HOPES AND DANGERS IN GREECE
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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP69B00369R000200290084-1
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RIFPUB
Original Classification:
K
Document Page Count:
6
Document Creation Date:
December 12, 2016
Document Release Date:
October 7, 2001
Sequence Number:
84
Case Number:
Publication Date:
December 14, 1967
Content Type:
OPEN
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - HOUSE December 14k, 1967
screen, weather, the limits of human sight
or attention or judgment, or equipment
failure.
But few problems are as severe or as urgent
as the burgeoning air fleet itself.
Ten years ago, there were only 67,000 com-
mercial and private planes in the nation's
skies. Today, the air fleet numbers more than
108,000. In 10 years, it will number 184,000.
And every year private and commercial planes
get bigger and faster.
Today's 2,300 commercial airliners have
an enviable safety record. They suffer less
than one-tenth of a death every 100 million
miles in the air.
But for the 106,000 smaller, private and
business aircraft called general aviation, the
death rate is 20 per 100 million miles-200
times the death rate for scheduled airliners
and eight times the death rate for auto-
mobiles.
The comparison may be unfair, stacking
miles flown by speedy jets against those of
slower light aircraft. Private pilots say the
death rate per 100,000 hours in the air is a
better measure, and claim it is comparable
for both private and commercial planes.
Barely 2.5 per cent of the nation's airlines
were involved in accidents in 1966, against
nearly 6 per cent of the planes in the general
aviation fleet. Of this year's 1,400 dead,
almost 1,200 died in general aviation
accidents.
And of six air disasters in 1967, two were
collisions in the Or between commercial and
private aircraft. The 108 persons who died in
those two crashes total almost half of the
entire commercial aircraft death toll.
In all, some 137 people were killed in
collisions in the air during the first 10
months of the year, just 25 short of an all-
time fatality record for that kind of collision.
But any year has the potential to be worse.
In 1966, pilots reported 462 near-misses
with other aircraft. Not all near-misses are
reported. Some experts say the true number
might reach 5,000 a year, involving possibly
thousands of people.
And within two years, the first jumbo jets
with 500 passengers abroad will begin
landing at airports that even now are des-
perately searching for room. After the
jumbos come the supersonic transports that
will cross American twice as fast as a bullet.
"We can put in radar at every airport in
this country, instrument landing systems at
every airport in the country," says Federal
Aviation Agency chief William F. McKee.
"It will obviously greatly improve the op-
erations. But even with all of that, and
billions of dollars on airports, I couldn't
guarantee you a 100 per cent safe operation,
as long as we have people who make mis-
takes, as long as we have equipment that goes
out."
The FAA has two prime duties: Insuring
air safety, and promoting aviation. Some
congressional critics say that one aim may be
getting in the way of the other.
Critics are pointing to the rapid growth
of general aviation and are asking for stiffer
standards in granting private flying. licenses.
In an analysis of air accidents in 1965, the
National Transportation Safety Board found
that two-thirds of general aviation mishaps
were due to pilot error. Less than one-fifth
of airliner accidents were pinned to pilot
error. In 1967, as in the three years before,
more than 1,000 will die in general aviation
accidents. The NTSB says the toll is rising
partly because light aircraft are bigger and
carrying more passengers.
Gen. Joseph D. Caldara, head of the non-
profit Flight Safety Foundation, has urged
the FAA for some years to tighten the stand-
ardization of instruction for private fliers.
Until about three years ago, he said, it was
possible for an applicant to pass the written
test even if he failed all the questions on
weather. It is no longer possible. Still, one
out of 10 accidents involving small planes is
caused by weather.
In 1959, Congress authorized the FAA to
delegate its private pilot flight testing to in-
dustry. The FAA monitors the flight testers
it designates. But the fact remains that some
80 per cent of the flight tests for private 11-
censes are conducted by private individuals.
Some of these people are the same ones who
sell flying lessons, sell aircraft and.service
them,
Rep. Benjamin Rosenthal, (Elmhurst-
Democrat) whose district includes Flushing
Airport, a private field and part of LaGuardia
Airport, says: "It's as if the man who sold
you your car, or the garageman who serviced
it, also gave you your driver's license."
Despite the potential conflict of interest,
FAA officials are sure that the outside flight
testers are honest and uphold flight stand-
ards. They point out that flight instructors
and flight testers put their reputations on
the line when they pass a pilot.
The professional airline pilot is flight-
checked by the FAA twice a year. Yet private
pilots with a basic license need only pass a
medical examination every two years to main-
tain flying rights.
Indeed, inactive private licenses have not
been cut off since mid-1945. They can be re-
instated without any further instruction or
flying.
As 1967 draws to a close, the FAA is con-
sidering some new restrictions on the gen-
eral aviation flier. It will suggest for public
discussion annual proficiency tests, or a set
amount of yearly instruction, to maintain
flying rights. Such proposals will not be rules
until all interested parties comment. An FAA
official admits that safety statistics point a
finger at the efficiency of the private pilot.
A current study of hub airports is probing
the possibility of segregating them from pri-
vate flying.
"I think there is a safety factor here," the
official said.
"We are aware of it. But we are trying to
find a way without penalizing the general
aviation flier. Traditionally in this country,
public transport has been given the right of
way. But one-third of all people going by
air, go by general aviation which includes air
taxis. We're trying to do the best we can with
the fewest restrictions."
The general aviation pilot is represented
by several groups in Washington. One is the
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. A
spokesman for that group said: "There are a
lot of people flying and learning to fly. There
are very few federal agents to monitor it.
If you go into revalidation of licenses and
retesting, you'll have to enlarge the FAA
staff tremendously."
Of a possible conflict of interest in having
private individuals give flight tests, he said,
"I have seen no statistical evidence to date
that this was the root of the problem. Some
years ago, the FAA thought it was, cancelled
all designations of outside flight testers, and
began doing the testing themselves. FAA
agents fell six months behind in testing, and
the accident rate did not go tip or down."
General aviation groups are adamant on
freedom of the skies. Largely, they have
been successful in defending it. Once the pri-
vate pilot has his license, there are few en-
forceable bounds on him in the aircraft for
which lie is rated, except his own good sense.
In some cases he can traverse a busy airport,
fly through a runway approach or stacked-
up airplanes. When he creates a hazardous
situation, he is liable for punishment. He
may be dead by then.
Charles Ruby, president of the 22,000-
member Air Line Pilots Association, said:
"We do not feel that we can stress too strong-
ly that with the increased use of the com-
mon air space by transport and military air-
craft, as well as all types of general aviation
aircraft, it is clear that air traffic control
problems, and the collision threats are on
the increase."
There have been louder cries recently for
segregating private aircraft, making them
land at satelite fields away from the busy
commercial traffic coming into hub airports.
General aviation groups stoutly defend
their access to tax-supported runways and
airspace. Robert Monroe, congressional liai-
son and deputy chief of policy and technical
planning for the 140,000 member AOPA, put
it this way: "With 99 per cent of the regis-
tered aircraft, 98 per cent of the active air-
craft, 97 per cent of the active pilots, 82 per
cent of the hours flown, 75 per cent of the
operations at tower controlled fields and 99
per cent of the operations at the rest-we
are not general aviation-we are aviation."
Because the private flier has to make con-
tact with scheduled airlines frequently, or
because he carries passengers who do, he
needs to go where the airlines go.
Others, too, feel that segregation is not the
solution. Caldara insists that the air space
and the airports can handle general aviation
as well as commercial traffic. The airports
will need parallel runways for the light air-
craft to free heavy-duty extra-thick concrete
for passenger jets.
Next, says Caldara, are requirements in
equipment and training that will tie the
general aviation pilot into the positive con-
trol of instrument flight. This would enable
the FAA to create a "federally controlled
system which integrates all aircraft," which
keeps track of them in the air and tells them
where they may not go.
One worry for the already harassed air con-
trollers is the occasional private flier who
comes into a busy hub complex for the first
time. If he is capable and plans ahead, his
visit may be trouble free. But some have dif-
ficulty. They land on the wrong runways, or
the wrong airports. With other planes com-
ing and going at about one a minute in busy
times, the stranger can cause hazards and
delays. Sometimes he calls the tower to re-
port he has only 15 minutes of fuel left. The
tower then must keep some 1,000 people
waiting in the air over heavily residential
areas while they bring in the sometimes lost,
sometimes shaken airman who has had his
first taste of the crowded metropolitan skies.
He may not return. But controllers wonder if
he wasn't there once too often already.
"He has to be spoon-fed," said one FAA
aide.
"We'd rather not have him around."
The FAA is taking steps to get a better
measure of how close things are in the skies
by relaxing one of its rules on near miss re-
porting. Most agree that the 462 reports re-
ceived in 1966 were too low. But pilots were
reluctant to turn in reports, because they
were frequently followed by punitive action
by the FAA. Beginning Jan. 1, for one year,
the FAA will grant immunity to pilots re-
porting near-misses. Hopefully, it will bring
out a better measure of how often near-
misses occur, where and why.
Of the near-misses reported in 1966, 143
occurred at altitudes ranging from 500 to
3,000 feet, and 249 were between 3,000 and
14,500 feet. Almost half occurred within 10
miles of airports of origin or destination for
the aircraft involved.
In short, most occured in those areas and
under those situations when the mix of air-
craft-general and commercial, prop and
jet-was greatest.
The Air Line Pilots Association has em-
phasized that for the time being adequate
aircraft separation is the only safe answer
even when aircraft are under positive radar
control from the ground.
"This is due to the physical aspects of the
current radar program," it said, "under which
the controller on the ground must first ob-
serve some deviation, then evaluate it and
transmit information to the pilot of the air-
craft who in turn must evaluate it and take
appropriate action. When we are operating
airplanes a mile or so apart at 160 miles an
hour, there simply is not time for two in-
dependent minds to assimilate information
and take appropriate action."
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December 1J,, 1967 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - HOUSE
Can we be any more specific? Hanoi has
spurned the olive branch. They answered
with a rude "no" and they have repeated it
time after disappointing time. Until they
relent, until they see room for compromise
and area for agreement we must stand firm
and unafraid. And we will.
Peace will come, I am convinced of that,
but until it does, I will continue, with the
support of our determined people, to hold
the line we have drawn against aggression-
and hold it firm and steady.
In all that I do, I will be strengthened
by the powerful testimony for freedom that
you have given in this hall. You courageous
men of labor support our fighting men, and
you have spoken as free men must speak.
May all the world hear you. And may God
bless yoi} for it.
HCWES AND DANGERS IN GREECE
(Mr. FRASER (at the request of Mr.
WALKER) was granted permission to ex-
tend his remarks at this point in the
RECORD and to include extraneous mat-
ter.)
Mr. FRASER. Mr. Speaker, reports
from Greece indicate that the military
regime that has ruled the country since
a coup last April is in the process of
being overthrown today by forces led by
King Constantine.
These reports appear to signal the
forthcoming return of . constitutional
government to Greece and the end of an
oppressive regime.
But, at the same time, the reports are
a danger signal for men such as Andreas
Papandreou, former leader of the Center
Union Party and former economics pro-
fessor at the University of Minnesota,
who has been in prison since the coup.
The safety of him and other political
enemies of the junta may be more
threatened than ever before.
I hope, Mr. Speaker, that constitutional
government can be restored to Greece
quickly and bloodlessly. And I hope that
the United States will do everything pos-
sible to prevent bloodshed and to protect
the lives of those who have been impris-
oned by the junta. - -
(Mr. FRASER (at the request of Mr.
WALKER) was granted permission to ex-
tend his remarks at this point in the
RECORD and to include extraneous mat-
ter.)
[Mr. FRASER'S remarks will appear
hereafter in the Appendix,]
THE WHOLESOME MEAT ACT OF 1967
(Mr. PURCELL (at the request of Mr.
WALKER) was granted permission to ex-
tend his remarks at this point in the
RECORD and to include extraneous mat-
ter.)
-
Mr. PURCELL. Mr. Speaker, the
Wholesome Meat Act. passed by Congress
this session is a tribute not only to this
body of lawmakers and to the American
Consumer, but also to the U.S. Depart-
ment of Agriculture.
Since 1960-under the leadership of
Secretary Orville L. Freeman-the De-
partment of Agriculture has become
more than ever what it was envisioned
by former President Abraham Lincoln-
a "People's Department" representing
all Americans.
One of the major goals of the Depart-
ment since Secretary Freeman took office
has been to strengthen the Federal meat
inspection program. The Department
recognized that it was trying to pro-
tect citizens of the 1960's with a law
that was passed in 1906. For 5 -years the
Department has suggested legislative
updating of the meat Inspection Act.
At the same time, Secretary Freeman
and other Department officials, such as
Under Secretary John Schnittker, were
taking administrative steps to aline meat
inspection practices to reflect more
closely the conditions in livestock mar-
keting and meat processing.
Secretary Freeman appointed a task
force early in 1965-headed by Assistant
Secretary George Mehren-to study the
need for and recommend changes in ad-
ministrative and operational procedures
and in existing legislation where the De-
partment's inspection services and the
protection of consumers could be
strengthened.
As a result of that study, the USDA in-
stituted a series of procedural and ad-
ministrative reforms which Included ad-
ministrative reorganization of the meat
Inspection service. In announcing the re-
organization plans, Assistant Secretary
Mehren said it was "another in a con-
tinuing series of actions to assure that
the USDA Is giving maximum perform-
ance- in its consumer protection opera-
tions."
In addition to the reorganization, the
Department has taken more action in
the past three years to modernize and
improve the Nation's meat inspection
services than at any time since theMeat
Inspection Act was enacted In 1906.
One of the moves placed the meat In-
spection program in the Department's
Consumer and Marketing Service along
with other USDA inspection and grading
activities. Cooperative work was begun
to help States develop meat inspection
programs. Procedures were tightened on
control of federally Inspected meat. Serv-
ice to consumers climbed to new records
in number of plants supervised and
quantities of meat and meat products
Inspected and certified.
Secretary Freeman has made It plain
that all of the actions taken by the De-
partment have two major goals. One is
to protect the wholesomeness and truth-
ful labeling of the Nation's meat supply,
and to prevent activities of the few who,
by criminal intent, seek to pollute it. The
other is to improve theefficiency of meat
inspection by developing new- techniques
and working relationships geared to
changing conditions in the meat indus-
try.
And now, the Wholesome Meat Act is
an excellent vehicle to help achieve the
total goal of the Department-assurance
that consumers throughout the United
States will be able to purchase only
wholesome meat and meat products.
Deputy Assistant Secretary Rodney E.
Leonard, in testifying before a Senate
subcommittee this year, said: I
The Department must insure that effort is
made to assure the homemaker the meat she
buys for her family Is safe and wholesome.
Mr. Leonard pointed out that the Meat
Inspection Act was becoming increas-
ingly inadequate to deal with the prob-
lems of today's modern, aggressive in-
dustry, and for dealing with problems
which would arise in the future. The
Congress heard that plea and passed a
good, comprehensive meat inspection bill
for the Department of Agriculture to use
in providing assurance of a wholesome
meat supply.
But, Mr. Leonard also told the sub-
committee that the Department cannot
rest upon old laurels. And I am sure they
will not rest on old laurels. Enforcement
of the Wholesome Meat Act depends on
its effective administration by the De-
partment of Agriculture.
Secretary Freeman-and his asso-
ciates, Mr. Sch:nittker, Mr. Mehren, and
Mr. Leonard-have proven their ability
to administer an outdated law. I am con-
fident they will do even better with the
additional power vested in the Depart-
ment.
The Department has heard the plea
of the American consumer-and is ready
to assure her that action will continue to
be taken to provide her with the addi-
tional protection she deserves.
NO ROOM IN THE SKIES
(Mr. ROSENTHAL (at the request of
Mr. WALKER) was granted permission to
extend his remarks at this point in the
RECORD and to include extraneous
matter.)
Mr. ROSENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, our
national air traffic system can best be
described as a network of flight pat-
terns so dense and so overcommitted as
to represent a direct threat to the lives
of passengers and nonpassengers alike.
Most Americans see this problem in
only its most superficial form of protract-
ed delays and nerve-wracking incon-
venience at most major airports. Perhaps
for this reason, the imminent Christmas
holiday season is an excellent time to re-
mind both airborne and earthbound
Americans that the taxing, stackup and
terminal delays that will surely occur
next week are indications of much more
serious trouble.
Midair collisions and near misses have
been ever more frequent and a major
part of the blame for these disasters and
near-disasters Can be traced to our in-
ability to adopt adequate controls over
the many small, privately operated air-
craft that swarm through our crowded
air space.
John Barbour, In the Long Island
Press of December 10, 1967, has written
a trenchant exposition of this grave
problem. The article is titled "Our
Crowded Skies," and with permission
granted I insert it at this point in the
RECORD:
OUR CROWDED SKIES-AIRCRAFT JAM BUILDS
PROBLEMS, TRIMS SAFETY ODDS
(By John Barbour)
Air travel is safe. But for more than 1,400
human beings who perished in U.S. air
accidents so far this year, it was not safe
enough.
Death in the skies is not one problem, but
many. It may Involve the fatigue of metal,
the length of a runway, the clutter of a radar
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House of Representatives
The House met at 12 o'clock noon.
The Chaplain, Rev. Edward G. Latch,
D.D., offered the following prayer:
God is spirit; and they that worship
Him must worship Him in spirit and in
truth.-John 4: 24.
Father of mercy who hast spoken to
Thy people in the past and who art
speaking to us in the present, help us
to hear Thy word this day. Each time
we come to Thee we bring the same dis-
couragements and the same desires. We
ask for help without any honest en-
deavor on our part to discipline our-
selves to receive it.
Forgive us, 0 Lord, forgive our peti-
tions made without any promise of per-
formance on our part, our requests
spoken without any renewal of spirit in
our hearts, our words uttered without
any serious intention in our minds.
Grant us light by which to see, love by
which to live, and faith by which to act
that we may be redeemed from the error
of our ways and be delivered from the
evil that infests the world.
Help us now to make a new beginning,
to remove the spirit of bitterness and
resentment, to reduce our anxieties and
our prejudices, and to work together in
true Christmas spirit for the good of our
country, the welfare of mankind, and
the peace of the world. In the Master's
name we pray. Amen.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1967
H.R. 1141. An act to permit duty-free treat-
ment of limestone when imported to be used
in the manufacture of cement, pursuant to
the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
The message also announced that the
Senate agrees to the amendment of the
House to a bill of the Senate of the fol-
lowing title:
S.294. An act for the relief of Eloy C.
Navarro.
The message also announced that the
Senate agrees to the report of the com-
mittee of conference on the disagreeing
votes of the two Houses on the amend-
ments of the Senate to the bill (H.R.
4765) entitled "An act relating to the in-
come tax treatment of certain distribu-
tions pursuant to the Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956, as amended."
ical bills of our elderly unimportant.
While we brought hope to the impover-
ished and oppressed of the land by wag-
ing a war on poverty, supporting rent
supplements, and enacting a_ comprehen-
sive model cities program, Republicans
turned their backs on our seething slums.
The great works of the 89th Congress
have had to be zealously defended, for 47
Republican nay-sayers have been added
to our ranks since 1966.
But the great health measures, con-
sumer protection bills, and continued vi-
tality of all the Great Society programs
are a testament to what the 90th Con-
gress has accomplished despite Republi-
can obstructionism.
When Americans go to the polls next
year, they will look with pride upon
what the Congress and the. President
have accomplished in 4 years.
The Nation is once again moving at
full steam toward fulfillment of the
American dream of health and prosperity
for all fits citizens.
THE JOURNAL
The Journal of the proceedings of yes-
terday was read and approved.
MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE
A message from the Senate by Mr.
Arrington, one of its clerks, announced
that the Senate had passed without
amendment bills of the House of the
following titles:
H.R. 8547. An act to amend title 10, United
States Code, to simplify laws relating to
members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and
Marine Corps, and for other purposes;
H.R. 11542. An act for the relief of Marshall
County, Ind.;
H.R. 12961. An act to amend title 37, United
States Code, to authorize the nontemporary
storage of household effects of members of
a missing status; and
H.R. 13833. An act to provide that the
post office and Federal office building to be
constructed in Bronx, N.Y., shall be named
the "Charles A. Buckley Post Office and Fed-
eral Office Building" in memory of the late
Charles A. Buckley, a Member of the U.S.
House of Representatives from the State of
New York from 1935 through 1964.
The message also announced that the
Senate had passed with amendments in
which the concurrence of the House is
requested, a bill of the House of the fol-
lowing title:
HON. PAUL N. "PETE" McCLOSKEY,
JR.
Mr. GERALD R. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I
ask unanimous consent that the gentle-
man from California, Mr. PAUL N. "PETE"
MCCLOSKEY, JR., be permitted to take the
oath of office today. The certification of
election has not arrived, but there is no
contest, and no question has been raised
with reference to the election.
The SPEAKER. Is there objection to
the request of the gentleman from
Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mr. McCLOSKEY appeared at the bar
of the House and took the oath of office.
PRESIDENT'S STIRRING MESSAGE
CATALOGS DEMOCRATIC ACCOM-
PLISHMENTS
(Mr. CHARLES H. WILSON asked and
was given permission to address the
House for 1 minute, and to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. CHARLES H. WILSON. Mr. Speak-
er, President Johnson's excellent address
to the AFL-CIO convention was a stir-
ring catalog of Democratic achievements
seen against a barrage of Republican
negativism. -
Republican leaders promised Ameri-
cans they would see a new Republican-
ism-not whetted to 19th century dog-
mas, but ready to face the challenges of
this generation. But, as the President
showed, Republicans have not changed
their stripes, for they continued to line
up "like wooden soldiers of the status
quAl.. 4tis stilr have e for the that the . last Rcentury.
enubli-
new idea since Teddy Roosevelt decided mittedly, however, the Greek military
to form has own party 50 years ago. defense-even with all our help-is in-
While Democrats overwhelmingly sup- adequate by itself to withstand an attack
ported medicare, 93 percent of our Re- from Russia or Bulgaria. Instead, our
publican colleagues felt the soaring med- military aid to Greece has been used first
H 16991
SUSPENDED
(Mr. LONG of Maryland asked and
was given permission to address the
House for 1 minute, and to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. LONG of Maryland. Mr. Speaker,
all U.S. aid to Greece-both economic
and military-should be suspended un-
til that nation puts its constitutional
house in order. Our military aid to
Greece, whose military leadership has
just been disavowed by the King, is a
classic example of misuse of American
foreign assistance funds.
Since the coup last April, we have
suspended delivery to Greece of major
military equipment such as tanks and
planes,?but we continue at this moment
to maintain 120 American military per-
sonnel in Greece to assist in training
and we continue to supply Greece with
replacement parts and supplies.
Our forces there should be withdrawn
immediately, and all deliveries of equip-
ment held back.
Since 1950, we have given Greece one
and a third billion dollars in military aid
alone. Thus we share responsibility for
the suppression of press and personal
freedom by a military junta armed with
American weapons, trained by American
advisers, and sustained with American
funds.
State and Defense officials continue to
claim that foreign military aid is needed
40
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - HOUSE December 14, 1967
to overthrow a constitutional govern-
ment and now to shore up the military
regime, which has been rejected by
Greece's constitutional monarch. We
have also in recent weeks seen our mili-
tary aid to Greece and Turkey used to
threaten each other over Cyprus.
Mr. Speaker, our military aid program
all over the world is in need of drastic
overhaul to prevent it from being per-
verted from the original purpose of halt-
ing Communist aggression. Suspension
of military aid to Greece would be a
logical first step.
RECREATION FEE PROGRAM IS
OVERALL FAILURE
(Mr. EDMONDSON asked and was
given permission to address the House
for 1 minute, and to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. EDMONDSON. Mr. Speaker, I
have spoken here a number of times
about the dismal failure of the Corps of
Engineers program for entrance fees at
its outdoor recreation areas.
I have pointed out that the corps
spends well over $1 for every dollar it
collects in fees. The fees go into the land
and water conservation fund. I suspect
that if the collection costs came out of
the land and water conservation fund,
the corps collection program would be
very quickly dropped.
The failure of the corps program is
obvious. Figures have recently come to
my attention which clearly illustrate
that the collection picture among some
of the other fee-collecting agencies is
not much brighter.
The best of the lot, the National Park
Service, estimates that it cost $701,315
in 1966 to collect $6,455,943-a collection
cost of more than 10 percent.
The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and
Wildlife last summer spent an estimated
$45,876 to collect $156,624 in fees at 17
Federal wildlife refuges-a collection
ratio of almost 30 percent.
The Bureau of Land Management last
summer spent $26,860 at 50 recreation
areas and were able to collect only $41,-
402 in fees. Here the collection costs
climb above 60 percent.
Mr. Speaker, it becomes more and
more apparent that the entrance fee
program serves little purpose but to in-
convenience and harass the public. At
best, it is a nuisance. At worst, it denies
outdoor recreation opportunities to
many people.
It is my sincere hope that Congress
will recognize that the entrance fee pro-
gram, whatever promise it may have
held, is a failure in reality. It is my hope
that Congress will see that this program
works against the people, while making
almost no contribution to the land and
water conservation fund. It is my hope
that Congress will act early next year to
abolish these entrance fees, replacing
them with a sensible user fee program
that is soundly conceived and both fairly
and efficiently administered;
STRANGE EPISODE IN VIETNAM
(Mr. HAYS asked and was given per-
mission to address the House for 1 min-
ute and to revise and extend his re- In pursuance of its task, the commit-
marks.) tee conducted a series of seven public
Mr. HAYS. Mr. Speaker, one of the hearings to gain the views of all who
most peculiar incidents of the Vietnam were willing to come forward, from both
war has just broken into the press in the within and outside of the Congress, with
last 2 or 3 days in the adventures of the their help. And the committee has met
junior Senator from Illinois who was not in upward of 30 working sessions for
able to get a military helicopter to fly preparation of its report.
him and his wife to a village where the In the public hearings, the committee
shelling took place, but he got one received testimony, county statements
through the State Department or which were submitted for the record,
through the Ambassador. from a total of 64 witnesses. While we re-
There are a lot of peculiar things about ceived a wide variety of proposals and
this. I do not know who paid for the were impressed by the thought and prep-
helicopter, I suppose the State Depart- aration given to them, we would have
ment did-maybe it came out of the liked a broader base of testimony for our
$100,000 extracurricular fund that this deliberations.
millionaire Senator has. The record of those hearings has now
But among other things, there just been published and copies are available
happened to be a man from Look maga- from the c
mmitt
o
ee office. Although the
zinc with him and he just happened to proposals advanced therein are varied,
have a couple of public relations men one thing stands out clearly-there Is a
with him. Then it just happened, accord- wide interest in the establishment of ef-
ing to them, that a mortar shell dropped fective and workable guidelines for the
within 15 feet of them. Now this either conduct of the House of Representatives.
had to be a dud or it had to be prear- Your committee expects to recommend
ranged-or it had to be something else just such a set of standards in the early
because I will clue you right now-that if weeks of the second session of the 90th
it had been a mortar shell and he jumped Congress in the hope of provinding cri-
landing flat on the ground, he could not teria which, if accepted, will redound to
have gotten flat enough on the ground to the credit of the House.
have gotten away from the mortar shell. Mr. ARENDS. Mr. Speaker, will the
I think this whole incident deserves gentleman yield?
some looking Into by somebody other Mr. PRICE of Illinois. I yield to the
than the publicity men who reported it to gentleman from Illinois.
the press. I am sure also that the more Mr. ARENDS. Mr. Speaker, I have the
than half-million American servicemen honor to be a member of the Committee
and State Department employees who on Standards of Official Conduct, under
cannot have their wives in Vietnam take the chairmanship of my distinguished
a dim view of a tourist like Mrs. Percy vacationing at the battlefront, colleague from Illinois [Mr. PRICE]. He
STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT
(Mr. PRICE of Illinois askedand was
given permission to address the House
for 1 minute and to revise and extend
his remarks and Include - extraneous
matter.)
Mr. PRICE of Illinois. Mr. Speaker,
the Committee on Standards of Official
Conduct, of which I have the honor. to
serve as chairman, would like to report
that it has made substantial progress in
the assignment given it by House Resolu-
tion 418, but will not be able to make its
report until early in the next session.
The committee has reached agree-
ment in many areas of its difficult and
delicate task of drafting a code of stand-
ards to guide and govern the official con-
duct of House Members, officers, and em-
ployees, but just cannot quite tie up its
recommendations before adjournment of
this session.
The committee had hoped to have its
has proven to be an extremely able
chairman. It is a privilege and a pleasure
to serve under him. But I must frankly
say that I am not too sure it is much of
a privilege,- and certainly not much of a
pleasure, in carrying out our committee's
assigned task.
I endorse what our chairman [Mr.
PRICE] has said with respect to the work
of this committee. In the few months of
the committee's existence we have made
diligent effort toward making our rec-
ommendations to the House at this ses-
sion. That was our goal. But we found
the time was all too short and the ques-
tions to be resolved all too sensitive and
all too complex for us to be able to meet
the goal we had set- for ourselves.
Every member of our committee has
felt the great responsibility that is ours.
One can readily talk about "proper con-
duct" or "ethical conduct," but it is only
when we seek to translate these general
terms into the specifics that we become
aware of the many complications and
report ready for consideration this ses- the many contingencies, real and poten-
sion and has worked diligently toward tial, that are necessarily involved. Once
that goal. But it has found its task a our committee arrived at a conclusion on
complicated one, a task that cannot be some particular problem, we then faced
hurried despite the dedication of its the difficult problem of finding the prop-
members to the assignment. In the cir- er language to - express it.
cumstances, the committee has con- It is not unlike writing a constitution,
eluded that it would be wiser to delay its when you must take into account not
report a few more weeks rather than only what is but what might arise. And
come before the House now with a report when you know you are undertaking to
with which we would not be satisfied. write a document not only the present
The report is now under preparation but also for the future, not only for this
and the committee expects to have it in Congress but for Congresses to follow,
final form for submission early in the and not only for the Congress but for the
next session. people for whom the Congress speaks.
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December 14, 1967 CONGRE
1117019
The general may feel that France has SALES RESTRICTION ent administration and while there is
reasons to continue to avoid payment of In addition, the gold pool members agreed who qfor uestion that they PaA, a military amen. sales to other central c
the laim is debt, but the validity of the U.S. hat except through the pool. That would give the pa-
claim doubt. The fact that tience with democratic processes as we
other nations also have World War I pool members a chance to scrutinize all po- Americans know them, they are above
debts to the United States does not ex- tential sales and refuse orders which stem all, realistic Greeks and they know full
from large scale speculation. The policy now well that they cannot deny freedom and
onerate France from the obligation to is to supply only legitimate requests for gold democracy e the people o Greek indef-
pay her own debt. Nor should it deter the to back up currency. First results were seen
United and
States from pressing France alone Wednesday in London, Brussels and Paris. finitely. For it was the Greeks whose an
the whole concept of
for payment, for no other nation is mak- Bullion ride dealers in London stopped
liere upper- invented
rule.
ing the attacks on the United States that ing big private
De Gaulle is. Negotiations looking to pay- ently were some small sales. In the past, if a During my visit to Greece, I had oc-
ment should be started at once. foreign buyer paid cash in dollars or Swiss casion to discuss these matters with the
francs, he could get a one-kilogram-2.2-
De Gaulle is not invulnerable. Nor is pound-bar of gold worth roughly $1,230, with present administration and I am: con-
France free from the political and eco- no questions asked. Dealers said that as of vinced that they know better than any-
nomic turbulences that at times disturb Wednesday, he couldn't get it. This seemed to one else the tragic consequences which
all countries. As all other nations in the indicate some sort of informal advice had would face their administration if free-
free world, she needs all the friends she been passed to dealers by the Bank of Eng- dom were to be denied to the Greek peo-
can get. The resentment that,De Gaulle's land not to supply plungers in the gold ple indefinitely.
actions have brought forth are evident, market. Mr. Speaker, I think the record should
London dealers said speculators seemed to
not only in this country, but in many have gone into the silver market, where prices show that the present regime in Greece
others. I need only point to the very re- boomed. Unlike gold, silver is not used to agreed to this withdrawal at the sugges-
cent action by England, West Germany, back currency. tion of the United States and it is unfor-
Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, and the HEAVY BUYING tunate that American efforts to preserve
Netherlands to curb speculation in gold, In Brussels, gold buying was so heavy that peace in the Mediterranean should be-
as reported in the Washington Post of dealers said they could not satisfy demand come inadvertently involved in the abor-
.December 14, 1967. It is too early to judge for immediate delivery and would have to tive revolt led by King Constantine
the success of any such undertaking. The turn to London for more gold supplies. yesterday,
significant fact, however, is that as the In Paris, demand for gold continued un-
world's banker, the economic well-being abated and the price rose. If the new strategy Regrettably, those who advised King
works, Hong Kong, Macao and Paris would be Constantine obviously tried to take ad-
of the United States is vital to all free the only legal markets left for gold specula- vantage of some discontent that may now
world nations and that responsible coup- tors. exist in the ranks of the Greek military
tries will act in concert to interdict De (Dow Jones News Service said measures because the Greek administration had
Gaulle's reckless tour de force against agreed upon by the seven financial powers agreed to withdraw its reserve troops
were initially adopted at an extraordinary
the gold supply. meeting of the international gold pool mem- from Cyprus in order to avoid war with
The Washington Post article follows: bers at Frankfurt, West Germany last Nov. Turkey.
NEW GOLD PLAN WOULD SHIFT SALES THROUGH 26. I have no intentions of injecting myself
OFFICIAL POOL (One decision calls for. coordination of ef- into the internal affairs of the Greek peo-
(By Lawrence Malkin) forts in foreign exchange dealings to prevent ple. The Greeks have a long and illus-
LONDON.-A new strategy in the world gold wide price differentials in the forward or trious history of resolving their own po-
market emerged Wednesday to protect the future foreign exchange markets. The pur-
dollar and possibly put a squeeze on France, Pose is to assure continued confidence in litical problems and I am sure they need
chief opponent of the United States in the those currencies. Monetary specialists noted no counsel from anyone in our own
international monetary wars. that speculative buying of gold often results country.
The broad aim of the strategy, worked out from a lessening of confidence in a currency But as an American who is deeply in-
last weekend at a meeting of central bankers and that such a loss of confidence frequently terested in the preservation of our posi-
with France excluded, is to channel gold. is triggered by wide disparities in a cur-
sales rice in the forward market.) tion in the Mediterranean and in the
axles through the official international pool y' price of Greece as the keystone of
in London and freeze out speculators. our NATO defense perimeter in southern
Since the Bank of France has dropped out
TH A MPTED COUP IN GREECE Europe, I view this present turmoil in
pool, the French and their shaky
of the
economy may have to bear the brunt of pri- p, PUCINSKI asked and was given Greece with great concern.
vats speculative hoarding. That means the permission to address the House for 1 There are three Communist nations
French could be forced to put d their own minute and to revise and extend his re- north of Greece-just waiting for an op-
recources or back down in President Charles marks.) portunity to take advantage of internal
des the new pl plgann against
became the known, dollar. first in-' Mr. PUCINSKI. Mr. Speaker, we all turmoil in Greece and move in to fill the
As the n
w they tried in 1947. I believe
dications were that speculators already were watched with deep concern the abortive vacuum act as as they must never lose believe
beginning to be frozen out of their past attempt by King Constantine of Greece track
sources and were turning to the Paris gold to lead his people in a revolt against the of this ugly possibility.
market, or to less serious speculation in present regime in that beleaguered town- I also firmly believe, Mr. Speaker, that
silver. try. the United States cannot and must not
PLEDGE COOPERATION The situation continues to be very let the internal conflict in Greece ob-
Central bankers of the seven members of grave. The greatest threat which con- scure the fact that the present Govern-
w the
end pool met en n-the ht Switzerland, last fronts Greece today is the prospect of ment of Greece did accept our suggestion United Britain, , n Switzerrland, West Germany, Italy, a
Br itz seven-e States, , the same kind of civil war which almost that Greek troops be pulled out of Cyprus
aie
Belgium and the Netherlands-are pledged. plunged this historic nation into the to avoid war; that this present regime
to cooperate in supplying gold buyers from Communist orbit two decades ago. has repeatedly stated its complete friend-
their own reserves at the official U.S. price of I am sure that all the friends of the ship to the United States; that this
$35 an ounce. Greek people will join me in a reverent present regime, by agreeing to withdraw
Reports of the Basel agreement first leaked prayer that civil war will not break out in its troops from Cyprus, clearly demon-
in 's out Times Times a of of nd Lo the Fihe Finan leading newspapers, Greece and that those of us who appre- strated the high significance which it
outline by offl- date and respect the rich tradition of attaches to the idea of maintaining the
were later confirmed in broad ad Times. They
cial sources, but there was no public state- democracy in Greece will be permitted power and the unity of NATO, and
ment. to continue exerting whatever influence finally, Mr. Speaker, this present regime
Under the new plan, the central banks of we can upon the present government to has announced a timetable for the res-
the seven gold pool countries have agreed to restore constitutional rule and parlia- toration of constitutional government to
ban gold sales on credit or for future deliv-
ery. mentors procedures to Greece as quickly the people of Greece. Ironically, the
This ban limits the speculators' maneu-
vering and has in fact been in force in Lon- as possible with no bloodshed. Constitution Committee was to have re-
don since the gold rush began just after I recently visited Greece. I have talked ported on its recommendations to-
devaluation of the pound Nov. 18. at great length to the leaders of the pres- morrow, December 15.
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L RECORD -HOUSE December 14, 1967
The tragedy of yesterday's events is
compounded by the fact that King Con-
stantine's presence is so urgently needed
at this time in Greece to serveas a bridge
between the present Government and
her people.
It is my hope, Mr. Speaker, that the
United States will make certain there is
no break in our NATO structure in
Greece.
We should make it unquestionably
clear that any aggression by any outside
forces to take advantage of the present
internal crises being suffered by the
people of Greece will be repelled by the
full force of NATO's defense structure.
We consider Greece our ally, and
should continue to strengthen her NATO
capabilities.
A strong position by the United States
is urgently needed to help prevent any
miscalculations by the aggressive neigh-
bors of Greece who might be tempted to
try to take advantage of the present in-
ternal crises in Greece.
Greece continues as a NATO nation
and is entitled to the full protection of
her NATO allies should fall victim
to aggression during the present crises.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I should like to -
join with those who have issued an
urgent plea that there be no recrimina-
tion and no revenge and no repression
by the present administration against
those who were so badly misled in at-
tempting this ill-timed and ill-conceived
uprising at a time when Greeceneeds a
period of stability to put her own house
in order.
Any effort by this administration to
indulge in such revenge or repression, as
the Washington Post accurately stated
today, "would be an unforgiveable and
ruinous step."
It.is my sincere hope that the present
rulers of Greece will provide fair and hu-
mane treatment of all rebels and pris-
oners and afford each a- fair trial.
It is my hope also that the abortive
attempt against this regime yesterday
will not deter the present rules of Greece
from announcing the constitutional revi-
sion proposals which were to be issued on
the 15th of December of this year.
I believe that the present administra-
tion in Greece can best demonstrate its
sincerity to serve the highest ideals of the
Greek people and to bring Greece back
into the family of democratic nations by
continuing its pledge to protect Greece
against Communist subversion and at the
same time restore to her -people the par-
liamentary ideals which they have so
carefully nurtured almost since the be-
ginning of time.
We can only hope that the day is not
too far away when even -King Constan-
tine will be able to return to Greece as
her constitutional monarch and join with
all the good people of that country to
take their part in the democratic proc-
esses promised by the present adminis-
tration of Greece.
BUSINESS VIEWPOINTS ON THE
PROPOSED INTERSTATE TAXA-
TION ACT, BY PAUL L. COURTNEY,
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, NA-
TIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WHOLE-
SALERS
(Mr. WHITENER asked and was given
permission to address the House for 1
minute, to revise and extend his re-
marks, and to include extraneous matter
and tables.)
Mr. WHITENER. Mr. Speaker, as one
of the authors of H.R. 2158, I was greatly
impressed by an address made by Paul
L. Courtney, executive vice president,
National Association of Wholesalers, at a
symposium of the Tax Institute of Amer-
ica held in Washington on November 30,
1967. Mr. Courtney's remarks relate to
pending legislation with reference to
State taxation of interstate transactions.
He has given a very excellent state-
ment of some of the problems confront-
ing the small businessmen in America
and has given further evidence of the
need of the enactment of H.R. 2158.
I include the address of Mr. Courtney
as a part of my remarks in the RECORD
today:
BUSINESS VIEWPOINTS ON THE PROPOSED IN-
TERSTATE TAXATION ACT, H.R. 2158
(Address by Paul L. Cortney, executive vice
president, National Association of Whole-
salers, before the Tax Institute of America,
1967 Symposium on Federal-State-Local
Fiscal Relationship, Washington, D.C.,
NOVEMBER 30, 1967)
My subject will really be "Small Business
viewpoints" with respect to the serious need
for Federal definition of the jurisdictional
reach of the more than 110,000 political sub-
divisions and the fifty states which possess
the power to levy and collect or require the
collection taxes of one form or another.
In February of 1959, a national association
of wholesalers member, wholesaler of lumber,
located in the District of Columbia and sell-
ing lumber and building materials in the
District, Maryland and Virginia, stopped me
in the lobby of the Mayflower Hotel one day
and said, "I am being dunned by the States
of Maryland and Virginia for income taxes.
My only place of business is in the District
and I pay income taxes on all my income to
the District, how could I owe income taxes
to Maryland and Virginia, also?" I told him
I would try to find out what it was all about.
I first contacted our general counsel who
replied, "Yes, they can tax him on that por-
tion of his income arising from mere sales
into those jurisdictions, even though he has
no place of business there." He cited two
then recent Supreme Court dicisions, the
Portland -Cement and Stockham valve cases.
I queried other wholesaler-distributors in the
District and other market areas located on
the borders of two or more States.
I found that a very few were paying taxes
to more than one State; still a very few
others were worried about the situation; and
the vast majority of the wholesaler-distri-
utors who were servicing markets across State
lines didn't even know what I was talking
about. This concerned me, for If we inter-
preted the Supreme Court cases correctly, the
vast majority of our member firms were in-
nocently breaking the laws of the- States and
political subdivisions into which they were
selling goods and were liable for millions of
dollars in income tax, interest and penalty
assessments, if those jurisdictions had in-
come tax laws applicable to out-of-jurisdic-
tion vendors.
I then went to the staff of the Senate Small
Business Committee to seek advice and, if
possible, learn the extent of the problem.
They were very sympathetic, as was the
chairman, Senator John Sparkman, who or-
dered a staff study of the problem and later
called a one-day hearing on the subject
(April 8, 1959). Four of the witnesses testi-
fying that day were small business whole-
salers. The staff study continued and on May
1, 1959 Senator Saltonstall held another one-
day hearing on the problem in Boston.
On June 30 the Senate Small Business
Committee filed a report with the House 1
which recommended enactment of a Federal
statute setting a standard for limiting the
authority of the States to tax out-of-State
business and the establishment of a com-
mission "to study all phases of the State
taxation of interstate commerce problem".
The members of the- Senate Small Busi-
ness Committee jointly sponsored a joint
resolution, S.J. Res. 113, to Implement their
recommendations. At about the same time,
Congressman 'Walter (now deceased) Intro-
duced a House Joint Resolution; H.J. 'Res.
450 which was directed at the same problem
and which was referred to the House Judi-
ciary Committee. H.J. Res. 450 was quickly
reported to the Floor of the House by the
Judiciary Committee where it was passed.
When the rouse-passed measure reached
the Senate it was referred to the Senate
Finance Committee, of which the former
Senator Byrd was then chairman.. Chair-
man Byrd called hearings on July 21 and 22,
1959 on S.J. Res. 113 and two other pending
Senate bills which would have established
jurisdictional standards for State taxation
of earnings arising from interstate com-
merce. Two of the witnesses at the Senate
hearings spoke for a large segment of the
predominantly small business wholesale
industry.
On August 11, 1959 the Senate Finance
Committee filed its report' with the Senate
and Chairman Byrd introduced S. 2524
which was passed by the Senate in August
1959. The Senate and House disagreed on
adoption of either version and a conference
committee was appointed. On September 1,
1959 Chairman Celler, on behalf of the con-
ference committee, filed House Report No.
1103, recommending adoption of a revised
and amended version of S. 2524, which was
adopted by the House, agreed to, by the
Senate, and signed by President Eisenhower,
becoming Public Law 86-272.
P.L. 86-272 provides that "no State, or poli-
tical subdivision thereof shall have the
power to impose . a net income tax on
the income derived within such State by
any person from Interstate commerce if the
only business activities within such
State are .. . "The solicitation of or-
ders, which are sent outside the- State for
approval and are filled by shipment from a
point outside the State." The Saw provided
for a study to be made by the appropriate
committees of the two Houses of Congress
as to the effect -of the law on interstate com-
merce and report back to the Congress by
July 1, 1962.
'Report #453, 86th Congress, 1st Session.
' Senate Report 658, 86th Congress, 1st Ses-
sion.
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