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House Speeches Coal, February 28 and March 1, 1950
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House Speeches Coal, February 28 and March 1, 1950
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The original documents are located in Box D13, folder "House Speeches Coal, February 28
and March 1, 1950" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at
the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box D13 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
175
House
THE COAL SITUATION
speeches
MR. FORD. Mr. Speaker, anything I may say today in regard
to the coal situation would be mere reiteration of what I have been saying
for the past 4 months, but I do wish to remind the Members of the House
that 1t is 14 degrees below zero in Michigan and the people are getting colder
by the hour because of the President's precrastination in invoking the
national emergency previsions of the Taft-Hartley at,
There is a law on the books that has been most helpful in
alleviating our situation, namely the FHA legislation which provides for
repair and maintenance leans on homes so that people may convert from coal
to gas. In the city of Grand Rapids some 10,000 people in the last 9
months have converted from coal to gas. In other words over 25% of the
homes in Grand Rapids within a year have fortunately made this conversion.
A substantial portien of these conversions were handled under Title I of the
existing F.H.A. legislation.
This legislation including Title I expires teday and if we
do not have a renewal of the authorization we are going to hinder and hamper
FORD i GERALD BRAR
conversions by the thousands which are vitally necessary for public health
and welfare in a State that is terribly affected by the present situation.
I was recently informed by the officials of a single bank
in Grand Rapide that applications for conversions under Title I were being
received at the rate of 30 a day. These people can't get coal because of
President Truman's failure to act promptly under the Taft-Hartley Act. The
Democratic leadership now readblocks the consideration of F.H.A. legislation
even though such a lack of action may materially add to almost universal
human suffering. I condemn the Democrats for lack of foresight in both
instances.
MR. COLE OF KANSAS. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
MR. FORD. I yield to the gentleman from Kansas.
MR. COLE of Kansas. Dees the gentleman know that the reason
Democratic
that law expires today is due to the fact that the administration has failed
a
to present it to the Congress because they want it as a magnet in drawing votes to
the controversial housing bill? The Democratic leadership has
deliberately permitted Title I to lapse, and they inserted
THE SPEAKER. The time of the gentleman from Michigan has
it in the cuoperative housing bill to gain suppor +
for expired. this measure. This is not the first time
The Democratic leadership has used Title
i
FORD
GERALD
LIBRARP called to our attention by Mr Ford by reason
I as a political footban, The is result
of this fast and loose Democratic playing of politics,
175
THE COAL SITUATION
MR. FORD. Mr. Speaker, anything I may say today in regard
to the coal situation would be mere reiteration of what 1 have been saying
for the past h months, but 1 do wish to remind the Members of the House
that it is 14 degrees below sero in Michigan and the people are getting colder
by the hour because of the President's procrastination in invoking the
national emergency provisions of the Taft-Hartley act.
There is a law on the becks that has been most helpful in
alleviating our situation, namely the FHA legislation which provides for
repair and maintenance leans on homes so that people may convert from seal
to gas. In the city of Grand Rapids some 10,000 people in the last 9
months have converted from coal to gas. In other words over 25% of the
homes in Grand Rapids within a year have fortunately made this conversion.
A substantial portion of these conversions were handled under Title I of the
existing F.H.A. legislation.
This legislation including Title I expires today and if we
do not have a renewal of the authorization we are going to hinder and hamper
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
sonversions by the thousands which are vitally necessary for public health
and welfare in a State that is terribly affected by the present situation.
I was recently informed by the efficials of & single bank
in Grand Rapide that applications for conversions under Title I were being
received at the rate of 30 a day. These people cem't get coal because of
President Truman's failure to act premptly under the Taft-Hartley Act. The
Democratic leadership now roadblocks the consideration of P.H.A. legislation
even though such a lack of action may materially add to elmest universal
human suffering. I condemn the Democrate for lack of foreeight in both
instances.
MR. COLE OF EANSAS. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
MR. FORD. I yield to the gentlemen from Kensas.
MR. COLE of Kansas. Does the gentlemen know that the reason
Democratic
that law expires today is due to the feet that the/administration has failed
to present it to the Congress because they want it as a magnet in drawing votes to
the controversial housing bill? The Democratic leadership has deliberately per-
mitted Title I to lapse, and they inserted it in the cooperative housing bill to
THE SPEAKER. The time of the gentlemen from Nichigan has
expired.
gain support for this measure. This is not the first time the Democratic leader-
ship has used Title I as a political football. The result called to our attention
FOLD Mr. Ford is by reason of this fast and loose Democratic playing at politics.
i LIBRARY GERALD
175
THE COAL SITUATION
HR. FORD. Mr. Speaker, anything I may say today in regard
to the coal situation would be more reiteration of what 3 have been saying
for the past 4 months, but 1 do wish to remind the Members of the House
that 16 is 14 degrees below sero in Kichigan and the people are getting colder
by the hour because of the President's procrastination in invoking the
national emergency previsions of the Taft-Hartley lot.
There is a law on the books that has been most helpful in
allevisting our situation, namely the FHA legislation which provides for
repair and maintenance loans on homes so that people any convert from coal
to gas. In the city of Grand Rapide some 10,000 people in the last 9
months have converted from coal to gas. In other words over 25% of the
homes in Grand Repide within n year have fortunately made this conversion.
A substantial portion of these conversions were handled under Title I of the
existing F.H.A. legislation.
This legislation including Title I expires today and if we
do not have a renewal of the authorization we are going to hinder and hamper
FORD i GREATO RAR
enversions by the thousands which are vitally necessary for public health
and welfare in a State that is terribly effected by the present situation.
I was recently informed by the officials of a single bank
in Grand Rapida that applications for conversions under Title I were being
received at the rate of 30 a day. These people cen't get coal because of
President Trumen's failure to act promptly under the Taft-Hartley Ast. The
Democratic leadership now roadblocks the consideration of P.H.A. legislation
even though such a lack of setion may materially add to elmost universal
human suffering. I condemn the Democrate for lack of foresight in both
instances.
MR. COLE OF KANSAS. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
MR. FORD. I yield to the gentleman from Eansas.
M. COLE of Kansas. Does the gentlemen know that the reason
Demoeratic
that law expires today is due to the feet that the/administration has failed
to present it to the Congress because they want it as a magnet in drawing votes to
the controversial housing bill? The Democratic leadership has deliberately per-
mitted Title I to lapse, and they inserted it in the cooperative housing bill to
THE SPEAKER. The time of the gentleman from Nichigan has
expired.
gain support for this measure. This is not the first time the Democratic leader-
ship has used Title I as a political football. The result called to our attention
Mr. Ford is by reason of this fast and loose Democratic playing at polities.
i LIBRARY GERMLD
151
THE COAL SITUATION
MR. FORD. Mr. Speaker, the chace created by the coal situation
is well known to all of us, It has been aggravated, however, by failure
of the Administration to extend Title I of the FHA legislation. For
exemple, in the City of Grand Rapids, a community of nearly 200,000 citizens,
we have at the present time, before the various banks and other leaning
institutions, applications for over 500 Title I loans for conversion from
coal to oil and gas. These families need help, but the Democratic party
leadership in the Congress continue to readblock affirmative action for
the extension of F.H.A. legislation. One local bank has 104 lapeed Title I
applications. Another bank can't act on 260 conversion applications because
the Democratic leadership sits tight and lets the American public slowly
freese to death.
Do you went to know what the truth is? Here it is straight from
the shoulder. The Administration wants the so-called "co-sp" housing
prevision included in any new F.H.A.law. It is well known that this 2 billion
dollar "so-ep housing" propesal will not and cannot be approved in the
Congress on its merits. In order to put this expensive co-op program over,
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
the Administration is blackmailing the members of Congress by saying
no F.H.A. extension unless you include this now multimillion dellar
housing program. This flagrant bribery by the Administration should
be vigerously condenned.
The thousands of families who now have gas and oil furnaces because
of Title I in P.H.A. are fortunate but those who can't get the same aid
at this time can blame the Democratic congressional leadership and no one
else. I ask, when will the Democrate realise that the citizens of the
United States are demanding action,net insetion, in attempting to solve
the scal crisis? Congress should immediately approve a resolution extend-
ing Title I and the other proven sections in F.E.A. legislation. The
expensive co-op housing proposal should be brought up later and its
fate decided strictly on its OVE) nerit.
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD