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House Speech Coal Shortage, January 23, 1950
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House Speech Coal Shortage, January 23, 1950
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The original documents are located in Box D13, folder "House Speech Coal Shortage,
January 23, 1950" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at
the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box D13 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
EXCERPT FROM CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
January 24, 1950
(copy of speech by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Jr., made on the floor of the
House of Representatives, January 23rd, 1950)
MR. FORD. Mr. Speaker, during the past fewweeks I have been receiving numerous
complaints about the coal shortage in the Fifth Congressional District in Michi-
gan as well as in other sections of my great state. The complaints have become
more numerous due to the wave of cold weather which has gripped the Midwest
during this time. As an example, I should like to read to the House a telegram
and an excerpt from a letter which I received a few days ago:
"Although we have about 30 days' supply of coal we have been
notified by St. Joseph Lead Co., Josephtown, Pa., that they cannot
ship zinc oxide after Friday this week. Also notified by Pennsyl-
vania Industrial Chemical Corp., Clairton, Pa., and the Neville
Island, Pittsburgh, Pa., they are both shutting down January 20.
Without supply of raw materials we cannot operate. What do you
mean there is no coal' emergency?"
The excerpt from the letter reads as follows:
"Because of the coal situation which has prevailed for some months past,
we have been unable to store up stocks of coal adequate for reasonable
insurance against curtailment, or perhaps, entire stoppage of our
plant activities, involving employment of over 2,500 employees. No
doubt our own situation is paralleled in innumerable cases all over
the country."
I want to go on record and state that the present coal crisis is not a dream
as the executive branch of our government seems to think, but rather a dia-
bolical reality of pain and suffering as well as economic instability. The
situation is grave now and is becoming more so with each passing day. It is
a well-known fact that there is a pressing need for domestic fuel and if con-
ditions do not change human suffering will prevail.
This question may be asked in the crisis: Does John L. Lewis control the
economic destiny of our country? One would seem to think so judging from the
conduct of our executive department. As one of my colleagues said a few days
ago, and I quote:
"This is no time to toy with words, to play politics, or to try
to escape responsibility because of technicalities. Affirmative
and decisive action is essential on the part of the President. Joe
Stalin may control Russia, but John L. Lewis must not be permitted
to control the United States. The Taft-Hartley law may have its
defects but certainly it contains language giving ample authority
to the President and the executive agencies to intervene in behalf
of our people and put an end to this emergency which is not only
already a calamity but, in many instances, disastrous."
That, gentlemen, is my sentiment.
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
EXCERPT FROM CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
January 24, 1950
(copy of speech by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Jr., made on the floor of the
House of Representatives, January 23rd, 1950)
MR. FORD. Mr. Speaker, during the past fewweeks I have been receiving numerous
complaints about the coal shortage in the Fifth Congressional District in Michi-
gan as well as in other sections of my great state. The complaints have become
more numerous due to the wave of cold weather which has gripped the Midwest
during this time. As an example, I should like to read to the House a telegram
and an excerpt from a letter which I received a few days ago:
"Although we have about 30 days' supply of coal we have been
notified by St. Joseph Lead Co., Josephtown, Pa., that they cannot
ship zinc oxide after Friday this week. Also notified by Pennsyl-
vania Industrial Chemical Corp., Clairton, Pa., and the Neville
Island, Pittsburgh, Pa., they are both shutting down January 20.
Without supply of raw materials we cannot operate. What do you
mean there is no coal emergency?"
The excerpt from the letter reads as follows:
"Because of the coal situation which has prevailed for some months past,
we have been unable to store up stocks of coal adequate for reasonable
insurance against curtailment, or perhaps, entire stoppage of our
plant activities, involving employment of over 2,500 employees. No
doubt our own situation is paralleled in innumerable cases all over
the country."
I want to go on record and state that the present coal crisis is not a dream
as the executive branch of our government seems to think, but rather a dia-
bolical reality of pain and suffering as well as economic instability. The
situation is grave now and is becoming more so with each passing day. It is
a well-known fact that there is a pressing need for domestic fuel and if con-
ditions do not change human suffering will prevail.
This question may be asked in the crisis: Does John L. Lewis control the
economic destiny of our country? One would seem to think so judging from the
conduct of our executive department. As one of my colleagues said a few days
ago, and I quote:
"This is no time to toy with words, to play politics, or to try
to escape responsibility because of technicalities. Affirmative
and decisive action is essential on the part of the President. Joe
Stalin may control Russia, but John L. Lewis must not be permitted
to control the United States. The Taft-Hartley law may have its
defects but certainly it contains language giving ample authority
to the President and the executive agencies to intervene in behalf
of our people and put an end to this emergency which is not only
already a calamity but, in many instances, disastrous."
That, gentlemen, is my sentiment.
GERALD FORD LIBRAR
(Copy of speech by Congressman Ford, made in the House
of Representatives on January 23, 1950) From Congressional Record
January 24, 1950
MR. FORD. Mr. Speaker, during the past few weeks I have been
receiving numerous complaints about the coal shortage in the
Fifth Congressional District in Michigan as well as in other
sections of my great State. The complaints have become more
numerous due to the wave of cold weather which has gripped the
Midwest during this time. As an example, I should like to read
to the House a telegram and an exerpt from & letter which I received
EL few days agos
"Although we have about 30 days' supply of coal we have
been notified by St. Joseph Lead Co., Josephtown, Pa.,
that they cannot ship sine oxide after Friday this veek.
Also notified by Pennsylvania Industrial Chemical Corp.,
Clairton, Pa., end the Neville Co., Neville Island,
Pittsburg, Pa., they they are both shutting down January 20.
Without supply of rew materials we cennot operate. What
do you mean there 1e no cosl emergency? #
The excerpt from the letter reads as follows:
"Because of the coal situation which has prevailed for some
months pest, ve have been unable to store up stocks of coal
adequate for reasonable insurance against curtailment, or
perhaps, entire stoppage of our plant activities, involving
employment of over 2,500 employees. No doubt our own situs-
tion is peralleled in innumerable cases all over the country."
I want to go on record and state that the present coal crisis is
not a dream 88 the executive branch of our Government seems to think,
but rather a disbolical reality of pain and suffering 8.B well as
economic instability. The situation is grave now end is becoming
more so with each passing day. It is & well-known fact that there is B.
pressing need for domestic fuel and if conditions do not change human
suffering will prevail.
This question may be asked in the crisis. Does John L. Lewis control
the economic destiny of our country? One would seem to think so
judging from the conduct of our executive department. As one of my
colleagues said a few days ago, and I quote:
"This is no time to toy with words, to play politics, or to try
to escape responsibility because of technicalities. Affirmative
and decisive action is essential on the part of the President.
Joe Stalin may control Russia, but John L. Lewis must not be
FORD
permitted to control the United States. The Taft-Hartley law
i
may have its defects but certainly it contains language giving
GERALD
-ample authority to the President and the executive agencies to
Antervene in behalf of our people and put an end to this emergency
Page 2, Congressman Ford, House - Speech
which 1s not only already 8 calamity but, in many
instances, disastrous. M
That, gentlemen, is my sentiment.
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD