![]() In our administration of relief we follow two principles: First, that direct giving shall, wherever possible, be supplemented by provision for useful and remunerative work and, second, that where families in their existing surroundings will in all human probability never find an opportunity for full self-maintenance, happiness and enjoyment, we will try to give them a new chance in new surroundings. It comes from the paralysis that arose as the after-effect of that unfortunate decade characterized by a mad chase for unearned riches and an unwillingness of leaders in almost every walk of life to look beyond their own schemes and speculations. It calls for large expenditures and will continue in modified form to do so for a long time to come. ![]() Relief was and continues to be our first consideration. The first was relief, because the primary concern of any Government dominated by the humane ideals of democracy is the simple principle that in a land of vast resources no one should be permitted to starve. In the consistent development of our previous efforts toward the saving and safeguarding of our national life, I have continued to recognize three related steps. ![]() Finally, and I believe most important, it reorganized, simplified and made more fair and just our monetary system, setting up standards and policies adequate to meet the necessities of modern economic life, doing justice to both gold and silver as the metal bases behind the currency of the United States. It created a permanent Federal body for the just regulation of all forms of communication, including the telephone, the telegraph and the radio. It took definite steps towards a national housing program through an act which I signed today designed to encourage private capital in the rebuilding of the homes of the Nation. It strengthened the hand of the Federal Government in its attempts to suppress gangster crime. It supplemented our agricultural policy through measures widely demanded by farmers themselves and intended to avert price destroying surpluses. It made further advances towards peace in industry through the labor adjustment act. It strengthened our naval forces to conform with the intentions and permission of existing treaty rights. It provided a rational method of increasing our volume of foreign trade through reciprocal trading agreements. It strengthened the integrity of finance through the regulation of securities exchanges. It lent a hand to industry by encouraging loans to solvent industries unable to secure adequate help from banking institutions. It provided for the readjustment of the debt burden through the corporate and municipal bankruptcy acts and the farm relief act. I mention only a few of the major enactments. The session was distinguished by the extent and variety of legislation enacted and by the intelligence and good will of debate upon these measures. It has been well said that while there were a few exceptions, this Congress displayed a greater freedom from mere partisanship than any other peace-time Congress since the Administration of President Washington himself. That was no easy task, but the Congress was equal to it. As we review the achievements of this session of the Seventy-third Congress, it is made increasingly clear that its task was essentially that of completing and fortifying the work it had begun in March, 1933. It seemed to us our duty not only to make the right path clear but also to tread that path. Since January, those of us in whom you have vested responsibility have been engaged in the fulfillment of plans and policies which had been widely discussed in previous months. It has been several months since I have talked with you concerning the problems of government.
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