Details
ROOSEVELT, Franklin D. Typed letter signed ("Franklin D. Roosevelt"), as President, to Sen. Alben W. Barkley (1877-1956), Washington, D. C., n.d. [ca. 1936] 2 pages, 4to, White House stationery, paper clip stain in corner, staple punctures.
FDR'S EFFORTS TO KEEP GOVERNMENT SPENDING WITHIN BUDGET. Roosevelt is often misremembered as the founding father of high-powered government spending. But as this letter shows, he was always very conscious of keeping the Federal budget balanced. "I should like to call your attention to the fact that while the amount of $625,000,000 has been appropriated for agricultural programs not all of this sum has been provided for in the present tax structure." Under the Revenue Act of 1936, the President reminds Barkley, $500 million was allocated for agricultural programs, but the Senator was eager to spend an additional $125 million to encourage both greater exports and higher domestic consumption of farmers' crops. Roosevelt wants his fellow Democrat to pull in the reigns on government spending, and keep farm spending under $500 million, but "if this is not possible then I urge that steps be taken to provide the necessary increase in revenue to meet any expenditures under the new farm program in excess of this sum."
FDR'S EFFORTS TO KEEP GOVERNMENT SPENDING WITHIN BUDGET. Roosevelt is often misremembered as the founding father of high-powered government spending. But as this letter shows, he was always very conscious of keeping the Federal budget balanced. "I should like to call your attention to the fact that while the amount of $625,000,000 has been appropriated for agricultural programs not all of this sum has been provided for in the present tax structure." Under the Revenue Act of 1936, the President reminds Barkley, $500 million was allocated for agricultural programs, but the Senator was eager to spend an additional $125 million to encourage both greater exports and higher domestic consumption of farmers' crops. Roosevelt wants his fellow Democrat to pull in the reigns on government spending, and keep farm spending under $500 million, but "if this is not possible then I urge that steps be taken to provide the necessary increase in revenue to meet any expenditures under the new farm program in excess of this sum."