The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1958-07-10

will not stand on its own two |
feet, Or when it appears that it
would have little chance to wea-
ther the Congressional test,
there are a number of ways that
its proponents can obtain pas
sage. Since the beginning of Con-
eressional history, the idea Of
an unpopular rider on
a piece of popular or necessary
has become common
practice. Congress was shown a
good example of such an effort
last week Wnen the House Of
Representatives was asked to
consider the Omnibus Farm Bill.
Certain legislation, such as the
extension of the school milk pro-
gram and the extension of Public
Law 480 to continue the bar
tering of our surplus agricultural
products for strategic minerals
and metals, was crowded into
this grab-bag farm bill since it
was due to expire on June 80.
The wool program was also to
be considered for renewal,
although authority for it does
not expire until next year. These
relatively noncontroversial pro-
grams were combined with
great unlber of proposals bene-
fitting special interests or specific
geographic areas. The entire leg
islative goulash was put into the
same pot and offered to the
House on a take it or leave it
basis.
For once, the House demon
Strated its diStaste for this kind
of bill and refused to accept
the bad with the good. The result
was the rejection of the omnibus
bill. This week, the House is in
the orderly process of extending
those laws that need to be ex-
tended. 1t will also give calmer
and more reflective consideration
to those untried and possibly
unsound programs in the omnl-
bus bill.
Road To Uniformity
State and local interests are
oftentimes disregarded when an
issue of national Importance
arises. When this occurs, the
obvious solution is to enact laws
sweeping away local controls.
Since the advent Of automotive
travel, the states have regulated
traffic and established standards
of highway safety. The result
has been that a motorist travell-
ing over the country would be
subject to 48 different and some
times diverse sets of traffic reg
ulations. To some observers, the
quick reaction is to enact Fed
eral traffic laws.
This week, the House of Rep
resentatives authorized the states
to negotiate among themselves
and enter into compacts for the
purpose of promoting highway
safety. The result could well be
the establishment of uniform
laws by each of the States. The
new bill encourages action in
driver education and training,
coordination of traffic law
enforcement, and research into
safe highway and automobile
design as well as research into
the human factors affecting traf-
fic safety. Unfortunately, the
need for such coordinated effort
is made all too clear by the
grisly spectacle of highway earn
age, especially on our long holi-
day weekendS.
This action by the House has
had refreshing effect since it
recognizes once again that there
is an alternative to the centra-
lization of police powers. feel
sure citizens and taxpayers wish
there were more reluctance on
the part of the Congress to
enter into fields heretofore oc-
cupied by State and local gov
ernments. Many legislative in
vasions are committed in the
name of efficiency, uniformity,
and emergency.
Space Agency
The shifting winds of Wash
| ington blow hot and cold depend
| ing upon prevailing public opin-
ion. A good example of this
| seasonal change is the shift away
from matters associated with
outer space. In January, with
the Sputnik age so lately upon
us, it appeared that legislation
TO enable the nations smoother
transition into space matters
would dominate this session of
Congress. This has been far from
the case and, at least at this mo-
ment, the country seems to have
settled down for smoother ride
into the shadowy reaches beyond
the earth.
This does not mean that efforts
have been abandoned to meet
the first challenges of the space
age. Thankfully, however, they
are being met with more con-
sidered approach and without
the semi-hysterical and politica,
battle Of press releases" which
we witnessed eight months ago