Broadly the community has cooperated to meet the needs of honest distress, and to take such emergency measures as would sustain confidence in our financial system and would cushion the violence of liquidation in industry and commerce, thus giving time for orderly readjustment of costs, inventories, and credits without panic and widespread bankruptcy.  These measures have served those purposes and will promote recovery.

In these measures we have striven to mobilize and stimulate private initiative and local and community responsibility.  There has been the least possible Government entry into the economic field, and that only in temporary and emergency form.  Our citizens and our local governments have given a magnificent display of unity and action, initiative and patriotism in solving a multitude of difficulties and in cooperating with the Federal Government.

For a proper understanding of my recommendations to the Congress it is desirable very briefly to review such activities during the past year.

The emergencies of unemployment have been met by action in many directions.  The appropriations for the continued speeding up of the great Federal construction program have provided direct and indirect aid to employment upon a large scale.  By organized unity of action, the States and municipalities have also maintained large programs of public improvement.  Many industries have been prevailed upon to anticipate and intensify construction.  Industrial concerns and other employers have been organized to spread available work amongst all their employees, instead of discharging a portion of them.  A large majority have maintained wages at as high levels as the safe conduct of their business would permit.  This course has saved us from industrial conflict and disorder which have characterized all previous depressions.  Immigration has been curtailed by administrative action.  Upon the basis of normal immigration the decrease amounts to about 300,000 individuals who otherwise would have been added to our unemployment.  The expansion of Federal employment agencies under appropriations by the Congress has proved most effective.  Through the President’s organization for unemployment relief, public and private agencies were successfully mobilized last winter to provide employment and other measures against distress.  Similar organization gives assurance against suffering during the coming winter.  Committees of leading citizens are now active at practically every point of unemployment.  In the large majority they have been assured the funds necessary which, together with local government aids, will meet the situation.  A few exceptional localities will be further organized.  The evidence of the Public Health Service shows an actual decrease of sickness and infant and general mortality below normal years.  No greater proof could be adduced that our people have been protected from hunger and cold and that the sense of social responsibility in the Nation has responded to the need of the unfortunate.