The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1958-05-08
On GlaAhington
with Rep. John Henderson

Some functions Of govern
ment are the responsibility Of
the State; others are the respon-
sibility of the Federal govern
ment. The line which divides the
two is often vague and our his
tory has demonstrated that the
line varies from year to year.
There are many Of US who dis
agree upon the proper division
between State responsibility and
Federal responsibility. 1t was
readily apparent as the parade
of Governors testified before the
Banking and Currency Commit
tee last week that the governors,
themselves, have about 40 differ
ent PHILOSOPHERS = some who
object to the Federal govern
ment impressing its philosophy
and control over what it regards
as particularly local liberties, yet
are requesting new and costly
programs of Federal assistance
Others have demonstrated that,
regardless of whether they be-
lieve proposed function is of
State or Federal nature, they are
locally hesitating to occupy the
field because of the belief that
Uncle Sam will step in. One of
the Governors, on specific ques-
tioning from me, admitted that,
if the Federal government did
not take certain positive action,
he would be inclined to call a
special session of his State Legis-
lature to fill the need that ex-
listed. l have found on occasion
that many local projects have
been postponed for years because
of the possibility that funds may
be available from Federal
sources to eventually pay the
bill. It would appear that by
holding out a false hope that
Uncle Sam will someday do the
| job, a disService is being rend-
cred to local communities who
could have long ago commenced,
and paid for, a much needed
project.
Visitors in Washington
Not all of the shining, whole
| some faces tilted upward toward
the Capitol dome, or raised to
see the topmost point of the
Washington Monument, are COM
plete strangers. Several of the
| clusters of eager students are
| graduating classes from high
| schools in the 18th District. 1t
has become an accepted part Of
Ohio's high school education that
some of the final days be spent
at the nations capital, and ]
commend the practice, for l be-
lieve that it underlines and en-
phasizes to those who are about
| to undertake the duties of citi-
zens that the historic stones and
beautiful shrines eXemplify q
truly glorious republican pro-
| cess.
| Paradox
Gilbert and Sullivan composed
a song about a paradox for the
| operetta The Pirates of Pen
zance." Part of the song goes,
We've quips and quibbles heard
in flocks, But none to beat this
| paradox" While these lines
might have some sober applica-
ton to the current economic
recession, | trust that no one will
write a song about the present
| paradox of continually rising
| prices, in a period of recession.
| Every day or two I receive
letter from someone in Ohio
asking me why the paradox
exists. There are probably as
many explanations as there are
experts, or those who pretend to
be experts. Most of them viii
agree upon one part of the diff
ficulty; that we have not yet
entered fully into the transition
from the sellers market, which
has dominated our economy fol
the past Is or 20 years, to the
buyers market.
| For years, we were inclined
to purchase what we needed a
the price that was demanded
realizing that, were we to object
to the price, the seller could fine
market elsewhere. The time Of
transition is here and purchasers
have demonstrated their stub
bornness in the purchase of sew,
eral major categories, including
automobiles. At the present time
there are greater percentage
of new cars being driven thar
at any other time in the Nation:
automotive history. AS a result
many are content to drive theil
present car for another year, ol
even longer, since it will provide
them with satisfactory transpor
tation if the alternative is a Cal
at too great a price. I intend t
discuss this question in more
detail next week.