WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, AUGUST 23, 1971 1177

Automobile Prices

Statement by the President on the Rescission of Price

Increases by Manufacturers. August 17,1971

In announcing that their previously announced price 

increases for 1972 models would be rescinded, the Nation’s automobile manufacturers have acted with a laudable respect for the national interest, and with a high 

sense of responsibility.

This action demonstrates dramatically a spirit of voluntary cooperation in making the wage-price freeze work. 

With this spirit, and with all Americans pulling together, 

we can break the back of inflation and set the Nation 

securely on the path of a new prosperity.

Disaster Assistance for Maryland

Announcement of Disaster Declaration and

Authorization of Federal Assistance for Repair

of Damage Caused by Storms and Flooding.

August 17,1971

The President today declared a major disaster for 

Maryland authorizing the use of Federal funds to supplement State and local resources for relief measures after 

severe storms and flooding occurred in Baltimore city 

and six adjacent counties in Maryland. The President 

acted at the request of Governor Marvin Mandel.

Today’s action by the President makes available Federal funds for individual assistance, debris clearance, 

restoration of publicly-owned sewer and water systems, 

repair or restoration of roads, streets, and bridges, and 

other public property damaged by the flooding.

The Office of Emergency Preparedness regional staff in 

Olney, Md., under Regional Director Robert C. Stevens 

is coordinating the Federal response and administering 

the President’s funds allocated to this disaster.

Bill To Provide Increased Retirement

Benefits to Totally Disabled District of

Columbia Policemen and Firemen

The President’s Memorandum of Disapproval.

August 17,1971

I am today withholding my approval of H.R. 2600, 

which would increase the retirement benefits of former 

members of the District of Columbia Police and Fire

departments, the U.S. Park Police, the Executive Protective Service and the U.S. Secret Service who retired 

prior to October 1, 1956, with service-incurred disabilities 

rated at 100 percent.

Bills with somewhat similar objectives were vetoed by 

President Eisenhower in 1959 and by President Kennedy 

in 1961. This particular bill has been opposed by the 

D.C. Government in Senate hearings. After reviewing the 

merits, I am vetoing H.R. 2600 because I believe it is 

inconsistent with essential standards of fairness and 

impartiality toward other District Government employees.

H.R. 2600 would grant an unwarranted benefit to a 

small, special group of retirees. These former employees 

already receive annuity increases substantially above 

those of other District employees. Furthermore, under 

their retirement system, retired D.C. policemen and firemen automatically obtain an increase in annuities proportionate to any increases in the pay of active-duty 

policemen and firemen. As a result, some of the retirees 

who would benefit from this bill already receive a larger 

annuity than the salaries they received when they were on 

active duty.

H.R. 2600 would not only increase the disparity between the group affected and other District Government 

employees, but would also create a new disparity within 

the police and firemen’s retirement system by singling out 

one select group and ignoring other employees who retired prior to October 1, 1956, with less than 100% 

disability.

I am also seriously concerned that this bill would establish an unfortunate precedent for other retirees under 

the D.C. Policemen and Firemen’s Retirement System, 

and also for those under other District of Columbia and 

Federal retirement systems.

All of us can be proud of the outstanding services which 

the District of Columbia’s police and firemen have performed over the years. They deserve a just reward for 

their work, and today their disability and retirement 

benefit system is one of the finest and most generous in 

the country. It would not be in the public interest, however, to create special benefits for a small group of these 

men which would be unfair to the many other deserving 

persons in District Government.

Richard N ixon

The White House

August 17,1971

Knights of Columbus

The President’s Remarks to the 89th Annual

International Meeting of the Knights of Columbus in

New York City. August 17,1971

Supreme Knight John McDevitt, Your Eminence Cardinal Cooke, M r. Attorney General, M r. Secretary of