davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1962-04-18
Sees Federal Role
Limited in Bargaining

A. I think the Steel-I have
stated I think in my statement
what I believe to be the gen.
eral policy of this administra-
ton with regard to prices and
wages.
Everyone is quite aware Of
what the powers are of the
Government, and their limita-
tion of those powers. and what
the presumptions are that COL
lective bargaining will be free
and that competitive system,
competition within industry
will maintain prices at a rea-
sonable level.
I have attempted to state the
public interest involved in all
of these negotiations, and we
will have to try to continue as
we have in the past. to bring
these matters before labor and
management in an attempt to
provide the kind of agreement
which will maintain price
stability.
We are going to attempt to
do that. But l have not Sug-
gested that is our power, or
that we have powers to set,
or that those powers would be
desirable, to set prices or to
set wages.
We can attempt, it seems to
me. to bring before the parties
in the most effective way pos
sible, the public interest that
is involved, and must be in
volved. particularly in these
basic industries, when competi-
ton and our balance of pay
ments are all involved. and
our national security and our
military force abroad.
This interrelationship makes
the public interest mandatory
in these matters, and it is our
responsibility to present it to
those involved. That is what
we tried to do in the steel case.
@. Mr.. President, in that
connection. the next major
rounds of negotiations appear
to be with the aerospace.
missile and aircraft industry,
with the two unions, the
machiniStS and auto workers.
already asserting that they
want wage increases consider
ably above the formula laid
down by the Council of Eco
nomic Advisers, and they point
out that the Government is
really a major party to these
Evening star., 1962-04-18

negotiations since they have
the contracts. Would you
assert the public interest in
these negotiations?
A. Public interest is very
definitely involved. out in as
serting the public interest we
have always recognized the
proper limitations of that-of
the power of the Government
to enforce any collective bar
gaining agreement.
We do not have that power.
That power has not been given
to us. But we will certainly
attempt to describe to the
people involved, particularly in
a program so important to the
national security. We will at
tempt to describe the public
interest, which. after all. is
their intestS as we'll as that of
the Nation. Whether these par
ties will be responsive, as the
steel union was. and as. an
Friday, the steel companies
were. of course, is a matter
that
Evening star., 1962-04-18

We are attempting to bring
forth. We hope they will.
@. Mr.. President. I have
asked the first question specif-
ically because the Wall Street
Journal and some other spokes-
men of business have accused
you directly OF having set the
price of steel.
A. Well, l am aware of the
accusations. What we attemp-
ted to do was project before the
steel companies the public in
tereSt, and it was a combination
of the public interest placed
upon the table in front OF
them, and competition which
think brought the price down
BY the fact that several COM
panieS refused to increase
prices, and therefore compe-
tition worked its will. We want
to be sure that competition is
an active force in our economy.
But I would not accept the
view of the Wall Street Journal
in regard to my feeling or a
description of my actions or
of the public interest.
@. Mr.. Chairman, Mr.. Miller
and other Republican leaders
have focused a great deal of
criticism on the nocturnal &C
tivities of the FBI. Could you
relate ANYTHING on that?
Evening star., 1962-04-18

it was made very clear the pur-
pose Of our attempting to per-
suade the steel union not to
accept an inflationary settle
ment. And no statement was
made during any of those con-
versations that a price increase
would Immediately follow the
wage accord.
So that while no request was
made for a commitment. on the
other hand no statement was
made to indicate to US that if
the union co-operated and ac-
cepted a very low increase, on
the other hand there would
still be an automatic price in
0rpaSp
Evening star., 1962-04-18

retary of the Army who has
the difficult task of maintain
ing proper discipline, and he
agreed with me that such Of
fenses are more misguided than
criminal in intent.
Therefore, I have asked the
Army to cancel the trial of Pfc.
Larry D. Chidester at Fort
Lewis, Wash, and in the same
spirit of the Easter week, I
have directed the Army to re-
NIT the balance of the sentence
of Pfc. Bernie G. Owen at Fort
Polk, La.
Next, we are releasing today
the report submitted by the
Presidential Commission on
Campaign Costs.
I want to express my pro-
found gratitude to this group
made up of very experienced
men representing those who
have been active as students
and as participants in the polit-
ical profession, fund-raiserS in
both parties, who have come
forward with a unanimous re-
port which is now being exam
ined by the administrator, and
will be the basis of legislative
recommendations sent to the
Congress, which I think can
provide a significant advance
ment of the public interest in
this very vital field.
Lastly, I am happy to an
nounce that Mrs. Eisenhower
has agreed to serve as honorary
co-chairman, with Mrs. Ken
nedy, of the National Cultural
Center.
The National Cultural Center
began in the administration of
President Eisenhower, and is
the most significant cultural
undertaking in the history OF
Washington and is of enormous
Importance to the cultural life
of our nation as a whole.
l am gratified that Mrs.
Eisenhower will be part of this
undertaking which we hope to
bring to success in the coming
months.
Evening star., 1962-04-18
Discusses Views
On Woge-Price Issue

@. Mr.. President. two ques-
tions in the wake of last week 5
developments. First, assuming
that a price increase in steel
would eventually be necessary
and justified. do you have any
thoughts as to how this price
increase should be reached?
And secondly, if some major
labor union made excessive
demands for wage increases,
would you move as sharply
against that union as you did
last week against steel?
A. Well, to take the second
part first, we worked very
closely with the steel union in
an attempt to persuade them
that it was in their interest
and the country's interest to
meet the standards set by the
Council of Economic Advisers,
and it was done. That is why
this matter came into particu-
larly sharp focus last week.
Now, as far as the first part,
I think that my original state
ment discussed our general
views on it. This is a free
economy. These matters arc
reached by the process of COM
petition and collective bar
gaining.
What we are attempting to
do is to try to have them
consider the public interest
which, after all, is their i'll
terest, the problems involving
price stability, national secur-
ity, and all the rest. They are
very much interrelated.
This is particularly true in
the basic industries. But the
our power is that-if the ir-
dustry is competitive, prices are
reached through the normal
process of competition, and col
lective bargaining agreements
are reached in a normal way.
But we would like both labor
and management to be very
conscious Of the public stake
at this time, and that is what
Evening star., 1962-04-18
Hurbors No III Will
Toward Big Steel

Secondly, believe it will be
appropriate to say a few words
to follow up last weeks events
concerning steel prices.
First, let me make it clear
that this administration har-
bors no i'll will against any
individual, any industry. cor
poration or segment Of the
American economy. Our goals
of economic growth and price
stability are dependent upon
the success of both business
and labor, and there can be no
room on either side in this
country at this time for any
feelings of hostility or of
vindictiveness.
When a mistake has been re-
tracted and the public interest
preserved, nothing is to be
gained from further public
recriminations.
Secondly, while our chief
corncern last week was to pre-
vent an inflationary spiral, We
were not then and are not un-
mindful of the steel induStry's
need for profit. modernlZation
and investment capital. I be-
lieve, in fact, that this admin
iStration, and the leaders of
steel and other American in
dustries, are in basic agreement
on far more objectives than
we are in disagreement.
We agree on the necessity of
increased investment, in mod
ern plants and equipment.
We agree on the necessity of
improving our industry's ability
to compete with the product of
other nations.
We agree on the necessity of
achieving an economic recovery
and growth that will make the
fullest possible use of ideal
capacity.
We agree on the necessity of
preventing an inflationary
spiral that will lead to HARM
full restrictions on credit and
consumption, and we agree on
the necessity of preserving the
Nations confidence in free,
private, collective bargaining,
and price decisions, holding the
role of Government to the
minimum level to protect the
public interest.
Evening star., 1962-04-18
Data for Grand Jury
Called Goal of FBI

A. No. they were attempting
reporters have called up g
good many people in the middle
of the night themselves, and al,
We were attempting to do was
to find out so that we could
decide about the grand jury
meeting. whether the reports in
regard to the quotations which
said one thing, and then there
was a statement that they were
miSquoted. and then the next
day there was a Qualification,
and we wanted to get the facts
on this.
Now, both reporters were CO.
operative and I didn't realize
they would be awakened at the
time they were, and the deci-
sion was made early in the
evening. and suppose making
the connection, the F'BI followed
ahead.
AS say, all of the reporters
except those for the Wall Street
Journal were most cooperative.
But the intention was not to
disturb the reporters, and the
intention was to get the infor-
nation as quickly as possible so
we could determine what action
we would take before the grand
jury.
AS always, the FBI carried
out its responsibilities imme-
diately.
@. Mr.. President, would you
care to comment on develop
mentS in New Orleans where
the Archbishop excommuni-
Gated three people for hindering
school integration?
A. The action of the arch
bishop related to private acts
and private individuals, and did
not involve public acts or pub
lie policy. so that carrying out
the spirit of the Constitution
provides a separation between
church and state and I think
it would be inappropriate for
me to comment on it.
@. Mr., President. last week
you stated that the admins
tration had not asked for as
surances from the steel indus
try that prices would be kept
where they were when the con-
tracts were ratified. wonder
if you can tell us whether you
received such assurances, either
directly or indirectly. and I am
prompted to ask because the
day the contracts were ratified
tyou stated that the settlement
was non-inflationary.
Evening star., 1962-04-18

prese easily -circumvented
legal limits on contributions by
individuals and spending by
political committees have failed
to bolster public confidence in
the way campaigns are fl
nanced."
1t recommended they be
abolished in favor of rigorous
reporting requirements cover
ing all donors of more than
$4,000 a year and all candidates
and committees that receive or
spend more than $4,000 a year
in pursuit of nomination or
election to the presidency.
Full and effective disclosure
is the best way to control ex-
ceSsive contributions and
unlimited expenditures" the
commission said. Publicity has
a cleansing and policing power
far more powerful than that
of limitations.
Bill Now in Congress
Its recommendations in this
area go beyond those in the
clean elections" bill passed by
the Senate last year and now
awaiting consideration in the
House Elections Subcommittee.
That measure increases. but
does not abolish, campaign
spending limits and fails to
require financial reports from
intra State political groups.
Nor does it cover the financing
of campaigns for nomination
to Federal office in convention,
caucus or primary.
A provision Cor a $40 tax
credit for small contributors.
similar TO that recommended
by the commission, was stricken
from the bill on the Senate
floor.
A number of bills have been
introduced in Congress for di-
rect Federal contributions to
presidential campaigns. The
commission found fault with
past proposals Of this kind
saying they would lessen VOL
untary citizen participation.
give too much power to ma
tional political committees and
fail to insure the money is used
for the intended purposes.
If the time comes when di-
rect subsidies are needed. it
suggested they be on a match
ing basis for small contribu-
tlonS only-with. for example.
every political gift of under $40
being matched by the Treasury
up to a total of perhaps S5 mil
lion for each party.
Evening star., 1962-04-18
No Assurances
Given on Steel

A. That is correct. I think
that we responded to this last
week, when I stated that 1 did
not ask, for the reasons which
I gave, the steel companies to
give a commitment that they
would not increase prices, but
I stated at the time that it was
very clear that our whole ef-
fort was to secure a non-ln-
flationary settlement.
@. My question. Mr.. Presi-
dent. was directed as to
whether such assurances were
given to you?
A. said last week they were
not asked and they were not
given. if you read the last
week interview. I said they
were not asked and they were
not given.
@. And not given, is that
right?
A. That is correct. And on
the other hand, during the
conversations which were held,
Evening star., 1962-04-18
Governors Meeting
On Shore Problem

A. There is meeting, as you
know, of some of the Governors
who are involved. 1t has either
been in the last few hours or is
today, and they are meeting
with some of our Government
officials. This is one of the
matters being considered by the
Governors and by the Federal
Government.
@. Mr.. President, Mr.. Rookie
feller told me last night that
he thought it was terrible that
service wives. of which his
daughter, Mary, is one, cannot
join their service husbands
abroad.
So now we have not only gold
and lonely hearts, but also poll
tics injected into this situation.
I am wondering now that steel
prices are not going up, if the
ban on service couples being
together might be lifted. 1t has
been more than seven months.
A. Yes, I understand. 1 think
I attempted in the last press
conference to respond to the
question. I stated we have a
very serious problem involved
in gold. AS said last time, we
are asking the Secretary of De-
fense to reduce our overseas
expenditures by a billion dol
lars, and this responsibility falls
upon all of us.
We do not desire-obviously,
it is against our national social
interest to separate these fam
lilies and we have done ito
the extent that we have done
it only because of a very
serious crisis.
Now that criSis-at least that
situation in regard to gold con-
tinueS and Secretary McNa-
mara is continuing to analyze
the best way to provide for the
saving of a billion dollars.
@. Yes, I realize that, and
I know that the gold situation
is very serious. I am wonder
ing if you directed Secretary
Dillon to look into the serious
situation of American COM
panieS setting up plants abroad
so often to escape American
tax dollars or to take advantage
of the cheap labor abroad.
A. AS you know. in the bill
which passed the House of
Representatives. there is a sec
ton which deals with the prob
lem of companies established
abroad in order to evade taxes,
and that is a matter now before
the Senate. And it is an at
tempt to discourage that drain
on the dollars and gold by tax
policies. So we are attempting
to meet it in a whole variety of
ways.
Evening star., 1962-04-18
u. S. Reluctant to See
Spread of Alarms

A. Well, I think that the
policy of the United States, of
course, continues to be that of
being very reluctant to see the
proliferation of nuclear weap-
ons. We are attempting to in
our disarment offers that we
made. we are attempting, and
in my speech last September
before the United Nations !
said that I thought it would be
regrettable if nuclear weapons
proliferated, or spread so that
our policy continues on that
basis, and will continue unless
we feel security requirements
suggest a change.
@. Mr.. President, there has
been considerable speculation
that the victory you have won
in the steel situation will be
of great assistance for the
passage of your legislative pro-
gram in Congress. Would you
care to comment on that, sir?
A. Well, l hope it is of assist
ance in passing the tax credit,
which is intended to provide,
combined with price stability,
the means for our industry to
modernize itself, and, in fact, to
encourage it. I hope-it is my
opinion that if the rise in prices
were permitted to stand, it
would be extremely difficult
to secure the passage of this
legislation.
I think the line has been
held which provides a much
better atmosphere, and I think
if this legislation is passed, it
will materially help the steel
companies and industry in gen.
eral, and I am very strongly
in support of it.
AS far as the rest of the
program, I think that that part
of the program which is in
volved with the economy will
be helped by the fact that we
have been able to maintain at
this time a stable price level.
@. Mr.. President. you said
several weeks ago that you
would take another look to see
if you should request a supple
mental appropriation this year
to provide the Federal Flood
Evening star., 1962-04-18
ELECTIONS
ELECTIONS
New Laws Proposed
To Rule Campaigns

Continued From Page Al
costs added $360,OOO to the
Democratic Party debt after
the last election.
4. Waiver of the equal time
rule in the 1864 campaign. so
the radio and television net
works can again make free
time available for debates by
the two presidential candidates
| S. Vigorous enforcement OF
the ban on partisan activity by
unions and corporations and
other sections of the Corrupt
Practices Act.
6. A White House Conference
on Campaign Finance Ito focus
attention on the responsibility
of all citizens to participate in
the support of our political sys-
tenn by contributing to the
party of their choice"
80 Costs Over S165 Million
The commission estimated
costs of the 1860 election ran
between $165 million and sits
million, with almost $40 million
million spent on the national
campaign alone. The parties
came out of it about $4.6 mil
lion in the red. with the VIC
torious Democrats owing S3.s
million of that debt.
The best way to finance the
parties more adequately and to
end the suspicion that accom-
panies large contributions, the
report said, is to encourage
many more small and medium
sized gifts.
To do this, it recommended
the Federal Government give
individuals a choice of a so
per cent tax credit on political
contributions up to $40 or a
deduction on campaign gifts
up to $1,000.
Such donations. the commits
sion suggested. should be linn
tied to the national and State
committees of the major par
ties and the scheme should be
tried for six or eight years be-
fore being made permanent.
In a similar vein. it suggested
that individuals and organiza-
tions be allowed to deduct the
entire cost of bipartisan polit-
ical activities, such as regis
tration drives they sponsor or
contribute to.
Official encouragement and
Endorsement of such bipartisan
activities" the commission said,
would go far to create a bet
ter climate and understanding
of the propriety and impor-
tance of adequately fl
nanced political parties and
campaigns"
The commission said the
Evening star., 1962-04-18
Outlines Proposals
To Aid Steel Industry

A. Mr.. President, you agree
that is is important for the
steel companies to modernize
their plants. Does the Govern
ment have any ides about help
ing steel to Go this, that is,
aside from the 8 per cent tax
credit?
A. And also the rewriting of
Schedule F, the depreciation
allowances and already a study
has been on for some weeks.
We have already done that in
the textile industry and We are
now analyzing steel and certain
other basic industries in order
to improve their depreciation
position.
Secondly, I do want to say
that in regard to profits. that
the last quarter and. as said
the first quarter, were the
highest profits in the history
of the United States and, there
fore, I feel that while some par
ticular companies and some
industries may have specia'
problems. that the overall,
profit situation is entirely
satisfactory.
@. Mr.. President, Mr.. Tsarap-
kin, Soviet delegate to the dis.
armament conference in Ge.
neva, told representatives oi
the Women's Strike for Peace
that Russia would negotiate g
nuclear test ban treaty with
the United States If the United
States would just close dowr
one OF its missile bases overseas
as a gesture of good faith.
When the women reported tc
the Ambassador Godber he sug-
gested they transmit the pro-
poSal to you.
(Ao I never heard that pro-
posal by the Soviet Union. In
other words, they would agree
well. I don't think you can
read the letter of the Chairman
the Prime Minister, and get
that impression.
We have never heard that
they would agree to an effective
test ban, an inspection system
If we would close down one base
and my judgment is that there
is no evidence for believing they
would.
CQ0 Well, this they told Il
the private people. yes.
Evening star., 1962-04-18

FOLLOWING is the tert of
President Kennedy's press
conference today:
The President: I have sew
eral announcements to make
The United States has today
tabled at Geneva an outline of
basic provisions of a treaty on
general and complete disarma-
ment in a peaceful world.
1t provides a blueprint of
our position on general and
complete disarmament, as well
as Celebrations on the nature,
sequence and timing of Spe-
cific disarmament measures.
This outline of a treaty rep
resents the most comprehensive
and specific series of proposals
the United States or any other
country has ever made on dis
armament. In addition to
stating the objectives and prin-
cipleS which should govern
agreements for disarmament,
the document calls for the
grouping of individual meas
ures in three balanced and
Safeguarded stages.
We are hopeful, through the
give and take of the conference
table. this plan will have a con-
structive influence upon the
negotiations now in progress
I want to stress that with this
plan the United States is max
ing a major effort to achieve a
breakthrough on disarmament
negotiations.
We believe that the nations
represented at Geneva have a
heavy responsibility to lay the
foundations for a genuinely
secure and peaceful world
starting through reduction in
arms.