The Lincoln times., 1955-03-21
Report From Washington
BY
CONGR ESSMAN
c. r. 10 A S
10th N. c. District
WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON - Last Thurs
DAY the House passed, without
a dissenting vote, bill that will
be good news to all of the public
school districts, colleges. univer-
sites and public health institu-
tions in the country. The bill was
designed to resolve inconsistencies
OF conflicts in existing statutes
and to clarity the intent of Con-
greSs. This intent is that surplus
property not required by any
agency of the Federal Govern
ment, and which would produce
little monetary return to the
Treasury if sold, may be avail
able for transfer to educational
and public health institutions.
Since the end of World War
I, Congress has enacted Is pieces
Of legislation designed to make
available to education and health
institutions property acquired
largely for war activities and
which is currently surplus to all
Federal requirements. The theory
upon which this legislation was
based is that sufficient funds are
not available at the local level
10 support essential educational
and health needs. This fact has
become increasingly evident in re-
cent years as the Federal Gov
eminent has gradually absorbed
more and more OF the tax po-
tentialS in the states and local
communities.
GOVT. NOT OWNER
There is another principle
which justifies the Congress in
making such property available
for use by public health and edu-
cational institutions That prin-
ciple is that the Federal Govern
Inent does not own" property in
the sense that you and I might
own an automobile, office equip
ment or farm machinery. The
federal Government does not
own" anything in its own right
but holds property in trusteeship
for the people.
Take for example the battleshir
NORTH CAROLINA as it wheels
into position off Two Jima in 1854
and cuts loose a 9-gun broadside
at the Japs. The people of the
United States own that ship
not the Federal Government o.
even the Navy, although the Navy
has been entrusted with it's oper-
alton because it is to be preSum
ed that the Navy knows best
how to use a battleship for the
common good.
The nine l6-inch shells scream
ing ashore toward Two Jima art
in a slightly different category
from the ship. The ship is a:
permanent as a ship can be il
wartime. but the shells are ex.
pendable. The shells are also own,
ed by the people of the Uniteo
States. who paid for them. bu
they have been turned over t(
the Executive branch for such
use as the war effort required
Ii was the Navy's opinion tha
they could best be used at Two
Other unfired shells are still tn,
property of the people.
The same situation exists wher
you apply the facts to pencils
used by government stenograph
ers in taking shorthand notes
The people bought the pencil
and put them in the care @
General Services Administrator
to be dispensed at such times a
bureaus and agencies find them
selves in need Of pencils.
All unused pencils. as well a
all unfired shells, jeeps. trucks
blankets, typewriters. ct cetera
still belong to the people. hell
in trust for them by the Fedora
Government.
Sometimes the Government
finds that its demands have beer
excessive and that there is OF
hand a surplus of pencils, desks
chairs or even airplanes. Wha
should be done with them
Should they be put up and solt
at auction and perhaps be pick
ed up by surplus property dealer
at a fraction of acquisition cost
or would it be better to max,
them available to the people TO