If, by the grace of God, we have passed the worst of this storm, the future months will be easy.

These occasions are a contribution to public life.

No meeting of this club could assemble at this period without some reference to the hard times which surround us.

Interest in boys and comradeship with them is a privilege to their elders and a guiding service to the boys.

I CORDIALLY commend to all the people the observance of Better Homes Week beginning April 26.

The celebration of National Boys Week is a yearly reminder of the priceless qualities of youth, when faith is highest and ambition strongest, with their constant inspiration and encouragement to the fathers and sons.

Everything that can be done to encourage home-ownership and to make homelife pleasanter is a distinct contribution not only to social well-being but to the highest spiritual values of life.

The Better Homes movement has done distinguished service in this field and deserves the warmest support of all our people.

I commend the observance of National Boys Week to all our people.

To the Heads of Departments and Independent Establishments

Nothing but public information.

There is a decrease in agricultural aids from $341 million to $160 million showing thereby a saving there of about $180 million.

Those are loans.

The War Department expenditure shows a decrease of $12 million.

No, unless we get it from Congress.

This statement of the budget does not include loans upon the bonus except so far as they are represented in the annual payment into the bonus fund, of about $112 million.

It is my hope that you, who are among the acknowledged leaders of your race, may find in the work of this committee an opportunity to carry the study of this subject farther than it has been carried before.

Public debt charges are much the same--about $8 million increase.