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This document scanned from Box D2 of the Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
June 6, 1962
With Memorial Day coming in the middle of last week, activity in the House of
Representatives was at a slow pace. Meeting for 19 minutes on Monday the House adjourned
until Thursday when it discussed some amendments to the National School Lunch Act. There-
after it adjourned to Monday of this week when bills on the consent calendar were acted
upon. Also scheduled for consideration this week is further action on the School Lunch
bill, extension of the current corporate tax rate, legislation making it a crime to
obstruct an investigation by a federal agency, and a bill relative to armed forces pro-
curement.
THE KERR-MIELS ACT: With all the current emphasis on the King-Anderson proposals,
present benefits from the Kerr-Mills bill enacted into law in 1960 upon the recommendation
of President Eisenhower may be overlooked. This Act provides assistance in meeting
hospital and medical bills for needy persons over 65 whether they are covered by social
security or not. It helps others than those eligible for old age assistance (most of
whose hospital and medical bills are met by OAA) but whose income and net worth are
limited. It is working effectively in Kent and Ottawa Counties.
During 1961 a total of 1,367 persons in the Fifth District received assistance
under the Kerr-Mills Act to the extent of $1,033,613. To be eligible for this help in
Michigan a person must be at least 65 and not receiving old age assistance, have an
annual income not in excess of $1,500 (or $2,500 if married), and have property worth not
more than $1,500 ($2,000 if married) but this property does NOT include the homestead,
clothing and household effects, cash value of life insurance, or the first $1,000 market
value of tangible personal property used in earning income.
The Kerr-Mills Act is administered by the State Department of Social Welfare
through the Kent County Department of Social Welfare (1260 Butterworth, S. W.) and the
Ottawa County Bureau of Social Aid (Holland). Sixty applications were approved in
Ottawa County in 1961 with benefits totaling $22,720.74. During the first five months
of 1962 there have been 45 applications in Ottawa County and 34 were approved. Benefits
received in Ottawa County under the Kerr-Mills Act are now running between $5,000 and
$6,000 a month.
In Kent County last year 1,157 persons were assisted by Kerr-Mills at a cost of
$549,123.46. In addition an average of 150 individuals per month obtained "long-term
medical care" at Maple Grove Facility which was reimbursed by Kerr-Mills funds to the
extent of $461,768.80. This means that a total of $1,010,892.26 was distributed in Kent
County in 1961 under the Kerr-Mills Act.
During the first four months of this year 374 individuals in Kent County were
assisted at a cost of $192,534.14 while just over 200 persons at Maple Grove benefited
to the extent of $203,504.50 from the Kerr-Mills Program.
$11/2 TRILLION IN U. S. DEBTS AND OBLIGATIONS: On Memorial Day Senator Harry Byrd,
Democratic Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee issued a statement explaining that the
U. S. Government in the fiscal year beginning July 1 will have authority to spend funds
and an outstanding federal debt and other commitments of at least $1,242 billion. This
includes a debt subject to limitation of $296 billion, current authority to obligate $188
billion, promises to pay under certain circumstances such as federal insurances and
guaranteed loans of $338 billion, and moral commitments such as to the social security
trust fund, retirement systems, and highway trust fund of $420 billion.
Senator Byrd agreed that some of the obligations are "remote," and that others will
become actual obligations only under unfavorable circumstances but the figures do show
"the Government's obligations and commitments as they exist." However, the Senator also
emphasized the $11/4 trillion figure "is far from complete; it does not include untold
billions in clear and certain commitments for future spending which cannot be calculated."
FEDERAL PRISONERS: The latest annual Report of the U. S. Board of Parole which I
received last week indicates that the number of prisoners housed in 32 federal correctional
institutions has risen about 1,000 in each of the past four years. The average prisoner
population during fiscal 1961 was 24,240. This figure does not include the more than
3,000 federal prisoners serving short sentences in state and local institutions. The adult
federal prisoner population continues to be characterized by a large number who have
committed such crimes as bank robbery, auto theft, and assault. If the total number of
federal prisoners seems small in comparison to the population of our state penitentiaries
we must remember that only violations of federal law are punished in federal courts and
that most criminal acts are covered by state law.
During 1961 the Parole Board conducted 14,001 hearings and granted parole in 34.4
percent of the adult cases. Of particular interest is the following statement from page
11 of the Report: "It is quite evident that practically all prisoners are eventually
returned to the community either with or without supervision. The misconception of much
of the general public to the effect that notorious criminals are 'put away for keeps' ob-
viously is a fallacy. It is to be emphasized that practically all violators return to the
neighborhoods throughout the nation either with or without supervision, depending on the
law and the length of sentence imposed.'
=
During 1961 a total of 8,105 prisoners were released from federal institutions
(6,072 paroled; 2,033 mandatory releases) while during the same year the Board issued
1,241 parole violation warrants. The records show that the first six months following
release is a crucial period with approximately 50 percent of all parole violation warrants
issued during that period.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
June 13, 1962
The House of Representatives passed the amendments to the National School Lunch Act
mentioned last week but only after two days of debate and two roll call votes. I voted
for the bill (H. R. 11665) on final passage when it was approved 370 to 11. The amend-
ments changed the formula for apportionment of federal funds for the school lunch program
among the states and authorized a special fund for areas with particular economic and
financial needs. Under present law, funds are apportioned on the basis of total school-
age population. H. R. 11665 changes this to base the distribution of federal funds on the
number of school lunches served during the previous year and on the "assistance need rate
for the state."
The major dispute arose over who is to determine the "needy areas" which would
receive greater federal assistance. The bill as passed leaves this decision with the
Secretary of Agriculture. Many of us felt that this determination could better and more
properly be made by the State educational agency (in Michigan: State Department of Public
Instruction) according to certain guidelines laid down by the Congress. However, a motion
was defeated 160 to 220 which would have permitted the States rather than the Secretary
of Agriculture to designate the "needy areas" eligible for additional assistance. I voted
to leave this matter to State officials.
CORPORATE AND EXCISE TAXES EXTENDED: The House voted last Wednesday to extend for
another year the present corporate and excises taxes with the exception of the transpor-
tation tax on persons. The present 10 percent tax on tickets for travel on railroads,
buses, or waterways will be continued only until Dec. 31, 1962 when the tax will expire.
The 10 percent tax on airline tickets, however, will remain until Dec. 31 when it will be
reduced to 5 percent for the following six months.
If this legislation (H. R. 11879) does not become law there will be a loss in re-
venue to the Federal Treasury of from $2.7 to $2.9 billion in fiscal 1963 and from $4.0
to $4.3 billion the following year. If the bill is not passed the 52 percent corporate
income tax goes to 47 percent; the tax on distilled spirits would be reduced from $10.50
to $9 per proof gallon, the beer tax from $9 to $8 a barrel, wines taxes by 11 percent,
cigarettes from 8c to 7c a pack, passenger cars from 10 to 7 percent, and telephone service
from 10 percent to no tax.
While all of us would welcome a reduction in federal taxes, the anticipated deficit
for next year of at least $4 billion makes any suggestion of a substantial tax reduction
unrealistic and irresponsible unless there is a corresponding reduction in federal ex-
penditures. It should be elementary that under current conditions federal expenditures
must be curtailed and this can be done by eliminating and cutting back low-priority non-
defense programs and projects. The bill extending the taxes for a year was approved by
a voice vote.
EISENHOWER AND THE KENNEDY BUDGETS: Appropriations in President Kennedy's 1963
budget exceed by $18.4 billion those of Mr. Eisenhower's 1962 budget according to a recent
computation by a House Committee. Four days before he left office President Eisenhower
recommended appropriations in fiscal 1962 of $80.8 billion. A year later President
Kennedy suggested a 1963 budget with spending at $99.3 billion. Both of these amounts
include costs for new legislation contemplated by each budget.
There is an $8.3 billion increase in the Kennedy Budget for military functions in
the Department of Defense but this is less than a 20 percent increase and leaves $10
billion to be otherwise accounted for. The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
accounts for $2.2 billion of the increase with expenditures 55 percent greater than pro-
posed by Ike. NASA is up $2.6 billion for an increase of 240 percent. The Kennedy Budget
requires $800 million more to pay the interest on the public debt (up 9 percent).
Secretary Freeman's Department of Agriculture will cost $917 million more in fiscal
1963 than Mr. Eisenhower proposed for 1962 or an increase of 16 percent. While Mr. Kennedy
proposes to cut our military assistance under Mutual Security from $1.8 billion to $1.5
billion, he suggests spending $1.1 billion more on economic foreign aid or a 54 percent
increase.
All of these expenditures are from current or future tax revenues. With economic
conditions as they are and with federal deficits of $4 to $7 billion assured for this year
and next, it should be abundantly clear that federal expenditures must be curtailed. We
cannot go on spending more and more tax money or borrowed funds.
TO RAISE THE DEBT LIMIT: Scheduled for consideration this week is legislation
to temporarily raise the limit on the national debt to $308 billion for nine months be-
ginning July 1st, to $305 billion from April 1 to June 24, 1963, and then back to $300
billion on June 25, 1963.
While I supported the bill passed by the House on February 20th to raise the debt
limit to $300 billion, I stated in my newsletter of February 28th that we in the Congress
have a "responsibility to encourage the President to make a bona fide effort to curtail
and restrict non-defense expenditures." One means of doing this is to restrict the size
of the public debt. I do not intend to support a $308 limitation but may vote for a lower
figure if the House is given that opportunity.
"AFTER A HUNDRED YEARS:" The 1962 Yearbook of Agriculture is a story on the develop-
ment of agriculture during the past century. Its title is derived from the fact that the
U. S. Department of Agriculture was established a hundred years ago. I have a limited
supply of the 1962 Yearbook available upon request to my office at 351 House Office
Building, Washington, D. C.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
June 20, 1962
The majority leadership of the House of Representatives decided to postpone until Tues-
day of this week action on the omnibus farm bill (H.R.11222) originally scheduled for con-
sideration last week. It became obvious a week ago that the Administration did not have the
votes to pass the bill. More time was needed to line up support among Democrats for this
drastic regimentation on the farmers of America. I know of no Republican member of the
House who intends to vote for this legislative monstrosity.
The bill squeezed out of the Committee on Agriculture by a vote of 18 to 17 with one
proponent publicly stating he would oppose the bill on the floor of the House. This is
especially significant when we note that the Democrats control the Committee 21 to 14.
While this bill is not identical to Secretary Freeman's proposals presented earlier
this year as 10010 which I discussed in my newsletter of March 7, it is the Administra-
tion's plan for expanding the power of the Federal bureaucracy over American agriculture
and further destroying the rights of farmers to use and enjoy their farms. It is not a bill
which I can support.
In this limited space it is impossible to list all the specific weaknesses and injus-
tices of this bill. I do want to mention some objections which are of special interest to
Michigan and to smaller, family-type farmers everywhere:
1. The wheat grown in Michigan does not contribute to the wheat surplus, yet the bill
applies strict controls and further cuts in acreage to Michigan wheat. Michigan produces
soft white and soft red winter wheat which is not in surplus. But the same restrictions are
proposed for Michigan producers of this wheat as for those who grow hard red winter wheat
which while accounting for 52 percent of the total wheat grown in the U.S. in the past decade
made up over 93 percent of the total wheat accumulated by the Government as surplus.
2. Michigan is a state of small wheat farms. In 1960 over 84 percent of our wheat-
producing farms grew 15 acres or less. In that year there were only 64 farms in Michigan
with more than 100 acres of wheat. In the words of the minority report, "this bill is
probably the most harsh and vindictive measure ever aimed at the small wheat farmer. He
is flagrantly discriminated against in voting and in marketing." In order to vote in the
wheat referendum the wheat grower with 15 acres or less must agree in writing to comply
with the farm acreage allotment. If he doesn't promise and doesn't vote, he is still sub-
ject to severe penalties for overplanting his assigned acreage. Furthermore, any producer
who decides to come under the "small farm exemption" provided in the bill loses his right to
sell wheat for food or for export. This is "perhaps the most unfair provision of all"
LIBRARY
according to minority members of the Committee.
3. The Minority Report also shows that these small wheat growers will suffer a loss
in income of $107 million a year if the bill passes. Under present law a grower with an
allotment of 15 acres or less may plant the lower of 131/2 acres or the highest planted acre-
age in 1959, 1960 or 1961. He may sell his wheat in the open market for a price fairly
close to the price support -- for 1962 about $2 a bushel.
Under Sec. Freeman's bill the 13½ acre exemption will end and the small farm base acre-
age will be the 1957-61 average. Any farmer who plants above his allotment will not be eli-
gible for price supports and will not get a certificate to sell wheat for food or export.
These small producers would get about $1.40 per bushel, or 60¢ less than in 1962. This will
mean a loss of nearly $11 million in Michigan where about 60 percent of the farms used the
exemption provision in 1960. It is truly regrettable that the New Frontiersmen can only
suggest further bureaucratic control with accompanying penalties as the way out for small
producers.
4. The bill reimposes acreage allotments and marketing quotas on corn, oats, rye, barley,
and grain sorghum even though they have been proved unworkable in the past and about 80 per-
cent of these grains are feed to animals on the farm where produced. Moreover, severe civil
penalties (fines) would be imposed for violations of the quota limitation ordered for each farm.
5. The referendum open to all larger producers and certain small farmers gives them the
the choice of accepting price supports and production controls or nothing at all except the
threat of having the equivalent of 1/3 billion bushels of feed grains dumped on the market.
This makes a mockery of the referendum process, Under the Kennedy-Freeman farm bill the
farmer's choice in the voting booth is between pressure bureaucratic regimentation or finan-
cial ruin. One can honestly ask - Is this 2. free choice in our American system?
6. As in the case of wheat, thousands of small farmers will not be eligible to vote in
the feed grains referendum unless they promise to comply with the acreage allotment, but in
any event they are subject to penalties (fines) for overplanting their assigned acreage.
This brief description gives some indication of the degree of regimentation suffered by
U.S. farmers and the power of bureaucratic authority over the lives of small producers. The
new bill will compound the evils.
PUBLIC DEBT LIMIT: The House has voted to set the debt limit at $308 billion. This
$8 billion increase over the present limitation was demanded by the Kennedy Administration.
I voted against the $8 billion increase but supported a proposal to put the limit at $306
billion. I recognize the necessity of granting the Treasury Department certain leeway in
managing the public debt and this means a degree of flexibility within a debt ceiling. But
if the debt limitation is to have any meaning at all, it must be recognized as a signal or
warning to the tax-spenders that the tax-payers are calling for a halt to deficit financing.
The President and the Executive Branch of government must take the lead in fiscal responsi-
bility but the Congress which approves spending schemes and appropriates funds must share
in this responsibility.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
June 27, 1962
The American people won a major victory in the House of Representatives last Thursday
when 48 Democrats joined 167 Republicans to kill the Kennedy-Freeman farm bill by a vote of
215 to 205. My primary objections to this legislative monstrosity were outlined in last
week's REVIEW. With two major defeats in two years, it is our hope that the Kennedy Ad-
ministration will now revise its basic thinking on agriculture and come up with an equitable,
constructive, and workable farm bill.
The bill before the House last week was defeated for three reasons. First, because of
its lack of merit. Farmers, consumers, and taxpayers realized that bureaucratic regimenta-
tion of agriculture, federal subsidies, and overflowing storehouses were not the answers to
the "farm problem." Second, the bill would have expanded the area of scandal. Senator
Clinton Anderson, Democrat of New Mexico, who served as Secretary of Agriculture under
President Truman from 1945 to 1948, voted against the bill in the Senate and told his con-
stituents, "Bad farm legislation produces scandals of the Billie Sol Estes type. If it were
not for cotton allotments which are tied to old histories, and for the enormous profits in
storing Government grain which has piled up fantastic levels and costs us $1,400,00 a day
just to store, we wouldn't have such scandals
I have had enough of it, and I think most
Americans feel the same way."
The third reason for defeat involved the resentment felt by many Democrats in the House
toward the terrific pressure exerted on them by Administration spokesmen. When a Post
Office official talks to a Representative not about eight new post offices in his District
but only about the farm bill, the conscientious Representative is resentful. Such examples
of "arm twisting" were all too prevalent during the past week.
SUGAR BILL PASSES: In order to insure an adequate supply of sugar for U. S. consumers
at a reasonable price and to promote and protect the domestic sugar industry, the importa-
tion of sugar is the subject of special legislation. In this legislation the total U.S.
sugar "requirement" of 9.7 million tons is allocated among mainland producers (beet and cane)
Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and foreign producers. Since Castro's take-over of
Cuba, it has been necessary to distribute Cuba's quota of 1.5 million tons to other pro-
ducers. This fact multiplied the problems in the current legislation which had to be en-
acted promptly because the present law expires this Saturday.
The bill as passed by the House extends the Sugar Act to December 31, 1966 and assigns
almost 60 percent of our sugar needs to domestic producers. The total domestic quotas are
increased by about 625,000 tons or 12 percent.
IBRARI
A major issue which brought about a roll-call vote involved a provision put into the
bill by the Committee on Agriculture to refund $22.7 million to three sugar companies which
were authorized to import additional sugar to the U. S. from the Dominican Republic in 1960-61
due to the cut-back of Cuba's allotment. Because the U.S. did not want Dictator Trujillo's
government to realize additional profit from the difference between world market prices and
the higher prices paid on the American market for sugar, an import fee of 2½C a pound was
placed on sugar imported from the Dominican Republic. Three foreign companies which paid
the fee ($22.7 million) are suing our Government for a refund in the U.S. Court of Claims.
I supported a motion to eliminate the provision from the bill because the matter is
presently before the Court of Claims for determination. The Department of Justice states it
has a valid defense and may win the case. The Congress should not provide these companies
with a windfall. Nor should Congress deprive the taxpayers of an opportunity to win a case
which the Justice Department feels can be won, thus saving millions of dollars. But the
motion to delete this provision lost 174 to 222.
Michigan Republicans (Rep. Hoffman and Bennett were absent) voted to strike out the
$22.7 million refund. All Michigan Democrats except Rep. Diggs voted to pay $22.7 million
to the three sugar companies.
COUNTERFEIT RECORDS: Passed unanimously last Monday under Consent Calendar proceedings
was H.R. 11793, a bill making it a federal offense to ship counterfeit phonograph records
from one state to another. The Committee on the Judiciary reported that over $20 million
worth of counterfeit records were sold in 1960. The counterfeiter obtains a legitimate
phonograph record of a popular song or arrangement manufactured by a reputable concern. He
makes copies of the recording and the label and sells these counterfeits as the genuine
product of the manufacturer whose label he has appropriated. This means that the consumer
may purchase a mechanically imperfect product even though he selects a well-known and re-
putable brand name.
The House has endorsed the judgment of its Committee on the Judiciary that present
state laws against this reprehensible practice are not adequate. If H.R. 11793 becomes
law, the power of the Federal Government may be used against those who knowingly and with
fraudulent intent transport or sell counterfeit records in interstate commerce.
NO TIN IN PENNIES: If legislation recommended by the House Committee on Banking and
Currency becomes law the last traces of tin will disappear from our one-cent pieces. Present
law specifies that our "pennies" be 95 percent copper and 5 percent tin and zinc. Originally
these coins contained 4 percent tin and 1 percent zinc. Of late less and less tin has been
used; to keep within the law, current one-cent pieces contain one-tenth of 1 percent tin.
During 1961 the U.S. Mint produced about 2.5 billion one-cent pieces using about
17,200 pounds of tin. Tin presently costs $1.16 a pound whereas zinc costs about 12c. The
elimination of tin from our "penny" would therefore save about $18,000 annually in the
manufacture of the one-cent piece. The requirement that tin be included in the alloy for
the "penny" was based primarily upon the tradition that minor coins should be of bronze and
that bronze consisted of copper and tin only. However today, many alloys designated as
bronze contain no tin.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
July 4, 1962
The controversial "Trade Expansion Act of 1962" was approved by the House of Repre-
sentatives last Thursday by a vote of 299 to 125. While I supported the bill on final
passage, I also voted to recommit the bill to Committee and extend the present law for
another year. This motion was defeated 171 to 253. Under the closed or "gag" rule pro-
ceedings this was the only practical way I could express my strong dissatisfaction with
certain provisions of the bill and at the same time endorse the principles of, and the
overall policy relating to, our reciprocal trade program. Had the recommital motion pre-
vailed, we would have had the opportunity before final enactment to remedy some of the
weaknesses in the bill. But when this failed, and the issue was between the trade bill
at hand or none at all, I supported the bill in principle if not in specifics.
EXTENDING THE LAW ON DEFENSE PRODUCTION: Because the Defense Production Act ex-
pired on June 30, it was necessary to extend the Act which helps to insure that critical
defense materials will be available on an equitable basis to contractors and subcontractors,
and which assists contractors in securing working capital and equipment for production to
keep pace with new developments in weapons systems. A majority of the Committee on
Banking and Currency recommended an extension of the Act plus five amendments which would
have drastically revised the existing law. All Republican members of the Committee ob-
jected vigorously to the amendments and proposed a simple extension of the Act.
When the bill reached the floor of the House of Representatives last Monday, the
Democratic Chairman immediately sought permission to withdraw all the amendments. This
was done and the bill passed 327 to 0.
Among other things these unsound amendments would have permitted sales of our
surplus minerals and metals on the foreign market at a price lower than they could be
sold in the U. S., would have initiated another back-door financing scheme and further
distorted the cost of the program by disregarding the interest charges, and would have
given Fidel Castro a propaganda weapon by writing off the U. S. investment in the Nicaro
Nickel Plant in Cuba as a "nonrecoverable expense." The Republican Committee members
said, "Instead of the Congress giving tacit approval of this highjacking action by the
government of Cuba, the Congress should make crystal clear that although temporarily the
plant may be in the custody of the Government of Cuba, that Government will be held
strictly accountable for this investment of the United States in that nickel plant in
Cuba." Fortunately the Republican position prevailed and none of the amendments was
adopted.
EXTENDING THE LAW ON EXPORT CONTROLS: The Export Control Act, also scheduled to
expire last Saturday, would be extended for three years if H. R. 11309, approved by the
House on June 25th, becomes law. This Act provides for the regulation and control of
U. S. exports moving directly or indirectly to the Sino-Soviet bloc or to other unfriendly
nations. The principal controls at present consist of (1) an embargo on exports tc Com-
munist China, North Korea, and North Vietnam; (2) an embargo on exports to Cuba of every-
thing except unsubsidized foodstuffs, medicines, and certain medical supplies; (3) broad
and stringent controls over exports to the USSR and its European satellites; (4) limited
reductions on certain military items to the Congo, and (5) limited controls over exports
to the free world in order to protect against diversion or trans-shipment of goods to the
Soviet bloc.
In addition to extending the Act, H. R. 11309 contains amendments to strengthen the
enforcement of the law, The bill passed the House by a vote of 339 to 0.
VACCINATION ASSISTANCE ACT: By a voice vote the House passed H. R. 10541, a bill
authorizing the appropriation of $36 million during the next three years to carry out a
mass immunization program against polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus. While
there was little objection to the general purpose of the legislation, i.e., to immunize
practically all susceptible persons in the community and particularly children under 5
years of age, discussion in the "Congressional Record" ran to 15 pages. Some members con-
tended that there is doubt as to the present need of the legislation, that the $36 million
was insufficient for any significant mass program, that states should provide matching
funds, and that the Federal Government should supply the vaccine but not pay local and
state employees to promote and administer the program. But in the end approval was given
without a recorded vote.
PRAYER IN SCHOOL: The "Congressional Record" for the past week has been replete
with comments relative to the Supreme Court's decision on the use of a voluntary non-
sectarian prayer in the public schools. Many members of Congress, both Democrats and
Republicans, expressed vigorous disagreement with the position taken by six members of the
Court. Legislation has been introduced to overrule this decision by an amendment to the
Constitution.
I will support legislation, requiring a 2/3 vote in each house of Congress, to
permit the people of the United States to pass on this important issue through their state
legislatures or by means of specially elected state conventions. Favorable action by 3/4
of the states can amend the Constitution to overrule the Supreme Court. This is the con-
stitutional means by which the people of the United States may exercise their sovereignty.
I would vote to give them that opportunity.
Personally I was favorably impressed with the dissenting opinion of Justice Potter
Stewart who wrote, "I think the Court has misapplied a great constitutional principle."
After citing numerous reasons for upholding the New York law, Justice Stewart summarized
the matter by quoting a statement of the Court enunciated only ten years ago: "We are a
religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being."
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
July 11, 1962
The House of Representatives met Saturday afternoon, June 30th, and was again in
session from noon until 7:38 p.m. the following Monday largely because of the necessity
of continuing legislation due to expire on the last day of June. The most important and
controversial issue involved the Sugar Act and specifically the distribution of the quota
formerly assigned to Cuba.
The Senate's version of the bill varied considerably from that of the House. A
Conference Committee composed of Representatives and Senators worked out a compromise.
On Saturday afternoon this Conference Report was accepted by the House by a vote of 248
to 31. The Senate was not in session on Saturday and did not approve the Conference
Report until Monday evening. Because of extended debate in the Senate, the House recessed
for about two hours Monday evening (rather than adjourning) in case the Senate rejected
the Conference Report and further compromise was necessary. But the Senate agreed, and
the House adjourned three minutes after it reconvened following the recess.
On Monday the House also voted 293 to 5 to extend the present law providing for a
55 percent limit on the federal subsidy for cargo ship construction and conversion with
a 60 percent limit for passenger ships. Under this legislation the Government assists in
the construction and refurbishing of cargo and passenger ships by supplying funds to meet
a percentage of the difference in costs between the U. S. and foreign shipbuilders.
By a vote of 281 to 14 the House also approved a bill to authorize an increase in
the appropriation for the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands from $7.5 million to
$17.5 million. The lower figure was established in 1954 and since then there have been
significant developments among the 78,000 inhabitants of the 96 island groups comprising
the Marshall, Caroline, and Mariana Islands (except Guam) over which the U. S. has trustee-
ship. The Committee handling the bill pointed out that while substantial progress had
been made, it is becoming necessary to rebuild worn out utilities, docks, air strips,
hospitals, and schools. The $17.5 million per year is an authorization limit only. The
final amount will be determined by the appropriation process.
RADIO LEGISLATION: Two measures relating to radio broadcasting were passed by the
House last Monday. The first would authorize daytime radio stations located in areas not
served by full-time stations to begin broadcasting at least by 6:00 a.m. instead of at
sunrise only. Some daytime stations in such areas should begin as early as 4:00 a.m.
With special permission from the Federal Communications Commission, daytime stations in
areas served by full-time stations may, under this bill, begin their broadcast day before
sunrise if they cause no harmful interference to other stations.
Because under normal circumstances radio waves travel farther at night than in the
daytime, greater interference by one station with another occurs at night. To provide
ample local radio service while keeping interference at a minimum, FCC grants some radio
station licenses for daytime (sunrise to sunset) broadcasting only. About one-half of
the 3,400 standard broadcaststations licensed by FCC are authorized for daytime only.
This means that about 50 percent of the radio stations have a variable broadcast day and
some may lose four to six hours per day during the winter season.
Many daytime stations asked for set hours such as 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. but the Committee
on Interstate and Foreign Commerce which recommended the bill (H. R. 4749) compromised by
authorizing only presunrise operation. The Committee was impressed with the arguments
in favor of providing an adequate local early morning radio service in small communities
and rural areas. It also was convinced that there would be less interference in the pre-
sunrise hours than in the evening.
More controversial was H. Res. 714, a measure expressing 'the sense of the House of
Representatives" that the FCC could authorize the "clear-channel" stations to use power
greater than the 50 kilowatts presently permitted. In this Resolution the intention is
to provide adequate night-time radio service to all Americans from powerful clear-channel,
metropolitan stations. Presently there are 25 class I-A clear-channel stations in the
U. S. Rep. John Bennett of Michigan, senior minority member of the Committee reporting
the bill said that to increase the power of some of these stations "will do considerable
good for millions of people whose only night-time radio service is from the clear-channel
stations. "
This Resolution does not have the force of law and the final decision in any given
request for additional braodcasting power will rest with the FCC. It is not the intention
of the House to promote radio interference but rather to provide more radio coverage in
those areas not adequately served at present. I voted for the Resolution which passed
198 to 87.
COST OF FREEDOM RISES: The House has also approved a bill to increase from $30 to
$100 the amount which may be provided by the government to federal prisoners discharged
from custody or released on parole. Approval was requested by the Attorney General who
stated that the purpose of the gratuity is to enable the released prisoner to support
himself until he receives his first pay from a job, and that the present $30 maximum,
established in 1944 is inadequate.
Gratuities are not fixed nor automatic. Each case is considered individually ac-
cording to need. In 1961 only 8,701 of the 16,727 prisoners released were paid gratui-
ties totaling $163,785. This is an average of less than $10 per released prisoner and
less than $20 per released prisoner receiving a gratuity The Department of Justice says
no additional appropriation will be requested to pay the larger gratuity in 1963.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
July 18, 1962
An authorization bill of $3.6 billion for the mutual security program was approved
by the House of Representatives last Thursday by a vote of 250 to 164. The final dollar
amount to be appropriated for this program will, however, be determined following hearings
and action by the Committee on Appropriations and further approval by the Congress.
Because I am convinced that basically our mutual security program contributes to
our own national defense and to the security of the free world, I voted with the majority
on the authorization bill.
One of the major items of discussion during three days of debate concerned aid to
Poland and Yugoslavia and other Communist-dominated nations. The Administration wanted
authority to provide some economic assistance (not military aid) to certain of these
countries. The Senate recently restricted such assistance to surplus agricultural products.
The House gave the President discretionary authority to provide assistance to these
countries but only when the President determines and reports to Congress that (1) such
assistance is vital to the security of the U. S., (2) the recipient country is not con-
trolled by the international Communist conspiracy, and (3) the U. S. aid will help promote
that country's independence from international Communism.
NON-SERVICE-CONNECTED VETERANS' PENSION: Rep. Olin Teague, Chairman of the House
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, has announced that about August 1st his committee will
conduct public hearings on the operation of the non-service-connected pension programs of
the Veterans Administration. Hearings were held on the same subject in July 1961 at which
time the staff of the committee was directed to make a thorough study of these programs.
These studies are about completed.
Furthermore, one bill before the committee, H. R. 3745, is the subject of a
discharge petition which by a recent count contained the names of 201 members of the House.
If 219 members sign this petition, it will be in order for the House of Representatives
to take up H. R. 3745 without further action by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs or the
Committee on Rules. To date the Committee on Veterans' Affairs which has initial juris-
diction over the bill has refused to report it to the House for consideration.
H. R. 3745, and many similar bills, would grant a tax-free pension of $102.37 per
month to those who served at least 90 days in the armed forces during World War I. There
is no requirement that the veteran be disabled in any degree, nor that he be unemployable.
There is an income limitation of $2,400 for a single veteran and $3,600 for a married man
BUT social security benefits and income from railroad retirement and any other public or
private annuity or pension plans would not be counted as income.
Rep. Teague has made the following observations relative to H. R. 3745:
(1) At the present time a non-service-connected pension is available to a 65-year-
old married veteran with an income of $3,000 or less and to a single veteran with an
income of less than $1,800.
(2) By 1963, half of the 2,400,000 living World War I veterans will be receiving
pensions under present law. During this fiscal year an average of 1,090,200 World War I
veterans and 483,900 widows of World War I veterans will receive non-service-connected
pensions. Under current law, World War I pension rolls show a net increase of 8,600
persons per month.
(3) During the past fiscal year the VA distributed about $1.3 billion in non-
service-connected pensions to veterans of World War I.
(4) The adoption of H.R. 3745 will cost the taxpayers an additional $942 million
during its first year. The first five years of operation under the proposed law will
cost an additional $4.3 billion with the total additional cost by the year 2000 equalling
$11.6 billion.
(5) Three-fourths of this expenditure would go to add veterans in the upper income
brackets to the pension rolls. Only 1/4 would help veterans in the lower income brackets
who need financial help the most.
(6) H. R. 3745 would result in several hundred thousand World War I veterans, many
with short periods of service and substantial resources of their own, receiving the same
amount of assistance as is received by a 50 percent service-connected disabled veteran.
(7) The American Legion and AMVETS are opposed to H. R. 3745. The VFW and DAV are
not supporting the bill.
(8) President Kennedy and his Administrator of Veterans Affairs are against this
legislation as were President Eisenhower and his administration.
Chairman Teague states that for these reasons his committee has agreed not to take
affirmative action on H. R. 3745. But at this writing only 18 more names are needed on
the discharge petition.
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ON THE INCREASE: The latest Report of Senator Byrd's Joint Con-
gressional Committee on Reduction of Nonessential Federal Expenditures lists 2,461,534
civilian employees in the Executive Branch of the Federal Government during May of this
year. When the Kennedy Administration took over in January 1961 the number of employees
was 2,352,837. This means that during the first 16 months of the Kennedy Administration
108,697 persons have been added to the civilian payroll in the Executive Branch of the
government controlled by the President. This also means an average increase in the
civilian payroll of 6,793 persons for every month of the Kennedy regime.
To keep the record straight it must be pointed out that President Eisenhower ended
his term of office with 201,473 fewer civilian employees than were on the payroll when
he was inaugurated. The same Joint Committee reports that in January 1953 there were
2,554,310 civilian employees in the Executive Branch but that by January 1961 this number
had been cut to 2,352,837.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
July 25, 1962
Two votes in the House of Representatives last week put the brakes on the current
trend toward greater concentration of power in the Federal Government and specifically in
the Executive Branch.
By a vote of 202 to 200 the House refused to grant the Attorney General the power to
demand confidential records of any business concern he might want to investigate in con-
nection with a possible antitrust violation, and then to pass on the seized documents to
other government agencies for any purpose. Rep. Meader of Michigan, a former State pro-
secutor and member of the Committee on Judiciary, told the House, "This power would vest
in a political officer of the government the power of search and seizure without a warrant
except his own, and subject the most intimate and confidential details of business opera-
tions in this country to the prying eyes of a powerful bureaucracy." I voted with the
majority to deny the Attorney General this new authority.
A major issue in the debate on the Highway Act of 1962 involved a proposal to grant
to the Secretary of Commerce the sole power to decide whether the method followed by each
State for the relocation of families on highway rights-of-way is satisfactory to him. By
a vote of 236 to 159, the bill was amended to remove this power from one appointed official
and to leave the matter with the states with the provision only that advisory assistance
be supplied all families to be relocated. The House agreed that the Secretary of Commerce
is not to have the authority to determine whether "feasible methods" for relocation are
provided. Had this action not been taken, the Secretary of Commerce could have refused
federal highway funds to states which did not satisfy his definition of "feasible methods. "
SUGAR, HONEYBEES, AND $17 million: Three days after the Senate gave final approval
to the Sugar Act Amendments of 1963, it amended a House-approved bill relating to the im-
portation of honeybees in order to make changes in the sugar law it had just passed. The
changes were not improvements. I voted against agreeing to the Senate amendments but we
lost 196 to 142.
There is untold confusion in this sugar legislation; the influence of too many
lobbyists is evident; poor planning and a lack of direction are obvious, and I have grave
doubts that the best interests of the U. S. were served by the adoption of the "sugar-
honeybee bill."
One provision of the latest sugar bill grants permission for importing sugar from
Ireland, a country which itself must buy sugar abroad to supply its own needs. But under
this new bill, Ireland can buy sugar from Communist Cuba and sell it to us. This is in-
defensible on many grounds but especially when our own domestic beet and cane sugar growers
would welcome an increased quota.
Furthermore, this latest sugar bill, requested by President Kennedy, will cost the
American consumer and U. S. Treasury $17.5 million to benefit the sugar producers and
processors in Argentina and the Dominican Republic. The "sugar-honeybee" bill took 375,000
tons of sugar in the next 2½ years out of the world price quota and put it under the
subsidized quota to be assigned to these two Latin-American countries. This means that
$17.5 million collected in import fees on sugar (and ultimately paid by the American con-
sumer in higher prices) is to be transferred from the U. S. Treasury to sugar interests in
Argentina and the Dominican Republics. For obvious reasons I voted against this legislation.
This brief summary demonstrates some of the complexities of our sugar legislation and
points up the pressing need for a thorough examination and revision of our sugar policies.
ANOTHER FARM BILL: By a vote of 229 to 163 last Thursday the House approved a watered
down, yet thoroughly objectional, farm bill. This bill, H. R. 12391, contained only 39
pages compared with 89 pages in the bill recently rejected by the House and 106 pages for
the Administration's proposal as originally introduced. Yet the approach is the same:
bureaucratic control of agriculture, huge costs to the federal taxpayer, little considera-
tion to the consumer. In fact, this bill contained provisions recently rejected by the
Administration as too costly and ineffective.
Furthermore, when the House had an opportunity to improve the bill as far as Michigan
is concerned, it refused to do SO. Michigan grows soft red and soft white winter wheat
which are not in surplus. The wheat accounting for 93 percent of that accumulated by the
government as surplus over the past decade is hard red winter wheat, not produced in
Michigan.
However, the House voted down an amendment which would have given the Secretary of
Agriculture the right to exempt classes of wheat if he found they are in short supply.
The Secretary could have increased acreage allotments for farms producing wheat not in
surplus to an extent which would insure an ample supply of that kind of wheat. This
would have been an improvement in the law. Michigan wheat not in surplus would not have
been subjected to the same rules as wheat creating the enormous over-supply. But this
common-sense amendment was rejected.
I voted against the bill for the reasons given above and because there is no absolute
need for any farm legislation this year. The law currently on the statute books will
take us through another year.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
August 1, 1962
Appropriations bills are again flowing through the House of Representatives. From
April 18th when it passed the defense appropriation bill until June 26th when it approved
the money bill for the District of Columbia, the House considered no appropriation bills.
This was true in spite of the fact that all government departments and agencies begin their
fiscal year on July 1 and theoretically all appropriations bills should be signed by the
President by that date. This year only a minor supplemental appropriation for the Veterans
Administration and the bill authorizing "continuing appropriations" were signed by July 1.
Because no bills providing money to operate the government in fiscal 1963 had become
law on July 1, the Congress passed a temporary resolution to provide the funds. This reso-
lution authorizes the continuation of existing projects and activities of the department or
agency at the lowest of three different rates of expenditure; 1) that of the past fiscal
year; 2) the budgetary request of the new year if no action has been taken by either House,
or 3) the lower amount for the new year adopted by either of the two Houses.
The major cause of the hold-up on appropriation bills this session was a dispute be-
tween the House and Senate Committees which seemed to involve procedural matters but actually
concerned basic issues of fiscal responsibility. Traditionally, conference committees, com-
posed of Representatives and Senators, appointed to iron out the differences in House and
Senate versions of a given appropriation bill, met on the Senate side of the Capitol with a
Senator acting as chairman. The House Committee felt that a Senator should not always be
chairman of the joint House-Senate conference and in addition the conferences should be held
in a neutral location rather than always on the Senate side of the Capitol.
While on the surface this controversy seemed insignificant, one has only to look at
the record to see what has been happening on appropriation bills and how a basic issue was
involved. During the past 10 years the Senate has raised the appropriation bills above the
amount approved by the House by about $32 billion. During that period the Senate conferees
with a Senate chairman have been able to retain $22 billion out of the $32 billion in in-
creases added by the Senate. The members of the House committee strongly felt that with a
member of the House acting as conference chairman at least half the time there would be a
better opportunity to hold the lid on federal spending. After extensive negotiations by a
special committee a new arrangement was worked out which is believed will result in greater
influence for economy. Under the new plan the chairmen of the House and Senate subcommittees
handling each of the 13 regular appropriation bills in conference will decide who will be
chairman. So far under the new arrangement there has been an equitable sharing of the joint
conference committee chairmanship and conferees meet in the Old Supreme Court chamber. It
is the consensus the new arrangements are working well.
APPROPRIATIONS IN THE PAST WEEK: During the past week the House approved the work
of conference committees on the Second Supplemental Appropriations bill ($373 million), the
bill for Treasury, Post Office, and the Executive Offices ($5.4 billion) and that for the
Department of Defense ($48.1 billion). I served as one of the conferees on the Defense bill,
We were able to resolve our differences with the Senate in a single four-hour session on
Wednesday afternoon.
The House also gave initial approval last week to the money bill for the Departments
of State, Justice, Commerce, and the Judiciary. The bill makes available $1.7 billion to
these departments in fiscal 1963. This is $139 million more than last year but $102 million
less than requested by the President.
A bill appropriating $5.9 billion for the Department of Agriculture was passed by a
vote of 345 to 41. Cuts made in various projects resulted in a net reduction of $507
million over last year and the appropriation of $877 million less than requested. Notwith-
standing this, I voted against the bill. The bill supplies funds for a number of programs
which ought to be curtailed or eliminated. The House by a vote of 118 to 172 refused to
write into the bill restrictions against the expenditure of tax money for propaganda pur-
poses "designed to support or defeat legislation pending before the Congress in violation
of present law." (This was aimed at the type of lobbying by federal employees encouraged
by the President and Secretary in behalf of the Administration's farm bill.) But basically
I could not approve funds to be spent by a Secretary of Agriculture who has been so ob-
viously negligent in handling the Billie Sol Estes case.
ON THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF CENSUS INFORMATION: This week the House Committee on Post
Office and Civil Service is holding public hearings on a number of bills (including H.R.
10205 which I introduced on February 15th and described in my newsletter of February 21st)
to overrule a Supreme Court decision involving the confidential nature of information sup-
plied to the Census Bureau by individuals or businesses. Last winter the Court ruled that
while the original report given to the Census Bureau was confidential and could not be used
by the government for "taxation, investigation or regulation" as stated on the Census forms,
this immunity does not apply to copies retained by the individual or business. The Court
said that copies of the confidential Census information in the files of the person reporting
could be subpoenaed by other agencies of the government and used for investigative and regu-
lative purposes.
Because this appears to violate a promise by the government as well as common sense,
six bills have been introduced to protect the copies as well as the originals from being
used for any other than Census purposes. I have introduced this legislation because I agree
with the three justices who in dissenting from the judgment of the Court said, "It is no
less good morals and good law that the government should turn square corners in dealing with
the people than that the people should turn square corners in dealing with their government."
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
August 8, 1962
We are now in the eighth month of this session of Congress and are beginning to lay
out a schedule of activities for our stay at home this fall. The slow pace of the Congress
all year and the paralysis which has gripped the Senate recently may upset the best laid
plans to meet with many groups in Kent and Ottawa Counties and to visit 21 communities
with my mobile office.
I am accepting speaking engagements for September, October, and November and sin-
cerely hope that I will be able to be at home to fulfill these obligations. We expect
to begin our eighth annual mobile office tour about the middle of September and to run
through October. The tour will start as planned and be carried out provided the Congress
is not held in Washington beyond a reasonable adjournment date.
According to Monday's official "Calendars of the U. S. House of Representatives"
only three major legislation bills of this session have become law. Not one regular
appropriation bill has cleared the President's desk. This is not to say that no signi-
ficant legislation has been enacted. In fact according to the Congressional Record,
through July 31st the House had acted on 673 measures of one type or another. Neither do
I suggest that a Congress should be judged primarily by the number of major bills it
passes. In many instances the refusal to act affirmatively on legislative proposals is
a constructive action; to decide not to do something may be a major accomplishment. But
this session of Congress can hardly be found "distinguished" by any criteria.
All constructive activity ceased in the Senate for a week while a handful of so-
called "liberals" destroyed that body's effectiveness by a needless filibuster. This
should seem strange indeed to those liberals who denounce any use of the filibuster
by conservatives or moderates as undemocratic, wasteful, and illustrative of a lack of
faith in the elected representatives of the people. But when it suits their own purposes,
the "liberals" can be just as dogmatic, obstinate, and ruthless as any group they may
condemn.
One can argue that extended debate, even a filibuster, may serve a good purpose
when it informs the public on the great issues involved in the subject under consideration
There are times when a final decision should be postponed until an informed public
opinion can make itself felt in the Congress. But such is not the case in the Senate
debate on H. R. 11040, a bill providing for a private communications satellite system
(Telstar) under federal regulation. President Kennedy recommends and endorses the
legislation; the House passed the bill on May 3rd by a vote of 354 to 74. I voted for
the bill because it favors the typical American free-enterprise approach. The "liberal"
filibusters want the government (this is pure Socialism) rather than private enterprise
to construct and operate Telstar.
APPROPRIATIONS BILLS CONTINUE TO MOVE: During the past week the House approved an
$11.5 billion appropriation bill for the Independent Offices. This was a reduction of
$1 billion from the amount requested by the President. The two major items were $5.2
billion for the Veterans Administration and $3.6 billion for the National Aeronautics and
Space Agency.
A Conference Report (final version of a bill) was approved providing $885 million
for the Department of Interior and related agencies in fiscal 1963. This final figure
was $16.7 million above the House version of the bill, $37.1 million below the Senate
version, $47.3 million below the President's request, but $90 million above last year's
appropriation.
Also passed was the Conference Report providing $5.3 billion for the Departments of
Labor, and Health, Education, and Welfare, and related agencies. A similar pattern pre-
vailed with the final amount being $163.8 million above the House figure, $46.3 million
below the Senate version, $51.7 below the Kennedy request, but $155 million above last
year's appropriation.
FUNDS FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH: In consideration of the Conference
Report on funds for HEW, a special problem arose and a roll call vote developed. Presi-
dent Kennedy had requested $780 million for the National Institutes of Health (seven in
number: cancer, heart, allergy and infectious diseases, arthritis and metabolic diseases,
dental, mental health, neurological diseases and blindness). The bill as passed by the
House, which I supported, increased the amount by $60 million, providing NIH $840 million.
The conferees compromised at $880 million or $40 million more than the House proposed
and $100 million above President Kennedy's request.
Last year NIH was granted $733 million but was unable to spend $73 million of its
appropriation. Try as the Institutes did, they could not dispose of the final $73 million
of last year's funds. Yet this year the Congress is making available to them about $175
million more than they were able to dispose of last year.
In view of all this I voted for a motion which would have set the funds for NIH at
the original House figure of $840 million, an increase of $102 million over last year and
$60 million more than asked by President Kennedy. But the motion lost 173 to 214. NIH
will get $880 million in the Labor-HEW appropriation bill which I then supported on
final passage.
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES UP 35,000 IN ONE MONTH: The New Frontier added 34,921 civilian
employees to the payroll in the executive branch of the government during the month of
June. This is over five times the normal rate at which the federal bureaucracy has been
growing since Mr. Kennedy became President. As I reported three weeks ago, there has been
an average monthly increase in federal civilian employment of 6,793 persons for each
month of the Kennedy regime. But June's record of 34,921 additions is a new high.
According to Senator Byrd's Joint Committee on Reduction of Nonessential Federal Ex-
penditures, which supplied the above facts, over 143, 600 civilians have been added to
the payroll in the executive branch of the government during the first 17 months of the
Kennedy Administration.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
August 15, 1962
The House Committee on Foreign Affairs has recommended that the United States
purchase United Nations bonds only to the extent of matching the total purchases of all
other nations. To date this would amount to $27.4 million.
The Committee was acting on the request of President Kennedy that the United States
take $100 million worth of a $200 million UN bond issue. On April 5th the Senate voted
to authorize the purchase of $25 million worth of bonds without matching by other countries
with additional bond purchases on a matching basis. The House Committee eliminated the
provision for the unmatched $25 million. If passed by the House in this or similar form,
the bill will go to conference. But it is evident that the request of the Kennedy Ad-
ministration for authority to purchase outright $100 million worth of UN bonds without
any limitations will not be granted. My decision on this legislation will be based on
whether or not the Congress approves certain amendments that are absolutely essential to
protect the interest of the U. S. Unfortunately the State Department in the New Frontier
wants a "blank check." I do not believe a "blank check" with Adlai Stevenson as our top
delegate to the UN is the way to preserve and strengthen this organization.
WITH THE COMMITTEES: The Committee on Ways and Means has been conducting intensive
hearings "on the status of the U. S. economy." The Committee is primarily interested in
determining whether there is a need and/or justification for a substantial tax cut. Its
hearings are also to demonstrate how well the New Frontiersmen have got "the country
moving." Recent events would indicate that not only the rate of speed of any such
"movement" but the direction as well needs careful review. Evidence to date would indi-
cate that the "big promises" during the 1960 election are not coming true.
The Committee on Post Office and Civil Service has approved a bill increasing
Federal salaries for Civil Service and postal employees from about 10 to 15 percent de-
pending on varying circumstances. Adopting the bill will cost the Treasury over a
billion dollars a year. Until the Committee report is finished we will not have a
complete explanation of all its details. The Committee staff continues to work on the
report but with a highly technical bill containing some 68 pages, its task is not an
easy one. In view of the opposition expressed to the bill (H. R. 9531 as amended) by
the Kennedy Administration it is extremely questionable whether the bill in its present
form can become law. Should both houses of Congress act favorably, the President may
very well veto the bill.
The Committee on Veterans Affairs has been conducting hearings on the present non-
service connected pension programs for veterans. This action was generated by the demands
for Committee approval of H. R. 3745 and similar bills which will provide a non-service
connected pension of over $102 a month to veterans of World War I over 65 years old who
have a limited income exclusive of any retirement or other pension benefits. A discharge
petition, requiring 219 names of House members, to bypass the Committee and bring the bill
directly to the House floor for consideration now contains 199 names. This is less than
previously reported because some members have withdrawn their names.
Last Thursday the Committee on Rules voted to send H. R. 10113, the "Public Works
Coordination and Acceleration Act" to the House floor for four hours of debate and made
it in order to propose amendments. This legislation had been recommended by a majority
of the Committee on Public Works on June 2nd but the Rules Committee had to clear it for
action by the House. Thirteen of the 14 minority members of the Public Works Committee
voted against this bill which as they said would "give the President a book of blank checks
with authority to draw $900 million from the Treasury of the United States and to use such
amounts thereof as he decides for the construction of projects he selects in localities of
his choosing.'
The bill gives the President authority to spend nearly a billion dollars of tax
money on all kinds of public works projects without further congressional approval and
without suggesting any new or additional sources of revenue. This bill is another request
by President Kennedy for the transfer of power from the elected representatives of the
people in Congress to the appointed bureaucrats in the executive branch of the government.
I believe that expenditure of tax funds must be carefully controlled by those who go to
the voters and the taxpayers for endorsement every two years.
A subcommittee of the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service has completed its
public hearings on legislation to protect the confidentiality of copies of census reports
which I discussed two weeks ago. It hopes to report the bill favorably to the full com-
mittee this week. You may recall I am a sponsor of this legislation.
SAM RAYBURN STAMP: A commemorative stamp honoring Sam Rayburn will go on sale at
the former Speaker's hometown of Bonham, Texas on September 16th. The Rayburn Foundation
will issue a First Day Cover on quality paper and probably showing a sketch of the Rayburn
home and library. These covers may be ordered for 25c each from the Bonham Chamber of
Commerce.
Anyone sending a self-addressed envelope and 4 cents to the Postmaster at Bonham will
get his envelope back with a Rayburn stamp and the cancellation note: First Day of Issue.
Either type of "cover" may be ordered in quantity at the prices given.
Normally I do not mention commemorative stamp sales in the newsletter but any stamp
honoring Sam Rayburn, who served as Speaker of the House more than twice as long as any
other person, deserves special comment. The stamp is being issued at Bonham on September
16, although it is Sunday, as that date marks the 22nd anniversary of his first election
as Speaker on September 16, 1940. The stamp will go on sale throughout the country on
Monday, September 17th.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
August 22, 1962
A quickie tax cut allegedly to spur the national economy has been set aside pro-
visionally. Federal tax reform based on "logic and equity" has been promised for next
year. The New Frontier hasn't actually been able to "get the country moving" but we are
not as bad off as we could be or as we may be. If conditions do get worse before the first
of the year, the quickie tax cut will be tried but government spending will go on. Such
was the thrust of President Kennedy's political speech to a nation-wide TV audience last
Monday evening.
I am sure that all of us who value a stable and vigorous economic system and who
expect our government to pursue a sound and responsible fiscal policy were relieved to
know that for the present at least the Chief Executive is looking at economic fact and
away from Keynesian theories. This is a good step in the right direction and a giant
stride away from the contentions in the President's speech at Yale on economic and fiscal
myths.
Those who are advocating a quickie tax cut in the amount of about $10 billion contend
it will give the economy a needed shot in the arm. We are told that the $10 billion to be
released will increase consumer purchasing power and stimulate business investments; the
money will be spent for goods and services and for new plants or machinery. High demand
will encourage greater production and then all or most of our employment problems will be
solved. Sounds wonderful! Why not try it?
Well, if the program is to work you must continue government spending at present or
higher levels, you must pay the $9 billion annual interest charges on the current $300
billion national debt, and you must sell $10 billion worth of government bonds to replace
the $10 billion lost in revenue by the quickie tax cut. If these bonds are sold (and it
will be a sorry day when Uncle Sam can't sell his bonds) they will absorb out of the private
economy the $10 billion supposedly pumped into it by the tax cut. If the theory is to
work at all, there must be about $94 billion expended out of the U. S. Treasury this
current year. Whether this amount is brought into the Treasury by the collection of taxes
or the sale of bonds, it is still $94 billion removed from the private economy. A quickie
tax cut means only that Uncle Sam borrows money to replace tax revenue. And borrowed money
becomes debt on which interest must be paid. Really, a quickie tax cut doesn't make much
sense.
All of which means that any substantial federal tax cut must be accompanied by an
equal or greater reduction in federal expenditures. This can be done and should be done.
GER
President Kennedy was 100% correct when he said "Our tax rates, in short, are so high as
to weaken the very essence of the progress of a free society, the incentive for additional
return for additional effort." If he and his administration will assume the leadership
for constructive economy, we can have tax reduction, a balanced budget, and a sound dollar.
This means that the Kennedy Administration must discard its theories that every problem
can be solved by increasing federal expenditures and that as a nation we can spend our-
selves out of debt.
Unfortunately the record of the New Frontier in this area is not encouraging. During
the first complete fiscal year of the Kennedy Administration (July 1, 1961 - June 30, 1962)
expenditures were up $6.2 billion (to 87.7 billion) over the previous year. Indications
are that spending this year will exceed $94 billion for another $6.3 billion increase. If
more of the spending programs advocated by President Kennedy had been approved or are
passed by the Congress, the deficit will run to more billions.
TAX REFORM: Having discarded the quickie tax cut at least temporarily, Mr. Kennedy
stated that a bill will be presented to Congress for action next year to provide "an
across-the-board, top-to-bottom cut in both corporate and personal income taxes. It will
include long-needed tax reform that logic and equity demand." With these objectives we
have no quarrel. We should remind ourselves, however, that the only two times tax re-
ductions have been enacted since World War II have been in Republican-controlled Con-
gresses, the 80th and the 83rd. And any reductions in revenue must be accompanied by cuts
in expenditures lest we compound and multiply our difficulties. Furthermore, it is no
easy task to determine which tax changes are logical and equitable. A member of the Com-
mittee on Ways and Means who has spent years studying our tax structure remarked recently,
"One man's loophole is another man's equity."
IN THE CHAMBER: Except for various minor bills, the only legislation handled by the
House last week was two appropriations bills. The usual pattern prevailed. The $1.3
billion Military Construction bill was $225 million under the President's request but $418
million over last year's appropriation. This money goes for the construction, moderni-
zation, and repair of military installations. Air Force bases in Michigan located at
Sault St. Marie, Marquette, Mt. Clemens, and Oscoda are allocated a total of $3,373,000.
The $4.6 billion Public Works appropriation bill was $129 million under the Presi-
dent's request but $675 million over last year's allocation. A little over $1.9 million
of the total amount is designated for work on rivers and harbors or flood control in or
about Michigan.
EMPLOYMENT IN WASHINGTON? Last week two very impressive looking Washington Metro-
politan Police officers marched into my office in their most dignified and businesslike
manner. After reassuring the staff, some of whom were frantically searching their memo-
ries for any possible traffic misdemeanors, they asked my assistance in recruiting young
men between the ages of 21 to 28 from my Congressional District who might be interested in
joining them in their efforts to eliminate crime in Washington. The Department plans to
employ approximately 100 additional policemen by the first of the year. Any one who is
interested may write me at 351 House Office Building and complete information and appli-
cation forms will be sent.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
August 29, 1962
Every Summer several collegians have worked in our Washington Congressional Office.
My staff and I have thoroughly enjoyed these energetic young folks who do extremely well
learning the practicalities of our federal government.
Miss June Ryan has worked with us this summer. June, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs.
John A. Ryan, 1707 Wealthy Street, Grand Rapids, is a political science major at Duke Uni-
versity but will be attending the University of Geneva this coming year. I asked her to
write the newsletter this week.
To work in Washington has been my ambition since late last summer when I read an ar-
ticle on Washington's summer interns in the NEW YORK TIMES. What an educational and inter-
esting way for a political science student to spend the summer! I couldn't think of a better
place to observe Washington politics and the workings of the government than a Congressman's
office. Even a secretary doing routine work would soak up a lot of knowledge in three
month's time. I took a deep breath and wrote Gerald R. Ford, Jr., my Congressman. Un-
believably, the job was mine!
I came to Washington expecting to be disillusioned, as everyone from professor to
roommate said I would be. Happily, the tremendous waste I expected to encounter is non-
existant in Mr. Ford's office. This, apparently, is typical of a small, closely-supervised
office, for many of my friends in Washington who work for larger agencies and bureaus have
seen all too clearly the waste about which I was warned.
Disillusionment came in the first few weeks, however, when I was appalled by the par-
tisan politics used by far too many legislators and executives. One learns in time to accept
this element, for in Washington, politics is a way of life and often holds the key to getting
things done. Certainly, partisanship is expected by all and accepted by most. Compromise,
however, is still the unspoken password in the serious and hard-fought game of politics. One
learns that these men are neither bickering out of pettiness nor arguing out of stubbornness
They are, for the most part, sincerely dedicated to the principles in which they believe and
the people for whom they act. Disillusionment soon turned to understanding.
My biggest surprise among many in Washington was the number and variety of projects
that a Congressman and his staff will gladly undertake in behalf of a constituent, no matter
how "uninfluential." The problems of veterans and prospective immigrants are quite typical,
but the list is endless. The picture of the Congressman leading the bewildered citizen
through the maze of government bureaucracy is extremely representative of the duties of our
elected legislators. It is my impression that few citizens realize what a wealth of help
and information they can receive by simply writing a letter to Washington.
There is no such thing as a routine day in the House Office Building. If a day
should begin routinely, it is likely to be interrupted by events as exciting as a visit from
Secretary of Defense McNamara or a committee hearing featuring John Glenn and Scott Carpenter.
There are a few routine duties, however, and a share of these has fallen to me. My work day
starts at eight. The opening of the morning mail calls forth a whole panorama of personali-
ties from the Fifth District. Since people with problems are our specialty, heart-breaking
letters are not rare. Others are angry, funny, appreciative, and informative. They are all
answered promptly.
Tourists from home are always welcome. The Michiganites in the office are not only
glad to hear news from home, but are also delighted by the tourists' observations of Washing
ton. Our visitors come asking for the passes that are required for admittance to the House
and Senate chambers and leave loaded down with sightseeing booklets, Jerry Ford postcards,
pamphlets to help the kids in civics class, and a polaroid photograph of junior in the
Congressman's chair, surrounded by a beaming family.
My work includes running errands, typing, writing an occasional article for the press,
and bringing mailing lists up to date. Most of my day is spent on several projects that the
busy regular staff could never find time to complete. Mr. Ford, a member of the appropria-
tion subcommittees on Defense and Foreign Operations, has asked me to compile a history of
the Foreign Aid and Defense Appropriations bills since he joined those committees ten years
CK
ago. This has been extremely interesting work, for I have learned first hand of the tor-
tuous route a bill must take to become a law.
Mr. Ford is probably the busiest man I have ever seen. Brief case bulging, he arrives
at the office between eight and nine o'clock every morning, reads the mail and newspapers,
indicates to his administrative assistant the manner in which many of the letters should be
answered, and then dashes off to a committee meeting at ten. Visitors to Washington who are
disappointed in the near-empty House and Senate chambers should be directed to a committee
meeting, where the real work of Congress is accomplished. In this day of specialization,
Congressmen are no exception; through their committees, they each become very familiar with
a limited phase of law-making and must depend on each others' advice to a great extent when
it comes to voting. Once Mr. Ford leaves the office, he seldom returns before four-thirty
or five o'clock to read over the outgoing mail and sign it. Congressman Ford's working day
usually lasts until after six, especially as the end of the session draws near. Weekends
are busy, too, since Mr. Ford frequently travels home to visit Kent and Ottawa Counties.
Perhaps the most enduring impression of my summer in Washington is a tremendous re-
spect for the history of the United States--a respect I somehow never formed in any history
class. In my wanderings through Statuary Hall in the Capitol Building, I have read the
names on each and every statue, donated by the States as a tribute to their outstanding
citizens. Although well-respected in their fields, these people were ordinary citizens,
largely unknown to us. They are, however, the true foundations of America, for they fought
for ideals in which they fervently believed and gave of themselves to a cause which they
put above their own well-being. As I stand in the dim coolness of the Capitol's halls and
peer into the immobile faces of our forefathers, I often wonder what they would think of
today's Americans. It is my hope that we are fighting hard enough and giving enough of
ourselves to merit their respect.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
September 5, 1962
The House of Representatives has approved the unnecessary, unsound, and wasteful
"Public Works Coordination and Acceleration Act. A motion to kill the proposal by re-
commiting it to Committee which I supported was defeated 192 to 221.
This bill, H. R. 10113, makes available to the President an additional $900 million
for use in supporting public works projects of various types except school construction.
It is alleged that this power will be helpful as an anti-recession measure. The autho-
rization is in the form of a blank check to appointed officials in the Executive Branch
who can spend this public money without further approval of any project by the elected
representatives of the people. Assistance can be rendered only to areas eligible under
the Area Redevelopment Act (Kent and Ottawa Counties are NOT eligible) or to a community
which has suffered 6 percent or more unemployment for 9 out of the past 12 months. But
control of the distribution of the nearly $1 billion rests exclusively with appointed
officials in the Executive Branch who can and will use this power for purely political
purposes.
Furthermore, the Administration has over $2.5 billion already authorized by the
Congress for sound non-political programs it has not used. Ample funds are available
for economically justified housing and community assistance from such agencies as the
Veterans Administration, Urban Renewal, Farmers Home Administration, and the Community
Facilities Administration. In addition, on August 14th the Secretary of Commerce autho-
rized the immediate release to the states of over $1.9 billion in additional funds for
highway construction in fiscal 1963. This is over and above the regular federal highway
contribution for 1963 which will exceed $3.7 billion.
As usual, the proponents of this new "blank check" $900-million expenditure
suggested no additional source of revenue. This means that the annual deficit and the
national debt will be increased by $900 million and interest costs for us and our
children will be raised accordingly.
It is significant to note that a pro-Kennedy newspaper in Washington has said of
this proposal that it has "the earmarks of economic ineffectiveness and political
mischief." There is indeed little evidence to prove that public works construction has
ever been effective as an anti-recession device.
A similar but not identical bill has been passed by the Senate. Unless the Senate
now accepts the House version, the bills will go to conference for further consideration.
ANTI-POLL TAX AMENDMENT: The House-completed congressional action on the proposed
24th amendment to the Constitution which would eliminate the payment of a poll tax as a
requirement for voting for President, Vice President, U. S. Senators, and Representatives.
I voted for the proposal which passed 294 to 86. While only five states still have the
poll tax (Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, Virginia) and the Attorney General has
stated that the same results could be accomplished by a simple statute, there can be little
argument that a person should not have to pay for the privilege of voting. This amend-
ment, if it is ratified by at least 38 states, will affect only the right to vote for
U. S. officials. It will not apply to the qualifications for voting for state or local
officers.
The last amendment to the Constitution, the 23rd, grants to residents of the
District of Columbia the right to vote for Presidential electors (President and Vice Presi-
dent). This amendment was proposed on January 6, 1960 and became effective on April 3,
1961.
OTHER YEA AND NAY VOTES: The House last week also voted to authorize the appro-
priation of an additional $100 million for direct loans for rental and cooperative housing
for the elderly. Under this program long term, low-interest rate (currently 3½ percent)
loans may be made to non-profit organizations and certain public agencies to provide
housing for senior citizens. I voted for this authorization bill which was approved
367 to 6. It will help to expand a program already underway. According to the committee
report, the Housing and Home Finance Agency has an interest in over 135 projects under this
program. These projects represent over 14,000 units. Rental charges per housekeeping unit
as of December ranged from $48 to $110 monthly, or a median of $75. Where meals were
included the costs averaged $128 with a range from $87 to $150 per month.
i also voted to agree to the Senate amendments to the Communications Satellite bill
(adopted 372-10), to require Federal Reserve Board approval of construction of branches
of Federal Reserve Banks and setting a limit of $60 million on these buildings (passed
314-50), and to direct the House conferees to oppose electrical generating facilities
at the atomic reactor in Hanford, Washington (defeated 148-246)
ADJOURNMENT PLANS: It now appears that Congressional adjournment will not come
until the latter part of September. We are therefore scheduling our 20-stop mobile
office tour from October 1 through November 3. I will be in the Fifth District from time
to time in September to keep some of my appointments but a few may have to be cancelled
because of the continuing Congressional sessions. My office at 425 Cherry Street, S. E.,
Grand Rapids, is open daily. The telephone number is GL 6-9747.
AVAILABLE MATERIAL: We have on hand a limited supply of the latest yearbook of
Agrículture entitled, "After a Hundred Years.' We also have a sizeable number of booklets
containing questions and answers on "Our American Government," especially helpful to
students. Let me know at 351 House Office Building, Washington, D. C., if you can use
either of these.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
September 12, 1962
Except for consideration of bills on the Consent and Private Calendars, there was
little activity in the House of Representatives last week. As one of three official Re-
publican objectors I was present Tuesday when bills on the Consent Calendar were called.
Bills approved by a legislative committee may be placed on the Consent Calendar for con-
sideration with little, if any, debate and passage by unanimous consent. The duty of the
official objectors is to screen all these bills in order to determine whether they
should be approved in this expeditious manner. If any legislation is too controversial,
or if it involves too much money or makes a substantial change in policy, or if in the
judgment of an objector should not be adopted, it is objected to or passed over until a
later date. Of the 18 bills considered last Tuesday, 13 were approved, three were passed
over, and objections were raised against two which were removed from the Consent Calendar.
The Private Calendar lists the bills approved by a legislative committee (generally
the Judiciary Committee) for the relief of a person or persons. When it is evident that
the operation of the law will work a serious injustice on an individual and there is no
administrative remedy available, private legislation may be considered to eliminate or
modify the inequity. Last Tuesday the House acted on 48 private bills, approving 30
and passing over 18.
Because of the Labor Day recess I was able to participate in community activities
at Sparta and Comstock Park. It was my privilege to crown the queen at the Sparta Rodeo
and to present awards to the queen and her court at Comstock Park's Labor Day festivities.
Because no business was scheduled for Thursday, I returned home again to meet with the
Township officers of Kent and Ottawa Counties at their association meeting on the morning
of September 6th and with the Byron Center Lions Club at noon. This week I plan to be
in Grand Rapids and Holland on Thursday and I hope to be in Lowell, Grand Rapids, and
Coopersville next week if no important votes are scheduled in the House. The vote on
the UN bond issue will probably come this Friday and I want to be present for that con-
troversial and important legislation. Next week I must be here when the foreign opera-
tions appropriation bill is debated. As the second ranking Republican member of the
Subcommittee reporting the bill, I have special responsibilities during its consideration.
ACTIVITY IN THE CURRENT SESSION: The record of accomplishment of the current
session of Congress can hardly be called "distinguished." The session has been marked
by unnecessary inaction and delay. Only four of the 12 regular appropriation bills have
become law. All should have been signed by the President by July 1, the beginning of
the new fiscal year. According to law the Congress is to adjourn by July 31 except in
case of a national emergency.
The official "Calendar of the House" lists only three major legislative bills which
have become law. Yet through August 31st, the House had been in session 128 days or
510 hours and 19 minutes. It had filled 6,498 pages of the Congressional Record with its
proceedings, had passed 905 measures of all types, and has seen 147 of its public bills
enacted into law. It is interesting to note that the Senate has been in session over
915 hours during the same period and has filled 10,820 pages of the Record, passing 857
measures of all types, and has seen 76 of its public bills become law.
BUT THE NATIONAL DEBT SOARS: According to the "Daily Statement of the U. S.
Treasury, at the end of August the national debt stood at over $302.7 billion. This is
an increase of $9.8 billion in one year. On August 30th a year ago the debt amounted to
$292.9 billion. When Mr. Kennedy took office the U. S. debt was $289.9 billion or $12.8
billion less than today. There has been progress on the New Frontier--in raising the
national debt burden. It is now at an all-time high with $1618 in debt obligation for
every man, woman, and child in the United States. (According to the calculating machine
at the Bureau of the Census, U. S. population at 8:00 a.m. on September 6th was
187,169,229.)
AND FEDERAL PAYROLLS GROW: According to the latest report of the Joint Congressional
Committee on Reduction of Nonessential Federal Expenditures the number of civilian em-
ployees in the Executive Branch of the Federal Government increased by 14,530 in July
of this year. This was on top of a 35,000 increase in June. The total number of civi-
lians now on the payroll in the Executive Branch is 2,511,025. This is an increase of
158,188 employees since Mr. Kennedy took over the Executive Branch. There has been ad-
vancement on the New Frontier- in the number of employees on the federal payroll.
AND TREASURY EXPENDITURES MOUNT: $1.8 billion more has been spent during the first
two months of the current fiscal year than during the same period last year according
to the Treasury Statement. During July and August, 1962 over $20.6 billion was withdrawn
from the Treasury compared with $18.8 billion for the same two months a year ago. During
the month of August money flowed out of the Treasury at the rate of over $257,000 a
minute every hour of every day in the month. On the New Frontier funds flow OUT of the
Treasury in ever-increasing volume.
AND NOW THE TAX QUESTION: All responsible citizens are concerned with the impli-
cation of these facts in any proposal to reduce taxes. Responsible public officials
cannot promise any substantial tax cut unless they can show ways and means of reducing
federal expenditures. Responsible statesmanship as well as responsible citizenship
demands a balanced budget and a reduction of the national debt. On the New Frontier,
this is only a myth.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
September 19, 1962
The most significant issue before the House of Representatives last week involved
the purchase of United Nations Bonds. On January 30, 1962 President Kennedy recommended
to the Congress that it authorize the appropriation of $100 million to purchase one-half
of a $200 million bond issue by the UN. On April 2nd the Senate approved legislation
(S.2768) permitting the United States to loan up to $25 million plus an amount equal to
the loans and pledges of all other nations. As of September 12th nineteen other nations
had actually purchased $27,750,000 worth of UN bonds and a total of 48 countries had
agreed to purchase an additional $45,418,257 worth. These purchases and pledges plus the
$25 million of unmatched funds equal $98,168,257. So the Senate bill authorized the
purchase of nearly the entire $100 million worth of bonds.
On August 10th the House Committee on Foreign Affairs made its recommendations to
the House. It was these recommendations, embodied in the amendments to S. 2768, which
were considered by the House membership last week. The Committee proposed that the loan
by the United States be limited to an amount equal to the total value of the bonds actually
purchased by all other countries. This would place the present limit at $27,750,000, the
total amount actually loaned (cash on the barrel-head) by other nations as of September 12.
Under the bill recommended by the House Committee the U. S. could lend the full
$100 million only when other countries have loaned a total of $100 million to the UN. The
Committee said that "it is convinced that any test, such as the distribution of the world's
population, resources, or wealth, does not justify the assumption of more than 50 percent
of the cost of alleviating the current United Nations Crisis" by the United States. With
that particular statement I agree fully.
The House Committee also amended the Senate bill to express Congressional satis-
faction with the advisory opinion of the World Court that the assessments levied by the
UN General Assembly on member countries for the costs of the Middle East and Congo opera-
tions are expenses of the Organization." As such these assessments must be paid or the
member country loses its right to vote in the General Assembly when it is at least two
years in arrears. However, this recent decision by the World Court is ADVISORY only and
does not become binding upon the UN unless approved and adopted by the General Assembly.
A motion was made on the floor of the House to further amend the bill by making the U. S.
loan to the United Nations contingent upon the concurrence by the UN in the advisory
opinion of the World Court. I supported this amendment as fair, logical, and necessary if
the UN is to be a responsible international agency. Members who want to vote should pay
their legal dues and assessments. An understanding of this aspect of the problem requires
that we look briefly at the causes of the UN deficit and the need for some action.
CAUSES OF UN DEFICIT: The UN and its affiliated agencies obtain their funds from
three sources: regular budgetary dues to be paid by member nations, voluntary contribu-
tions (such as to the Children's Fund), and special assessments upon members to finance
the United Nations Emergency Force which has 5,100 troops along the Israeli-Egyptian border
(Gaza Strip) to maintain peace, and to finance the United Nations Operation in the Congo
where 18,000 troops from 18 nations cost the UN $120 million a year.
The regular budgetary dues of most nations are being paid. The U. S. share is
32.02 percent which in fiscal 1962 amounted to $23.7 million. But the problem arises in
connection with the special assessments to support the Gaza Strip and Congo operations. Of
the 104 members of the UN, 66 are in arrears on their Congo account and 56 have not paid
their Gaza assessment. The Communist bloc has refused to pay any assessment for either
operation. This group, including Cuba, owes over $45 million. The Arab nations do not
pay for UN expenses in Gaza, and France and Belgium have not contributed to the Congo
activity. Some smaller nations, although not objecting to these special UN operations,
have not met their special assessment obligations. While the U. S. is obligated to pay
only 32.02 percent of the total of any special assessment, it has made additional payments
in the form of voluntary contributions with the result that our country has paid 47.7 per-
cent ($114.5 million) of the Congo military cost and 46.95 percent ($57.6 million) of the
Gaza military costs. Despite these extraordinary payments by the U. S. the United Nations
at the end of March had a net deficit of $119.8 million, consisting for the most part of
unpaid bills of governments for supplies, transportation, and extra pay and allowances for
military personnel. Payments due the United States amount to $32.1 million.
QUESTION TO THE WORLD COURT: The UN Charter says that any member nation which is
two years behind in payment of its UN dues for the "expenses of the Organization" may not
vote in the General Assembly. Some nations contended that the costs for military operations
in the Gaza Strip and in the Congo were not "expenses of the Organization" within the
meaning of the Charter. These nations insisted that they could refuse to pay the special
assessment indefinitely without losing any voting rights. The World Court recently re-
jected this argument and ruled that special assessments like regular dues must be paid in
order to retain voting rights in the General Assembly. It should be noted that the re-
fusal to pay regular dues or special assessments does not bar a nation (including Russia)
from voting in the Security Council or exercising its veto power there.
NEED FOR ACTION: I am sure that most of us will agree that the UN has not been
able to function as its sincere founders intended largely because of the policies and
manipulations of the Communist bloc. Also, many in the U. S. have severely criticized UN
activity especially in the Congo. But a refusal to take some constructive action to solve
the UN's present financial problem will only bring about what the Soviet Union most
earnestly desires: a weak and ineffective UN serving only as a forum for debate and the
dissemination of propaganda. The House bill was a vast improvement over the President's
original request but was reluctantly accepted by Mr. Kennedy and the State Department. I
supported it on final passage.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
September 26, 1962
This is the final issue of YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW for the current session of Congress.
I hope adjournment comes at the end of this week but at this writing we cannot be certain.
Our eighth annual mobile office tour will open at Wyoming on Monday afternoon and evening,
October 1st unless the Congress extends its session beyond this week. At each of the 20
stops in Ottawa and Kent Counties, I will be in the mobile office from 2:30 until 8:00 p.m.
The date in each community will be publicized and I invite everyone to come in for a
personal visit.
AN ACTIVE WEEK: The legislative machinery moved into high gear last week. On
Monday in the House of Representatives there were four quorum calls, all of which I
answered. But on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday when I was in Lowell and Grand Rapids to
keep long-standing speaking engagements there were also four quorum calls and seven yea-
and-nay votes. Had I been present I would have voted for two motions relative to parlia-
mentary procedure. The motions were made primarily to delay action, and passed 355-17 and
339-26. I would have voted for the resolutions calling for consideration of a bill to
revise the boundaries of the Virgin Island National Park (approved 268-5) and for the bill
to strengthen the personnel security procedures in the National Security Agency (adopted
351-24).
Another bill, H. R. 11363, to strengthen the national security program with respect
to defense contractors and their employees was supported 247 to 132 but lost because it
was brought up under suspension of the rules requiring a 2/3 vote. I endorse this legis-
lation and will vote for it if it comes up another time under regular procedure. A motion
in support of an appropriation of $1.6 million for the construction of a peanut research
laboratory in Georgia was defeated 143-221. I would have voted with the majority because
there is no agreement in the peanut industry that the laboratory should be built in Georgia,
The House also voted 246-125 against permitting members of the Congress to send franked
mail (no postage) addressed only to "Box Holders." For many years such mail could be sent
to rural route and post office box holders. Last year the privilege was extended to city
delivery routes. The action on Wednesday eliminated the right altogether. I endorse this
latest action by the House.
FARM LEGISLATION: The second farm bill to come to the House floor this year came
back on Thursday for approval of changes made by the Senate and the joint Conference Com-
mittee. (The first bill was killed in June by a vote of 205-215). The second bill,
(H.R. 12391) passed the House in July by a vote of 229 to 163. However, with the Senate's
amendments we had a much less desirable bill, but it squeezed through the House 202-197. I
voted "no" on this expensive and unworkable legislation described in the REVIEW for July
25th.
COLLEGE ACADEMIC FACILITIES AND SCHOLARSHIP ACT: The House on Thursday rejected by a
vote of 214 to 185 the Conference Report (Senate-House compromise version) on H. R. 8900
which would provide federal assistance for college and university classrooms. Main oppo-
sition centered on the federal scholarship (called nonreimbursable loans) provision inserted
by the Senate and previously rejected by the House. The total cost of these loans was
unknown but could exceed $100 million during the next 9 years. I voted with the majority
against
the
bill.
MUTUAL SECURITY APPROPRIATION: The Appropriation Committee of which I am a member
recommended a foreign aid appropriation of $3.6 billion which was a cut of $1.1 billion
from the President's request. The amount approved by the House is adequate if properly
spent, despite protests by the Secretary of State. I strongly supported amendments to bar
any funds to countries helping Castro in any way. I also supported two other amendments,
one to prohibit the use of U. S. aid funds to purchase automotive vehicles from other
countries and another to prevent our foreign aid funds' being used to pay UN assessments
for other nations.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AT THE SERVICE ACADEMIES: Young men who have graduated
from high school by June, 1963 and are under 22 years of age by that date are eligible for
consideration for appointments to West Point, Annapolis, Colorado Springs, and the Coast
Guard and Merchant Marine Academies. The Fifth District Congressman is entitled to desig-
nate one appointee to each of the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies for the class entering
July, 1963. My selections have always been based on the results of an open, competitive
Civil Service examination taken by those boys who have made application. The examination
this year will be given on Saturday, November 10th. Applications should be requested from
my office immediately.
Appointments to the Coast: Guard and Merchant Marine Academies are made by the insti
tution involved but I do have application forms. All of these academies offer young men
an excellent education and an opportunity for useful service
TO ELECT TWO CONGRESSMEN: For the first time in 50 years and the second time in the
history of the State, each Michigan voter this year will be selecting two members for the
House of Representatives Voters in all of the 18 congressional districts will be electing
their own congressman as usual lus participating in the election of a congressman-at-large
to serve the entire state. This situation has developed because the State Legislature and
Governor did not agree upon a plan for dividing the State into 19 congressional districts
following the 1960 census I hope the matter will be resolved before the 1964 election.
But on November 6th of this year every voter should remember that he is to vote for
two representatives in Congress The candidates for the office of Congressman-at-Large
are Alvin M. Bentley, Republican Congressman from the 8th District for eight years, and
Neil Staebler, former Democratic State Chairman and National Committeeman.