Montgomery County sentinel., 1954-09-02
83d Congress
By Sen. John Marshall Butler

the Congress just ended.
Even critics of the Administra.
ton Omit that this Congress has
been a "Do-something" group
which gave the President approx
mately 85 per cent of the legisla-
ton he requested. This record in
dicates that the majority of the
Presidents program was favored
by our national legislature as
necessary, appropriate and sound.
One of the major accomplish
mentsments of the 83rd Congress
was the tax revision bill. 1t was
the first complete revision in
modern history of the Nations
internal revenue code and provid-
ed relief of $1.4 billion to taxpay-
ers this fiscal year. This measure
brought total tax cuts since Jan
uary l to $7.4 billion-"the larg-
est dollar tax cut in any year in
the Nations history" The reduc-
ton to the State of Maryland
alone will amount to nearly S130
million.
Other features of the tax bill
give new relief to working mo-
theirs, retired couples, farmers,
those faced with medical expens-
es and stockholders. The tax on
corporations which was schedul-
ed to drop to At per cent was ex-
tended for another year at the
81 per cent rate.
Several bills to strengthen our
Internal Security are destined
for our statute books. One of
these would COMPEL witnesses to
testify regarding security mat
ters in exchange for immunity
from prosecution. Another re-
suited from legislation which l
proposed some time ago to pre-
vent Communist domination of
our labor organizations. AS this
bill cleared the Congress it also
contained provision to strip the
Communist Party of all legal
rights.
By strong majority votes the
Senate and House enacted into
law the Administrations farm
bill containing a system of flexi-
BILE farm price supports and other
provisions to help solve agricult-
ural problems that have plagued
the Nation since the end of World
War II.
The 83rd Congress also provid-
ed for new Air Force Academy,
went on record against admitting
Red China to the UN, expanded
Social Security coverage and in
creased benefits, encouraged
state-operated vocational rehabi-
litation programs, expanded un;
employment insurance benefits
to include an additional four mil.
lion workers, extended the Re-
ciprocal Trade Act, aided public
housing for low-income groups
and provided for additional high
way and hospital construction.
During the recent session of
the 83rd Congress it was my pri-
vilege to be designated as Chair
man of the Water Transportation
subcommittee, handling legisla-
ton pertaining mainly to the
American Merchant Marine. Lead
ers in the Shipping and shipbuild-
ing industries and in the interest.
ed Government agencies, as well
as officials of Maritime labor,
have generously asserted thaet
this Subcommittee has accom-
plished much of value during this
session.
One of the primary concerns of
the Subcommittee has been the
advancement of safety of life and
property at sea. In this field
there were five bills considered
and passed, all of which will re-
suit, without question, in greater
safety for both lives and proper
ty. Other Water Transportation
Subcommittee bills improved de-
sign of vessels, required life pre-
servers on river steamers to re.
place the unsatisfactory life
rafts now in use and provided for
denial or revocation of seamen's
licenses to narcotic users or ad.
diets.
Under the heading of national
and public interest an impressive
number of bills were reported
aid passed. One of them, S. 24O8,
made provision for adding need
ed strength to the strategic re.
serve tanker fleet. Another, in.
ietiated entirely by our Subcom.
mittee, and co-sponsored by many
able Senators from both sides of
the aisle, provides for an emer.
gency ship repair program, to
keep strategic yards in opera.
tionS, as well as to put selected
vessels in the Reserve Fleet in
ready" condition, for imme.
dieate use in the event of an en-
ergency.
Besides initiating the ship re.
= .