I have the honor to transmit herewith for the consideration of Congress a supplemental estimate of appropriation for the Department of Agriculture, amounting to $45,000,000, for the fiscal year 1931, to remain available until June 30…

I AM DISTRESSED by the news of the death of Marshal Joffre who is so affectionately remembered by the American people.

Both in their name and personally I wish to express to Your Excellency the deep sorrow which is felt in this country at the passing of this great patriot.

I do greatly regret to lose an old friend out of my personal service.

The only news item I have at the moment is that Mr. Akerson is leaving the White House service.

The situation of the railways...is one of the, if not the greatest, economic problems that we have confronting us.

The purpose at this time is that this country is not as yet entirely devoid of enterprise and ability to reconstitute itself for larger exertions.

It means lower rates, and lower rates cannot be made except by broad economies in methods, or alternatively, by wage reductions.

I have no doubt that when the details of the plan are known they will be subject to criticism, as any plan will be.

Someone has offered him two or three times the pay the Government can afford, and he has responsibilities to his family that I cannot deny.

I haven’t anybody in mind whatever. I have got to look around and find somebody.

Mr. John W. Martyn, executive assistant, Office of the Secretary of War, may be classified as administrative assistant and chief clerk in the War Department.

The Interstate Commerce Commission has no power to compel such consolidations.

It is a happy omen and another one of the many examples showing the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation which unite us to our great northern neighbor.

During the past 10 years a possible grouping of the roads so as to carry out the law has been under constant discussion.

I SEND you all my friendly greeting and best wishes on the occasion of this your first formal meeting outside of the United States and in Canadian territory.

The four new systems embrace the territory east of the Mississippi River, including the Virginian Railway on the south, the New York Central on the north.

These uncertainties and delays over nearly 10 years have seriously retarded development of the railways and have prevented a desirable growth in many directions, and have diminished their ability to compete with other forms of…