The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1961-04-06
This Week
In Congress
BY Charles McC. Matthias, Jr.
Sixth District-Maryland

Sixth Dstrict-Maryland
On March 20 the House passed
he Area Redevelopment Act o
D61. This is measure, already
pproved by the Senate, which viii
rovide 1894 million dollars in Fed
raj funds for loans and grant:
D assist an economic upturn il
reas where there has been a sub
tantial and continued labor sur
Illus. l voted for this bill
Western Maryland is part of the
Appalachian region of this country
hat has suffered the experience
If economic difficulties. In my dis
riot there are two cities, HagerS.
own and Cumberland, that arc
listed as areas of substantial and
persistent unemployment. Through.
put this region we need the co.
operation of every level of gov
eminent and the participation OF
every segment of the community
70 solve this problem. l am hope
iul that the administration of the
legislation enacted will be through
leadership of the highest character
and will stimulate free enterprise
throughout the 9th district and all
Of the Appalachian region.
On the assumption that area re-
development assistance will be SC
administered in areas demon
strated to need such assistance
and will be employed to reinforce,
and not to subvert, this free en-
.erprise system, l supported the
dill approved by the House Com
nittee on Banking and Currency.
Without reviewing the whole
dill, l note two significant provi-
'ions which are absent from alter
native proposals. These are public
facility grants and rural develop
nent funds.
AS a former city attorney and
State legislator, l have had per-
sonal experience in working to at
.ract new industry to my home
community. One of the major diff
,iculties usually encountered in Sc
curing new industrial plant is
he inadequacy or absence OF
public facilities. 1t is at times pos
iible to provide the bare neces-
titles by makeshift arrangements,
)ut these are not satisfactory to
prospective industrial settlers nor
o local authorities. l feel, there
ore, that the inclusion of public
ABILITIES grants is a valuable fea-
ure of this bill.
The Committee bill also cOmpre-
ends rural redevelopment areas.
he 9Th Congressional District Of
Maryland not only includes Cum
erland and Hagerstown, which
re designated as areas of sub
.antial and persistent unemploy-
tent, but also areas which should
Ialify for rural development as
stance. For example, farm famil-
S with net money income from all
urces of under 81 900 or gross
rm products sales under $4,000
clearly low-income families.
In my opinion it would be heart
IS to provide assistance to ur-
n communities without consider
the plight of these rural people
t only are they equally deserv-
I, but in many cases need more
p in confronting unique prob
Is imposed upon them by eco
mic conditions over which they
e no control.
believe that these areas of
stern Maryland are typical of
ny others throughout the Ma
n. While l agree with critics of
S bill that it may not accom-
sh all the miracles that are
omised by its advocates-yet I
lst ask myself, my colleagues in
Congress and the Nation: Car
deny to areas of economic dis
ISIS and actual human suffering
d hardship this opportunity to
lip themselves?
An opportunity is all that is pro-
led by this bill 1t is up to the
ople of America to use the tools
at we can provide through this
Il. If they will once again prove
at the sources of our prosperity
the cities, towns and farms
mere they work, this bill will be
success; if they do not, it will