The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1958-04-03
THIS WEEK
] IN =
WASHINGTON
Search For The Truth

Search For The Truth
AS the volume of complex leg
islation continues to choke the
legislative pipeline, perhaps the
most difficult task that faces a
member of Congress in analyzing
each issue is that of discovering
the truth. Debate can continue
almost endlessly, with esteemed
and respected members of Con-
gress taking positions diametric-
ally opposed to each other.
Sherlock Holmes once sug-
gested, when you have eliminat-
ed the impossible, whatever re-
mains, however improbable, must
be the truth" l wish it were that
simple, or as simple as children
find it on the playground to
establish the truth by the loudest
voice. Even this device is often
attempted in Congress. Repetition
of falsehoods until they have
established themselves as valid
propositions in the minds of the
listeners is another unsatisfactory
device of arriving at the truth.
Citation Of authority, especially
questionable authority, returns
us to the kindergarten play
ground, where the greatest auth
ority for truth is my father
says"
1t has been suggested that the
ity, and yet have so many times
seen a majority in Congress dis
regard the truth and act upon
impulse, or be motivated by
hysteria Ibsen warned "The most
dangerous enemy to truth and
freedom amongst us is the COM
pact majority"
Last week we witnessed both
the compact majority and the
compact minority refusing to
yield on the farm resolution. This
matter was presented as a pack
age proposition, either to be voted
up or voted down, as a whole,
with no opportunity to eliminate
the bad and no opportunity TO
meet the full farm picture. The
compact majority prevented that
and I believe the farmers and
consumers of the Nation will be
the losers
what is the truth about for
eign aid?", one writer asked me
in his letter last week. Is it true
that our foreign aid gives en-
ployment to millions? Is it true
that foreign aid is a useless give
away when our own people are
in need? II millions of American
workman are dependent upon
employment occasioned by for
eign aid spending, should it be
continued even though we are
wasting .Ameica's wealth by send
ing it abroad for purposes that
will not strengthen Americas
hand in international politics?
What is the truth about tax
cut in a time when we are en-
barking upon a greater spending
spree, when our debt grows
greater, and government grows
bigger? What will a tax cut do
to bring bread to the family of
a man who hasn't worked for
months?", someone asked. What
will a tax cut do to our children
who will become taxpayers ten
or twenty years hence?
What is the truth about the
need for a pay raise for the mill
tary? Who needs it, the Generals
or the Privates, and how much?
What is the truth about our mis-
sile and satellite programs?
Should we spend more money
in those areas or have we already
allocated more than can be wisely
put TO use?
The search for the truth is the
responsibility of each member of
Congress, and yet, each member
finds the truth to be a little bit
different
We might, in desperation, test
our truth with turnips and with
taxes, as Dickens suggests when
he says, at was as true as
turnips is. 1t was as true I.
as taxes is. AnG nothing's truer
than them
Housing
What is the truth about the
housing legislation which Con-
gress has just passed and sent to
the White House? That could
never be learned from what was
said and done on the floor of the
House or in the Banking & Cur
rency Committee which should
have studied the bill. The Senate
initiated the legislation and pass
ed it by a unanimous vote after
the Vice President cast his vote
to break tie on an amendment.
Then began the skid greasing.
Normally, all legislation is re-
ferred to a committee for study,
especially if it involves several
million dollars. But the leader
ship by-passed the committee and
by preemptory procedure brought
the bill to the floor of the House
under suspension of the Rules
and passed it by voice vote with
out debate, without more than
reading the title. Congress and
the Nation will be weeks finding
out the details of this legislation
which sets aside a billion and
half dollars for federal purchase
of COVE nm en- t mortgages
(FNMA). provides for $3.50 mil
lion for direct loans to veterans,
reduces down payment on FHA
loans, and permits the interest
rate on G.I. loans to be increased
to 4s4 %.
Perhaps nothing is in that bill
that the House would not have
liz