vineent.a. ihery, Florence Burchan, at St. V
cen Witiara, Mary Sims, Ewell,
in-
at Lillie Smith, at
Dorothy Frazier Josenh, Virginia Lee. at Bryant, Helen Howard, Gerald, Alice Hylton, at Harvey, June Sm h, at Alfred. Dorothy Hurst, at Ora, Beulah Busch, at St.
DEATHS James M. Johnson, 87, at 18 N. Mount, coronary occlus Esther Stern, 85. at 5152 N. Meridian, Elvira *Major, 33, at City, pulmonary embo lism.
s Annette Smith, 49, at 2420 Indianapolis, acute uremia.
Noble Hodges, 34, at 1708 Northwestern, | i pulmonary tuberculosis.
ary A. Voorhees, 84, at 2003 N. New Jo arteriosclerosis. Maggie Vandagriff, 58, id 927 N. Belle Vieu, Setental hemorrhage 66, City,
MuRifres ria "ity, cerebral ARI Howard R. Throckmorton, 43, at 33 E. 55th, carcinoma. Emma J. Cooper, 80, at. 5739 Broadway, selebral hemorrhage. rtha Jane Smith, 88, at 162 Union, c gestive heart. G. Grimes, 74. at Methodist, Os bea Walter 8cott Strong, 61, at 131 B. Fall Crook bivd., Sershral |
brenchopnel 3 um
and I therefore believe that in time
of this grave national danger, when all excess income should go to win the war, no American citizen ought to have a net income, after he has paid his taxes, of more than $500 a year. It is indefensible that those who enjoy large incomes from state and local securities should be immune from taxation while we are at war. Interest on such securities should be subject at least to surtaxes. I earnestly hope that the congress will pass a new tax bill at the earliest moment possible. Such action is imperative in the comprehensive all-out effort to keep the cost of living down—and time ig/of the essence. The second item, relating to price control is, with the exception of farm prices, adequately covered by existing law, and I have issued instructions to put this into effect immediately. It is our effort to be fair in all phases of price control; and if our future experience reveals inequality ¢r unfairness, corrections will, of course, be made. In respect to the third item, seeking to stabilize remuneration for work,, legislation is not required under present circumstances. I believe that stabilizing the cost of living will mean that wages in general can and should be kept at existing scales. Organized labor has voluntarily given up its right to strike during the war. Therefore all stabilization or adjustment of wages will be settled by the war labor board machinery which has been generally accepted by industry and labor for the settlement of all disputes. All strikes are at a minimum. Existing contracts between employers and employees must, in all fairneess, be carried out to the expiration date of those contracts. The existing machinery for labor disputes will, of course, continue to give due consideration to inequalities and the elimination of sub-standards of living. I repeat that all of these processes, now in existence, will work equitably for the overwhelming proportion of all our workers if we can keep the cost of living down and stabilize their remuneration. Most workers in munition indus-
STRAUSS SAYS:
Wearington Gabardines
YEAR - ROUND
$65 and up—
in Advance!
3 E 38th, |
Pedigreed SUITS— Fashion Park at
$50 and up—
and Hickey-Freeman Suits
Fine textures, worsteds and Shetland types— 39.50, 42.50 and 47.50
WEARINGTON SUITS—
"You'll be better satisfied with a Wearington''— Worsted suits—29.75, $35
the celebrated Wardrobers | with an extra pair of Gabardine slacks—29.75
tries are working far more than 40 hours a week, and should continue to be paid at time and a half for overtime. Otherwise, their weekly pay envelopes would uced, All these policies will guide all government agencies. In regard to item four, prices of farm products: For nearly nine wears it has been the policy of the government to seek an objective known as “parity’—or, in other words, farm prices that give the farmer an assurance of equality in individual purchasing power with his fellow Americans who work in industry.
IN FAIRNESS TO PEOPLE
Some of the products of the farms have not yet reached the stage of parity. Others have exceeded parity. Under existing legislation a ceiling cannot be placed on certain products until they reach a level above parity. This calls for the second legislative action which I have mentioned. Under a complicated formula in the existing law, prices for farm products—prices which housewives have to pay for many articles of food— may rise to 110 per cent of parity or even higher. It is the fault of the formula. In the case of many articles this can mean a dangerous increase in the cost of living for the average family over present prices. In fairness to the American people as a whole, and adhering to the purpose of keeping the cost of living from going up, I ask that this formula be corrected, and that the original and excellent objective of obtaining parity for the farmers of the United States be restored. It would be equally harmful to the process of keeping down the cost of living if any law were passed preventing the government from selling any of its own surplus farm commodities at the market price. As ga national, policy, the ceiling on farm products—in other words, the maximum prices to be received by the producers of these products—should be set at parity. With respect to item five — the purchase of war’ bonds—the American people know that if we would raise the billions which we now need
on these the preference falls! Gentlemen’s SUITS = = = these are the groupings that are getting the play = = = ‘the best at your price—no matter what the price’’
GABARDINE SUITS— a fine silky, close woven gabardine—finely tailored—
to pay for the war and at the same time prevent a disastrous rise in the cost of living, we shall have to double and more than double the scale of our savings. Every dime and dollar not vitally needed for absolute necessities should go into war bonds and stamps to add to the striking power of our armed forces. If these purchases are to have a material effect on restraining price increases they must be made out of current income. In almost every individual case they should be big enough to mean rigid self-denial, a substantial reduction for most of us in the scale of expenditure that is comfortable and easy for us. We cannot fight this war, we cannot exert our maximum effort, on a spend-as-usual basis. We cannot have all we want, if our soldiers and sailors are to have all they need. I have been urged by many persons and groups to recommend the adoption of a compulsory plan of savings by deducting a certain percentage of everyone's income. I prefer, however, to keep the voluntary plan in effect as long as possible, and I hope for a magnificent response.
RATIONING TERMED FAIR
With respect to item six—rationing—it is obviously fair that where there is not enough to any essential commodity to meet all civilian demands, those who can afford to pay more for the commodity should not be. privileged over others who cannot. I am confident that as to many basic necessities of life rationing will not be necessary, because we shall strive to the utmost to have an adequate supply. But where any important article becomes scarce, rationing is the democratic, equitable solution. Item seven—paying off debts and curtailing installment, buying— should be made effective as soon as possible now that money is becoming more plentiful. Those who comply with it will be grateful that they have done so, When this war is over. Elimination of private debts and
STORE HOURS MONDAY 12:15 TO 8:45
Princetown
32.50
SUITS LESSER
"the fines? the world"
Gabardines 42.50
WEIGHT SUITS
in
ready
for wearing—
Burmas
PRINCETOWN SUITS—
that completely dominate the $40-to-$50 bracket—
Porostyles 75.00
68.00
FASHION PARK—ultra in fabric and tailoring—
45.00 and 55.00 |
They are "London Shrunk," which gives them greater richness— greater flexibility— they are Laboratory Planned— which underwrites Satisfaction
INDIA WATES— the summer suit that has won wide fame—
the 1942 versions. .are
"Sensational" and fit—27.50
in value
GOODALL TROPICAL
WORSTED SUITS— in a metropolitan choice— smart—shapely—29.75
GOODALL "SUNFROST" SUITS—a new experience in coolness—24.75
an accumulation of savings will provide a form of insurance against post-war depression. The federal agency responsible for the control of credit for installment buying is taking appropriate action. Indeed, as to all the items which do not require legislation, the executive departments and agencies whose functions and duties are involved, are at work as expeditiously as possible in carrying out this whole broad policy.
ALL MUST SACRIFICE
The result will mean that each and every one of us will have to give up many things to which we are accustomed. We shall have to live our lives with less in the way of creature comforts than we have in time of peace. Our standard of living will have to come down. Some have called this an “economy of sacrifice.” Some interpret it in terms that are more accurate— the “equality of sacrifice.” I have never been able to bring myself, however, to full acceptance “of the word “sacrifice,” because free men and women, bred in the concepts of democracy and wedded to the principles of democracy, deem it a privilege rather than a sacrifice to work and to fight for the perpetuation of the democratic ideal. It is, therefore, more true to call this total effort of the American people an “equality of privilege.” I firmly believe that Americans all will welcome this opportunity to share in the fight of civilized mankind to preserve decency and dignity in modern life. For this is fundamentally a people’s war—and it must be followed by a people's peace. The achievement of victory in war and ‘security in peace requires the participation of all the people in the common effort for our common cause.
C. OF C. IN SESSION CHICAGO, April 27 (U. P.).—The United States chamber’ of commerce opened its annual convention today and began a four-day review of -|American industry's achievements in the greatest production program in the nation’s
i
DIES: IN | CRASH
Machine, "real Fatal to One, Kills Harry
Schwimmer.
FRANKLIN, Ind, April 27.—
Piloting the same car in which Harold Shaw of Indianapolis lost his life last year at the same track, Race Driver Harry W. Schwimmer of Indianapolis was killed yesterday when his mount crashed through a wall. Schwimmer, who lived in Indian apolis at 5809 E. Washington -st., was running in the | 95-lap feature event of the Midwest Dirt Track Racing association program at the track near here. As his car crashed through the south wall, Schw er was thrown out and was killed when the mae chine fell on him. He had just won the 10-lap consolation race which preceded the feature. Schwimmer was 26 and a mee chanic at the Stutz motor car come pany. He is survived by his mother, Mrs, Rose L. Schwimmer; five sisters, Mrs. THomas D. Doyle, Mrs. Harold - H. Koglin and the Misses Rose M.,, Frances and Anne Louise, and five brothers, Eugene, Charles, Peter, Paul and James. The funeral willl be held at 10 a. m. Wednesday! at the Feeney & Feeney funeral home. 1
OFFICIAL WEATHER
| U. S. Weather Bureau ______J (Central War Time) Sunrise ...... 5:50 | Sunset ....
TEMPERATURE —April 27, 1941—
ar 7:88
Precipitation 24 hrs. ending 7:30 a. m. 1 Total precipitation since Jan. 1 131 Deficiency since Jan. 1
history.
Indiana—Slightly warmer today; Tie change in temperature Tonight, v le
|
ey NS
SS
SE - SRE
AR NN
4 recA