WASHINGTON: President Roosevelt today [Jan 13] laid before Congress a second 100,000 million dollar wartime budget. It is based on the assumption that fighting will continue until the middle of 1945. The President estimated the expenditure for the fiscal year starting July 1 at/99,769 million dollars and the deficit after estimated revenue at 59,000 million dollars.

President Roosevelt noted the possibility that victory on one of the major fronts might be won earlier and such a development would mean that much of the money requested would not have to be spent.

President Roosevelt called for a great victory budget of 100,000 million dollars in his budget message to Congress today. This vast sum is the anticipated Federal expenditure for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1945. It is a “double task” budget. President Roosevelt said that he was certain that the period covered “will be crucial in the history of the United States and mankind — a period which will see decisive action in this global war. While we move forward to complete the defeat of our enemies, we must lay the groundwork to return the nation to peaceful pursuits. This double task is the essence of the Government’s programme and must be reflected in the budget.”

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2019