Closely related to crime conditions is the administration of the Federal
prison system. Our Federal penal institutions are overcrowded, and this
condition is daily becoming worse. The parole and probation systems are
inadequate. These conditions make it impossible to perform the work of
personal reconstruction of prisoners so as to prepare them for return to
the duties of citizenship. In order to relieve the pressing evils I have
directed the temporary transfer of the Army Disciplinary Barracks at
Leavenworth to the Department of Justice for use as a Federal prison. Not
only is this temporary but it is inadequate for present needs.
We need some new Federal prisons and a reorganization of our probation and
parole systems; and there should be established in the Department of
Justice a Bureau of Prisons with a sufficient force to deal adequately with
the growing activities of our prison institutions. Authorization for the
improvements should be given speedily, with initial appropriations to allow
the construction of the new institutions to be undertaken at once.
IMMIGRATION
Restriction of immigration has from every aspect proved a sound national
policy. Our pressing problem is to formulate a method by which the limited
number of immigrants whom we do welcome shall be adapted to our national
setting and our national needs.
I have been opposed to the basis of the quotas now in force and I have
hoped that we could find some practical method to secure what I believe
should be our real national objective; that is, fitness of the immigrant as
to physique, character, training, and our need of service. Perhaps some
system of priorities within the quotas could produce these results and at
the same time enable some hardships in the present system to be cleared up.
I recommend that the Congress should give the subject further study, in
which the executive departments will gladly cooperate with the hope of
discovering such method as will more fully secure our national necessities.
VETERANS
It has been the policy of our Government almost from its inception to make
provision for the men who have been disabled in defense of our country.
This policy should be maintained. Originally it took the form of land
grants and pensions. This system continued until our entry into the World
War. The Congress at that time inaugurated a new plan of compensation,
rehabilitation, hospitalization, medical care and treatment, and insurance,
whereby benefits were awarded to those veterans and their immediate
dependents whose disabilities were attributable to their war service. The
basic principle in this legislation is sound.
In a desire to eliminate all possibilities of injustice due to difficulties
in establishing service connection of disabilities, these principles have
been to some degree extended. Veterans whose diseases or injuries have
become apparent within a brief period after the war are now receiving
compensation; insurance benefits have been liberalized. Emergency officers
are now receiving additional benefits. The doors of the Government's
hospitals have been opened to all veterans, even though their diseases or
injuries were not the result of their war service. In addition adjusted
service certificates have been issued to 3,433,300 veterans. This in itself
will mean an expenditure of nearly $3,500,000,000 before 1945, in addition
to the $600,000,000 which we are now appropriating annually for our
veterans' relief.
The administration of all laws concerning the veterans and their dependents
has been upon the basis of dealing generously, humanely, and justly. While
some inequalities have arisen, substantial and adequate care has been given
and justice administered. Further improvement in administration may require
some amendment from time to time to the law, but care should be taken to
see that such changes conform to the basic principles of the legislation.
I am convinced that we will gain in efficiency, economy, and more uniform
administration and better definition of national policies if the Pension
Bureau, the National Home for Volunteer Soldiers, and the Veterans' Bureau
are brought together under a single agency. The total appropriations to
these agencies now exceed $800,000,000 per annum.