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Ford Newsletter, Jan.-Mar. 1955
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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This document scanned from Box D1 of the Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
FOR RELEASE January 6, 1955
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW
By Gerald R. Ford, Jr., M. C.
The 84th Congress convenes January 5th and after the oath-taking ceremonies
the first session will be under way. New bills can be dropped in the legislative
hopper immediately but it will take approximately a month or more before any vital
legislation will be on the floor of either chamber for action. Why the delay?
It primarily arises because control of the House and Senate passes from the Repub-
licans to the Democrate and with this comes considerable committee personnel changes.
There will be new chairmen of every Congressional committee and about a third of
the membership on most groups will be revised. During this reorganisation period
all legislative hearings are stalemated. The logjam will be leosened on or about
March 1st and from then until adjourment the Congressional schedule will be
piled high with important and controversial issues.
During January President Eisenhower will be submitting a number of messages
to the Congress wherein he will officially report on what has taken place in the
past months under his stewardship as Chief Executive and what he proposes for the
future. The day after Congress reconvenes Ike will deliver to a joint session
his State of the Union message. This is always a highlight of a new session- for
on such an occasion the President lays out the blueprints for his program. In
the past six years your Congressman has heard four by HST and two by Ike. Ad-
mittedly I'm a bit prejudiced but Ike's proposals have always been more constructive.
On January 10th President Eisenhower will submit to the legislative branch
of the government his new suggestions for an improved reciproeal trade act. Ike
firmly believes America as a whole will derive tremendous benefits from an overall
expansion of world trade. There are others who will violently eppose such legis-
lation and this issue may kick up quite a fuss in both the House and Senate before
it is resolved. This debate will definitely out aeross party lines for there are
Democrats and Republicans on both sides of the fence in this controversy.
The President on January 17th will submit his proposed federal budget and as
a member of the Committee on Appropriations I am most anxious to see the details
of Ike's continuous and effective policy of economy in government. In the past
two years substantial cuts have been made in Uncle Sam's spending and eertainly
more reductions are in order.
FORD LIBRARY
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW - Page 2
Three days later, on January 20th, the Congress and the Nation will have
before them the Chief Executive's economic message which will relate the Nation's
progress in the past twelve months and forecast the prospects for 1955. From all
indications to date the next twelve months should be one of the most prosperous
peacetime eras in America's history.
From time to time during the first session of the Congress Ike will undoubtedly
make further recommendations and reports to the House and Senate but for the present
the January batch seems sufficient for Congress to handle. For the past few months
the President and his staff have been working long and hard on his program of
"moderate progressivism" and now it's Congress' turn to "burn the midnight oil."
The Speaker of the House in the next session under Democrat control will be
Representative Sam Rayburn of Texas and he has alr ady made it clear that there
will be a tight ban on radio-TV coverage of House committee hearings. It is
difficult to understand the reason for this attitude for committee hearings are
public business and if properly conducted are highly informative.
The members of the House by a vote could revise the rules and override
Speaker Rayburn's decision but it is doubtful if the Democrat members who are
now in the majority would slap down their boss. In the Senate, the question has
been left to the discretion of the various committees concerned and according to
present prospects, this setup will remain unchanged during the 84th Congress.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
The 84th Congress started its business much like its 83 predecessors except
for the fact that the President is of one political party and the control of the
Congress is in another. New majority and minority party leaders were selected by
the Democrats and the Republicans in both the House and Senate. The Democrats
initially pledged support for the President's program, In the next two years it re-
mains to be seen how closely the promise coincides with performance.
Ike in turn, in his State of the Union message to a joint session, reaf-
firmed his strong desire for cooperation between the executive and legislative branches
of the federal government. On this problem the President said, "Let the general good
be our yardstick on every great issue of our time." That's sound advice for every citi-
zen, Democrat and Republican alike.
The President before launching into his all important message congratulated
the new Speaker, Sam Rayburn, on his 73rd birthday. The date for the joint session and
Sam's: birthday coincided, Ike certainly was at his best in extending personal felici-
tations to a person who first came to the House of Representatives as a Texas Congressman
on March 4, 1913, 42 years ago. That's a day before many younger members of the 84th
Congress were born.
Ike's message covered a good,many vital subjects and he stepped directly into
some controversial fields. When Congress adjourns next summer, it will be interesting
to see his "batting average." Your own Congressman wishes to express his general
upproval of the President's legislative suggestions. I suspect my Eisenhower scorecard
during this Congress will be about the same as it was in the past two years when I sup-
ported Ike 92 per cent of the time on his legislative recommendations, I have always
opposed subsidized public housing and will continue to do 30. Outside of this one dif-
ference your Congressman again looks forward to wholeheartedly working for the Presi-
dent's program.
Here are a few forecasts on the fate of the President's legislative policy.
Ike wants the corporate income tax left at 52 per cent, and the excise taxes on gaso-
lene, automobiles, liquor and cigarettes retained at the present level. The Democrat
Speaker of the House concurs and he apparently voices the opinion of his party. These
taxes will probably be left at the present rate in 1955, but there is a good possibility
of other tax cuts, particularly for individuals, in 1956.
Ike wants certain provisions in the Taft-Hartley Act revised. The northern
Democrats favor Taft-Hartley repeal, while generally the Democrats in the South would
hesitate. The net results, no changes in the Taft-Hartley Act,
The President recommended an increase in the minimum wage to 90 cents per
hour. Republicans in the Congress will support Ike, and northern Democrats should
help the cause, but again the southerners will balk.
The Eisenhower State of the Union message proposed pay increases for civilian
employees of the federal government, plus wage increases for the Army, Navy and Air
Force. Ike also endorsed a pay boost for Senators and Congressmen. The President's
overall program for government wage increases will get the "green light" although the
House and Senate may be skittish about raising their own salaries.
Ike's national defense program which emphasizes air power, a concentration
on new weapons, an improved continental defense, a buildup of a ready reserve force,
and an acceleration of stockpiling of strategic materials will likely be approved by
the Congress. There may be considerable controversy on certain aspects of the military
manpower program, although there is no question that the Selective Service Act,
requiring a two year period of active duty, will be re-enacted,
Ike wants immediate statehood for Hawaii and the same for Alaska in the near
future. Again unfortunately the issue of new states will be bogged down by sectional
jealousies.
The Congress will be receptive to the President's various health measures
including a proposal to combat juvenile delinquency, but there may be rough going for
the accident and heal re-insurance recommendation. The constitutional amendment
lowering the voting age hangs in the balance, but prospects don't appear too favorable.
In the months ahead important pages of history will be written, Let us hope
the results will be predicated on sound principles and genuine cooperation.
For release January 13, 1955
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
FOR RELEASE January 20, 1955
The problems of government continue to arise. Pome are national or inter-
national ih scope; others of local significance. During the past week I was es-
pecially concerned with three problems. Much time and enegry was expended in an
effort to insure to the Kent County Airport the $190,000 allocation previously
announced on October 5th by the Civil Aeronautics Administration. The issue is
clear cut. If the original decision of the CAA in October was sound, it should
not be changed at this late date after local authorities in good faith have acted
in reliance on a public commitment by a responsible federal agency. On the other
hand if the October 5th decision of CAA was not based on a sound analysis of all
the facts, then the public announcement should not have been made. We have no
quarrel with other communities in Michigan but we are interested in the integrity
of decisions of federal agencies.
Last Thursday evening I addressed the annual banquet of the Detroit Asso-
ciation of Insurance Agents on the topic: "The Federal Government Looks at Mail
Order and Unauthorized Insurance." There are a number of insurance companies,
not licensed by our State government, which are selling in surance by mail in
Michigan. There is always the danger that this unauthorized insurance will prove
fraudulent from the public's point of view; or to say the least, that advertising
concerning it will be misleading. At the present time there seems to be no way
in which the State authorities can handle this undesirable, situation. My proposal
would simply give the State authorities a new and effective tool to implement
State. regulation. This bill will deny the use of the mails for solicitation of
insurance within any State which forbids such activity except by licensed companies.
The purpose would be to protect the citizens of Michigan from those outstate com-
panies: which. could misrepresent their policies, and which do avoid regulation and
taxation by our State.
Last week your Congressman addressed the House of Representatives on a.
problem concerning the United Nations and the narcotics traffic. The Secretary
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW - page 2
General of the UN is considering a proposal to transfer the UN Narcotics Division
from New York to Geneva, Switzerland. There is no good reason for such a move
and it could mean far less effective control of the illicit dope traffic. Presi-
dent Eisenhower recently appointed an inter-departmental committee to suggest im-
provements in our narcotics program. Our most effective work in combating this
terrible evil may call for an energetic international office in this country. I
want to see nothing done which will curtail our efforts or the efforts of the UN
in protecting our children and young people from the vicious peddler.
There is also some evidence to show that the whole idea resulted from the
recent trip of Clement Attlee to Red China. I vigorously protest any action by
the UN which would in any way increase the influence of Red China either in the
UN or in the world at large.
I am intensely interested in the UN functioning as an effective international
agency and hope that it will take no action on transferring the Narcotics Division
outside the United States. To do so will tend to weaken the U. S. support for
the United Nations.
Most taxpayers applauded the recent proclamation of the President termi-
nating on January 31st certain veteran benefits intended for those who served
during actual conflict. It does seem to me, however, that men now in the service
should continue to build up GI education rights beyond the expiration date. Many
men volunteered with this thought in mind. Last Thursday the President indicated
his support of an extension of the educational rights for those who entered in
Armed Forces prior to February 1st.
IN A SENTENCE OR TWO: The United States government is still paying a
pension to ten dependents of veterans of the Mexican War (1846-1848); nine widows
and one child
Each B-47 purchased by your government costs $2,300,000
On Monday evening Bob Hope received for one hour's work on TV the sum of $100,000,
which is equal to the salary paid President Eisenhower for one year's responsi-
bilty
From the beginning of this Congress through last Thursday 2,368 bills
and resolutions had been introduced in the House of Representatives. Your Con-
gressman was responsible for five of these
A booklet entitled "Your Federal
Income Tax; 1954" is available from the Superintendent of Documents for 25 cents.
RECENT VISITORS: Mr. Herbert G. Eastwood, Mrs, A. F Schroeder, and Mr. Harry L.
Kendall all of Grand Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. Paul H. Smith of Grandville.
LIBRARY
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
FCR RELEASE January 27, 1955
The Congress now has before it the new federal budget for next year and the
Fresident's report on the economic state of the nation. Ike's optimistic and
forcefully states that in the months ahead the U. S, is headed for "even better
times." Clearly all the evedince points to a long period of general economic
expansion. President Eisenhower's policies in the past two years during the
transition from war to peace have brought economic stability and ever-increasing
strength in our national defense program. It would be tragic if the Democrat-
controlled Congress "rocked the boat" for political purposes.
Already there are indications that the Democrats in the House and Senate
by various and sundry legislation want to "tinker" with the Nation's economy.
Regularly, secret memorandums are being circulated by the Democratic National
Committee which are sniping at Eisenhower policies and programs. One "secret
memo" attacked Ike's foreign policy and justifies what was done under former
Secretary of State Dean Acheson. Another hits at Ike's budget message. More
partisan criticism of this sort is definitely in the mill.
What are some of the significant points in the new budget? Your Congressman,
as a member of the Committee on Appropriations, believes the federal government
after two difficult years has now reached a point of fiscal responsibility. No
longer is our government willfully and extravagently spending hard-earned tax
dollars far beyond its means. Uncle Sam's "cash budget," which measures total
receipts and disbursements, will be in the "black" by over $500 million on June
30, 1956. The prospects for a balance between cash outgo and income for this
June 30th are most encouraging. Everyone likes to run their own household on
a basis where revenue at least equals expenses. It looks like the federal govern-
ment after an extravagant and extended fling will shortly be handling its finances
like most American families.
STRRART
Page 2
A big headache for the past twenty-four months has been the accumulated "unex-
pended appropriations" which totalled $78 billion when Ike was inaugerated. This
huge sum represents appropriations which previous Congresses had made which were
not yet expended by the various federal agencies. Although unexpended the $78
billion was committed in long-term contracts mostly by the Army, Navy, and Air Force
for military equipment. This sizeable backlog of C.O.D orders has been worked
down by 625 billion in 2 two-year period and additional reductions in this burden
are assured.
Let me illustrate this problem and the change for the better in a different
way. Suppose Mr and Mrs. X. as the head of a family for five or six years, piled
up debts and contract obligations far beyond their foreseeable income. Such a
staggering financial burden, of not halted, would eventually lead to bankruptcy
and serious family hardship. B, reduction 10 this backlog of financial commitments
would obviously salvage the household and lead to better days ahead. The same
holds true in the handling of your government's money problems.
Despite the big enanges for the COCOO let is not kid ourselves that Uncle Sam
is running a small "penny anti" operation. Just as an example, the federal budget
next year provides more money 101 paper cups and paper towels for all government
agencies and the Armed Forces than George Washington spent for the entire government
during his first fiscal year in office, The F. B. I., a highly essential operation
these days, will undoubtedly receive $83 million next year, an increase of nearly
$10 million over its present budget,
Before the House Committee on Appropriations can start hearings on the President 's
budget the Committee must be organized into subcommittees. For the past few weeks
the new Democrat chairman of the Committee has been feuding and "fussin" behind the
scenes with some of his Democrat colleagues in the group (it's a bitter and long-
standing conflict) and 25 a result committee business is at a standstill. When they
get this perty l'ight settled the whole committee can go to work analyzing Ike's budget.
Congresswomer Bolton of Ohio has introduced a bill authorizing the Armed Forces
to give Reservo Commissions to men who are registered nurses; a privilege previously
reserved for women. This proposed legislation would give "equal rights to men. "
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
FOR RELEASE February 3, 1955
The Ghost of War and the Spirit of Peace again haunted the hall of the House
of Representatives the past week. Your Congressman was one of the 409 Republicans
and Democrats who voted to approve the Joint Resolution on the defense of Formosa.
Let me assure you that I did not take that stand lightly not in ignorance of the
implications. It is the consensus of the best-informed authorities here that this
is a step away from, rather than toward, war. By definitely announcing our
intention of securing and protecting Formosa and the Pescadores we dispel any false
notions by the Chinese Communists that the United States will not defend these islands.
Our military experts contend that if Formosa falls into the hands of Red China, the
Free World will inevitably lose the Philippines, Japan and other Pacific allies.
The loss of this valuable territory means the ruthless and dangerous enemy is thousands
of miles closer to the shores of America. We are one united nation in our determi-
nation to halt the march of the Godless Communistic aggressors in the Kremlin or
Peiping.
Some Americans have expressed the fear that we are giving Chaing Xal-shek a
"blank check," encouraging him to attack the mainland and thus precipitate a general
war. As your Representative here in Washington, I am convineed that our government
has a firm assurance that no such action will be taken.
To strengthen this confidence, the Congresswoman from Illinois, Mrs. Marguerite
Church, a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, gave personal testimony in
favor of the Resolution on the floor of the House. Among other things she said:
"I have lived through three major wars. I want no more war. I
have practically stated that only over my dead body and my lost hopes would
I ever vote for war. I voted therefore to make this action unanimous only
because I became convinced after 5 hours of careful testimony and discussion--
the main tragedy being that we cannot tell you all of the facts in the case,
ever-that this resolution was a measure not for war but a step that
is to prevent war. Only for that reason did I find the courage to take a
step that I know is SO momentous."
YOUR WASHINGTON PEVIEW - page 2
Furthermore, the President has asked the United Nations to work out a cease-fire
order between the warring Chinese camps. The Formosa Resolution is not too definite
as to the position of Quemoy and Matsu in all this. The fate of these islands un-
doubtedly is not being sealed at the moment in an effort to bargain effectively in
the cease-fire negotiations.
It is conceivable that these islands will have to be sacrificed to obtain a
cease-fire order. Should that order be effected, Chaing would have less reason
to insist upon keeping Quemoy and Matsu, and peace would be more firmly established.
We have taken our stand. But the tragedy and frustration which we all feel
was well expressed by Representative Jackson of California, who in the course of the
debate stated:
"The question of war or peace is not for us to determine. A handful of men
a half a world away hold the key to that grave question. We should be greater
than gods if we could insure a just and lasting peace among men and, by the
same token, we would be less than men if we failed to meet this clear challenge
in this fateful hour.
Your Congressan was also one of the 365 Representatives who last week voted
unanimously for the bill permitting any person serving in the Armed Forces on
January 31st to continue to accrue educational benefits under the G.I. Bill of
Rights. Not only did many men volunteer for service with the understanding that
they would be eligible for educational benefits, but thousands of veterans have
proved that they have a serious approach to education and that the training they
received is enabling them to make a construdtive contribution to the welfare of
their country. The President agrees that these educational benefits should continue
for those in the Army, Navy, and Air Force prior to January 31st.
The President of the Republic of Haiti addressed a joint session of Congress
last Thursday. To one on the floor as well as to one in the gallery, this was
another auspicious occasion symbolizing the solidarity of the human race and the
breadth of our democracy. Here was a negro leader from Haiti addressing in the French
language, a predominately white American Congress which listened to an English trans-
lation. President Magloire of this small but friendly ally, repeatedly in his address
praised the efforts of Ike to saek world conditions that would end the Communist
menace.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
FOR RELEASE February W,1955
For the past week in Washington it's been mighty frigid outside and at
times a bit overheates inside the Capiter. It was cold enough according w the
weatherman for your Congression to hami and and wear his red-flarmel nightshirt
which the Clipper Girls and Cedar Springs forwarded for just such an emergency.
For hours on end in a bare but well-heated committee room in the Capitol
my committee has been listening to the top witnesses from the Department of
Defense discuss the need for a military budget totalling approximately $34 billion
for the next 12 months. The testimony wasn't limited to the monstary aspects
of the Army, Navy, and Air Force budgets for the com ittee was intensely interested
in what Secretary of Defense Wilson and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
Admiral Radford could tell us about the situation in the Formosan-China area,
Since the committee hearings relate directly to our national security and mili-
tary policies they are behind closed doors. The hearings are later printed for
public distribution after deletion of secret testimony.
Under these conditions the witnesses can testify freely to the 15-member
committe. It is witally important that as the elected representatives of the
people we know what is contemplated by the military in the tense and oritical
intermational situation.
Secretary Wilson was on the witness stand 10 hours and Admiral Radford followed
him in the same spot for a day and a half. Both endorsed and supported the mili-
tary budget submitted by President Eisenhower which calls for a balaneed force
between the Army, Navy, and Air Force. It doesn't mean dividing the $34 billion
"pie" in three equal pieces. Rather, it emphasized increased air power, modern
weapons, a powerful Navy and a mobile, well-manned, high-firepower Army.
A good many Democrats in the Congress are condemning the President because
he has recommended a minor cutback in Army personnel. Actually the proposed re-
ductions in GIs is less than five per cent. The Army with the cut will still
have more than a million men on active duty which is twice the number when Presi-
dent Truman ordered the United States Army into Korea.
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW - page 2
These complicated and controversial hearitigs will go on for the next three
months. Any visiters from home, if I'm not in my office or on the floor of the
House will find me well occupied in the committee seeking the whys and whereferes
of a #34 billion military budget which involves the effectiveness of the Army,
Navy, and Air Force and the three-million men who are serving in uniform.
Recently your Congresaman sponsored legislation designed to curb improper
disposal of industrial waste materials by factories. This bill should be of
particular interest to residents near the Grand Eiver basin where industrial
wastes create unsanitary conditions by finding their way into stream and river
waters which they pollute.
The bill provides industry with a real incentive to construct adequate
sewerage disposal facilities for eliminating any water and air pellution from
factory wastes by allowing tax deductions over a five-year period on expenditures
made for purification equipment.
This bill is expected to receive strong support from numerous conservation
groups because of the ruinous effects wastes may have on hunting, fishing, and
on maring natural beauty.
Senator Potter deserves hearty congratulations for asking a federal com-
mission to study problems of the aged and aging. This bill proposes that a come
mission be set up to "study, analyze, investigate, and assess" what can be done
to integrate the growing age group of persons 65 years old and older into continuing
useful lives. Senator Potter estimates that this age group is increasing at the
rate of 1,000 persons per day.
Eight per cent of the population or 14,000,000 Americans are 65 years or
older. By 1970 this group will reach 12 per cent of the total population.
Statistics show that 5,000,000 families are headed by a person 65 or older
and of these 43 per cent have yearly incomes of less than $1,500; 30 per cent
take in less than $1,000 a year and 15 per cent get less than $500.
Other problems confronting the aged concern adequate housing, employment
opportunities, health, and recreation.
Now seems as good a time as any other for Congress to look into these
problems and attempt to dig out some answers to them.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
FOR RELEASE February 17, 1955
Your Congressman was privileged to attend the first public showing of two
new facilities recently put into operation by the National Bureau of Standards.
These were the Gamma-Ray Laboratory and the Betatron Laboratory. These names pro-
bably seem as strange to you as they did to your Congressman when he first heard
them. But they represent some of the latest scientific strides by your government
in Washington.
The Bureau of Standards is part of the Commerce Department. headed by the
Secretary of Commerce, Sinclair Weeks. Part of the job of this Bureau is to provide
basic standards-especially for physical measurements. They have custody of
maintaining and determining lengths, widths, and depths of such simple things as
the official length of an inch to the more complex precisions in length, time, and
speed demanded by modern technology.
Those two latest standards just unveiled to the public, which your Con-
gressman saw, concerned such new demands. The Gamma-Ray Laboratory is for the
standardization of radio-active materials so scientists all over the world can
use constants in discussing quantities of such particles. In addition, the Betat-
ron Laboratory has developed standard measuring techniques for very high energy
X-rays: This latter development is a boon to medicine, industry; and research.
One function of the Bureau of Standards has always been of special interest
to your Congressman as a member of the House Appropriations Committee. It concerns
the part played by the Bureau of Standards in seeing that the taxpayer isn't
"gyped."
It works in this way. The Bureau has set up certain high standards of quali-
ty which must be met by suppliers of government material. The Bureau of Standards
checks up on the quality of goods sold to the government.
For instance, if a new post office is being constructed, agents from the
Bureau of Standards check on the quality of cement, wood, and other building
materials placed in the structure. They do the same for roads, chemicals purchased
by the government, cloth, and many other items. Naturally if the purchased goods
doesn't meet the predetermined standards, they are rejected and a higher quality
GERAGO FORD LIBRARY
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW - page 2
is substituted.
A question asked me recently was: How has the Eisenhower Administration
met its obligations in the sphere of antitrust enforcement?
In 1954 a total of 35 new cases were filed by the government against busi-
nesses where there was "a conspiracy to restrain or monopolize trade." But this
number doesn't tell the whole story because the Anti-trust Division of the Justice
Department has a policy of pre-complaint negotiations which was instituted last
year. This means that after the Antitrust Division has investigated a particular
violation and prepared a complaint, they sit down at the conference table with
delinquent business and try to work out the problem so as to avoid actual
court action.
The sole purpose of Antitrust law is to help promote or restore an atmos-
phere where our forces of free enterprise may operate more effectively for the
public interest and guarding against abuses. If you would care to obtain some
additional information on this subject, just drop me a line and I will be happy to
pass along to you a recent speech with examples and type: of suits occurring in
1954. This speech was delivered by the Assistant Attorney General, Stanley N.
Barnes
The other day we came up with some facts and figures about the Library of
Congress thich may interest you.
During the last fiscal year the Library acquired its 10-millionth book.
Number ten million was just one more item, though, in the grand total of 33,153,000
articles contained by the Library. Rounding out this staggering number are
manuscripts, maps and views, musical literature, photographs, and films among other
things. A few of the more novel of these articles include the world's smallest
book, an edition of "The Rose Garden of Cmar Khayyam" which is no larger than a
fingernail. On the other hand, the Library has two sets of one of the largest
books ever printed, Audubon's "elephant folio" edition of the "Birds of America,"
measuring three and a half feet in height.
The Library lived up to its name in fiscal 1954: Every Congressman made use
of it, and some 69,000 congressional inquiries were answered.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
FOR RELEASE February 24, 1955
Your Congressman favors the enactment of the Trade Agreements Extension
Act. The bill is flexible enough to give the President authority to meet emer-
gency situations and yet rigorous enough to guarantee reasonable protection for
American industry and agriculture. Under the proposal the authority of the
President would be extended for three more years to negotiate tariff reductions
on a reciprocal basis'up to 5 per cent in each of those years.
Many folks think this bill automatically lowers tariffs. The proposed
legislation does no such thing. It only gives the President permissive authority
under certain restrictions to reduce tariffs. And before this can be done the
President must obtain the advice of the Tariff Commission as to the rate below
which it believes a reduction could not be made without causing or threatening
serious injury to domestic industries.
Also, the President must obtain the views of the Department of State,
Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Treasury, Interior, Labor, and the Foreign Opera-
tions Administration to get advice and facts on all aspects of the problem.
Finally before making any binding agreement to alter the tariff structure, public
hearings must be held in which American industry, labor, agriculture, exporters,
importers, producers, and consumers have every opportunity to make their views
known.
Currently the United States has trade agreements with 42 countries which
carry on between them at least 80 per cent of world trade. Agreements-negotiated
cover about 58,000 items with a volume of 1953 trade surpassing $40 billion.
President Eisenhower's nomination of John Marshall Harlan to be an asso-
ciate justice of the United States Supreme Court is unfortunately gathering dust
in the files of the Democrat-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee. Chairman
Kilgore of West Virginia and other Democrat Senators are appraently blocking
Fresident Eisenhower's lead in seeking non-segregated public school opportunities
throughout the United States.
GERRED FORD VIBRARY
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIE page 2
They are doing this by taking advantage of the announcement that the Supreme
Court will not hand down a final decision on the question of segregation in public
schools until the court vacancy is filled. By delaying action on the Harlan nomi-
nation the Democrats are road-blocking further progress on desegregation in many
parts of the country. It is regrettable that the Democrats pose as champions of
the negroes on the one hand and at the same time sabotage President Eisenhower's
effort to make real progress in the field of civil rights.
In a roll call vote on Wednesday, February 16 your Congressman was one of
283 members of the House who voted to increase Congressional pay from 15,000 a
year to 25,000. There were 118 votes against the bill. This final vote showed
166 Democrats teamed up with 117 Republicans to provide the first Congressional
pay boost since 1946 when the annual salary scale of $12,500 plus an expense
allowance of $2,500 or a total of 15,000 was set for members of the House and Senate.
The provisions of the new pay bill, which now awaits Senate action, still provides
2,500 for expenses and 22,500 salary. Like all income earned by any other United
States citizen this amount is subject to federal income tax:s.
It is interesting to note that since 1946 federal employees classified under
civil service have received average pay increases of 40 per cent and another increase
is expected this year. For this same period the Department of Labor reports gross
earnings of all production workers in manufacturing industries have increased over
68 per cent.
Back home in Michigan, your State representatives and senators in Lansing
have received a 356 per cent pay hike since 1946 and their annual salaries and
expense allowances have jumped from 1,095 to 5,000. The Governor's total
salary was $7,500 in 1946 and today it is $22,500 or 200 per cent higher. I am
informed Covernor Villiams recently requested that his an ual salary be increased
to 30,000.
The Congressional pay-increase legislation was endorsed by the American
Farm Bureau, the CIO, Fresident Eisenhower, former President Truman, and by
newspapers from one end of the country to the other.
All this seems to boil down to one basic issue. Do we want our legislators
and other public officials to be men and women of some independent income or
outside wealth or do we want them to be elected officials compensated so that
anyone with ability and proper qualifications can serve without economic sacrifices
to himself and his family.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
FOR RELEASE March 3, 1955
The President took a firm position in favor of fiscal responsibility when
he exposed the fallacies in a recent politically inspired tax legislation. The
opposition apparently supports bigger U. S. deficits which our children must pay
off at some future date. The fundamental issue on this tax fight is whether the
present generation of taxpayers shall pay for the benefits provided by our govern-
ment today or duck its responsibility and lightly pass this burden on to our kids.
All of us selfishly would like $20 more to spend now, but in all honesty hesitate
to pass an increased debt on to our youngsters with interest.
Unbalanced budgets lead to inflation, and inflation insidiously steals from
the small taxpayers. The politically inspired tax cut will inevitably rekindle
the fires of inflation b** increasing Uncle Sam's deficit. Inflation will quickly
eat up, in fact devour, any 20 tax saving.
In recent months quite a few members of the Congress have voted to increase
Uncle Sam's expenses, reduce his revenue, and have disapproved of authority to
borrow more money to pay his current bills. Is this honest and consistent? It
reminds me of the husband who won't work to earn the necessary family funds, who
decides to spend more rather than less, and who ha: a debt ceiling or borrowing
limit that he won't or can't raise. Such irresponsibility leads to bankruptcy.
The President's road program which WAS sent to Congress last week is an
important step toward improving and expanding the nation's highways, now crumbling
beneath an ever-increasing overdose of traffic. The President suggests that the
federal overnment assume principal responsibility for the cost of a modern Inter-
state Network of high ays, and that 25 billion be spent on these roads over a
ten-year period. Michigan, which ranks seventh among the States in the number
of motor vehicles registered, has approximately 985 miles of the interstate
highways. The route from Muskegon to Grand Rapids to Detroit is included as well
as the highway from Grand Rapids to Benton Harbor and Chicago.
LIBRARY
YOUR WASHINGT N REVIEW - Page 2
The President also proposes that those who use the highways should pay
for them through the present gas and diesel oil taxes, and to some extent by tolls.
During the last session of Congress for the first time all the revenue from these
sources was allocated for highway purposes.
Good roads save money and lives and are essential for any national defense
emergency. For every 2.9 fatalities on roads built to interstate standards, there
are 8 to 10 deaths on defective or below-standard highways with similar traffic.
The U. S. Government will continue to assist the States in constructing
primary and secondary roads as at present, but the States and local units will
retain the major responsibility.
Your Congressman has again taken to the air waves through weekly five-minute
radio broadcasts, taped in Washington and sent back home to the various radio
stations in Kent and Ottawa Counties. The following is my schedule over the Grand
Rapids stations: WOOD, Sunday, 12:00 p.m.; MLAV, Sunday, 12:05 p.m.; GRD,
Sunday, 12:10 p.m.; VMAX, Sunday, 12:15 p.m.; WEF, Saturday, 2;30 p.m., and
WFUR which also scheduled this weekly radio report although I don't have the exact
time. The program is heard over \.HTC, Holland, Thursday at 7:15 p.m.
We also make a TV cast over station WOOD-TV, usually during Bob Runyon's
Friday news program at 6:15 p.m.
In case you're curious how your Congressman goes about making his radio
program and TV film, here in the House Office Building provisions are made for
a sound-proof radio recording studio as well as very complete TV facilities. This
is purely for congressional use and many congressmen use it to keep their consti-
tuents well informed about what goes on in the Nation's Capital.
RECENT VISITORS: Mr. Harry Kendall, Mrs. Mildred Bruinsma, Mr. Frank Clark
Mr. John Knoor, Rev. Henry Bast, Mr. Ray Feringa, Mr. Villiam Broensma, Mr. John
B. Martin, Mr. and Mrs. John H. Voss, Miss Bea Alphenaar, Miss Patricia Campbell,
all of rand Rapids; Lt. George R. Lundbers of Lowell, Mr. and Mrs. alter Smith
of Grandville, Dr. D. Ivan Dykstra of Hol and, Miss Dorothy Boon of Grand Haven,
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Van Overloop and Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Lubbers of Hudsonville.
m
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
for release March 10, 1955
Recently a Grand Rapids resident inserted a dime into a commercial stamp-
vending machine. Three 3 stamps popped out as expected but in addition something
most unusual was a part of the package. This was not the neat little cardboard
folder holding the stamps but printed matter on it which described rather vividly
the advantages of subscribing to a magazine containing names, pictures and
addresses of lonely persons wishing correspondence with members of the opposite
sex.
Through a letter from a constituent this incident immediately came to my
attention. I was greatly disturbed that United States government stamps should
be distributed commercially in a cardboard folder containing this type of printed
matter. It would seem that such a commercial promotion could create, if it has
not already done so, a very bad situation in many communities which would cast
discredit upon the Post Office Department.
As a result, last week your Congressman introduced a bill which is designed
to prohibit sales from vending machines of postage stamps accompanied by matter
bearing or containing advertising.
The United Nations has embarked on one more area of investigation for develop-
ing peaceful uses of the atom which President Eisenhower urged last year in
his speech before the UN General Assembly. The world organization has set up
a working party that will study questions related to the uses of atomic radiation
for agricultural purposes. Cur own Department of Agriculture is also making
investigations into this field. They have found, for instance, that radio-active
materials alone do plants no good. But the use of radiation offers a new tool
for work in agricultural research.
Researchers have found that by adding radio-active phosphorus to fertilizers
they can discover new and better ways for nourishing plants. Recent experiments
with radio-active isotopes have revealed a new method for discovering minor
nutrient deficiencies in trees. This will be especially useful for fruit growers
with large orchards. And the Department of Agriculture has found that radio-active
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW - Page 2
cobalt can induce more mutations in plants.
As yet there is no printed material available to explain developments in
this new area of research. It is a pioneering field from which we may expect
striking advances in the next few years.
I was impressed again last week with President Eisenhower's sincere efforts
to strengthen the spiritual life of our nation. In a broadcast initiating the
American Legion's "back-to-God" program, he declared, "Without God, there
could be no American form of government, nor an American way of life. Recognition
of the Supreme Being is the first - the most basic - expression of Americanism."
He further pointed out that "veterans realize, perhaps more clearly than others,
the prior place. that Almighty God holds in our national life. And they can
appreciate, through personal experience, that the really decisive battleground
of American freedom is in the hearts of and minds of our own people."
House Democratic leaders swalbwed a bitter pill when Majority Leader McCormack
complained on the House floor that he and speaker Sam Rayburn weren't receiving
copies of Presidential messages before they are read in the House. It turned
out that 250 copies of each message were being sent to the majority leader's
office, well in advance, where they were kept on a table, rarely looked at and
quickly discarded in a wastebasket.
VISITORS - Jack L. Kailey, Floyd A. Thornton, David Mandel, George Bernhardt,
Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Gritter, Mr. and Mrs. John S. Vander Heide, Jr., all of
Grand Rapids. Albert Van Dyke of Grandville and Thomas a Dowell of Battle Creek.
Do you have anyone in mind you think might like to receive the "Washington
Review" weekly as you do? If so, just have them drop me a line and I'll be
happy to place them on my mailing list.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
FOR RELASE March 17, 1955
About one of every five pieces of mail I receive requests me to take a
definite stand on some controversial question before Congress. Usually this is
made during the early stages of the particular bill's existence when traditionally
slow legislative machinery is just starting to grind into action. The bill is subject
entirely to consideration by a committee which gathers the opinions of experts and
carries out detailed fact-finding investigations.
Finally, if the bill is shoved out from one of the 19 committees on to the
House floor the measure in detail with all its ramifications is aired openly for
all to see. In the meantime, the committee has probably given the bill such a
iace-lifting that it may bear no resemblence to the way it looked when originally
introduced. Still further, on the floor it may be subjected to the test of further
debate and numero... amendments. For the legislator it is neither intelligent nor
honest to pledge himself to one side or the other before all the facts are available.
and the bill appears in its final form.
In the meantime, I try to answer correspondence on such issues still in the
fact-finding stage, by giving my thoughts and pointing out my general approach to
the question. Naturally, mail with opinions and additional information from con-
stituents is a most helpful element in the consideration of legislation.
The days in Washington are still cold but nevertheless spring and the cherry
blossoms are almost here and with them the advent of the tourist season.
If you should travel to Washington this year and visit my office, I can
provide you with several passes that will in all probability make your stay in the
Nation's Capital much more eventful. To see the House in session you must visit
your Congressman's office to obtain a pass. But in addition, I have passes for
tours through the National Art Gallery, the White House and some material which can
serve as a helpful guide to points of interest in the city.
If you happen to know any young man between 17 and 21 who is interested in
information about the United States Merchant Marine Academy have him drop me a line
and I'll see that he receives some data on it. I have been informed that the
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW - page 2
annual ᶜompetitive examination for appointment to the academy, located at Kings
Point, New York, will be held Monday, April 11, at Civil Service centers through-
out the country.
This academy offers a fine four-year course at college level which leads to a
commission as ensign in the naval reserve, a bachelor of science degree and a
license qualifying the graduate as a Merchant Marine Officer.
ECONOMY NOTES: Secretary of the Interior, Douglas McKay, recently appeared
before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee with good news for the American
taxpayer. Mr. McKay, appearing in support of a $424,400,000 budget for his
department, said this fund request for the next fiscal year would cost the treasury
only $88,000,000 because the Department of Interior has a growing income from
resourxes under its control. For instance, it expects $147,000,000 alone this
year from oil leases on the ocean's continental shelf. Income from these oil
leases and other sources will steadily increase, and eventually make the De-
partment of Interior self supporting.
Some of the effects of the liberalized re-enlistment bonus for the Army,
Navy, and Air Force legislated by the last Congress are now becoming apparent.
During the first seven months since the law's enactment 25,000 more already
trained army personnel re-enlisted than figures under old system would have
indicated. This means 25,000 less Army recruits going through expensive training.
The first six months of a recruit's training costs Uncle Sam $3,200. Therefore,
savings in initial training costs in this instance amount to $80,000,000 because
the Army has not had to induct 25,000 untrained men to replace experienced GIs.
With all the talk about federal tax legislation I would like to point out a
few interesting facts from recent history. When President Eisenhower expressed
his hope that in 1956 more tax relief could be given he was manifesting a tradi-
tional Republican policy. For example, it is interesting to note that since the
advent of the income tax in 1916 there have been 14 tax increases. Twelve of
these came under Democrat administrations. There have been ten tax reductions,
and eight of these came under Republican administrations.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
FOR RELEASE March 24, 1955
The past week has been a busy and interesting one. My attention has been
captured by more than a usual share of problems and iformation, that is, when I
could escape from the long hours in my committee. For instance, the long-awaited,
most controversial and very revealing Yalta documents were released for public
consumption by the Department of State, and the Honorable Robert Gordon Menzies,
Prime Minister of Australia, briefly addressed the House on Wednesday.
Cn Thursday, March 17th, I was invited to lunch at the White House along with
the other 18 members and former members of Congress who urged President Eisenhower,
who at that time was in Paris as General Ike in charge of NATO, to seek the Presi-
dential nomination back in February of 1952. This informal White House luncheon
has now become an annual event, at least the President's hospitality would seem
to indicate as much, and let me assure you the 19 guests look forward to the
occasion each year. Ike seemed in good health and far more relaxed than on
previous occasions. I sincerely believed the United States needed him as our
President in 1952, and I feel we need him even more so in 1956.
Last week I voted for the so-called Career Incentive Pay Bill which should
improve the efficiency and the morale of the Armed Forces by providing more pay
as an incentive for young men to make the Armed Forces a career. This also would
seem to be a just reward as a matter of fairness to experienced servicemen in
recognition of the job we depend on them to do, which incidentally, is the
24-hour-a-day defense of our Nation. .ind we hope that the outcome of this bill,
which now awaits Senate action, will save the treasury money which would be
needed for training new men to take the places of those who otherwise might
leave the service.
It is interesting to note, for example, that the Army re-ențistment rate in 1949
was 41 per cent while in 1954 it had dropped to 11 per cent. In the Navy in 1950
the re-enlistment rate was 66 per cent which dropped to a 1954 low averaging 24
per cent. As I have said before the loss of trained soldiers, sailors, and airmen
is mighty expensive to the federal treasury.
FORD LIBRARY
YOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW - page 2
During the war when our supplies of rubber were sharply cut off, a vast partner-
ship between government and industry was born. Government had the funds and
industry had the technical know-how to construct efficient synthetic rubber facili-
ties.
After the war the need for this partnership no longer existed. Between 1946
and 1949 some 18 synthetic facilities were sold to private industry. In 1948 and
again in 1950, President Truman in messages to Congress, recommended disposal of
the remaining plants to private ownership. In 1953, President Eisenhower made a
similar recommendation, and shortly thereafter the House in the spirit of bi-
partisanship passed the disposal bill 316 to 58. The Senate followed suit with
a vote of 65 to 16.
President Eisenhower appointed a commission to administer the sale of these
rubber plants operating under a law designed in the best interest of national
defense and financial stability.
These sales will become a reality unless a proposal of disapproval is passed
by either House by midnight of March 25th. As of April 30th of this year the govern-
ment will have a total unrecovered investment involved of $272,718,800. The Com-
mission proposes to sell the plants for $263,643,000 which will return to the
taxpayers 96.6 per cent of the unrecovered investment since the program's inception
in 1941.
I am very pleased the government is getting out of the rubber business, and
despite some rumbles of protest, this disposal program has received bipartisan
support, not only from former President Truman, but more recently from the Democrat
Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee which has been mostly concerned with
this matter.
Chairman Vinson said on March 10th, "In my opinion, the disposal program meets
all of the criteria established by the law, I believe it obtains for the taxpayers
the full fair value for the facilities."
visitors; Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Parris, Mr. Robert L. DeMaagd, Mr. A. J. Minor,
Mr. Charles Maynard, Mr. and Mrs. Earl F. Phelps, Mr. Silas F. Albert, and Miss
Virginia R. Vogt, all of Grand Rapids. Mr. Albert Van Dyke of Grandville; Miss
Mary Elin Pas of Zeeland; Mr. Robert C. Roos of Holland; and Mr. Franklin W. Wallin
of Jenison.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
FOR RELEASE March 31, 1955
Last week I voted along with 119 other House members in favor of pay-
increase legislation for Post Office employees. If this bill had passed, the
postal employees would have received a pay boost averaging 7.5 per cent and the
benefits of job reclassification. Under a suspension of rules, which was the
parliamentary procedure used in this instance, no amendments can be proposed from
the House floor. I feel that in a measure as complicated and controversial as
this one the free use of amendments could well result in a legislative hodge podge.
Now the bill must follow a much slower House procedure and as a result the
postal employees are being deprived all the longer of a well-deserved raise which
is scheduled tc become effective as soon as the bill is signed by the President.
The defeated measure was introduced by the Democrat Chairman of the House
Post Office and Civil Service Committee and approved by the Committee after long
study and careful drafting. It has the support of the ranking Republican on
this committee as well as the backing of Postmaster General Arthur Summerfield
and President Eisenhower. The President has hinted that he would veto any raise
above 7.5 per cent. I do not want to see a recurrence of last year's affair
which resulted in a presidential veto and deprived the postal workers of any
increase in salary.
The job reclassification provisions provide for equal. pay for equal work
with salaries geared in proportion to job responsibility. This seems justifiable
and fair with sufficient safeguards to protect all employees.
Last week the House passed an appropriations bill of $89,138,000 for the
activities of the National Institutes of Health. This is an increase of $7,870,000
over fiscal 1955. In appropriating these funds Congress has exercised national
leadership both in making people aware of the power of medical research and in
providing funds to expand and sustain medical research efforts for the promotion
of the general welfare.
LIBRARY
Two fields which received major consideration in this appropriation were
research in mental health and cancer. Figures show, for instance, that about
one half of nine million hospital beds in the United States are occupied by the
mentally ill.
The NIH reports that 30 to 50 per cent of senile cases in our institutions,
with proper treatment and care, can be taken out of institutions and placed where
they would be happier and would cost the state less. In studying means of helping
emotionally disturbed children, the NIH is trying to find shortcuts and different
ways of treating these children so more of them can be handled quickly, and a
cure effected in a shorter time.
Progress is also being made in the treatment of cancer with chemical agents.
For example, in 40 cases of a cancer usually occurring in the retina of the eye,
the use of a drug, together with radiation, apparently cured 80 per cent of those
children within a two-year period.
Fully one quarter of all research done in the medical schools in the country
are supported by 3,000 grants supported by this program. And other funds are
being used to assist in a minor way the training of research manpower in the medical
and biological sciences. This is money well spent!
The moral leadership of the United States in world affairs received another
boost last week when the Capitol's new interdenominational "prayer and meditation"
room opened. This room, exclusively for use by Congressmen resulted from a joint
resolution by the House and Senate
By April 1st my committee on Army
appropriations will have finished over two months hearings on the $8 billion request
for funds to keep the Army in top shape for its part in the National Defense team.
While listening to the Army witnesses 5 hours per day, week after week, I have been
impressed with the quality of the men and machines protecting our American way of
live
Congratulations go out to Mr. R. V. Huyser, R. R. #5, Holland, for
being the first person to request farmer bulletins from the current list. My office
sent out 24,000 catalogs of these bulletins. We have a number still on hand which
are available upon request.
STORARY