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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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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
January 15, 1959
Hello again in 1959. The weekly Congressional Newsletter from the Nation's
Capital is back in print. As in the past Your Congressman will report interesting
happenings on Capitol Hill, discuss objectively controversial issues and my reasons for
voting Aye or Nay on the complicated and serious problems which will face the House of
Representatives. By all means feel free to drop me a line with comments, pro or con,
on what Your Congressman does or says. I can do a better job with your help.
A NEW CONGRESS: The 86th Congress convened on schedule with some controversy
in both the House and Senate the opening day. In the Senate the long awaited and some-
what perennial fight over the anti-filibuster rule was on the agenda. Generally the so-
called liberals want a change in Senate Rule 22 so that extensive debate, sometimes
labelled a filibuster, can be curtailed more easily.
Senator Johnson, Democrat Majority Leader, sponsored a compromise just a notch more
liberal in its application than the present rule. The southern Democrats will vigor-
ously oppose this change in the Senate rules. In contrast the Democrats from the
northern states who are the extreme liberals in the Senate want to go much further.
This is another illustration of the irreconcilable split in the two wings of the
Democratic Party. Maybe this dispute over Senate rules can be patched up on the surface
but the basic ideological tug of war will continue indefinitely.
THE HOUSE SIDE: There were few fireworks in the House of Representatives on
January 7th when all newly elected members took their oath of office. Earlier it had
been forecast there would be (1) a fight the opening day on a change in the House rules
to restrict the Committee on Rules; (2) an objection by liberal Democrats to the seating
of the newly elected Little Rock, Arkansas representative; (3) and a change in the
jurisdiction over immigration and naturalization, and passport legislation from the
Committees on the Judiciary and Foreign Affairs to the Committee on Un-American
Activities.
The House rules were not revised on Speaker Rayburn's assurance there would be no
roadblocking of legislation. Immigration and naturalization legislation was left to
the Judiciary Committee and passport problems to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. The
Congressman-elect from Arkansas was challenged to the extent that he took the oath of
office singly and cn 2 provisional basis pending an investigation of the election in his
district by a House Committee.
THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP DISPUTE: The Republicans in the House of Representatives did
take decisive action to change their leadership prior to the opening session. Rep.
Joseph W. Martin of Massachusetts had been GOP leader for 20 years. He had served the
Party faithfully and with distinction. Joe Martin was admired by both his Republican
and Democratic colleagues. However, there were many younger Republicans including your
I
Congressman who believed Joe at the age of 74 years should transfer his tremendous
responsibilities to someche who was more vigorous and articulate. We wanted him to be
our Senior Statesman and Advisor, and still do. But in the rugged days ahead in the
86th Congress the Republicans in the House require more effective floor leadership with
an articulate spokesman for GOP principles and programs.
Representative Charles Halleck of Indiana was selected in a party caucus. His
election to this post of responsibility was not based on any ideological or geographical
split in the Republican ranks. It does mean House Republicans will have a more vigorous
part in determining GOP policy in conjunction with the President and in selling those
principles and programs to our citizens nationwide.
STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE: On January 9th President Eisenhower delivered to a
joint session of the Congress his annual State of the Union message. Over the past
years your Congressman has heard 10 such addresses, four by former President Truman and
six from Ike. I think the President's approach in 1959 was sound. It was a statement
of broad principles with specific legislative proposals to follow and called for
cooperation between the White House and the Congress. The message hit the nail on the
head by its emphasis on a balanced budget, inflation control and the immediate necessity
for labor-management legislation to better protect the interests of individual union
members and the public generally. The President appropriately called for a strong and
up-to-date national defense program with maximum strength and increased efficiency at
the lowest dollar cost consistent with free world security.
YOUR CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE: Any correspondence to your Congressman may be addressed:
Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Jr., House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. Our office is in
Room 351 of the House Office Building where the telephone number is CApitol 4-3121;
extension 3831.
Our District office at 518 Michigan Trust Building, Grand Rapids will remain open
each morning from Monday through Friday with Mrs. Irene Zeddies in charge. Her tele-
P
hone number is GLendale 6-9747.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
January 22, 1959
Over 2,700 bills were introduced in the House of Representatives during the first
week of the new session and 459 measures were presented to the U. S. Senate.
With this avalanche of new legislation have come many letters from home recommending
or protesting certain proposals.
We have received over 200 letters objecting to the present 10 per cent Federal
excise tax on telephone service.
Fundamentally I agree with this point of view. The excise tax on telephone service
originally was imposed at a rate of 20 per cent in World War II with the expectation
that it would be eliminated after the cessation of hostilities. It was, however,
continued on through the Korean Conflict, again strictly for revenue purposes. Some
improvement was accomplished in 1954 when the Congress, upon the recommendation of
President Eisenhower, cut the tax rate from 20 to 10 per cent.
As you know, I do favor overall tax relief including reductions in the telephone
tax and other excises provided Congress has the determination to hold the line on or
cut federal expenditures. The House and Senate must insure a balanced budget if there
is to be any honest consideration of a reduction in taxes. I will continue to vote for
economy in government as the right way to bring about federal tax relief.
SUNDAY VOTING: An announcement by a western Senator that he would introduce
legislation to change the national election day from Tuesday to Sunday has brought over
two dozen letters of protest.
Your Congressman has taken a clear and unequivocal position in opposition to
such a proposal. I will vigorously oppose any legislation which would in any way call
for national, state, or local elections to be held on Sunday. There's no good reason
whatsoever for such a change and there are many valid objections. Those who wish to
exercise the right and privilege of voting can do it on a week day between the hours of
7:00 A.M. and 8:00 P.M. as elections are now scheduled in our state.
Incidentally, at this writing the Senator has not introduced his bill and I am
confident that such a proposal would receive little, if any, support in the United States
Congress.
THE BUDGET BUREAU AND COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS: Your Congressman made his
first speech on the House floor in the 86th Congress in defense of the Budget Director's
MEMORANDUM that officials from the Executive Branch of the government who appear before
the Committee on Appropriations should support the budget as recommended by the President.
The Budget Director, Maurice Stans, had said among other things, that these
officials should "avoid volunteering views differing from the budget, either on the
record or off the record. While direct questions at hearings must be answered frankly,
it is expected that à witness who feels he must set forth a personal view inconsisten
with the President's budget will also point out that the President's judgment on the
matter was reached from his overall perspective as the head of the Government, and in
light of over-riding national policy."
This memorandum was severely criticized as a "gag rule" by some of my colleagues
and one has introduced legislation to abolish the present Budget Bureau and substitute
for it the Office of the U. S. Budget in the legislative branch.
In my remarks, however, I pointed out that the head of the executive branch of
the government has the right to expect that his aides and assistants will represent his
views and respect his recommendations to the Congress. This is the only orderly and
proper way to run such a vast and complicated business involving over 4½ million military
and civilian employees and a budget totaling $77 billion.
Mr. Stan's memo authorizes any witness before the Committee on Appropriations to
answer any questions put to them by members of the Committee. This enables the Committee
to get all the essential information it needs.
I think it is significant that President Truman issued a more stringent
directive in 1946. He recognized too, the position of the President as the responsible
head of the executive department. As our Constitutional executive, the President must
have a firm control over governmental expenditures. The President's use of the Bureau
of the Budget to coordinate his legislative program is sound and reasonable.
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE: Rep. James Roosevelt has introduced a resolution
to abolish the Committee on Un-American Activities. This Committee was established to
carry on a contirual investigation of subversion in our country and to recommend
legislation against the Communist conspiracy.
While the Chairman of the Committee has said that he is not "wedded to any
particular structural organization of a unit of the House charged with such investigation,"
it is imparative that we continue a day-to-day study of Communists in the United States
and that we keep all subversive activities under constant surveillance.
Until a better plan for doing so is presented tothe Congress, I will vote to
continue the Committee on Un-American Activities,
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
January 29, 1959
President Eisenhower sent his Budget Message for 1960 to the Congress on Monday,
January 19th. The next morning the House Committee on Appropriations held its initial
meeting for the 86th Congress to begin consideration of the President's balanced budget
with a $100 million surplus.
The House Committee is composed of 50 members, 30 Democrats and 20 Republicans.
Because of their sizable majority in the House, the Democrats control this Committee
with 60 per cent of the votes. The Chairman, Clarence Cannon of Missouri has been on the
Committee for 28 years. Representative John Taber of New York is the ranking (most years
of service) Republican member. He would be chairman if the Republicans had a majority
in the House and was head of the Committee in the 80th and 83rd Congresses when Republicans
were in control.
Your Congressman is listed seventh in seniority on the Republican side and is the
ranking minority member on the Subcommittee on Appropriations for the Department of
Defense. This Subcommittee composed of 17 members handles a budget running to $40 billion
annually.
At Tuesday's meeting Secretary of the Treasury Anderson and Director of the Bureau
of the Budget Stans were on the witness stand. Chairman Cannon intensely interrogated
both. witnesses, aiming questions at the Secretary of the Treasury on revenue estimates
and probing the Budget Director on expenditure forecasts. Both ably defended Ike's
balanced budget proposal and called upon the Congress to cooperate in achieving a surplus
rather than a deficit. It was the near unanimous opinion of Committee members regardless
of party affiliation that both officials were extremely competent, well informed, and
very forthright.
After the Democratic Chairman's questioning the witnesses were turned over to the
ranking Republican, Congressman Taber of New York. This procedure of alternating the
interrogators, first a Democrat then a Republican, was carried on for the full two days
of the hearing. of course a full transcript was kept of the questions and answers.
Shortly it will be printed for public distribution.
In the hearing some of the Democrats on the Committee sought to discredit the
President's effort to submit a balanced budget. Several criticized the budget for not
including certain additional spending programs. Others disagreed with revenue estimates
for the 1960 period. One or two praised the balanced budget approach and indicated their
cooperation.
The Republicans stoutly defended a balanced budget as the government's contribution
to price stability and as a means of halting inflation. Obviously a number of factors
contribute to an inflationary spiral. One of these is a Federal deficit. We must
realize a balanced Federal budget helps to hold down the price of groceries; it is a
factor in the cost of every pair of shoes or suit of clothes; it plays a major role in
keeping the family budget in the black. The Congress must share the responsibility of
protecting the dollars of every citizen by working for fiscal responsibility in our
Federal government.
A SAFETY BILL AND THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS: Among the bills introduced this session
by your Congressman is one which would direct the Interstate Commerce Commission to
require that all railroad freight cars be equipped with reflectors or luminous material
so they can be readily seen at night.
This safety feature was suggested to me in my Mobile Office three years ago following
a fatal auto-train accident in the night near Marne. A bill was introduced in 1956 but
at that time the Interstate Commerce Commission took a dim view of the suggestion and
there was no congressional action. By 1957, however, the Commission had reversed its'
position and agreed to draft a bill which it could approve. I introduced such a bill in
January, 1957. The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce held hearings in March,
1957 but took no further action. Because all pending legislation died with the end of
the 85th Congress, the bill had to be submitted again this session.
I reintroduced the bill, (H. R. 1005) as drafted by the ICC on the opening day,
January 7, 1959. It was referred by the Speaker through the Parliamentarian's office to
the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.
On January 15th we wrote the Chairman explaining our interest in the bill, pointing
out the importance of prompt action, and requesting the Committee to ask the ICC for its
views. The legislative Committees generally require the views and recommendations of
the interested departments in the Executive Branch before they will take action on
proposed legislation. At the same time we wrote Rep. John Bennett of Michigan, the
ranking Republican on the Committee, asking for his assistance.
On January 19th Mr. Bennett replied, to say "the proposal sounds meritorious to me
and later in the session if I can assist you in securing a Committee hearing I will try
to do so." On the 20th, Chairman Oren Harris wrote that reports would be requested from
the appropriate government agencies and pointed out that last year's hearings will be
helpful to the new members of the subcommittee which will consider this problem, adding,
"I will try to work this important safety measure into our busy hearing schedule."
You can be sure that I will continue to push for action on this important measure.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
February 5, 1959
On consecutive days, President Eisenhower sent to the Congress special messages
on labor-management legislation and a Federal farm program.
The Administration has presented a well-rounded, 20-point program for protecting
the rights of all union members and insuring that the best interests of all citizens can
be guaranteed. It would go far toward eliminating the abuses demonstrated by the
McClellan Committee.
Senator Kennedy has introduced legislation along the lines of the Kennedy-Ives
bill of the 85th Congress but with certain technical improvements. The President's
proposals are stronger than the Kennedy bill especially on secondary boycotts which
Kennedy avoids completely, and on the problem of what is often called "blackmail
picketing."
The Congress therefore has before it two sets of concrete proposals for improving
Federal labor-management legislation. These have been presented early in the session;
extensive hearings by Senator McClellan's Committee have pointed up the weakness in
present law. It is now up to the Congress to select the very best provisions from among
those proposed by the President, Senator Kennedy or others, and enact legislation which
will be good for the public, for labor unions and their individual members, and for
small business.
It is significant to note that nothing being proposed by President Eisenhower or
Senator Kennedy will in any way weaken the effectiveness of a union as a bargaining
agent for its members.
A BETTER FARM PROGRAM: In a concise and documented message, Mr. Eisenhower
outlined the failure of the present price-support and production-control farm program.
His three-point indictment lists precisely those arguments which have consistently been
expressed by the vast majority of the farmers of the Fifth District.
The President showed that "most of the dollars are spent on the production of a
relatively few large producers, (2) "the control program doesn't control," and (3) "the
program is excessively expensive."
Most of the small family-type farmers whom we have in Kent and Ottawa County have
told me repeatedly that they would be better off with no price supports and the accom-
panying restrictions. These men want "to take their chance in the market-place."
Some 250 farm commodities are produced in the United States but only 12 of these
are supported at prescribed minimum levels. Ninety per cent of the expenditure for
support of wheat goes to about 50 per cent of the largest producers.
Despite all efforts to control production and despite a good surplus disposal plan,
the total government investment in farm commodities will be $9.1 billion on July 1; and
stocks are increasing. It is costing $5.4 billion from the federal budget this year
to stabilize farm prices. This is quite a bill to pay for a program which doesn't work
and which primarily benefits a relatively small number of big operators. The President's
recommended changes in the law should be adopted. It is unfortunate that the Congress
did not heed his reccmmendations in the past four years.
TAXES, ECONOMY, BUDGETS: One wonders sometimes whether sound policy has now
become foolishness and whether irresponsibility with other peoples' money and their
future has become a virtue. The President is condemned in some political circles and
by pressure groups for insisting upon a balanced, realistic budget. Budget busters
seem to get the headlines while those who want to meet our "needs" within our income
are castigated.
For example a recent editorial in a leading Washington daily criticized the
budget of the Democratic Governor of Maryland who offered to the legislature a "balanced
$448 million" budget. The editor says "the Governor's flinty approach to the state's
problems is unfortunate
this is certainly no time for the let's-take-a-breather
budget
A bigger budget would of course mean higher taxes, and just last year the
state increased its sales and income taxes by 50 per cent and raised its cigarette tax
3 cents a pack."
Tax, tax, tax; borrow and borrow; but we must spend! I can assure you that your
Congressman does NOT subscribe to this philosophy.
Neither does the Republican Policy Committee of the House of Representatives. In
a resolution adopted last week the Committee deplored the attacks on a balanced budget
and federal economy., and promised that Republicans would "back the President, encourage
sound proposals for reducing expenditures, and oppose "extravagant new spending schemes."
HAWAIIAN STATEHOOD: The Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs has completed
hearings on H. R. 50 (and similar bills) to make Hawaii the fiftieth state. Opposition
to Hawaaian statehood seems to have evaporated and there is good reason to believe that
we will have an island state before this session adjourns.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR : After serving three out of the past six years as a member of
the Board of Visitors to the Military Academy at West Point, your Congressman has now
been designated as a member of the Board for the United States Air Force Academy. I
have also been elected to the Republican Policy Committee of the House.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
February 12, 1959
All of us will agree that our national defense is too serious a matter to leave to
partisan politics or to curbstone analysis. Yet in past weeks we have had a torrent of
words and reams of newsprint alleging that the United States is militarily in danger
unless this or that program, or weapon, or system is promptly developed or expanded.
As one who has been close to the Department of Defense for seven years as a member
of the military appropriations subcommittee, I would like to make a few pertinent comments.
Annually our committee hears and interrogates the civilian and military leaders
of the country. All of these, Democrats, Republicans, or independents, are able, con-
scientious, responsible, and patriotic men. None will sell his country short.
While it is the responsibility of the Executive Branch to initiate and administer
the defense programs, the Congress must double-check the plans and administrative action,
and make certain that the taxpayers' dollars are well spent. Neither branch of the
government has a monopoly on information or wisdom but both must and can work together
for a stronger and better America.
The people of the United States can afford whatever amount is really required for
our national defense. In fact, we cannot afford anything less. I can assure you that
the President had this in mind when he submitted his budget, and that the Congress should
be guided by the same principle when it makes the appropriations.
Another significant fact to consider is that the security of the United States is
not dependent upon one military service nor upon one weapon system. Missiles of all
types are most important but they are but one element in the great arsenal of defense.
Intercontinental ballistic missiles occupy a prominent position among modern weapons but
they are but one of many necessary instruments for our national security.
The United States at the moment has tremendous retaliatory power, defensively and
offensively. We have over 500 B-52s (long-range jet bombers) which can carry an atomic
payload to the heart of Russia and return without refueling. We have over a thousand
B-47s (medium-range jet bombers) which can do the same with limited in-flight refueling
operations
But more important, because of our overseas bases the heart of Russia is right
next door. The heart of the United States is 5,000 miles from Russia. Short and medium-
range missiles capable of more accurate control mean much more to us than to the USSR.
From our bases in Great Britain and other allied countries our 1,500-mile missile can be
devastatingly effective. By June the ,500-mile Atlas will be in operation.
Moreover, a strong U. S. Naval carrier force can provide planes to move into
enemy nations from many directions if this becomes necessary. We have a submarine
fleet with missile capability. During 1960 the first POLARIS ballistic-missile-equipped
submarines will join the fleet.
I am convinced that we have a well-rounded and fully adequate defense system,
ready and able to protect this country in any crisis whether a general or limited war.
Your government, through the President, our military leaders, and the Congress, will
continue to improve and modify this system to meet changing conditions and to keep in
step with technological advancements.
A TEST ON THE BALANCED BUDGET: The first battle of the budget was fought in both
houses of the Congress last week and the results leave little doubt but that the forces
for economy are in for a bad time. In the House, the test came on a bill concerning
direct loans for veterans' housing. Veterans in Kent and Ottawa Counties have never been
eligible for direct loans from the VA unless they wanted to buy a farm (5 acres or more
by VA definition). But the bill under consideration would add $300 million to federal
expenditures over and above the President's recommendation for a balanced budget in
order to make these direct loans in certain favored parts of the country. At the present
time and under the present law there is now $192 million available to be used for this
purpose.
The bill also contains a provision by which the money would go directly from the
Treasury to the VA without review by the Committee on Appropriations. This practice of
setting up a "direct pipeline" into the Treasury is one more way to encourage fiscal
irresponsibility. This practice, also known as the "back door approach" to the Federal
Treasury, makes it increasingly difficult for either the President or the Congress to
properly regulate and control the expenditure of tax dollars.
The House of Representatives by adding $300 million over Ike's budget failed its
first real test on fiscal responsibility. Your Congressman voted for economy and a
balanced budget.
Twenty-four hours later the U. S. Senate approved the Housing Act of 1959 calling
for expenditures of $1.1 billion in excess of the President's balanced-budget recom-
mendations. If these actions are to serve as barometers of congressional action during
this session, we are definitely in for more deficit financing.
None of us deplore a federal deficit simply for reasons of theory or even of
principle. But we are gravely concerned because a federal deficit and an increased debt
fan the flames of inflation which burn a larger hole in everyone's pocketbook. The
Congress must back President Eisenhower in his efforts to stabilize the dollar and protect
the economic security of each of us.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
February 19, 1959
The week of Lincoln's birthday always brings a lull in congressional activity and
a reemphasis on the great contributions which our sixteenth President made to the country
and to the entire world.
The year 1959 has been designated by Presidential proclamation as "Lincoln Year"
and a national committee has been created by law to arrange a proper celebration of the
150th anniversary of Lincoln's birth.
On February 12th Carl Sandburg, the distinguished Lincoln scholar and author of
a six-volume story of his life, addressed a joint session of the Congress. This white-
thatched, 81-year-old man of letters gave a gracious tribute to "the man for the ages"
in the presence of leaders of our government and representatives of foreign lands.
On that same day at Hodgenville, Kentucky, another Lincoln Commemorative stamp
was placed on sale for the first time. This particular issue was to honor the birthplace
of Lincoln. On February 27th a stamp in commemoration of his Cooper Union address
(delivered on February 27, 1860) will be issued in New York.
On May 30th, the 37th anniversary of the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial in
Washington will be marked by the initial sale of a fourth stamp produced as a part of the
celebration of the Lincoln Sesquicentennial. The first stamp was available at Freeport,
Illinois last August in observance of the anniversary of the Lincoln-Douglas debates.
Ninety million of the one-cent Hodgenville stamps were printed and are now available
in post offices throughout the country. As with all commemorative issues there is one
printing only and when the supply is exhausted no more are available from the Post Office
Department.
Periodically we receive letters protesting the unnecessary and wasteful expense by
the Post Office in printing commemorative stamps. The Department is always pleased to
report, however, that this is one area in which it makes a profit. It estimates that
the government clears a profit of from $20 million to $25 million annually on its com-
memorative stamps. This occurs because so many of the stamps go into the hands of col-
lectors and require no service from the Department. It is interesting to note that we
use 25 billion adhesive stamps a year in the country and that about 8½ billion of these
are the 4c, first-class postage fee.
THE NEW LINCOLN COIN: Another feature of the Lincoln Sesquicentennial is the
appearance of a new design on the reverse side of our one-cent pieces. Some of you may
have seen the 1959 Lincoln penny with the Memorial design on the back. The U. S. Mints
(we have two now operating: Philadelphia and Denver) began manufacture of the new penny
on January 2, 1959 having discontinued on December 31st the design in effect for 50 years.
In 1909, the 100th anniversary of Lincoln's birth, the Indian Head pennywas dis-
continued and the Lincoln penny produced. The law requires that the design of any coin
(except commemoratives) once adopted must be kept in effect for at least 25 years unless
altered by an act of Congress. After 25 years the Director of the Mint may with the
approval of the Secretary of the Treasury change the design. Because this is "Lincoln
Year" the Director made the change which you will notice in your pennies as local banks
requisition additional supplies from the Federal Reserve Bank to meet their business needs
and the 1959 coins find their way to you.
The manufacture of the one-cent piece is also a profitable business for the govern-
ment. One pound of the metal alloy (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) costs 28c. From this
pound and at a manufacturing cost of 11c, the mints produce 145 coins valued at $1.45.
This leaves a profit of $1.06 on the operation. If you are mathematically inclined, you
may want to figure the profit on the 1,053,478,300 one-cent pieces which was the number
manufactured in the past fiscal year.
The penny has the widest circulation of any U. S. coin and, as is true of all
coins now produced, carries the three mottos of our country: "Liberty," "In God We Trust,"
and "E Pluribus Unum."
SOME LINCOLN MATERIAL: The Lincoln Sesquicentennial Commission has published two
pamphlets, a "Handbook of Information" and "The Lincoln Ideals." I have a limited supply
of these and will be pleased to send copies upon request.
We also have a large quantity of "All Aboard, Mr. Lincoln" supplied by the Com-
mission. This "comic-book" type of pamphlet illustrating Lincoln's association with
the railroads may be of interest to elementary and junior high school classes. Individual
copies are also available for the asking.
PERSONAL: I had expected to spend three days in Kent and Ottawa Counties last
week but the weather cut this to one. I hope that the appointments which had to be
cancelled, including those at Ottawa Hills High School and with the 5th and 6th graders
at Congress School, may be rescheduled.
And then--two days after Lincoln's birthday comes Valentine's Day. One of the
younger members of my staff, Ed Mabin, caught the spirit of the old verse in modern
terminology as he circulated the office with his special contribution for the Day:
"Rockets are Red,
Outer space is blue,
My Heart is in orbit
All around you."
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
February 26, 1959
The perennial demand of the City of Chicago for additional water to be diverted
from Lake Michigan into the Illinois Waterway is again with the Congress. Last week the
House Committee on Public Works opened its 1959 hearings on H. R. 1, a bill to increase
the flow of water out of Lake Michigan from 1,500 cubic feet per second to 2,500 cubic
feet per second. Chicago allegedly wants the greater amount for sanitation and navi-
gation purposes.
Your Congressman has consistently and vigorously opposed this legislative approach
before committees and on the floor during the past ten years. It has always been my
view that the comprehensive and complicated problems of the water level of the Great
Lakes should be handled either by judicial action of the Supreme Court or by a special
administrative body established by the Congress, but in either case Congress should
maintain final jurisdiction.
An increased loss of 1,000 cubic feet per second of Lake Michigan water at this
point can only have a detrimental effect on Great Lakes shipping and will inevitably
result in increased expenditures for harbor construction and maintenance. With the
St. Lawrence Seaway about to open we will be ill-advised to create new problems in this
area.
It always surprises me to see how effective the Illinois Congressmen are in
garnering votes for this pet project. Well informed sources are already predicting that
H. R. 1 will be passed by both House and Senate. As you know President Eisenhower has
twice vetoed similar legislation. Some sources believe that he will reject such a bill
again. If we are unable to defeat the legislation in the Congress I will certainly
urge the President to veto the measure again.
CLOSING AN OPEN BACKDOOR: Your Congressman appeared before the Committee on
Rules last week in support of H. Res. 161 which would cut off the direct pipeline into
the Treasury and close "the backdoor" approach to the public purse.
In recent years the Congress has found a new means of tapping the Federal till by
authorizing an agency or department to obtain funds directly from the Treasury without
further action by the Committee on Appropriations and the Congress. This means that
no administrator must give an accounting for last year's activity nor a justification
for next year's proposals. He can just go on spending until the authorized amount is
gone. I contend that this invites waste, encourages fiscal irresponsibility, and is an
abrogation of Congressional authority. Both Democrat and Republican members of the
Committee on Appropriations agree that the practice should be stopped.
If H. Res. 161 is adopted as a rule of the House, the Committee on Appropriations
will have sole jurisdiction over expenditures, can coordinate these expenditures, and
be held fully responsible for them. I strongly believe in economy in government and a
balanced budget, but the job will be more difficult to realize unless there is central
authority in the House of Representatives by the appropriation process for the control
of federal spending.
SECRETARY JOHN FOSTER DULLES: All Americans were saddened, I'm sure, to learn of
Secretary Dulles' serious illness. Many of those who had been most critical of some of
his policies and specific acts have now spoken glowingly of his competence, integrity,
patriotism, and superb sense of duty. They know that to lose Dulles at this particular
time will be a serious blow to the United States and the Free World.
One of my good friends in Kent County wrote to recommend for Mr. Dulles a re-
cognition comparable to the Medal of Honor. By law the Medal of Honor is for an officer
or enlisted man of the armed forces who "distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry
and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action
involving actual conflict with an enemy." I'm sure that most of us will agree with our
friend that Mr. Dulles qualifies on all counts save that of active duty membership in
the armed service.
SUNDAY VOTING: Senator William Langer who had suggested in a news article that
national elections be held on Sunday assures us that no such bill will be introduced.
He as well as we have received hundreds of letters of protest and it is very obvious
that such a change in the election day has no support whatsoever in the Congress.
Personally I am vigorously opposed to designating Sunday as an election day.
The Senator says he was trying to list means of encouraging greater voter parti-
cipation in elections. He may introduce legislation to that end but any proposal will
NOT include Sunday voting.
CONSENT CALENDAR: On the first and third Mondays of each month bills which have
been favorably reported by a committee and listed on the "Consent Calendar" may be
called up for passage in the House of Representatives by unanimous consent. This means
that they are approved by the House after very little floor discussion and by a per-
functory vote.
Each political party therefore selects three of its members to act as "official
objectors for the Consent Calendar" who are made responsible for screening and checking
all legislation proposed for passage by this method. Your Congressman has been a member
of the Republican group for eight years and last week was designated as GOP Chairman
for the current session.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
March 5, 1959
The House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs has reported favorably the
Hawaiian statehood bill. Sponsors of the measure hope to complete action in the House of
Representatives within a few weeks. It is probable that Hawaii will be our 50th State
before January 1, 1960.
While your Congressman has consistently supported statehood for Hawaii, there
have been two major arguments used in past years by opponents of statehood. One of
these is that the Communists, through alleged control of the International Longshoremen's
and Warehousemen's Union have a stranglehold on the economy of the Islands and that
their power is so great as to be a threat to the political stability of the area.
Both the Republican Attorney-General of the United States and the Democratic
Chairman of the House Committee on Un-American Activities have stated that Communism
is no more a threat in Hawaii than in any of the 49 states, and that a state is in a
better position than a territory to combat any such menace.
The second main argument against statehood has been that Caucasians are out-
numbered by other racial groups. The House Committee reported that it "does not
believe that the 86th Congress will deny full political equality to a group of its own
who have met every historic test of qualifying for statehood merely because of the
ancestry of a part of that group." I'm sure that the citizens of the Fifth District
share that view and agree that the citizens of Hawaii, regardless of race or national
origin, have demonstrated their devotion to the American ideals.
Following favorable action by the Congress, the people of Hawaii must vote for
immediate statehood and accept all the provisions of the statehood bill before the
President will proclaim our 50th State.
CAN WE TRUST THE KREMLIN? Your Congressman has always favored formal and
informal talks with all foreign powers, friendly or unfriendly. The United States
should never be in a position of refusing to discuss any international issue with the
appropriate parties. We believe in international cooperation, the peaceful settlement
of disputes, and in "talking" rather than in'fighting." Yet at the same time I have
vigorously supported the firm and effective policy of President Eisenhower and Secretary
Dulles in dealing with the Communist conspiracy.
The recent experience of Prime Minister Macmillan in Moscow is just one more
proof of the fact that you "can't do business with the Kremlin." Any business trans-
action of any sort is based on mutual respect and trust. It is most unfortunate that
repeatedly the Soviet leaders prove themselves wholly devoid of morality, ignorant of
truth, and unworthy of any trust. Macmillan could only say "this is an extraordinary
method of diplomacy," after learning of a speech by Khrushchev outlining proposals
completely unexpected and embarrassing to the British delegation, headed by the Prime
Minister, in Moscow at that very hour for friendly talks.
We may have our conferences and continue our talks, but at the same time we must
be prepared to protect our people and our way of life by keeping our Armed Forces
ready and fully adequate.
DISTRIBUTION OF SURPLUS FOOD: On July 1, 1959, the total government investment
in farm commodities will be $9.1 billion and despite all we are doing to restrict pro-
duction and dispose of surplus, the amount of the so-called basic commodities, wheat,
corn, cotton, rice, peanuts, and tobacco, held by the government is increasing. The
present farm price-support program doesn't work, is terrifically expensive, and grants
disporportionate benefits to a few large producers. For example, only 12 commodities out
of over 250 produced on American farms are required by law to be supported at pres ribed
minimum levels.
If the program has a redeeming feature, it is in the fact that great quantities
of surplus food are being provided by the Department of Agriculture, continually and
without charge, to people who need the food. Nearly 11 billion pounds of surplus food
have been distributed in the last 61/2 years through the operation of the Direct Distri-
bution Program.
During the first six months of this fiscal year (July - December, 1958), over
558 million pounds of surplus was distributed in the United States. The total cost to
the government for this donated food was $113.7 million. The food went to children in
school lunches (14,100,000 youngsters); needy persons in institutions (1,400,000), and
needy persons in family units (5,230,000).
During the month of December 1958 food went to 538,385 persons in Michigan. Our
state was exceeded in the number of recipients only by Pennsylvania where 829,550 needy
persons obtained surplus.
The Department also moves large quantities of food through U. S. voluntary
agencies, in which church organizations play an important part, to needy persons in
foreign countries. Since 1952 over 6.5 billion pounds of food costing $1.2 billion has
been given away abroad. From July through last December the amount was 904.5 million
pounds costing $109.6 million.
At the present time the government is distributing to eligible individuals and
organizations butter, cheese, nonfat dry milk, rice, wheat and flour, corn and corn meal,
and cottonseed oil and shortening. On other occasions there have been beans, beef and
pork, poultry, lard, fruits, and vegetables.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
March 12, 1959
Many Congressmen recently attended the dedication ceremony of "the world's
most mechanized and modern postal installation," the Washington City Post Office. In
line with the Post Office Department's policy of modernizing its facilities to give
better and faster mail service, this fifth largest post office in the country has been
equipped with up-to-date machines and electronic devices to replace mail-handling
methods in use for over a century.
The policy of mechanizing our large "gateway" post offices has been adopted to
speed mail delivery to all parts of the country, to eliminate much of the drudgery in
mail handling, and to prepare for an expanded mail service in the years to come.
Currently the American people send through the Post Office Department each
year a total of 61 billion pieces of mail plus a billion parcels. As the Nation grows
and its economy expands, the number of pieces of mail per person per year, now averaging
350, is expected to double to 700 within the next 25 years.
The major bottleneck to better and faster service is the time now required to
sort and distribute mail in the large "gateway" post offices of the United States. The
mechanization of these facilities with the use of conveyor belts, automatic letter
sorting and parcel post sorting machines is helping to eliminate these bottlenecks. In
its Research and Engineering Laboratory, the Department is testing and developing
electronic machines to "read" addresses and sort mail at high speeds, while in operation
are machines which "read" letters that have been coded by a manually-operated device.
Ben Franklin's post rider has entered the jet age in the handling of mail.
FRAUD AND MAILABILITY CASES: The unscrupulous and conscienceless operator.
who will use the mails to defraud is still with us, however. During the month of
January seven complaints were issued by the Post Office Department against those using
the mails to sell products which supposedly prevented heart attacks, removed or prevented
wrinkles, increased one's weight, or solved all business problems. Proceedings were
undertaken in four obscenity cases and 79 stop orders were issued by the Department
against foreign lottery operations.
In other actions, arrests were made or judgments obtained for those involved
in a vending machine fraud, a stock swindle, a newspaper puzzle scheme, and a gigantic
financial hoax. The Department is constantly on the alert to protect the public from
these and similar fraudulent activities.
THE CONSENT CALENDAR: I mentioned two weeks ago that I am serving my ninth
year as one of the official objectors for the Consent Calendar. It is the duty of these
objectors (three from each political party) to scan all bills proposed for passage on
the Consent Calendar to see that no controversial measure is passed, or that none is
approved that does not come within the requirements of the rules. This is necessary
because approval by the House of bills on the Consent Calendar is with very little
discussion and by a perfunctory vote.
Ten bills were on the first Consent Calendar of the year last Monday. A quick
review of these will indicate the type of legislative measures handled in this manner.
You will note that they are usually non-controversial and non-partisan.
The House approved and sent to the Senate six of the bills in the very beginning
of the day's session. One of these had to do with the handling of student funds in
Indian schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs while another was on a minor
technical matter involving the selection of a jury in a civil case in federal court.
A third measure was a two-page bill passed by the House last year concerning
the design of the U. S. flag and made necessary by the addition of new states. It was
sent to the Senate late in the session last year and was not acted upon. But the fourth
measure was a 205-page document codifying all the laws concerning the U. S. postal
service. Although this is a long, complicated, and important bill, it was non-contro-
versial because it simply put into one Act provisions already on the books. Incidentally
the report on the bill ran to 461 pages of very small print.
Two bills, very significant in the internal battle against Communists, were
also approved by the House. One of these defines the word "organize" with respect to
any group or assembly of persons to include recruiting of new members, forming new units
and extending the organization. This is necessary because the Supreme Court in 1957
reversed the conviction of 14 known Communists partially on the basis that Congress
intended that the term "organize" in the law was not to include the recruitment of
members and the organization of clubs within the framework of the Communist Party. The
legislation approved (H. R. 2369) was to expressly state that it was the intention of
Congress to include such activity as illegal acts.
The last bill approved extended the application of the espionage laws to acts
committed anywhere in the world. This would apply to U. S. citizens in foreign countries
and would strengthen the power of our government to protect itself and its property.
Four of the ten bills on the Consent Calendar were passed over at the request
of a member of the House. They can be brought up at the next call of the Calendar. In
each case a single member of the House felt that additional study should be given to
that particular measure.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
March 19, 1959
The Cascade VS. Tri-County Airport dispute has reached Washington. The Federal
Aviation Agency has been asked to schedule a hearing on the Cascade site.
This request was made pursuant to Section 1108 (c) of Title 49, U. S. Code which
authorizes the FAA Administrator to hold such a hearing upon the application of "any
public agency, person, association, firm, or corporation having a substantial interest
in the disposition" of any project applications filed with the Administrator. A
project application is filed with FAA in order to qualify for federal funds to aid
in airport construction. If there were no federal funds involved, there would be no
basis for federal interference in the location of a site for the new airport.
The specific question to be resolved in any hearing held on the Cascade site is
whether this particular. location meets the standards required by the federal government
for those airports which are to be eligible for federal assistance. FAA is not going
to dictate the location of a new airport nor will it arbitrate the dispute of Cascade
VS. Tri-County.
However, a negative decision on Cascade may be looked upon by a good many citizens
as an indication that FAA prefers a tri-county airport. But it is important to note
that a negative decision will mean only that no federal money will be available for
the Cascade location. The Kent County Board of Supervisors and/or the voters of Kent
County may still decide to go ahead with the project but without federal financial
assistance.
In our discussions with FAA officials we find that they adhere to the principle
that an airport should serve the greatest possible number of people in the area. But
they also pointed out that there must be in existence a legal public agent with
authority and a desire to acquire land and construct and operate a Tri-County airport
before an application for federal aid to such an airport can be considered.
The Federal Aviation Agency is in a position to look at the current dispute
impartially and to present its recommendation. It is in a position to offer technical
assistance and advice. It can deny federal aid for the development of the specific
site at Cascade. But in the final analysis it cannot and will not dictate the location
of the new airport nor can it force upon local officials any specific organizational
arrangement.
I'm sure that most of us will agree that this is sound and proper. We don't
want Washington dictating to any local area on such matters as the location of its
airport. In the long run, our way of life is best protected when public affairs are
kept as close as possible to the people concerned. In this particular case, the final
and basic decision must be made by the Kent County Board of Supervisors and/or the
voters of the county, or through the combined efforts of several local governmental
units.
STANLEY YANKUS: We have received a number of letters concerning Stanley Yankus
of Dowagiac whose experience dramatically points up the difficulty we get into when we
attempt to control every aspect of life from Washington. Here is another illustration
of the fact that the small family-type farmer does not profit by governmental control
over his production.
As your Congressman, I have consistently opposed the rigidity of the Agricultural
Adjustment Act and at every opportunity have voted to modify restrictions on farm pro-
duction. President Eisenhower and Secretary of Agriculture Benson have repeatedly
recommended that Congress revise those provisions of the law which have troubled Mr.
Yankus, but the Congress has consistently ignored these sound and constructive recom-
mendations.
The original act which Mr. Yankus has attacked was passed in 1938. Its constitu-
tionality was upheld by the Supreme Court in 1942. The Court considered those arguments
as raised by Mr. Yankus and concluded that the Congress had the authority to support
farm prices, restrict acreage, and impose penalties for non-compliance. The Court, of
course, did not pass upon the merit or lack of merit of the legislation.
The Congress has acknowledged to some extent that a farmer should be allowed to
use on his farm without penalty the wheat he raises. Under the original act, a farmer
could grow 15 acres of wheat for use on the farm or for disposal in any other way without
having to accept a marketing quota. Last year the Congress raised this exemption to
30 acres.
While we are most sympathetic to Mr. Yankus' predicament, it is clear on the
record that he has not used the available means for seeking administrative relief. He
seems to have placed himself over against the Supreme Court as the final authority on
the constitutionality of a federal law. Certainly our law-enforcement officers would
be derelict in their duty if they showed personal favoritism by permitting him, or any
other individual, to ignore the law. The real solution lies in Congressional approval
of Secretary Benson's long-standing recommendations. Your Congressman has always favored
these necessary changes in our agriculture legislation and will continue to do so.
OUR SHARE IN A BALANCED AND UNBALANCED BUDGET: The per capita share of the 176
million Americans in a balanced budget of $77 billion is $442.49. This means that Kent
County's share is about $153.3 million and that of Ottawa is about $41.5 million. If
Congress should add $1 billion in expenditures to Ike's balanced budget, it will mean an
additional $1.9 million in per capita tax burden for Kent and $534,000 for Ottawa County.
I realize these figures are based on "averages" but they do illustrate the enormity of
our federal budget and what it will mean to spend more than the President is recommending.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
March 26, 1959
Past days have been active ones in these legislative halls. The first of 13
regular appropriations bills have passed the House. Others will follow shortly. The
Hawaiian statehood bill has become law. The President has sent to the Congress his
message on the Mutual Security Program and the House has approved an extension of the
Temporary Unemployment Compensation Act, the Self-Employed Individuals' Retirement Act,
and significant amendments to the Federal Airport Act.
TEMPORARY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION: Last Spring Congress enacted legislation to
assist the states in extending unemployment benefits to those who had exhausted their
normal payments. In Michigan this meant that an unemployed person could receive benefits
for 13 additional weeks following the normal payments of 26 weeks. Under last year's law
however, many individuals currently entitled to benefits would have their benefits cut
off after April lst. The measure approved (H. R. 5640) continues the benefits of those
who have established their first claim to unemployment paymemts prior to April 1, and may
mean, if the person is otherwise qualified, continued supplemental benefits to not later
than June 30th. This bill does not provide any additional benefits to those who have
used up their 39 weeks nor will it help those who exhaust their regular benefits after
March 30th. Of course, any state legislature on its own could amend its laws to handle
such cases if this action seems necessary.
It is estimated that some 405,000 individuals will benefit from this action by the
House and that the additional costs will be about $78 million. The financing of extended
unemployment benefits is on the basis of a Federal loan. The original Act provides for
the subsequent repayment of these loans by the States.
SELF EMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS' Retirement Act: This bill (H.R. 10 in both 85th and
86th Congresses) also passed the House last year. Under its provisions self-employed
persons will be permitted to deduct, in computing their adjusted gross income for income
tax purposes, an amount up to 10 per cent of their otherwise taxable income provided they
invest such an amount in certain specified types of retirement funds, annuities, and
insurance contracts. The deduction is limited to $2,500 in any one taxable year and may
not exceed $50,000 during the lifetime of the self-employed person. The announced purpose
of the bill "is to achieve greater equality of tax treatment between self-employed
individuals and employees."
The bill has now twice passed the House under suspension of the rules requiring a
2/3 vote, but may be roadblocked in the Senate. The proposal is sound in principle but
the Treasury Department, naturally apprehensive as it faces revenue and debt-financing
problems is vigorously opposing H. R. 10, pointing out that its adoption would mean a
revenue loss of about $365 million annually.
FEDERAL AID TO AIRPORTS: President Eisenhower's balanced budget called for a
$197 million four-year ($65 million in fiscal 1960) program of federal aid to airports.
The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency said he could do a proper job of en-
couraging the modernization and development of our nation's airports with that amount of
money.
The bill reported by the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce and passed
by the House however, proposes an expenditure of $297 million in 4 years, nearly $100
million in excess of the need stated by FAA and the amount recommended in the President's
fiscal program. Furthermore, this specific bill (H. R. 1011) contains provisions to
bypass the Committee on Appropriations and to open the "direct pipeline" into the Treasury.
APPROPRIATION BILLS: The House passed the first regular appropriations bill on
March 16th when it approved an expenditure of $237.1 million for operation of the District
of Columbia Government. This amount is $33.1 million above the 1959 appropriations but
a reduction of $9.5 million from the budget recommendation. Only $27.2 million of the
total amount comes out of the general revenue of the Federal Treasury; the remainder is
from taxes levied locally in the District of Columbia.
The Committee on Appropriations, which reviews budget requests and past perfor-
mances in detail, cut $7 million from the amount requested from the Federal Treasury.
The House, endorsing the action of the Committee on Appropriations, also cut $60.2
million from the requests of the Treasury and Post Office Departments, and the Tax Court
in approving their appropriation bill on March 20th. Nevertheless, the 1960 budget for
these agencies will exceed their 1959 appropriations by $518.3 million. But the budget
requests in these two instances were cut 3.8 per cent and 1.3 per cent respectively by
my Committee on Appropriations.
An annual review of Department and Agency budgets by the Committee on Appropriations
is essential to economy and sound fiscal policy, both of which are hampered by the
"direct pipeline,' "backdoor approach" to taxpayers' funds in the Treasury.
OBSCENE MATERIAL IN THE MAIL: The House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service
has announced that important hearings concerning the sending of obscene material through
the mails will be held in mid-April. This is to be an investigative study not related
to any specific bill but with the purpose of determining the need for further legislation
to curb this apparent evil. As one who has consistently advocated strengthening of our
federal statutes in this regard, I welcome pertinent statements presenting specific
recommendations from groups or individuals in the Fifth District for submission to the
Committee.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
April 2, 1959
Before adjourning for the Easter recess, the House passed the Department of
Interior Appropriations bill and the Second Supplemental Appropriation bill, and with
the Senate sent an extension of the Temporary Unemployment Compensation bill to the
White House for the President's signature.
The House cut 4 percent, or $18.9 million, from the budget recommendations for
the Department of Interior in approving expenditures totaling $472 million for fiscal
1960. Contrary to the usual trend, this is an 8 percent reduction in the Department's
funds as compared to the money available for fiscal 1959.
The House of Representatives debated the Second Supplemental Appropriation bill
for three hours on March 24 and finally approved an amount of $2,657,402,994. This
will be used to carry out for the balance of the current fiscal year (ending June 30,
1959), programs already authorized and in operation but without sufficient funds to
meet obligations.
The condition which necessitates a supplemental appropriation is not the result
of mismanagement. It may result from contingencies unforeseen months before when the
budget was prepared. There are many uncontrollable items in any governmental budget
for which no firm dollar figure can be estimated. Or, the extra money may be needed
because of Congressional action late in the session authorizing new or expanded programs,
or granting federal employee salary and wage increases. In some cases Congress in
effect says "let's see how this thing goes and if you need more money, come back for it
next session."
As you know, the 1959 budget under which we have been operating since July 1,
1958 was prepared in late 1957 and adopted a year ago while Congress was in session.
Since its adoption, for instance, the Congress amended the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act to prohibit the use in foods of additives which have not been adequately
tested to establish their safety. The Supplemental bill includes $378,000 to implement
this Congressional action.
Because of the large number of colleges and universities participating in the
student loan fund of the National Defense Education Act, an additional $25 million was
needed for capital contributions to this fund. The Army National Guard required an
additional $3 million among other reasons because there was an increase in drill atten-
dance in Guard units. The guardsmen drilled under authority of law and were entitled
to compensation. The Development Loan Fund was granted $100 million to meet its obli-
gations under law and to help achieve our foreign policy objectives.
The single greatest cause for the need of supplemental funds was the salary
and wage adjustments made by the Congress in fiscal 1959 but after the 1959 budget
had been submitted and/or approved. The estimated cost from federal funds of all these
pay increases is a little over $1 billion but the Director of the Budget reported that
almost 42 percent of this amount can be met by savings through administrative action,
increases in limitations on administrative expenses and trust and revolving funds, and
transfer of funds from one account to another within the same agency. This means that
about $617 million is to be provided for salaries and wages for the present fiscal
year through supplemental appropriations.
Many agencies absorbed more than 42 percent of these added costs and are to be
commended for it. The Atomic Energy Commission, the Railroad Retirement Board, and the
Farm Credit Administration, for example, required no additional funds to meet the pay
increases which Congress approved.
CIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT: While we often hear it said that more and more civilians
are getting on the federal payroll, Civil Service Commission figures do not bear this
out. From January 31, 1953 through January 31, 1959, under President Eisenhower's
direction, the number of civilian employees in the Executive branch of the government
was reduced by 297, 203 or by 11.3 percent.
FOOD ADDITIVES: During the past week your Congressman received a petition in
support of legislation to prohibit the use of additives in food, beverages, or cosmetics
unless it has been proved that these were harmless to men, beast, or the soil. With
such a request there can be little disagreement.
The Congress last year passed a Food Additives Amendment which covered the
situation pretty well except possibly for cosmetics. Legislation presently is pend-
ing with the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce to strengthen the law
as it applies to cosmetics.
WASHINGTON VISITORS: The Rockford High School senior class was the first
school group from the Fifth District to visit us this spring when its 65 members
toured the Capitol on March 25th. On April 3rd we expect to greet the Calvin College
Radio Choir which is giving a concert in Washington the previous evening.
The coming of spring has increased the flow of visitors to the Nation's
Capitol. I hope all from the 5th District will call at our office, 351 House Office
Building. We want to see you and we may be able to be helpful.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
April 9, 1959
The 10th anniversary of the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance on
April 4, 1949 was celebrated in Washington last week. The foreign ministers of the 15
member countries were on hand and President Eisenhower, the first Supreme Commander of
NATO military forces, addressed the gathering.
Ambassador W. R. Burgess who has been our Permanent Representative to the
North Atlantic Treaty Council since July 3, 1957 was in my office recently. He pointed
out two prime accomplishments of NATO: 1) This Alliance has stopped Soviet military
aggression in Europe. The free nations have not lost one inch of soil in Europe since
the Treaty was signed. Prior to NATO, Czechoslavakia and other satellite countries
were taken over by the Soviet Union; 2) The existance of the NATO alignment has reduced
the demands on our own military budget and upon our own manpower reserve for military
service.
By the NATO Treaty, 15 countries have a joint pledge that an attack upon one is
an attack upon all. In addition to its substantial armed forces, NATO provides a
council table where representatives of the 15 members can discuss their mutual problems
including national security.
Ambassador Burgess stated that our financial assistance to NATO is one of the
best investments in peace and security that we can make. He is convinced, by his
observations and experience, that our assistance encourages our allies to do their
best in defending the free world, and that because of their cooperation our financial
investment in defense is doubled or quadrupled in terms of effective military power.
Mr. Burgess agreed that the United States must maintain a policy of firmness on
the Berlin situation and at the same time be ready to negotiate with the Soviets on a
plan for peaceful settlement. He stressed that without NATO the United States would be
in a much more serious position in the latest Kremlin-inspired crisis.
NON-LEGISLATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES: While the Congress was in Easter recess, the
work of my office continued with legislative and non-legislative affairs.
We have had considerable correspondence concerning federal aid to education,
labor-management legislation, and the proposed increase in the federal gasoline tax.
We have had requests for information on the Mutual Security Program, the United Nations,
and how to properly display and respect the American flag. We have supplied pictures
of Washington scenes, maps of various geographical areas of the world, including detailed
charts of certain Great Lakes harbors, Yearbooks of Agriculture, and copies of laws,
Committee reports and hearings. We are always pleased to provide this service for
residents of Kent and Ottawa Counties.
Your Congressman continuously contacts agencies in the Executive branch of the
government on behalf of his constituents. I make no apologies for any efforts on my
part to protect the best interests of citizens of the Fifth District. However, we
never expect the agencies to do anything because of our interest that is not consistent
with existing rules and regulations.
During the past week we have discussed with the Army the case of a 19-year old
soldier with two years of service, who is to be separated because of a physical disabil-
ity for which the Army at this point wishes to accept no future responsibility.
Because there is good evidence to support a service-connected or service-aggrevated
decision, we have asked higher authority to carefully review all the evidence.
We have also invited top officials of the Coast Guard to a dinner with a group
of 5th District citizens; have advised a post office employee how to proceed with a
grievance; have asked the Bureau of Customs to examine an imported item, which competes
with a Michigan product, to determine whether it is legibly and conspicuously marked to
show country of origin; have requested the Small Business Administration to expedite a
loan application; and have forwarded to the Veterans' Administration additional evidence
in support of a constituent's application for compensation.
My office is presently following closely three potential government contracts
in which 5th District business and labor are interested. In one case our local firm
is the low bidder, experienced, and responsible while the competitor is new in the
field, having produced only a pilot model. Yet a technicality in the invitation to
bid may result in a loss of this contract to Kent County. If necessary, I am going to
take this to highest authority to see that this business and the employment it gives
goes to the lowest, responsible bidder.
In the last week it also has been our privilege to greet a sizeable number of
families from home who were visiting Washington during the Easter vacation period.
This is one of our most delightful responsibilities and we hope that all visitors from
the Fifth District will call at 351 House Office Building when they arrive at the
Nation's Capital.
FARM AND HOME BULLETINS: The latest list of bulletins available from the
Department of Agriculture is being distributed to rural route and post office box
holders in Kent and Ottawa Counties.
I will be glad to send to anyone a copy of this list which includes publica-
tions of interest to the homemaker, the gardener, and the general reader. Address
your requests to me at the House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
April 16, 1959
The House Committee on Education and Labor has been holding extensive hearings on
labor-management legislation. In effect the Committee has three alternative approaches.
Chairman Barden has introduced a bill similar to that of Senator McClellan. Secretary
Mitchell's recommendations have been put in bill form, and Senator Kennedy's proposals
in the Kennedy-Ervin Bill have been reported to the Senate with minor amendments and
will come to the House Committee if approved by the Senate as a whole.
While there are many differences. in the various approaches, the two most serious
items in dispute are the use of organizational or so-called "blackmail" picketing and
the improper use of secondary boycotts. The Kennedy-Ervin Bill ignores both problems.
Secretary Mitchell would restrict organizational picketing to eliminate some of
the abuses which have been revealed by the McClellan Committee. These include the
extortion of funds from management and the use of pickets without the consent of the
employees of the picketed plant and before any of them have indicated a desire to join
the union in question. Secretary Mitchell recommends that it be made an unfair labor
practice unless certain conditions are met, to picket an employer when the object is
to force the employer to recognize a given union or to force the employees to accept
that union as its bargaining representative.
Secretary Mitchell also would eliminate the use of presently permissible secondary
boycotts which lead to the injury of innocent third parties.
The House Committee will continue its hearings for two or three weeks before going
into executive session to draft its report.
AID TO EDUCATION: The federal aid to education bill (H. R. 22) is in trouble in
the House Committee on Education and Labor, where it is currently being considered. It
is reported that those who have been vigorously supporting the bill are seeking ways to
save some of its provisions. A compromise may be effected which would make the federal
assistance a temporary measure rather than a permanent policy, and it is hoped by some
that as a minimum the bill may be amended to include a "need and demonstrated effort"
test.
As written, H. R. 22 authorizes an appropriation equal to $25 for each school-age
child for the fiscal year 1960, $50 for 1961, $75 for 1962, and $100 for each year
thereafter. The total cost of the fiscal year 1960 would be $1,025 million, in 1961
the cost would go up to $2.2 billion, in 1962 to $3.3 billion, and in 1963 to over
$4.7 billion. The amount thereafter would increase as school population increases.
Federal funds would be allocated to the states solely on the basis of school
population with no reference to the state's need for assistance nor with any consideration
to the state's efforts to meet its own needs. Within each state, however, priority for
school construction is to be given to those local districts where the need is greatest.
The bill, as written, authorizes a state to use the federal money either for school
construction or teachers' salaries or both. However, there is nothing in the bill to
assure that any teacher will receive an increase in salary because of the enactment of
this legislation nor is there any assurance that a single classroom will be constructed
in a given state. Moreover, there is nothing in the bill as written to guarantee that
the sum total of all monies, local, state, and federal, spent on education will be
increased by the passage of H. R. 22. There is nothing which requires a state to use
the federal funds as a supplement to its own; there is nothing which prevents a state
from using the federal funds as a substitute for its own.
H. R. 22 obviously needs general revision. Major consideration should be given to
assisting those areas of our country which have demonstrated that they desire to meet
this educational need but lack the economic basis for doing so. If we are to have
federal aid to education, it should be solely restricted to those areas. There can be no
justification at this time for further federal taxation to dole out funds to those states
which are financially able to meet their own educational needs.
ACADEMY BOARD OF VISITORS: Your Congressman has been appointed to the Board of
Visitors for the Air Force Academy for the current year. This Board composed of desig-
nated members of Congress and citizens appointed by the President will visit Colorado
Springs next week.
The Board will examine life and work at the Academy and will report to the President
of the United States any recommendations it may have concerning morale, discipline, the
curriculum, instruction, academic methods, and the physical plant. For example a few
years ago the Board recommended instruction in the Russian language which is now offered
at the Academy. Recently the Superintendent urged discontinuance of the use of small arms
as a parade formation item in cadet training. The Board felt differently and small arms
will be retained. I will report to you later on the Board of Visitors experiences and
views this year.
ALL IN THE FAMILY: Our three-year-old, Steve, climbed a ladder last week. Ladder
slips, Steve falls; an x-ray discloses a broken wrist; doctor prescribes cast for six weeks.
Last December our nine-year-old Mike sprained his knee skiing but x-rays showed no serious
damage. The Ford family is getting excellent service from Blue Cross but we have one
discordant note. Jack, who is seven and has never been x-rayed, is a bit upset, complaining
of discrimination. He doesn't realize how fortunate he is.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
April 23, 1959
The recent announcement of the names of the seven American candidates for the
distinction of making the first flight into space has reopened the question of "why?"
Why these huge expenditures and continued experiments involving the risk of human life
in the area of outer space?
The civilian and military authorities who appear before the Committee on Appropria-
tions list two answers to that question. First, space is today's frontier. It is the
area challenging man's scientific curiosity and stimulating his search for knowledge. It
is the one medium that is essentially unexplored. In space technology we are simply at
the threshold. As one airforce officer has put it, in space technology we are now about
where we were in manned aircraft at the time of the Wright Brothers, or about where man
was in water transportation when he learned to float ships on the sea. Just as we could
not stop with the first crude boats or with the Wright Brothers' plane, so we can't
stop with missiles, satellites, and other space vehicles as we know them today. The
frontiers of knowledge and a practical application of any acquired knowledge have never
stood still.
The second and more practical answer is that our potential enemy is exploring
outer space and developing means for its use and control. This adds urgency to the
situation and brings into the picture our own national security and the defense of the
free world as we know it. Our government must provide an adequate defense to protect
the lives and property of our people. In the middle of the 20th century this includes
utilization of outer space.
In the past 10 years our country has expended upwards of $25 billion in missile
and satellite development. I believe that our overall missile and space program with
its present diversification is an excellent one. I intend to do all I can to promote
present and future developments which will be adequate but within the limits set by the
overall military program and a sound fiscal policy.
Incidentally, it is not planned to send a man into space before 1962 or 1963.
Many more experimental flights with instruments and animals will be required before a
human life is risked.
CANCER RESEARCH: The loss of Secretary Dulles' highly successful services has
highlighted anew our national interest in cancer research. Dr. John R. Heller, Director
of the National Cancer Institute reported to your Congressman this week that we are
making decided gains in this area of medical knowledge. He stated that today one out of
three persons found with cancer is saved. By "saved" he meant able to live comfortably
for at least five years after diagnosis. In 1950 one out of four were saved while in 1900
the ratio was only one out of 20.
Dr Heller pointed out that the death rate from cancer among women is declining
while that among men is not increasing. However, we are more conscious of cancer now
because of earlier and better diagnosis, an increased number of people, and an aging
population which is more susceptible to the disease
The most promising cancer research according to Dr. Heller is currently being
carried on in the areas of chemical management and virology. The first is seeking drugs
to supplement present methods of prolonging the cancer victim's life and making it more
comfortable. The second is proceeding on the theory that cancer is caused by a virus
for which a vaccine may be found. Possibly in the future people will be vaccinated
against cancer as they are now against smallpox and polio. In the meantime it is most
important that the Congress adequately finance research at the National Cancer Institute
and the public fully support the fund-raising campaign of the Cancer Crusade. Dr. Heller
assures me there is no duplication in research effort or services performed. by the Cancer
Institute and the American Cancer Society and its affiliates.
OBSCENE MAILINGS: The House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service expects
to begin this week its special hearings and study concerning the mailing of obscene
material. Postmaster General Summerfield is scheduled to be the first witness. The
Post Office Department is seriously concerned with the substantial increase in the
mailings of this type of material, with the indiscriminate mailings through the use of
purchased lists of names, and with some recent unique court decisions which have found
alleged obscenity to be "mailable art. it
The Department receives 50,000 complaints a year from citizens who have been sent
advertisements frankly offering obscene material. These offerings are made by "hit and
run" operators who move their place of business constantly. This fact combined with a
tendency of the courts to be more and more liberal in the interpretation of "obscenity,"
makes the task of the Department most difficult. The purpose of the current hearings
and study is to develop legislation to strengthen the power of the government in dealing
with this evil.
AVAILABLE PUBLICATIONS: We have available a limited supply of three recent publi-
cations, one or more of which may be of interest to our readers: (1) "Space Handbook:
Astronautics and Its Applications," (2) "1958 Annual Report: Committee on Un-American
Activities," and (3) "Washington's Farewell Address." Please indicate which publications
you desire in a request addressed to 351 House Office Building, Washington, D. C.
Your Washington Review
KENT
Congressman
OTTAWA
5
JERRY FORD
April 29, 1959
Your Congressman's Committee on Military Appropriations concluded on April 28th
its hearings on the funds for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The sessions have covered
a long, interesting, and somewhat controversial period.
The first witnesses before the group, Secretary of Defense McElroy and General
Nathan Twining, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appeared January 23rd.
Altogether more than 500 military and civilian witnesses were closely interrogated by
the 17 members of the Committee which is composed of 10 Democrats and 7 Republicans.
Representative George Mahon of Texas, who has been a member of the House of Represen-
tatives for 25 years, is the senior Democrat in the group and Chairman. Your Congress-
man is the ranking Republican and is in his seventh year on the Committee.
The appropriation bill directly involves the national security of the United
States and the Free World. President Eisenhower recommended a $41 billion budget for
the Armed Forces for the 12 months beginning July 1st. This is a huge amount--about
two-thirds of all funds spent by the Federal Treasury, and covers a multitude of items.
For example, it concerns the procurement of a new, lighter, and more effective rifle
for the infantry and, in addition, our huge and powerful intercontinental ballistic
missiles. Also the funds proposed would buy rations for the troops and the newest
electronic equipment to detect any enemy attacks by land, sea, or air. It provides
the cash to pay 2.6 million officers and enlisted men in uniform. As you can imagine
the issues and problems cover a wide spectrum.
The Committee held hearings 65 days, usually five days a week during this three-
and-a-half-month period. Sessions were held from 10. to 12 each morning and from 2 to
4:30 in the afternoon. The Committee has published the testimony of the numerous
witnesses in six volumes (over 5,000 pages) which are available for public distribution.
With the hearings completed the Committee must now face up to the problem of
writing the appropriation bill. This will be done early in May and the bill will
come to the floor of the House of Representatives about June 1st. On the basis of
the testimony presented our group must decide a number of fundamental issues. Here
are the most controversial:
(1) Should there be more money for the ICBM program? (2) Would it be wise
to increase the active-duty strength of the Army from 870,000 to 900,000, and the
Marines from 175,000 to 200,000? (3) Should the Army National Guard be maintained
at 400,000 and the Army Reserve forces at 300,000? (4) Does the research and develop-
ment progress of the Army's anti-missile missile weapon, Nike Zeus, justify production
funds at this time? (5) Should the Navy's Polaris 1, 500-mile missile and nuclear-
powered-submarine program be pushed more rapidly? (6) Is a new Navy attack aircraft
carrier justified? (7) Does the potential enemy submarine threat warrant more emphasis
on anti-submarine warfare?
At the moment each member of the Committee is finalizing his own views on the
various problems. I assure you the responsibility is not taken lightly. As a group we
will hammer out conclusions over a three or four-day period. A Committee report, usually
about 100 pages, will summarize our views. I hope some of you will like a copy which I
will be glad to forward on request.
MILITARY RESEARCH AND CIVILIAN BENEFITS. The millions of dollars spent on
research and development by our military services pay dividends not only to the military
but to all citizens. Our scientists at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and at
Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia have been experimenting with a substance
known as Polyurethane Foam for repair of broken bones. The material is a fast-setting
plastic which is used to cement ends of a bone to replace missing segments. Before
hardening, the foam is molded to fit the natural contour of the bone. This has tensile
strength equivalent to the bone structure itself. For example, in the case of a broken
leg the material is hard enough within two days to bear the weight of the individual.
This can mean a great decrease in the number of cases which spend months in tractions
or in casts.
In another area of research, a completely cleansed bony material, sometimes
called anorganic bones, appears very successful in animal experiments in bone grafting,
so much so that the material has been incorporated into the animal's system.
Research in allergens tested in over 100 patients promises eventual protection
against hay fever for a whole year with one injection.
A sample test has been made of the theory that when burned there are toxic
substances thrown off by the skin which the body treats with the anti-toxine developed
in the body. In theory then blood from those who have recovered from burns should help
burn victims. Six of seven children burned in the Chicago school fire showed radical
improvement following the use of such blood. A first step on the possible proof of the
theory was thus accomplished.