CONGRESSIONAL DUTY TO KEEP COUNTRY MILITARILY STRONG

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP71B00364R000100180045-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 14, 2002
• Sequence Number: 45
• Publication Date: October 27, 1969
• Content Type: OPEN

c o'er 27, ~96y pprgyfJ~iV(z R ~LOQ2~~l /0 I.: CIAti ctens 1ons B00 o en2ur 6icernar s 00180045-9 F 8909
x ensi
feet. In asking for this added length, the COL dj E '_ tONAL DUTY TO KEEP
truckers are getting grabby. COUNTRY .MILL ARRTY STRONG
QISLY PERMISSIVE"
Proponents of the, bill emphasize that the
bill is"only permissive"-no state would have'
to approve the higher limits; and they point
out that the new dimensions would apply to
the interstate h ghways only. The answer to
this Is,'unh-hunh, or who's ]lidding whom?
Once the higher limits were authorized, the
truckers' lobby would roll into high gear; few
legislatures would resist. And, as spokesmen
for counties and cities have observed, the
new behemoth trucks would have to get on
and-come off the interstate system by way of
old highways and bridges not meant for the
mastodon size,
The truckers -say that larger trucks will
produce economies in freight expenses, which
economies In t4 m will be passed along to
consumers. It seems doubtful, Consumers
have not seen many such economies lately.
The truth is that this bill would benefit truck
and bus, companies. Okay, but let's leave it
at that.
Substantially ,this same bill passed the
Senatelast year,but died In the House when
the 90.th Congress ran out of time. On bal-
ance, the better' arguments still lie against
the bill. Unless a reasonable compromise can
be found, the resurrected measure ought to
be interred again.
[From the Boston Herald Traveler, Aug. 27,
y 1691
toAL LII, iTs, Do NOT EXCEED.
When Congress reconvenes next week it
will face more prospective legislation calling
for, increased limits ,.,in size and weight of
tractor-trailer olrlbinations permited to
travel the interstate highway system.
Congress will be asked to approve a vehicle
1e11gth limit of 10 feet (most states allow 65,
feet or less) increase allowable width from
96 to 102 inches, single-axle weight from
18,000 to 20,000 pounds and tandem-axle
weightfrom 32,000 to 34,000 pounds.
Spokesmen for trucking associations and
Some users claim that the additional cargo
allowances wouIc impose no greater stress on
existing . highways or bridges, would enhance
vehicle. safety, would enable up to 10 per
cent savings on consumer commodities and
would afford truckers a more equitable re-
turn on their ropd-else taxes.
According to numerous studies, there is
little if any truth to these claims. The Bu-
rdau of Public Roads reports that a 20,000-
lb, axle weight causes 51 per cent more pave-
ment deterioration than an 18,000-lb. one;
and a 22,000-lb. axle weight (still under the
Massachusetts limit causes 118 per cent
more Wear than a 20,000-lb. one. Also, the
Bureau indicatgs most of the country's
half-a-million bridges would require rein-
forcement to take the increased poundage
safely.
As for vehicle safety, American Auto-
rfiobile' Association surveys reveal that
heavy trucks-over 13 tons-are involved
in ,a disproportionately large share of fatal
accidents, and that in collisions with passen-
ger cars,' occupants of the latter axe far
more liable to suffer grievous injury or
death.
Concerning transportation costs, it would
be naiyely optimistic to assume that a 10
per cent saving would be passed intact to
the consumer; such economy would in any
case be... erased by increased costs of highway
reconsti'Ugtfon acid ;maintenance, for even
the higher road-use taxes currently paid by
trticks-do not.ofsgtthe accelerated deterio-
ration they cause
The pproposed legislation serves only ape-
efa2 lnxerests, nt t the ,public interest, and
Congress ahould reject it on those grounds..
'Locally; the Massachusetts legislature would
do its;constltuency a service to considers
retrenchment of heavy-truck limitations
along current federal" lines.
HON. WILLIAM G. BRAY
OF N DIANA
IN THE HOUSE OF I?EPRI'SENTATIVES
Monday, Octo;'er 1i7, 1969
Mr. BRAY. Mr. Speaker, the current
debate over defense spending, and at
what level our defe 'sea .should be, has
unfortunately genei??mted in :many in-
stances more heat than light. Not only
the military, but the Congress itself, has
come under heavy and 3requently unfair
and prejudiced attaci:.
The following art vie by Mr. John R.
Blandford, chief counsel of the House
Committee on Armed Sere. ices, appeared
in the October 1969 issue of Government
Executive. As Russ Blandford makes the
point, it is the duty of Congress to keep
the country strong :
A CONGRESSIONAL REtlJISltT ENT: To KEEP
AMERICA MILrJr RILY STRONG
HII H ";Hvs
1-Soviets could substantially surpass the
U.S. in the number of ICBM launchers by
1972.
2=Three Soviet baaistie-missile subma-
rines are on station 800 to 1.000 miles off the
U.S, coast.
3-The Soviet Na, y is strengthening
quantumly as the U.k- Navy weakens with
age and small ship ce-struttion authoriza-
tions.
4-Section 412 of tha Military Construc-
tion Act of 1959 and its amendments in-
sures that more members of Congress are
knowledgeable about=reapon systems pro-
curement.
5-"Congress. may 1,;-.?/e t,_; revert to the
days when it operate: cnl- with ad hoc
committees or as a Coromitt>i:e of the Whole,
with.-no legislative comrnittee:s with jurisdic-
tion created by law."
6-"Very little is said about the fact that
other agencies of the Federal Government
have increased their expenditures during
1964-70 by over $47 bihion."
7-"The scapegoat of the year is the mili-
tary-industrial comple.."
8-"The Systems AnseysisOffice still exists
in the Department of Defense, although there
is reason to believe, or pernaps hope is a
better expression, that to w ,me extent the
wings of the analysts have been clipped."
9-"In discussing coal overruns, some non-
military Federal projc.:ts make interesting
reading "
10-"The chairman c_:f rht- House Armed
Services Committee Rte idel Rivers of
South Carolina, is accused o? having an in-
ordinate number of niilftar, facilities and
defense contractors in its district,"
(By John R, BIauofcrd)
In the furor of debel.e over the Safeguard
system and the size of the Defense budget,
little attention was paid to a Stark statement
in the Soviet Arnied For,'ea Communist Party
Journal Kommunist Vc;oru?sthennikh Sil that
it is mandatory for young recruits in the
Soviet armed forces to ate educated in "hatred
for the enemy and tne-- enemy is led by the
United States."
A recent article doet,-Teaa that Russia not
only is closing the ICBM gap. but by 1972
could substantially surpass the United States
in the number of lot, icocstinents,l ballistic
missile launchers. The charge has not been
refuted. Some even .,lairs the .'soviets already
have an ICBM superiors Cy.,
The published report oil "Soviet Sea
Power," by the Center for Strategic and In-
ternational Studies, .eta' es c:rtc'gorically: "The
new Soviet Navy is the most modern in the
world-a very large percentage of the ships
afloat being less than 20 years old. The sub-
marine fleet is the world's largest. consisting
of between 350 and 385 ships, of which more
than 100 are missile-armed. Forty to 45 are
nuclear-powered and, since 1962, Soviet sub-
marines have been able to fire ballistic mis-
siles while submerged. The USSR is presently
developing a Polaris-type submarine with 16
missiles and a present range of 1.300 miles.
Shipbuilding yards in the USSR have a
present capacity to build one of these SSBNs
a month, and the number of USSR subma-
rine-based ballistic missiles could surpass the
U.S. total by 1971. Already, the USSR keeps
three ballistic missile submarines cruising
on station 800 to 1,000 miles off the U.S. coast,
a number which could increase rapidly as the
Soviets improve their on-station replenish-
ment and supply system.
"The Soviet surface fleet consists of two
helicopter carriers, two to 24 cruisers, 110 to
120 destroyers and frigates, 92 ocean-going
escorts, about 150 missile-armed patrol boats,
400 fast patrol boats, 270 coastal escorts, 250
or more landing ships and a large assortment
of mine sweepers, as well as support and
auxiliary vessels; these vessels, along with the
submarines, are distributed in five fleets--
totaling about 3,000 ships-in the oceans of
the world. Warsaw Pact navies add to the
potential strength of the Soviet fleets."
In contrast to the strength of the growing
Soviet Navy, 58 percent of the combatant
fleet of the U.S. Navy is over 20 years old.
But these frightening challenges to the
survival of our Nation have been obscured
by an attack, wittingly or unwittingly, upon
the so-called U.S. military-industrial com-
plex and military expenditures.
As former Secretary of State Dean Acheson
succinctly stated: "One of our failings as
people, I think, is a preoccupation with
witches . . . the witch has changed and is
now the military-industrial complex."
It has become very unpoplar to defend
our military. And those committees of Con-
gress charged with the responsibility for leg-
islation dealing with our national defense are
under increasing attack, both within the
Congress and by all forms of news media.
The underlying cause is undoubtedly the
frustration many Americans feel with re-
spect to the war in Vietnam. But the de-
bate over defense spending, overrruns, re-
vised estimates and the procurement of
weapon systems overlooks the genesis of the
authorization process which has made it
possible for Congress to become more fully
informed with respect to defense spending
over the past eight years than ever before.
Prior to 1960, the great Safeguard debate
might never have taken place or it might
have been swallowed up by the magnitude of
the entire defense budget. In 1959, the Con-
gress amended Section 412 of the Military
Construction Act of 1959 by providing that
"no funds may be appropriated after Decem-
ber 31, 1960, to or for the use of any armed
force of the United States for the procure-
ment of aircraft, missiles or naval vessels un-
less the appropriation of such funds has been
authorized by legislation enacted after such
date."
Thus, since the beginning of 1961, two leg-
islativice committees of the Congress, specifi-
cally the House and Senate Arined. Services
Committees have authorized all major
weapon systems before funds could be ap-
propriated for such systems.
In 1962, the Congress amended the new
authorization procedures by adding research,
development, test and evaluation with re-
spect to aircraft, missiles and Naval vessels.
In 1963, the law was further amended to
include all research, development. test and
evaluation performed by the armed services.
In 1965, the. law again was amended to in-
clude all traced combat vehicles. It is not
unlikly that the law-may be further amended
to include other major procurement expen-
ditures.
The so-called "412" legislation, since 1961,
has cotrolled authorization bills (and result-
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W t' enstons v ell ar s
ant expen(Iitures) In sums ranging from $13
billion to $23 billion annually.. By this ac-
tion alone, many additional members of
Congress have become increasingly knowl-
edget.ble about the weapon systems to be
procured, their use, their cost and the pro-
cess oy ?which they are to be procured.
Prior to "412," only the Appropriations
Oomtnittees were fully informed, except for
information gleaned from posture briefings
presented to legislative commttees for infor-
mati,n purposes only.
DISAPPEARING MYSTIQUE
But now, the Congress no longer simply
appropriates money In large "blank checks"
for use by the armed services as they see At.
Spec ficsums are requested for aircraft, mis-
siles, naval vessels, tracked combat vehicles
and all research and development. During
the ciassifided bearings, so-called "below the
line items" which make up the total lump
sum requested for the major procurement
items are presented to the Appropriations
Committee.
The services may not later deviate from
the numbers authorized by the Committees
without prior approval of the appropriate
committees, or without notifying the appro-
priate committees of their intention to do
so. This procedure is called "reprograming"
and :s the process by which the services may
change up or down the number of weapon
systems to be procured by using funds au-
thorized and appripriated for other Items
in the defense budget. It is carefully super-
viaec. and controlled.
TS.us, In a period of eight years the mysti-
que of defensespending has been slowly dis-
appearing. There still are large expenditures
which are pot specifically authorized by the
Congress annually for such things as ammu-
nition, small arms, artillery, petroleum, uni-
forms, food and other military necessities.
Nevertheless, the House and Senate Armed
Servcel Committees have, with each passing
year. delved more deeply into defense expen-
ditu:-es,
St.tdy groups and task forces have been
created in and out of the Congress to study
the iefense budget. It is not unlikely that
several nongovernment organizations or
groups may take It upon themselves to
present independent defense budgets each
year. This may well lead to similar study
groups. or task forces being created within
the Congress--although not necessarily as-
socit.ted with the jurisdictional committees
-to look Into parity prices, foreign affairs,
poverty programs, public works. Medicare,
veterans benefits and many other matters
involving substantial Federal expenditures.
If this Is carried to its logical extreme, the
Congress may have to revert to the days
when it operated only with ad hoc commit-
teas or as a Committee of the Whole, with
no legislative committees with jurisdiction
crea':ed by law. Whether this would be a
healthy move is debatable, but the trend
today might make it inevitable.
$PENDtNG ANALYZED
The present attack upon the standing
committees of the Congress charged with the
responsibility for writing the laws and au-
thorization bills dealing with national de-
fense (Legislative Reorganization Act of
1948) could well lead to a complete upheaval
In the legislative process.
Defense spending is the target-or, per-
haps., the committee system itself is under
atta k.
To the uninformed or to those dead set
on reducing defense expenditures. regardless
of the consequences, it might be well to
analyze defense spending.
In spite of the size of the defense budget,
defense spending, as presented by the present
Adn'.inistration' for Fiscal Year 1970.1i esti-
mat ?d at approximately $78 billion. This is
an astronomical sum, but It only represents
about eight percent of the Gross National
Product.
In relation to the Pederal budget, recom-
mended defense spending amounts to ap-
proximately 38 percent of Fiscal Year 1970,
compared to 42.5 percent in 1968, 41.8 per-
vent in 1984 and 62 percent in 1953.
THE SCAPEGOAT
It also is interesting to note that from
10" to 1970 defense expenditures have in-
creased by $27 billion, which by Itself may
have led to the overdone and out-of-context
military-industrial complex charge. Very
little is said about the fact that the other
agencies of the Federal Government have
increased their expenditures during this
same time period by over $47 billion.
Nor Is that other part of President Eisen-
hower's now famous military-industrial
complex address quoted very often in which
he said: "We face a hostile ideology--global
in scope, atheistic in character, ruthless in
purpose and insidious in method. Unhap-
pily the danger it poses promises to be of
Indefinite duration. . . A vital element in
keeping the peace is our military establish-
ment. Our arms must be mighty, ready for
instant action, so that no potential aggres-
sor may be tempted to risk his own destruc-
tion."
Those who decry the military-industrial
complex never refer to the fact that from
Fiscal Year 1968 to Fiscal Year 1970 defense
expenditures declined by $100 million, while
other agencies of the Government increased
their expenditures by $12.4 billion.
So the scapegoat of the year Is the mili-
tary industrial complex. But, those who at-
tack it seldom if ever mention that more than
half of the defense budget involves fixed
charges that can only be reduced by drasti-
cally cutting back the size of the armed
forces.
More than half of the defense budget.
sere $41 billion annually. Is spent on people,
Including pay. allowances, transportation, re-
tired pay and other costs which involve the
procurement of no material things.
As Secretary of Defense Laird has said on
many occasions, we spend over $41 billion
annually, none of which buys a paint br i-sh,
a nail or a bullet.
PHILOSOPIIY Or PARITY
Otter parts of the defense budget in-
volving operation and maintenance costa-
including the cost of ammunition, fuel and
the war in Southeast Asia-account for half
the remainder, leaving about 25 percent of
the defense budget for the procurement of
weapon systems.
The House Committee on Armed Services
is most conscious of this fact. When efforts
are made to bring about reductions in de-
fense spending, there are really only three
areas subject to paring: the cost of the war
in Vietnam. the cost of people and the coat
for new weapon systems. And since new
weapon systems, in most cases, replace air-
craft and ships that simply wear out or are
lost in operational or combat missions, It
is significant to point out that our inven-
tory of aircraft, ships, spares, guns, etc., is
not increasing and, In some cases, is actually
declining.
Even a substantial reduction in the size
of the armed forces,, for example, a reduc-
tion of approximately one million persons
on active duty, would only reduce spending
for people by some $8 billion annually. And
if an all-volunteer force Is the desire of the
American people, then the $8 billion savings
would be offset by the pay Increases neces-
sary to attain an all-volunteer force.
The House Committee on Armed Services
looked for areas In which expenditures could
be deferred for Fiscal 'Tear 1970. One area
was in the field of military construction.
And here the Committee did defer pro-
grams,
Another area is in the field of re e#srch
and development. But cuts here pose a more
difficult problem. The Committee on Armed
Services cannot Ignore the fact that substan-
tial cuts in research and development may
lead to s,stous weapons gaps in the years
ahead.
There appears to be an abiding faith in the
minds of some that if we do not devise new
weapon systems, devastating as they may be,
the Soviet Union or Communist China will
be happy to maintain a state of parity with
us. Somewhere along the line, In the past few
years, the philosophy of parity, as opposed to
the philosophy of superiority, in the defense
of the Nation, has crept into many decisions
affecting our security.
But those members of the Committee on
Armed Services who must deal daily with
orders of battle, are not at ease when they
realize that the Soviet Union has 380 sub-
marines, as opposed to our 146. The Com-
mittee on Armed Services of the House is not
happy about the fact that the Soviet Union
has 25 surface-to-surface missile ships-de-
stroyers and cruisers-and we have none. And
we are well aware of the fact that the Soviet
Union has 150 missile patrol boats, while we
have none. But there are some who feel that,
since we have 18 attack carriers and the So-
viets have none, we no longer need to build
new carriers.
The Soviets have at least 13 new fighters.
eight. of them prototypes. Our newest opera-
tional lighter is the F-4, first flown in 1956.
With the exception of the F-111, the United
States does not have a new fighter In produc-
tion now. This serious gap will be bridged In
part by the production of the F-14 for the
Navy and the F-15 for the Air Force.
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
But there are or were those In the Depart-
ment of Defense, particularly in the Office of
Systems Analysis, who believe it is a mistake
to build the F-14 and F-15, based on the
theory that the aircraft are too expensive and
that there is no need for such sophisticated
weapon systems, with all-weather capability
and highly accurate bombing devices, This
philosophy is most mystifying. It seems to be
based on an assumption that any war in-
volving the use of fighter aircraft will be con-
ducted in Europe, In lovely weather and in
the daytime only.
The Systems Analysis Office still exists in
the Department of Defense, although there is
reason to believe, or perhaps hope is a better
expression, that to some extent the wings of
the analysts have been clipped.
Because of the experience with the C-5A
and F-111 and the cancellation of the
Namjo, the MOL and the B-70 and other
expensive programs, there are those who be-
lieve that vast amounts of money have been
wasted by the Department of Defense and,
thus, by the Congress for not anticipating
the problems encountered in these programs.
A study of any of those programs will re-
veal, hovwver, that the technical gains to
the Nation in many cases far exceeded the
entire cost of the program, including can-
cellation costs. The present inertial guidance
system came from the Narajo. New wing
structures and new metals came from the
B-70 program. Miniaturization and new con-
trol methods came from the MOL program.
The so-called overruns of the C-5A pro-
gram became newspaper headlines until a
clear analysis established that the costs over-
runs were not nearly as great as advertised.
Inflation, over which neither the Govern-
ment nor the contractor had any control, ac-
counted for a large portion of the overruns.
There wore unanticipated engineering dif-
ficulties and these led to the "milestone"
approach for the new defense procurement
programs. (The "milestone" approach pro-
vides for a scheduled periodic review and de-
cision-making point in the development of
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a program "to insure that the program is
meeting quantity, cost and time factors.)
`lie "milestone" approach may also elimi-
complex formulas for second runs,
t;e
based upon the over-costs of the first runs.
But there is hardly a defense program today
that has not experienced some cost increase,
simply because of the rising cost of living.
- Those programs that are almost on target-
such as the production of the Navy A-7E, the
Air Force A-7D and the development of
SAM-D by the Army-are not headline
makers.
In discussing cost overruns, some non-
military Federal projects make interesting
reading.
The interstate highway system was origin-
..ally estimated to cost $27.6 billion. Today,
the cost estimate is $56.5 billion, a 104 per-
cent increase. The Kennedy,Cultural Center
in Washington, D.C., was estimated to cost
$46.4 million. Its present estimated cost is
$66.4 million, a 46 percent cost overrun. The
_lunar modufe, in our space program, was
estimated to cost $388 million. Its current
estimate is $1.9 billion, a 389 percent in-
crease. In 1958, Medicare costs were esti-
mated to be $3.79 billion. The present esti-
Iate is $5.83` billion, a 40 percent increase.
These cost overruns are not particularly
well advertised, but woe to the defense con-
tractor who has to enter into a new field, for
his cost overruns will be front page stories
in the present atmosphere of downgrading
the military and everything associated with
it.'
'OTHER DISTRICTS VIEWED
The chairman of the House Armed Services
Committee, L. Mendel Rivers of South Caro-
lina, is accused of having an inordinate num-
ber of military facilities and defense con-
tractors in His district. As of June 30, 1968,
there were In Chairman Rivers' district 11,-
300 active duty military personnel and 14,-
.790 civilian employees. Theniilitary payroll
was $63 million annually and the Federal
civilian payroll was $123 million annually.
Prime contract awards involved $1 million in
'Fiscal Year 1968
Let's look at eight other areas of the coun-
try during this same period:
San Antonio, Texas, had 58,000 active duty
military personnel and 38,000 civilian em-
ployees. The estimated payroll for Fiscal Year
1969 was,$244 million annually for military
personnel and $3'24 million annually for the
Federal civilian employees. Prime contract
awards in San Antonio in Fiscal Year 1968
amounted to $96 million.
The Atlanta, Ga., area, had 50,000 active
duty military personnel and 14,000 civilian
employees. The payroll of the military in-
volved $250 million annually and the payroll
for Federal civilian employees was over $122
million. The, Atlanta area had $775 million
worth of prime contract awards in Fiscal
Year 1968.
The Pensacola, Fla., area had over 33,,000
active duty military personnel and 14,000
Federal civilian employees. The military pay-
roll is over $205 million and the payroll for
Federal civilian employees exceeds $123 mil-
lion annually. There were over $66 million in
prime contract awards in Fiscal Year 1968
in the Pensacola area.
The Chicago area, including Great Lakes,
had 35,000 military personnel on active duty
and over 6,0bO civilian employees; The mili-
tary payroll is $159 million and the civilian
payroll exceeds $48 million annually. There
were $38 million in prime contract awards
made in Fiscal Year 1968.
an Diego had over 95,000 military per-
sonnel. and more than 24,000 civilians. The
payroll for the military exceeded $401 mil-
lion and the civilian payroll was over $229
miilipn, Prime contract awards in Fiscal Year
008 involving defense matters exceeded $391
million.
Tg> elxierton-Seattle-Ta oma area in,the
State of Washington had over 53,000 active
duty military personnel and more than 24,-
000 civilian emplo',;e most vitally af-
fected-the inducreeg- -do not substantiate
the charge of diseechantment. (This, how-
ever, should sound familiar, since the public
opinion polls with respect to the ABM system
throughout the Nation are almost univer-
sally two-to-one )tn support of the ABM
system, notwithstaiiding the close vote in
the Senate.)
And then there Es the Uniform Code of
Military Justice, which applies to our armed
forces. It was writi(nunder the mandate of
Article I. Section S. of the Constitution, but
is a favorite targc . for many courts, not
excepting the Supr":me court. Perhaps dis-
cipline is not vital ;,) a military organization,
but no one has sugr?'!stcd a better alternative.
And in attempting to maintain discipline,
the military must also assure justice. The
two do not always r oineide.
Perhaps the Con. I itutlonal rights so many
Americans have foi.ght so hard to preserve
are now being very cleverly exploited to
destroy us.
Only time will tell. bill. the United States
of America cannon indulge the luxury of
defeat, with the hope that her conquerors
will be as generous. is we have been to those
we have defeated.
One thing is cert ?n: Sc, long as the present
senior members of hot i the House and Senate
Armed Services CO;umittees are in the Con-
gress, President Gr r,rge Washington's advice
that "to be prepared for war is one of the
most effectual means of oreserving peace"
will continue to be heir watchword.
HON. JANE B. UTT
Or eALIFt5C NIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Monday, October 27, 1969
Mr. tTIT. Mr. 4lpeaker, I would like to
include my statenient on H.R. 5582 which
E 8911
would permit three additional judges for
the southern district of California, which
I am cosponsoring :
STATEMENT BY MR. UTT ON H.R. 5582
Mr. Chairman, I am a,cosponsor of H.R.
5582 which would permit three additional
judges for the Southern District of Callfor-
'nia, one of the fastest growing areas In the
world.
Fast growth is always accompanied by
problems of a legal nature, both criminal and
evil, and Southern California is no excep-
tion. The two active judges now permanently
assigned to this District are carrying a case-
load, which in 1967, was 826 per judge as
compared with the national average of 252.
Indicative of the growth of cases, in 1968
there were approximately 2,500 criminal cases
filed in the District as compared with 2,094
in 1967. This heavy load requires that civil
cases drag on interminably, with only a
handful being processed annually. The prob-
lem is mitigated somewhat by the use of one
and sometimes two visiting judges, but they
seldom handle pleas, arraignments, pretrails,
or motions.
Crime is on the increase throughout the
nation, and it can only be helped to prosper
when criminals fail to get quick and sure
punishment for their transgressions. This is
impossible when there is a shortage of judges
in an area.
The Chief Judge of the District stated that
"we are in desperate straits," and no more
urgent plea can be made for the approval of
this legislation at the earliest possible date.
CONGRESSMAN CARL ALBERT IN-
VITES ATTENTION TO THE RE-
MARKABLY FINE CONTRIBUTION
OF GREEN THUMB, INC., TO IM-
PROVEMENT IN THE ECONOMIC
STATUS OF ELDERLY CITIZENS IN
RURAL AMERICA
HON. CARL ALBERT
OF OKLAHOMA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Monday, October 27, 1969
Mr. ALBERT. Mr. Speaker, I have had
occasion to visit the locations of projects
in my home State by which Green
Thumb, Inc., has brought increased in-
come and new hope to elderly men in
Oklahoma. I have read of its splendid
work in other States.
On October 12 of this year there ap-
peared in Oklahoma Ranch and Farm
World an excellent and informative ar-
ticle concerning the work of Green
Thumb in the State of Oklahoma. At this
time I am presenting this article for pub-
lication in the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD SO
that all interested persons may learn
what is being done by the National
Farmers Union in cooperation with the
Labor Department and local community
action programs to advance the cause of
elderly people in our rural communities.
The article is as follows:
GREEN THUMB
(By Herb Karner)
"Green Thumb" may mean an extra
amount of gardening skill to some, but to a
growing army of old men, it means much
more. It means a chance to retain the dignity
of work; a chance to earn a half-way decent
living in declining years; it means a way of
avoiding the stigma of "welfare" and it means
a chance to contribute something worth-
while to society.
What is "Green Thumb"? It's a program
dreamed up and fought for, and now admin-
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e s 0018~cto~ier 27, 1969`
istered by, the National Farmers Union in
cooperation with the Labor Department and
local Community Action Programs (CAP)
which in turn is part of the Office of Eco-
nomic Opportunity (OEO).
Green Thumb would never have become a
reality had It not been for leaders of Na-
tional farmers Union who fight battles of
small farmers. They became enraged when
they stood by and watched what was happen-
ing to old farmers, and launched a battle
for their survival.
It's not an expensive program as most such
self-help projects go. The amount of federal
money s a pittance compared to others. But
it does help and that's the big objective of
NFU-i.elping old farmers.
Green Thumb provides supplemental in-
come for needy rural residents with agricul-
tural b;.ckgrounds. Originally Green Thumb
workers were assigned to highway beautifi-
cation projects but these activities have been
extended to the development of roadside and
community parks, landscape around public
bulldin;s and hospitals and emergency ac-
tivities such as assisting school districts.
In the Southwest, Green Thumb has been
most a-'tive in Arkansas, but is now being
implemented in seven Oklahoma counties
where needs are greatest, Oklahoma's program
iq head d by Chester Stone, staff member of
the Oklahoma Farmers Union at Oklahoma
City. -
Nationally the project was given the green
light in January of 1966 with funds pro-
vided by OEO through the Department of La-
bor.
Five Arkansas counties were selected to
try the experiment. Pike. Cleveland, Fulton,
Madison and Newton. More than half of the
residents In these counties were far below the
poverty Income level. I,ewia J. Johnson. Jr.,
is director of the program for the Arkansas
Farmer. Union; and Dr. Blue Carstensen, of
the Nat Iona] Farmers Union Washington Of-
fice, Is Ntonal director.
Since the beginning In Arkansas, not only
has the program spread to other. counties, 14
states have adopted Green Thumb. They are
besides Oklahoma and Arkansas, Indiana,
Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska. New Jersey.
New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Da-
kota, Utah, Virginia. and Wisconsin.
This year there will be more than 2.000
Green '"umbers doing gainful work. They'll
average about 68 years old, and--get this-
their average yearly income per couple aver-
aged around $900 before getting Green
Thumb work, The general criteria for Green
Thumb jobs was to need supplemental in-
come; be past 60 and be able to do outdoor
work. Coal of Green Thumb leaders is to give
old men an opportunity to earn up to $1,500
a year additional income. Green Thumbers
earn the federal minimum wage of $1.60 an
hour aid work eight hours a day, but are
limited to three days work weekly.
How':: it working? The year the program
began t provided work for about 140 men.
In 1967 it was expanded to include 11 coun-
ties in Arkansas and employed about 236.
Last year 537 were employed In 31 counties
and it s hoped to Include 35 counties with
more than 600 working in Arkansas, accord-
ing to Johnson.
Green Thumb started in Oklahoma last
year and currently is active In Lincoln, Okla-
homa, 3equoyah, Haskell and Leflore coun-
ties. H-Aping Stone a; state supervisor, is
Ronald Ragland who is field supervisor for
the east ern part of the state.
Sooners who work on the project also must
be older than 60 and follow the same regu-
lations.
"We want to spread the funds as far as
possible," Stone said. "To be eligible a per-
son's income must be under $3,000 a year it
he has a family, and below $1,700 if he's
single, lie's got to have a farm background,
and need a job."
Surprisingly, there's a waiting Hot for old
men wanting work. They are not on welfare
rolls. Some get small Social Security checks,
but are victims of economic inflation. They
cannot compete with younger men for jobs,
but they still have skills, energy, know-how
and desire to do a day's work for a day's pay.
While money is important. It isn't every-
thing to the Green Thumb crew. Take the
case of John McKinney. He's a 78-year-old
retired farmer living in Sallisaw.
"I'm sure thankful for the Green Thumb
program. Gives me a chance to get out In the
country. After all, I spent my life with cows,
mules and horses and growing things.
"Oh, I've got a garden In town-have a
city lot. and a good garden. 'Course, it's kind
burned out now, but a garden st?'t t &=e
Now, worki three days a week gives me
something do beside sit In the house and
stare at to walls," he said.
"Yessir Never dreamed 10 years ago that
and wo id get as high as it is .. , it was
bri ngin around $25 to $30 an acre, and
that's t I got for mine. But it didn't go
far, a this extra I earn sure comes In
hardy. McKinney said.
C.tan oily projects In Oklahoma Involve
city p rks. and other municipal projects.
Green umb ofiiclais work In cooperation
with c1 officials who are in need of depend-
able Iab , have the equipment and necessary
funds fo improvements. Green Thumb sup-
plies the bor.
"Kinds a the old WPA days." one old-
tlmer said o is working on the Vian City
Park. "Back them days we built a lot of
things. Brid courthouses, roads-you
name it, we bull t. 'Made work' they called
it, but by God, at least gave 'em their
And everyone co reed with Green
Thumb today agrees th these old men-
considered over the hill by )ety-are giving
more than their money's wo h to society.
"Without the assistance the Careen
Thumb in the building of toile fireplaces,
picnic tables, as well as the clear! of trees
and brush burning, the developanen f these
assets in Becker County (Minn.) not
have been possible, said Duane N. ter,
past year our hospital has benefitted by the
work of the Green Thumb men. The first
was a rock retaining wall along the street in
front of the new wing. In December these
good men transformed our dark, dingy base-
ment in the old hospital building into a
bright, clean sparkling place,"
There's an added dividend. More than 100
Green Thumbers last year found jobs with
other employers. Almost without exception
what happens Is this: The Green Thumb
work proves to the world that age does not
keep a person from doing a good job. But the
most important thing Is that it proves to the
Green Thumber himself that he's not a "has-
work, Sometimes this is the-PzoALJ 2parnt
part.
Green Thumb officials are encouraging and
helping Green Tllumbers find employment
with private employers. For one thing, they
can usually earn more money on such jobs.
For another thing, when they move out to
a new job, they make room for another old
man to take their place.
So keep your eyes open as you drive around
Oklahoma and Arkansas. If you see an old
man cheerfully working away, and If he's
wearing a shiny green hard hat, he's a mem-
ber of a proud corps, the Green Thumb. Stop
and get acquainted. He'll take time to tell
you what he's doing, and how proud he is to
be doing something worthwhile.
HON. CATHERINE MAY
OF WASHINGTON
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Monday, October 27, 1969
Mrs. MAY. Mr. Speaker, a number of
Herald-Republic in my hometown of
Yakima, Wash.
Bob Lucas recently wrote an editorial
entitled "Reflections on Vietnam." It is
the finest piece of its kind and I. there-
fore, want to share it with my colleagues:
(From time Yakima Herald-Republic.
Sept. 18. 1969 1
Rs:,s.ECTIONB ON VIETNAM
t By Robert W. Lucas)
It is not easy to write with fairness and
balance about the war in Vietnam. The more
one knows about it, Its political origins, the
dismal chronology of faulty assumptions and
Indecisive and senseless engagements-the
heroism and sacrifice, the corruption and
waste, the suffering and grief associated with
ft-the more difficult it becomes to judge
the war cooly and responsibly. But this Is
an effort to do just that.
President Nixon continues to support the
general hypothesis of his predecessor on the
rationale of the war. although with signi-
ficant modifications of strategy designed to
end it. Both the Johnson and the Nixon
administrations may be right in justifying
their commitment of United States power in
Asia. But I have never seen it that way and
do not now.
Since 1965 and until this summer. I had
unusual opportunities in Washington to fol-
low the course of decisions on the prosecu-
tion of the war. As a White House correspond-
ent, In constant and close contact with both
columnists and reporters. and the highest
officials of the government. I watched the
1 armally and off-the-record with, anion"
o era, Walter W. Rostow, Cyrus Vance. Rob-
er S. McNamara, Dean Rusk, Ellsworth
B ker. Vice President Humphrey and Pr-
ide t Johnson himself.
deplih of commitment and the exhausting
lab(Ir of those men who were carrying the
lawful burdens of the conflict, I concluded
thal they were often victims of events al-
matt beyond their control. They were forced
china, and do so coincidental with the erup-
tion of sericus troubles at hoarse. And this
mix of cause and effect led them into the
blind alley called Vietnam.
When the scholars and the historians have
had time to analyze events of the late
decade, this Is what I believe they will find:
What started as a hopefully pragmatic,
Idealistic and even inspired effort to help
those V?ietnt.mese who, for political or re-
ligious reasons, attempted to remain outside
Ho Chi Mlnh's Communist dictatorship in
Hanoi. was transformed by our political
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i editorial of Dec. 11, "The Money tills still pending in Congress. You point out that
Aa a?thnri7ation bills must.pre
Ouse APPropricctiofts'Chairman's Review
record:
1. Defense. The underlying authoriza-
tion bill passed the Senate Sept. 18; the
House Oct. 3; cleared Congress Nov. 6;
signed into law Nov. 19.
The Committee on Appropriations re-
ported the appropriation bill Dec. 3; the
House passed it Dec. 8. Now in Senate.
2. Military Construction. Authoriza-
tion bill passed House Aug. 5; the Saen-
ate Nov. 11; cleared Congress Nov. 21;
signed into law Dec. 5.
The Committee on Appropriations re-
ported the appropriation bill Nov. 12;
passed House Nov. 13; passed Senate
Dec. 8. Now in conference.
3. Foreign Assistance. Authorization
bill passed House Nov. 20; on Senate
floor today (Dec. 12).
The Committee on Appropriations re-
ported the appropriation bill on Dec. 8;
the House passed it Dec. 9. Now in Sen-
ate.
4. District of Columbia. The D.C. reve-
nue authorization bill passed the House
Aug. 11; the Senate Oct. 13; cleared Con-
gress Oct. 30; signed into law Oct. 31.
The Committee on Appropriations re-
ported the appropriation bill Nov. 20;
the House passed it Nov. 24; the Senate
passed it Dec. 11. It is now in confer-
ence.
5. Labor-HEW. Despite absence of en-
acted authorization bills for the anti-
poverty program and several other pro-
grams normally funded in this bill, the
Committee on Appropriations reported
this bill on July 24 and the House
passed it on July 31. It is now in the
Senate.
6. Transportation. When we reported
this bill on Nov. 13 and passed it on
Nov. 18, it was necessary to adopt a rule
making it in order despite the lack of
enacted authorization bills for the urban
mass transportation and traffic and
highway safety programs.
This bill is still pending in the Senate.
ght was so pegceptive and well balanced
inserted it in the Congressional Rer-
:r oven allowing for some extenuating eir-
-,lrvfttanees-which you do-I would agree
neither the administration nor the
e or Senate has done acceptably well in
rag rd to processing the money business
tis,year.
ext year, malsY`'of the delays inherent in
g up a htW administration will not
tfie executive team. This will be of
imable value to Congress. Moreover, as
man of the Appropriations Committee,
ing~ in cooperation with the leadership
on the qualitative par of your editorial
ftation and both houses of Congress
e record will clearly show that the
A.........,riatinne hA5 not
days in apportioning the blame among the ad- Taking the bills one by one, here Is the
_?
~
olve the six regular appropriation bills Washington.
1LL.,1va ---- -----
i h seem the most pertinent, since they Chairman. House Committee on APProPriatln ls.
SNi would be deeply' grateful if you wr=ote Cant single business of the Congress.
rL+ TAATWTT
roue, ani, time again by the lack of Fill- In closing, let me commend you for you::
ow an `agenda, and he has done an -
utstanding job.'He has been thwarted
sills.: from:- his committee. He has foa-
-o raA fcrbelieve. as religiously as any
r
In a schedule or agenda of
'Motley bilT? to amble along at their own
Ate instead of fixing a date for the report-
of each bill.'I include a statement of
`-the Majority Leader made on the floor of
House 'n'Oct. 29, 1969:
'A bed ... Further, Mr. Speaker I
Siam belongs on' the House side, the House
allowing "the managers of the
W cant and, to me, disappointing way from
` underlying assessment that blame for
appro ia`tions c&n be shared generally
- L4..:w wTV.n[uCCB i.d
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