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Ford Newsletter, Jan.-Mar. 1954
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Ford Newsletter, Jan.-Mar. 1954
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This file contains material relating to Dwight D. Eisenhower, St. Lawrence Seaway, Joseph McCarthy.
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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Department of the Treasury. Internal Revenue Service. 7/9/1953-
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This document scanned from Box D1 of the Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
FOR RELEASE January 7, 1954
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW
By Gerald R. Ford, Jr., M. C.
By the time you read this President Eisenhower will have delivered his State
of the Union message to a joint session of the House and Senate but while I am
writing this week's column Ike and his advisors are carefully putting together
what he intends to say on January 7th. From all indications the President has
a first-class report ready for our citizens and the Congress. Except for a short
Christmas let-up it is reported that the President kept himself and his staff
in full harness over the holidays in order to make his 1954 State of the Union
message, a report of his first year's stewardship, of top calibre.
One of the Ford family neighbors in Washington is a man who has a most dif-
ficult job simply because he has the responsib ility to see that all of us pay
our federal taxes promptly and correctly. Being Commissioner of Internal Revenue
under ordinary circumstances is not an easy chore but to complicate the problem
Coleman Andrews of Richmond, Virginia took over at a time when the Bureau of
Internal Revenue was in nation-wide public disrepute. The scandals involving
political favoritism and pay-offs in this agency in the previous administration
had shattered public confidence in our federal tax collectors and seriously
injured employee morale among the good government career people. President Eisen-
hower drafted Coleman Andrews to clean up the mess and I can verify the long
hours and hard work that the new Commissioner has put in to rebuild and strengthen
this vital agency. No one enjoys paying taxes but if our citizens know that
federal taxes are being levied fairly and collected honestly and impartially,
we certainly have less reason to object. Because I know him and his family per-
sonally as neighbors, I can assure everyone the President selected the very best
when he made Coleman Andrews the Clief federal tax collector.
Incidentally, the Treasury Department has just announced the availibility
of the 1953 edition of "Your Federal Income Tax," an excellent publication for
those who must make out and file their individual income tax returns prior to
March 15th. This easy-to-read and understandable booklet can be obtained from
the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D.C.
for 25 cents. If you need help in making out your 1953 income tax return the
purchase of this booklet will be a sound investment.
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW - Page 2
In the past session of this Congress legislation was enacted creating the
Small Business Administration, the first comprehensive peacetime independent
government agency in history, set up for the prupose of advising, counseling,
assisting and protecting small business enterprises. In expressing the policy
of Congress with regard to American small business the law states,
"The essence of the American economic system of private enterprise is
free competition. Only through full and free competition can free markets, free
entry into business, and opportunities for the expression and growth of personal
initiative and individual judgment be assured. The preservation and expansion
of such competition is basic rot only to the economic well-being but to the
security of this Nation. Such security and well-being cannot be realized unless
the actual and potential capacity of small business is encouraged and developed
"It is the declared policy of the Congress that the Government should aid,
counsel, assist, and protect insofar as is possible the interests of small
business concerns in order to preserve free competitive enterprise, to insure
that a fair proportion of the total purchases and contracts for supplies and
services for the Government be placed with small business enterprises, and
to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of the Nation."
This new agency has set up a branch office in Michigan, Room 620, Federal
Building, 231 West Lafayette Boulevard, Detroit 26. The phone - Woodward 3-9330,
Ext. 517. If there are any further questions drop me a line and I will be as
helpful as possible. The Small Business Administration has put out a booklet,
"SBA - What It Is, What It Does," which my office can supply tc those interested.
Visitors - Mr. R. C. Venema and his family from Grand Rapids and Stan
Dashew, formerly of Grand Rapids, but now a resident of California.
LIBRARY
FOR RELEASE January 14, 1954
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW
By Gerald R. Ford, Jr., M. C.
The Congressional cloakroom comment appears favorable in the days after
President Eisenhower's State of the Union Message. During the speech there was
thunderous applause when Ike recommended the forfeiture of American citizenship
for anyone convicted in a court of advocating the overthrow of the government
of the United States. Throughout the speech the audience reception in the House
Chamber was far better than has been the case in the past. Hower, the Democrats
did sit on their hands on quite a few occasions when their Republican colleagues
across the aisle applauded generously. Such an attitude of course is under-
standable and undoubtedly healthy in our two-party system in the United States.
It should be interesting to know that the House Republican leadership
took immediate action to implement the President's recommendations. Ike finished
his State of the Union address at approximately 1:30 p.m. At 3 P. m. a Republican
conference was held for all G. O. P. members of the House of Representatives
for the sole purpose of uniting behind President Eisenhower's program. In
addition it was indicated that there would be a full and immediate Congressional
work schedule so that the legislative mill would be productive from the very
beginning of the session. This G. O. P. conference was an excellent follow-through
of the recent conclaves at the White House where the President and Congressional
leaders laid the ground-work for maximum cooperation during the session.
Several weeks ago it was announced that two U. S. Army divisions would
be withdrawn from Korea. Many Democrats in the Congress have strongly criti-
cized bringing these American GIs home. President Eisenhower in his State of
the Union message explained and defended this decision to reduce a portion of
our military forces in Korea by stating that "our armed forces must regain maxi-
mum mobility of action. Our strategic reserves must be centrally placed and
readily deployable to meet sudden aggression against ourselves and our allies."
Apparently the Democrats favor retaining maximum U. S. Army strengh in
Korea and do not approve of the Presidential and Republican leadership dedsion
to bring back approximately 40,000 American GIs. From all the information at
hand I intend to approve the decision to reduce our Army troops in Korea and to
back up Ike 100 per cent despite Democrat objection.
FORD a LIBRARY
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW, Page 2
Members of Congress on the Appropriations Committee anxiously ewait
the President's Budget Message scheduled for submission on January 2lst. Until
that date no details will be available but the President in his State of the
Union speech did point out one important fact that is vital in achieving federal
fiscal responsibility. The Federal budget for the next fiscal year will keep
appropriations below estimated revenues in order to continue to reduce the tre-
mendous accumulation of heretofore unfinanced obligations incurred by Uncle Sam
under the previous administration. If the President and the Congress continue
to appropriate less than our estimated revenue, in the near future the $80
billion backlog of unfinanced appropriations inherited from the previous adminis-
tration can be substantially reduced and properly brought under control.
As further evidence of the economy efforts of the Republican Administration
Ike also pointed out the spending level of the Treasury has been cut back over
$12 billion below the Truman program in less than two years. Such emphasis and
concentration on reducing federal appropriations and expenditures justifies a
reduction in the tax burden.
The President in his budget message intends to submit 25 specific recom-
mendations for tax revision and readjustment. He has mentioned one already,
namely more liberal tax treatment for dependent children who work. Apparently
this Presidential proposal will conform in purpose and intent with my bill,
H. R. 4156, which I sponsored March 23,1953.
The applause was terrific both from the gallery and the chamber when
President Eisenhower stated "I am flatly opposed to the socialization of medicine."
This forthought statement on this controversal subject matter is another change
that has taken place under Ike's leadership. The President does believe,
however that the federal government should continue its financial aid in medical
research to win the battle against such mortal diseases as cancer, polio and
others. Federal assistance was also proposed to encourage the development of
adequate facilities for the chronically ill, diagnostic centers and rehabilita-
tion facilities. Full details on the President's health proposals will be
spelled out in a message schedled for January 18th.
To summarise the State of the Union Message one could honestly contend It
was a strong umiddle-of-the-roads program for a stronger America "Where every
citizen has good reason for bold hope; where effort is rewarded and prosperity
is shared; where freedom expands and peace is secure."
FOR RELEASE January 21, 1954
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW
by Gerald R. Ford, Jr,, M. C.
Recently a headline in one of the leading national magazines stated, "Atom Bomb
Can Be Stopped." The article went on to state, "Weapons in production--not just
dream weapons of the futre--are capable of halting an attack on U. S. by enemy
bombers."
A few days ago I saw first hand sev eral demonstration and test firings of the
newest American rockets and guided missiles at the Army's White Sands Proving Grounds
in New Mexico. As the guest of General Matthew Ridgway, Chief of Staff for the Army,
it was most encouraging to witness on-the-spot firings of the Honest John, the Army's
large rocket, the Corporal, an Army surface-to-surface guided missile, and the NIKE,
an Army missile recently released by the Department of Defense as the first combat-
ready surface-to-air guided missile system. The NIKE, a potent aircraft killer, was
launched during the tests at a drone aircraft through a heavy overcast in order to
demonstrate the missile's all-weather capabilities. Previous test firings actually
shot down high-flying planes in a simulated attack.
It was an impressive and reassuring demonstration. If I were the pilot of an
enemy aircraft with the mission of dropping bombs on an American city I would not
feel too comfortable about flying in any area protected by NIKE installations.
In addition, these tests proved that, 1) the Army is developing and using the
newest and finest technical weapons and equipment, 2) the Department of Defenge under
Secretary of Defense Charles Wilson is getting more and better national defense for
less dollars and 3) the Army by the use of such weapons will be able to increase
substantially its firepower with less manpower.
A few days ago President Eisenhower submitted to the House and Senate his legis-
lative recommendations for new and better programs for agriculture and labor and
management. Both Presidential messages were the result of long and intensive study
and analysis. Undoubtedly there will be conscientious objection to certain specific
suggestions contained in Ike's proposals and if so, I would appreciate any such
comments from Kent and Ottawa counties on these two problems. Both matters will be
before the appropriate House and Senate committees for action in the weeks ahead and
subsequently on the floor of the House for our consideration. Most certainly your
observations, comments and suggestions on these controversial and complicated
issues will be gratefully received.
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW, Page 2
For more than a generation, a bayonet-bearing military guard has been posted
around the Capitol grounds when the President delivered his State of the Union
Message to a joint session of the House and Senate. This year at President Eisen-
hower's personal request the military guard was absent.
The Senate for its first major order of business launched debate on the St.
Lawrence Seaway bill and Senators Homer Ferguson and Charles Potter of Michigan were
in the forefront fighting for approval of this long-delayed and highly essential pro-
ject. From all appearances the St. Lawrence Seaway will be okayed by the Senate
and if so, our two Michigan Senators deserve commendation for their efforts. For
all practical purposes the proposal has unfortunately languished in the legislative
pigeon-hole for the past 20 years until this Congress took the "bull by the horns."
If the Senate approves the bill the prospects for affirmative action by the House
of Representatives will be immeasurably improved. There may be some in Michigan who
oppose this project but we must remember that if the Congress does not approve the
necessary authorizing legislation in 1954, Canada will build the St. Lawrence project
on its own and then afterwards charge us tolls for using the locks and channels for
our shipping. It would be far more economical for the United States to join in
the actual construction of the project; then we will have something to say about
its management and the tolls to be charged.
The question is often asked, "What is the current status of legislation which
was approved by the House or Senate but not by the other during the 1953 session of
Congress?"
Here is the answer. All legislation introduced during the first session of a
Congress remains "alive" or pending, during the second session. Though bills and
resolutions remain "alive" from one session to the next, they do not carry over
from one Congress to another and must be reintroduced in order to receive considera-
tion.
VISITORS.- Mr. Claude Verduin of Grand Haven and Miss Mary K. Boland of Grand
Rapids.
FOR RELEASE January 28, 1954
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW
By Gerald Rs Ford, Jr., Mm C.
January 20, 1954 marked the anniversary of President Eisenhower's inaugu-
ration. What are the overall first-year accomplishments of Ike and his Republican
teammates in the House and Senate? Representative Charles Halleck, majority
party leader in the House of Representatives made the following comments in a
speech congratulating the President for his wonderful record and achievements:
"In international affairs, the United States has seized the initiative for
peace. The shooting in Korea has been halted, and we have challenged the Soviet
to join us in an endeavor to turn atomic energy into pursuits of peace instead
of concentrating exclusively on war. The U. S. has worked out a new military
strategy that will make us strong and keep us strong for a long period of time
if necessary without subjecting us to ever-increasing taxes and the risk of
national bankruptcy. The free world as a whole has taken heart and is growing
daily in strength and purpose.
"Here at home, we have enjoyed the most prosperous year in our history.
On January 1, 1954, taxes were lowered, and a substantial increase in both
individual and business spending power was injected into the economy. A new
spirit of efficienty and service permeates the federal government as waste and
unnecessary expense are eliminated. New appropriations were cut by $14 billion,
and additional reductions will be made this year.
"Honesty, integrity and devotion to the national well being have become
the watchwords of government employment. The Reds, pinks, and other security
risks have been weeded out just as fast as they were uncovered."
A year ago Speaker of the House Joe Martin said, "I think we will find
not only a willingness but a will by the new Chief Executive to re-establish the
proper working relationship between the Executive and Legislative branches." That
prediction has proved entirely accurate. Every member of the Congress is grateful
for this new spirit of teamwork because we all realize that the American system
of checks and balances is the foundation of our liberties.
The big news in Washington is the new federal budget submitted by the
President and I am particularly interested because as a member of the Appropriations
Committee your Congressman will be analyzing its complex details for the next few
months. At the outset one must be impressed by the fact that government spending
FORD
LIBRARY
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW - Page 2
next year will be more than $12 billion under the expenditures proposed last year
by former President Truman and billion under the current expenditures for
this fiscal year. In addition another 33,000 will be cut off the federal payroll
and Congress itself will undoubtedly dig a little deeper in this regard.
The President accompanied the estimates of expenditures and revenues with
a special message setting forth a broad program of 25 tax relief and revision
recommendations. If adopted by Congress, the Admiristration's proposed changes in
the revenue laws would benefit individual taxpayers and corporations with
estimated tax savings of $1.25 billion in fiscal 1955 and eventful relief total-
ing 2 billion dollars annually.
Major recommendations included changing the filing date for income tax
returns from March 15 to April 15, increased tax reductions for medical expenses,
a start toward elimination of the double taxation of dividends by reducing the
taxes stockholders now pay, deduction of certain child care expenses incurred by
working mothers, allowance of children earning more than $600 a year as dependents
for income tax purposes, allowance of foster children as dependents, liberalized
tax treatment of "heads of families" income, and more liberal tax reductions for
farmers.
All members of Congress receive a copy of the budget and when our's
arrived for comparative purposes I hauled out the one submitted last year by
Mr. Truman. Superficially they look the same but the content is far different.
1 n contrast with the past the Eisenhower budget reduces appropriations, cuts
federal taxes and eliminates more employees from the federal payroll. Ike's
budget indicates an era of federal fiscal responsibility which should give new
hope and faith in the strength and prosperity of America.
VISITORS - Mr. Lawrence H. Feenstra, Mr. Floyd A. Thornton, Mr. Herbert
VanderKlipp, and Mr. Louis W. Weil, Jr. all of Grand Rapids, Mr. Seymour K.
Pavnos of Holland and Mr. Lew Bercy of Cheboygan.
FOR, RELEASE February 4, 1954
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW
By Gerald R. Ford, Jr., M. C.
This past week the Nation's Capital had as its honored guest the President
of Turkey, Celal Bayar. After the usual formalities President Bayar addressed a
Joint Session of the House and Senate. He was in Washington primarily to discuss
military policy with President Eisenhower.
President Bayar epitomizes the new Turkey that has become an anti-Commur.ist
stronghold and an excellent example of emerging democracy. The Turks bow to no one
in their aversion and opposition to Communism. They have repeatedly defied the
Kremlin. Russia wanted control of the Dardanelles. Turkey said NO and it's
emphatic reply chilled the leaders behind the Iron Curtain. Turkey demanded the
right to participate in the defense of the free world as a member of NATO and has
joined with Greece and Yugoslavia in an anti-Soviet defense pact. The Tarks were
the first to volunteer fighting forces in Korea. The Turkish brigade of 5000 was
credited with preventing the complete encirclement of the 8th Army when the Red
Chinese entered the Korean War.
The warmth of the reception given Turkey's President reflects the respect
and appreciation America has for a staunch and steadfast friend. The anti-Soviet
record of the Turks is based on action not words.
Twenty private experts will work during this session with the House Committee
on Appropriations on "Operation Economy." Following the same approach it used last
year when it cut $14 billion from the Truman budget, the House Appropriations Com-
mittee will bring in specialists from private business organizations to help in
pruning the Federal budget.
Committee Chairman John Taber announced January 24 that he has enlisted the
aid of a group of 20 business and professional experts plus 16 budget specialists
from the General Accounting Office to help his committee examine Government money
requests. This action is being taken with the full knowledge and cooperation of
the President.
Chairman Taber said the objective of "Operation Economy" is to make a
systematic and intelligent examination of the budget of the Federal agencies.
He added: "We are examining the appropriations and expenditures of all de,art-
ments in an effort to find significant items that may be decreased or canceled
without damage either to our national defense or to the essentials of the daily
FORD
living of our American people."
LIBRARY
Page 2
Last year, Congressman Taber set up 15 task forces manned by 80 of the
country's foremost business and management experts to assist the committee in
trimming the Truman budget. These engineers, certifiedpublic accountants, researchers
and business executives worked with our committee for from one to five months, and
found innumerable instances of waste, inefficiency and unnecessary expense that
had built up during the previous 20 years in the departments and agencies. With
the reports of these task forces to guide them, Members of the House were able to
cut substantial sums from the budget while maintaining and strengthening essential
Government services.
With the atmosphere filled with charges and counter charges about which of
the two major political parties has the best record on fighting communism and sub-
version it is appropriate to note the record of President Eisenhower's Department
of Justice in this record. Here's the Republican Justice Department box score in
the last year on the crackdown on subversion.
(1) Jailed 17 Communist leaders under the Smith Act, which forbids conspiracy
to teach and advocate violent overthrow of the government. (2) Indicted 20 Com-
munist leaders, who will be brought to trial this spring. (3) Caught five of the
fugitive top Communists in this country, brought them back into court, and sentenced
them. (4) Indicted 12 Reds for making false statements under the Taft-Hartley
Labor act or other federal laws. (5) Brought 12 new Communist groups before the
Subversive Activities Control Board for action. (6) Brought deportation proceedings
against 714 subversive aliens, of whom 219 already have been deported.
An important committee meeting to determine the fate of the St. Lawrence
Seaway is scheduled for Wednesday, February 3rd. The Committee on Public Works
on that date will approve or pigeon-hole this long-needed legislation. For the
past 20 years there has been considerable talk about the need and necessity of
this project but no affirmative action. From all reports the Committee on Public
Works with the full support of the White House will give its okay. If so, another
milestone in this long struggle will have been passed.
VISITORS: Mr. and Mrs. W lliam Kueken of Grand Haven; Mr. Orville A. Munkwitz
of Holland; Mr. John C. Coffee, Mrs. Frances Wilbur, Mrs. Maude E. Fry, and Mrs.
Paul Goebel all of Grand Rapids.
FOR RELEASE February 11, 1954
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW
By Gerald R. Ford, Jr., M. C.
This past week the legislative mill was grinding along at top speed. My
Committee on Appropriations for the Army, Navy, and Air Force had as witnesses
Secretary of Defense Wilson, Admiral Radford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
and other top military and civilian authorities. In addition there was debate
and voting on proposed legislation to authorize Chicago to divert more Lake Michigan
Water down the drainage canal.
Along with the regular routine the Atomic Energy Commission showed members
of the House and Senate a film of the first hydrogen bomb explosion. President
Eisenhower in an introductory statement to the Congressmen had this to say:
"Operation IVY-the first full-scale thermonuclear explosion in history--
took place at the Island of Eniwetok in the autumn of 1952. The test was conducted
by the Atomic Energy Commission and the Department of Defense as a necessary first
step in the hydrogen weapon program of the United States. At that time it repre-
sented the farthest advance of research and development in nuclear weapons.
"This explosion, dwarfing the atomic explosions of World War II, was but
a stage in the steady improvement of our nuclear weapons. These improvements will
be continued--in the hope that our weapons will deter war, and in the determination
that we shall be able to retaliate immediately, with crushing force, if war should
come.
"In nuclear explosions, enormous amounts of energy are in an instant released--
and as quickly lost to the service of man. As our atomic weapons steadily improve
the United States will continue to strive patiently and prayerfully to speed the
day when this gigantic energy shall become exclusively the servant of peace--a
tireless benefactor bringing greater health, comfort, and happiness to all men,
women and children on earth."
In recent testimony before one of the sub-committees of the Committee on Appro-
priations the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission testified that petween
January 1, 1953 and December 31, 1953 the net reduction in the federal payroll was
approximately 207,000 employees. The twelve-month saving to the American taxpayer
was just about $828 million. The biggest cutback came in the Department of Defense
where federal civilian employment in calendar year 1953 was reduced slightly over
150,000. Secretary of Defense Wilson explained to our committee that this siscable
USE
reduction in civilian employees was accomplished without hurting the military
LIBRARY
capabilities of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Actually everyone agrees that the
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW Page 2
Pentagon and its world-wide subsidiaries are being operated more efficiently and
economically with this reduction in personnel.
What's the government doing about coffee prices? Here's the box score on
that problem: (1) On January 13th the Federal Trade Commission started a prelimi-
nary investigation to find out what was making coffee prices soar. (2) On January 27
President Eisenhower announced that FTC's preliminary investigation showed the need
for a full-scale inquiry which the President ordered. The President said FTC would
determine whether any law has been vi olated and would publish all the facts
in an economic report. (3) On February 1 six of the FTC's top investigators, lawyers
and economists opened their investigation in New York. FTC Chairman Edward Howrey
promised a swift crackdown on any trade-law violations that might come to light.
(4) On February 2 the Senate Agriculture Committee began hearings on a bill pro-
viding for Federal supervision of coffee trading. (5) On February 8 a five-man
subcommittee of the Senate Banking Committee is scheduled to open hearings on whether
coffee prices have gone higher in the U. S. than elsewhere because of any discrimi-
nation against the U. S. (6) On January 22 Attorney General Herbert Brownell, Jr.
announced the Department's Anti-Trust Division was studying a number of complaints
on the increase in coffee prices.
Practically every day Members of Congress receive in the mail periodic reports
from various federal agencies, bureaus and departments. It would be an impossible
job to read them all in detail but the other day the annual report of the National
Labor Relations Board brought out some interesting and encouraging facts.
For example, the NLRB in fiscal year 1953 acted on more cases and with greater
speed than in any other year since it was created. The five-member board and the
general counsel reduced the average time for processing collective bargaining election
cases from an average of 90 days in the fiscal year 1952 to a record low of 60
days by the end of fiscal year 1953. The average time for processing unfair labor
practice cases was cut from 447 days in the fiscal year 1952 to 350 days by the end
of fiscal 1953--a reduction of 29 per cent. The report shows that the board issued
3,053 decisions in contested cases, or 24 per cent more than in 1952. In the field
of unfair labor practices, the board issued an all-time record of 526 decisions--
a jump of 42 per cent over the 1952 per cent. George J. Bott, the board's general
counsel, said that 950 complaints charging violation of the law had been issued
by his office, another all-time record.
FOR RELEASE February 25, 1954
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW
By Gerald R. Ford, Jr., M. C.
By now the so-called "new look" for the Department of Defense has been exposed
rather broadly to the public as a whole. Some Democrat critics are concerned with
the reduction in Army personnel and the return of two Army divisions, about 40,000
G.Is, from Korea. There seems to be unanimity in both political parties on the
plans for the Navy and Air Force. General Nathan F. Twining, Air Force Chief of
Staff, recently said that he is "happy over the "new look" defense program because
his department for the first time has a sound and constructive long-range program
and no longer will there have to be the necessity to plan for all-out war no
later than tomorrow.
In the past few weeks I have been listening in committee to the "closed-
door" testimony of most of our top military experts. The consensus is that Uncle
Sam would be a mighty potent military force any way you look at it. One way to
compare our strength is to see what the United States had in 1950 just before the
Korean War and what our nation will have in the future under the military program
proposed by President Eisenhower.
1950
1954 and 1955
Army Divisions
10
17
Regimental Combat Teams
12
18
Anti-aircraft units
48
122
Navy Combat Ships
237
407
Air Force Wings
48
115
Marine Divisions
2
3
Under Ike's program for national defense the United States will be at least
twice as powerful than in the pre-Korean days and when you add in the technological
advances made by military research and development the situation looks even more
satisfactory.
Savings of a few pennies here and a few dollars there quickly snowball into
economies totaling many millions of dollars in the huge federal budget. Here is
a partial list of what has been done in some departments under the new "economy
and efficiency policy."
General Services Administration in Washington installed a pit last summer
for thawing and shaking frozen coal cars in cold months. Saving: five additional
laborers at $1.33 an hour, plus heavy demurrage changes for frozen-up coal cars.
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW Page 2
In the same coal yard, two employes put together out of discarded parts a new
drainage system which ended substantial losses of coal by washing away.
GSA had to arrange shipment of 288 Marine Corps filing cases from Franconia,
Virginia, to Dosage, Georgia. Packing costs were estimated at $2,400. GSA negoti-
ated with a motor carrier to move the cases without packing, and saved the $2,400.
GSA, which formerly operated its own shop in Washington for repairing govern-
ment cars and trucks, has entered into a contract with a number of local garages to
do the same work. Saving: 25 employees at a salary of $95,830 & year.
Commerce Department discovered 146 copies of the Federal budget were being
bought at $6.75 each. Hereafter, Commerce will buy only that part of the budget
which concerns it--at a cost of $1.00 each.
Post Office discovered concrete posts for mail boxes were being shipped from
Baltimore to the West Coast, making a cost of $34.00. Now the posts are being
made on the West Coast at a cost of about $3.50 each.
Post Office discovered the frames of mail trucks were being shipped to
Birmingham, Alabama, for special heat treatment, even though the trucks as origi-
nally manufactured would handle five times the weight they would ever be required
to hold. The practice was stopped. On only one order, the department has now
saved $40,000.
Post Office has discontinued issuance of receipts on insured mail for values
of $5.00 to $10.00. Saving: three cents for each transaction.
Veterans Administration Office in Washington eliminated excess telephone
trunk lines. Saving: $2,100 a year.
This past week the House of Representatives considered and approved with some
reductions the appropriation bill for the Treasury and Post Office Departments. Each
week for the next ten the House will grind out one or two "money bills" and in addi-
tion will take up the tax reduction legislation and the St. Lawrence Seaway proposal.
Currently on the Senate side of the Capitol there is plenty of action on the
Bricker amendment to be followed by consideration of the bill for Hawaaiian statehood.
From now until adjournment, which is expected in July, the legislative mill will grind
steadily and I believe constructively.
FORD
VISITORS: Mr. Orville A. Munkwintz of Holland, Mrs. John C. Coffee, Mrs. Frances
C. Wilber, Mrs. Maud, E. Fry, Mr. and Mrs. I. R. Blandford, all of Grand Rapids.
LIBRARY
FOR RELEASE March 4, 1954
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW
By Gerald R. Ford, Jr., M. C.
Two years ago nineteen members of the House of Representatives, including
your Congressman, wrote General Ike Eisenhower, then in Europe as head of all allied
military forces, urging that he return to the United States and participate in the
political campaign for the Presidential nomination. All of the co-signers of the
letter received a very fine reply which stated he could not leave his important job
at that particular time. Subsequently he did return and you know what happened
thereafter.
On the second anniversary of this joint letter the President invited the
19 Congressmen to the White House for lunch. It was a most informal and pleasant
get-together. During the luncheon someone asked Ike how he enjoyed the political
arena with all its perplexing problems. He laughed and said he "hadn't had too
many years of political experience but in the last 18 months his training had been
pretty intense."
The President very seriously remarked that he was most anxious that the
Congress approve his overall program as submitted to the Congress. Ike quite
obviously believes his recommendation to the House and Senate are sound and con-
structive and when the chips are down will put up a fight for favorable action.
Frankly, it is my impression that all or most of the President's legislative pro-
posals will be enacted prior to adjournment. At the conclusion of the luncheon
Ike remarked that he "hoped that this White House luncheon would be an annual get-
together," and that next year he was "looking forward to reviewing the constructive
results of close cooperation between the White House and the Congress."
The controversy between Senator McCarthy and Secretary of Army Stevens
has made the headlines for the last week. It is a regrettable situation for
both men are in complete agreement that there should be no subversives or security
risks in the Army either in uniform or as civilian employees. Undoubtedly the Army
did not handle the Peress case the way most would prefer. Creaking bureaucratic
procedures are primarily to blame but even this should not be condoned. I think
the Army will admit certain administrative mistakes were made in the Peress case
but we are assured that under new procedures and policies set up by Army Secretary
Stevens the situation will not be repeated.
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW, Page 2
Of course it is within the authority of a duly constituted Congressional
committee to investigate Communist infiltration in any government agency or depart-
ment and it is the duty end responsibility of those in the Executive Branch of the
federal government to cooperate to the fullest extent ineradicating subversive in-
fluences of any sort, anywhere. At the same time there exists a corresponding res-
ponsibility on the part of Congressional committees to concentrate their investi-
gations as to the facts. It is not necessary or desirable to depart from what
actually took place in any given case. If all parties concerned in an investigation,
witnesses as well as interrogators would keep their "eye on the ball" and cooperate
fully in developing the precise details, the atmosphere would be far clearer, the
problems more understandable and concrete results more certain.
Separate and distinct from this I would like to make several observations
and comments. - Bob Stevens, as Secretary of the Army has done an excellent job
in trying to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Army. He has insisted
that the Army do a better job with less money and fewer men and today the Army has
more fine power per man and per dollar expended. In addition, for the first time
in its history because of a new property accounting inventory system the Army knows
exactly what equipment and supplies it has on hand. This new inventory system is
primarily the result of Secretary Stevens' businesslike methods. It will save
millions in the future.
A number of committees of the House are working daily on major legislative
proposals and several are about to report their recommendations. The Committee on
Ways and Means will have the new tax bill before the House shortly. The Committee
on Education and Labor is drafting changes in the Taft-Hartley Act. The Committees
on Appropriations continues to grind out its bills. The Appropriation bill for
the Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce was cut 12 per cent and the others
to follow will undoubtedly have some excess funds removed. Significantly, the first
appropriation for the Treasury and Post Office Departments which passed the House
and is now before the Senate, was cut $50.5 million below the figure for last year.
VISITORS: Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Kueken, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Mead, and Mr. and Mrs.
Albert L. Bradfield, all of Grand Haven; Mrs. Paul Goebel, Mrs. Vernon Gaid, Mrs.
Walter E. Schmeiding, Sr., Miss Ardith Spierling, Mr. Robert L. Hooker, Mr. Richard
P. De Graaf and Mr. Donald E. De Graaf, Mr. Orrie Sluiter, of Grand Rapids; and
Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Bodary of Owasso.
FOR RELEASE March 11, 1954
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW
by Gerald R. Ford, Jr., M. C.
Now that the shooting in the House of Representatives is a matter of
history and the congressmen who were shot by the wild and fanatic Puerto Ricans
are recovering from their wounds one wonders why such an ill-advised and indis-
criminate attempt on the lives of 435 representatives was made. There seems to
be no logical answer except the explanation that these terrorists believe any means
justifies what they seek. Actually the Puerto-Rican Nati nalist Party ha
no
standing or respect among the Puerto Rican people. There are only 500 members out
of a population of over 2 million. The four who actually did the shooting are
natives of Puerto Rico but for several years have been residents of New York City.
Everyone wonders whether the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party has any connec-
tions with the international communist conspiracy. This may be difficult to prove
but certainly the Communists in the past in other instances have used such fanatical
groups for their own diabolical purpose. I can assure you that both the Congress
and the Executive branch of the government intend to investigate this aspect of
the problem most carefully.
It has amazed everyone that more members of the House of Representatives
were not injured and some fatally. The four assailants fired about 30 shots in the
chamber which is a rather confined and unprotected area. For posterity there are
bullet holes all over the place which will serve to remind congressmen of that hectie
day of Monday, March 1st, and in addition should emphasize the often passed-over-
lightly possibility that revolutionary acts "can happen here."
At the time of the shooting your congressman was conducting committee hearings
on the Army budget. The committee room is on the gallery floor of the House chamber
about 75 feet from the particular gallery where the firing took place. The committee
and the Army witnesses heard the shots but of course did not realize immediately
what was going on. Within a minute (my best guess) when our curiosity got the
better of us, we opened the committee door and looked down the capitol corridor
where there was plenty of commotion. By then we realized something extremely serious
had transpired. The gallery guards and capitol police had seized the shooters. I
went to the chamber of the House where Congressman Bentley was lying on the floor
covered with a blanket as he was being given emergency treatment by several doctors
who are members of the House. Let me assure you it gave me a most pecular feeling
to see a good friend and colleague the victim of such a madman attack.
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW Page 2
Fortunately and luckily as of now A1 Bentley appears to be on the road to recovery
but his case should be a forceful reminder that "it can happen here."
The House Committee on Ways and Means has reported a bill to cut all federal
excise taxes to a 10 per cent ceiling as of April lst. Here are some items that
will have the excise tax rate reduced--railroad, bus, and airline tickets, sporting
goods, long-distance phone calls plus many others. The committee did approve
President Eisenhower's request to continue the cooperation income tax at 52 per cent
beyond April 1, when it is scheduled to drop to 47 per cent.
This action in cutting taxes is a good break for taxpayers but it will mean
substantial losses in revenue for the federal treasury. The net result is a need
to cut Uncle Sam's expenditures even deeper if we are to achieve a balanced federal
budget.
This is Red Cross month throughout the United States. The Red Cross is
for the benefit of all the people whether civilian or in the military. In Korea
last August I saw first hand the wonderful work the Red Cross accomplished when our
prisoners of war returned from behind the Iron Curtain. This fine job convinced
me more than ever the need and necessity for my full participation in the Red
Cross program.
VISITORS: Mr. and Mrs. Walter L. Cornell, Mrs. Alice Ferguson, Mrs. Doris
Ferguson, Mrs. Helen F. Sencer, Mrs. Jean C. Turnage, Dr. and Mrs. Clifford T.
Nelson, all of Grand Rapids, and Captain Kenneth E. Quinlan, of Grand Rapids, now
stationed at Randelph Air Force Base, Texas; Mr. Henry Maentz and Mr. Randall
Bosch of Holland.
FORD
LIBRARY
FOR RELEASE March 25, 1954
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW
By Gerald R. Ford, Jr., M. C.
A tax bill, whether it increases or reduces taxes, is always a rough test
for an administration, a political party and a member of Congress. In an election
year the problem is even more difficult because honest and intelligent differences
of opinion can become thoroughly mixed up with "political demagoguery." This
"politically-charged" atmosphere although understandable, seldom leads to the best
solution for the nation as a whole. Fortunately last week the House of Representa-
tives by a close margin measured up to its responsibilities. By a vote of 210 to
204 it followed the sound and honest tax recommendations of President Eisenhower,
The Republicans in this crucial legislative test supported Ike while the Democrat
members of the House voted against the President.
Back in 1952 during the campaign President Eisenhower promised to out federal
taxes. On January 1st of this year the annual federal tax burden was reduced by
$5 billion. Before Congress adjourns this summer the President indicated he would
go along with a $7 billion reduction because the new administration in the past 16
months Has cut Uncle Sam's expenditures by $12 billion. The Democrats in the House
contrary to Ike's recommendation wanted to cut taxes another 2½ billion dollars
thereby adding that much to the treasury deficit and the national debt.
I want everybody to know exactly how your Congressman voted on this important
issue. I supported H. R. 8300 which is the first complete revision and recodifi-
cation of the Internal Revenue Code in many many years. The bill as approved
provides long-overdue tax relief for those living on pensions, particularly school
teachers and municipal employees and gives fairer taxtreatment for heads of familes
plus a broader definition of dependents. The new tax law will help "working mothers"
liberalize medical deductions and permit increased allowance for contributions to
churches, hospitals, and educational institutions. The total annual tax relief in
this tax-revision bill for individual citizens is $778,000,000.
The new revenue bill also gives partial tax relief from the "double taxation"
of dividends. This specific provision primarily helps a thrifty, hard-working person
who has acquired a few shares of stock. Another extremely important provision is
the one that allows the more rapid replacement of obsolete factory machines and
worn out farm equipment and tools. This means the worker in the factory will have
safer and more modern machines on which to work. It also means the factories that
FORD
manufacture machines and tools will have more business and more jobs because American
LIBRARY
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW, Page 2
industry will have an incentive to modernize and deep the production line up to
date.
Corporation tax rates were kept at 52 per cent. Under the tax law approved
in the Democrat Congress in 1951 the corporation tax rate would fall to 47 per cent
in April of this year. By extending the corporation tax at 52 per cent the federal
treasury will receive approximately $1.2 billion in annual revenue which otherwise
would have been lost.
During this past week your Congressman received a lot of advice on how to
vote on this important tax legislation. I read every letter and telegram. Some
accused me of being a stooge of "big business." Others threatened political defeat
if I supported Ike. In contrast many wrote they were for the President and urged
that I help his program. I did.
Your Congressman owns no corporation stock which pays dividends 60 he won't
benefit one bit by the partial elimination of the "double taxation" feature on
dividends. Actually, I voted against my own immediate self interest for the Ford
family tax bill in 1954 would have been cut about $100 if President Eisenhower's
program had been defeated. We as a family could use that money just like any other
household. But, is it honest and decent to pass on to our kids the present-day
obligations of our government, debts which we haven't the courage to pay and which
some want our children and grandchildren to pay for us.
Because I have utmost faith in the good judgment of Americans I disagree
with those who think it is good politics to promise more and more government spending
and at the same time promise more and more tax cuts for all. Although I doubt it,
time may prove me wrong politically but with a clear conscience I can say I did
what I believed to be "right."
VISITORS: Mr. John T. Carlson, Mrs. Erma Noble, and Mr. and Mrs. W. Taggart
and family, all of Grand Rapids, and Mayor Claude Ver Duin of Grand Haven.
LIBRARY