The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1955-05-26
NEWS FROM
WASHINGTON
BY
REP. JOHN T.. HENDERSON

had an opportunity to visit with
many friends, old and new, in
| the 18th Congressional District
and | have found the discussions
Of many public isues both in
| formative and stimulating. In
these discussion it is apparent
that TO the people of Southeast
| ern Ohio the national debt is
held to be of paramount impor-
| tance.
The National Debt
Several weeks ago, | received
a letter from a school class ask
ing for information on the size
to which our Nations indebted
ness has grown. One of the ques-
tions this class asked was, when
will the debt be paid?" This, of
course, is a startling question in
some quarters in Washington To
answer, we must project our
selves into the distant future
with payments to come from
generations beyond the adult
lives of the children who were
posing the difficult question.
I believe it is important that,
as the Governments fiscal year
draws to a close, we understand
| the magnitude of our indebted
/. ness and the need for every pos
sible economy in Federal spend
ing. On May A, 1855, the gross
public debt Of the Federal gov
ernment had reacher $276,600,-
155,501.
Ohio's Share
In terms of proportionate
population, Ohio's share of the
debt amounts to $14,585,715,993.
This figure is so astronomical
that it is difficult to imagine.
However, it is more understand
able if we consider that the as
sessed valuation of all taxable
property in Ohio was reported in
1853 to equal $19,655, ,063,000.
Interest Payments
Each year, the interest on the
debt must be paid. This is fix
ed charge which is considered
first in the preparation of the
national budget each year. In
1854, S6,382,000,000 was paid in
interest charges, with Ohio's
share Of the interest payments
amount to 1886, ,539,653.
Federal Taxes and Federal Aid
/ have been very much inter
ested in determining what occurs
to funds collected by the Federal
| government in the form of taxes
and the amount of these taxes
which are actually returned to
| the people of State. / recognize
| that, as in the case of our vast
expenditures for national de-
fense, Federal taxes often can
not be accounted for or traced
| in direct benefits received by the
States. Nevertheless, it is impor-
tant that we know the amount
of these benefits when we begin
to consider such issues as Fed
eral Aid to Education and other
plans which involve Federal
assistance in programs to be
administered by the States.
Briefly, let us look at the lat
est figures available for the
State Of Ohio. Between July l.,
1853 and July /, 1854, the Fed
eral taxes collected In the State
of Ohio totalled $4,734,326,0 900.
During the same period, the
Federal government returned
! S167, ,441,776 to the people of
Ohio in the form of grants-in-aid,
Former Prisoners of War
The Foreign Claims Settlement
| Commission has notified me re-
Gently that almost a thousand
former American prisoners of
war in Korea have failed to file
claims for compensation to which
| they are entitled. Under the law,
claims must be filed before
August q, 1855 Payments are at
the rate of $3.50 per day of i'm
| prisonment. In cases of the death
Of a former prisoner, the surviv-
ing widow, husband, children, or
parents may file such claims.
The Red Dove of Peace
Official Washington has been
watching the developments in
the cold war over the past two
weeks with intense interest. For
purposes know best to them
selves, the Russians have been
moving swiftly in their current
peace offensive and there is
evidence that the world wide
Communist apparatus has been
responding to orders from Mos
cow. From Indo-China to the
Danube, the Communist world
appears to have suddenly shifted
away from its recent aggressive
behavior That this shift is only
matter of temporary tactics is
not deluding many people out
| side the iron curtain.
One thing is notable in most
conversations in Washington to-
day on that question. That is the
independence of Austria to
which the Russians agreed last
weekend. This is the first in
stance in a decade where Rus
sian troops are to be withdrawn
voluntarily and a nation freed
Of Red domination. What moves
the Austrian Reds will make
within the country in the future
remains big question. The Mos
| cow timetable may include an
attempt to take over the coun-
try as was the case in Czechos-
lovakia, but Austrian independ-
ence is a reality for the moment.
Several years ago, President
Eisenhower stated that the
United States awaited an illus
| tration of good faith from Mos
cow by deeds not words. At that
| firann he cid Aa1ctrinnn trdnrnn1,d