Show V t MARQUES S CHiLDS President Delays Selection Of fu Full Employment Council V WASHINGTON Some WASHINGTON Some members members members mem mem- bers of or congress who worked hardest for its adoption arc are beginning to wonder what has happened to the so-called so full employment bill More than two months ago ago on on February 20 20 it was approved by President Truman and yet no action has been taken As passed by congress the bill calls for the creation of a council councH of economic advisers The council Is to be made up of three members who shall be appointed by the president by and with the advice and consent of the senate and each of whom shall be a person who as a result re result result re- re sult of his training experience and attainments is exceptionally qualified to analyze and interpret interpret interpret inter inter- pret economic developments to appraise programs and activities activities rj ties of ot the government and to formulate and recommend national economic policy to promote promote promote pro pro- mote employment production and purchasing power under free competitive enterprise When the bill was before congress congress con con- gress President Truman rated it as one of or his major must measures He has frequently intimated d that delays by congress congress congress con con- gress were crippling his pro pro- gram Yet two months have gone by and he has not appointed appoint appoint- ed the economic council called for under the bill While It Is true that the full employment bill was pretty badly badly badly bad bad- ly watered down by congress those who have studied it believe believe be be- lieve that even in Its present form torm it could be a powerful policy-making policy weapon Under the law the president is required to submit an annual economic report to congress containing recommendations for promoting useful employment for those able willing and seeking to work The council of economic advisers advisers advisers ad ad- would help the president prepare this report And he is empowered to send supplementary tary reports to congress cong if important important important im im- changes in economic trends occur Such a report prepared with careful documentation would have the prestige of the presidency presIdency presidency dency behind it Congress might not like the recommendations But it would be hard to ignore them since if the presidents president's predictions were proved right and wholesale unemployment should follow without any action by congress to avert it congress would be on the spot They still talk here in Washington Washington Wash Wash- ington of a prediction made by Leon Henderson in February of 1937 At that point business recovery seemed to be assured President Roosevelt ordered cuts cutsin cutsin cutsin in relief and public works But Henderson based his predictions on the deep underlying trends He saw that monopoly prices were going up while employment was going down On that basis he called the turn on the slump of 1938 when the business index dropped more sharply than it had even in the great depression of or 1930 33 If the Henderson report of or that time had been issued with the authority of the White WhiteHouse WhiteHouse House Hous the slump of 38 might have been avoided Instead the report was brushed aside and I prematurely the budget D had their way Interestingly enough h Her son has been sounded out one of or the three positions on J for economic council i Th The The-s These se ei Lions will pay a y Told that he had the hm i number of r recommendatIons recommendation ec ut all aU those considered sent back word that l he be oS could not consider returning to the th- g government Ws To begin with he Is m several times that t amou amount T economic consultant for vt l large corporations But thi ma maywell well hell have been another thue 3 and d more important reason for fer lu hI v. v refusal The men around Preside t Truman have not encouraged lib liV orals of the Til o f tl Henderson to remain in the gor- gor Another liberal 1 mist under consideration Robert Nathan would probably also ml no Nathan is 13 at present fib in France on a private mission 1 The atmosphere in the Whit Willa House since sinco Truman's attest tj has been one of such caution as to discourage an bold thinking There has itt tet exodus of the an younger md IId bolder men who helped frame franT in in inthe the policy Roosevelt adIn 1 Unemployment of course i i. i g not a major problem at Wi moment The jobless figure f for 11 the first week in March w wu fiu That compares t if on V-J V day I The total is far below expectations But even if tie the number of jobs should as the veterans veterans' predicts boom employment c ca canot not prevail forever 4 In the time of or testing wj ud trial ahead head the presidents president's eco economie nomie council could aerie me s as Ii important function a 1 |