The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1958-01-30
Defense First


In its first major legislative
action this year, the House took
up the question of additional
funds for defense an action
which probably symbolizes much
of what will be done and said
during the next six months. The
bill would authorize the expendi-
ture of an additional $549.7 mil
lion for work on air warning
systems, new facilities for the
Strategic Air Command, the con-
struction of three inter-contin-
entail ballistic missile bases, and
the authorization of an Advanced
Research Projects Agency within
the Department of Defense.
The debate on this important
measure was brief and the vote
of 374-0 in favor of the bill in
dicated the mood of the Congress
in this first vote testing the sem
timent of defense consciousness
this year.
Study In Contrast
Congressional sights are clear
ly set on events in distant areas
of the earth, knowing that the
relationship of seemingly far
away local events are felt in our
own national policy. Among
these is the election of mayor
on the island of Okinawa whose
PHILOSOPHERS are alleged to be
unfriendly to the United States.
OkinaWa is territory captured
by the United States after dec
AIDES of Japanese rule. 1t is
retained under our control be-
cause of its strategic geographical
Importance in our defense of the
Pacific. However, despite the
apprehension which such a
popular expression may cause, it
is a living proof that our system
permits and fosters free elections
in such territories. Contrast this,
if you will, to the situation which
has existed in Hungary and in all
of the countries now seething
in Communist bondage behind
the Iron Curtain.
What Price Progress!
A great example of efficiency
in government is on my desk and
the desks of all Of the members
of Congress. This takes the form
of two telephones. For years, one
telephone was enough and one
telephone is enough today.
Here is the story of why there
are two. For a generation or so,
it has been possible to pick up
the telephone and ask the oper-
ator to connect you with the of
flee of any other member of
| Congress or with any of the
committees, subcommittee and
other installations at the Capitol.
Someone, and that someone has
! allowed his identity to remain
anonymous, decided that such
archaic methods were inefficient
and that what was needed was
the inauguration of a dial sys,
tenn for Capitol extensions. | am
not complaining about such in,
novations as consulting a direc-
tory although l have not spoken
to anyone who likes the system
Instead, my complaint is directed
to the second telephone.
Feeling that some members o.
Congress might be too cantanker
Gus to accept the change with
good grace, the second phone war
installed to permit the membel
to reach the OPERATOR and tt
place the call by name in the ok
way. Now, we can enjoy the dub
ious satisfaction of efficiency -
a new system which does ava,
with the old operator system ant
replaces it with a modern, auto
matte switchboard, but which a
the same time does not replac
the old system since that metho,
is retained on the new, secon,
phone Thus, efficiency is achiev
ed by one phone replaced wit
two, one line by two, and on
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