House of Representatives
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
8660 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE JULY 23 Mr. President, much of the confusion and third, deciding what type of regula himself be divested of all functions re at the present time as to the shortages tion will meet the shortage in a partic lated to the Nation's preparedness pro of gas experienced in many parts of the Ular community with a minimum of in gram. country has been brought about by the convenience to business, labor, and the We must never forget, Mr. President, Department which now seeks to control residents of that community. All these that State and local governments are the supply. Throughout the Central problems are essentially local in char not outmoded. Being closer to the peo West, natural gas has been used for acter. They fall within the province ple, they afford a much more intimate many years in the heating of homes, and of State regulation. The States have knowledge of, and participation in, rep it is almost essential both to our industry demonstrated their ability in this field. resentati.ve government than would be and to the civilian population. It can hardly be contended that this the case if all power were centered in The second point to bear in mind is proposed regulation by the Interior De- . Washington. For the same reason, they that shortages of natural gas either exist partment would be economical. The can act m9re quickly and more efficiently or are imminent in some localities. To Federal regulation would duplicate that in response to local needs. Finally, our the best of my knowledge, no one denies now being exercised by the States. As State and local governments serve as that the present emergency will result in in all cases of dual and overlapping reg workshops for political experimentation. shortages of natural gas which require ulation, confticts between Federal and They are not, of course, infallible-and governmental action. The plan of the State orders would result in wasted ef Washing~on is far from it. However, Interior Department to assume control fort and extensive litigation. Moreover, the mistakes of one State or group of over the use of natural gas presents a the Department of the Interior has had States can be _avoided by the others. simple, clear-cut issue. Who is better no experience in the field of regulation When the Federal Government takes ac qualified to determine the existence of a which it intends now to invade. The tion which is unwise, and it is doing so shortage in the supply of natural gas action proposed by the Department constantly, errors are compounded on Secretary Chapman or the State public. serves only one purpose. It will permit a national basis. Apart from any con utility commissions? Who is better new Federal jobs to be created a~d to siderations of legal power, the Federal qualified to determine when proh~bitions be filled, most likely, on the basis of Governµient should refrain from en on the use of natural gas should be ter political and partisan considerations. gaging in any activity which can be minated? ·can regulation of the use of · The distributors of natural gas should more effectively performed at a lower natural gas be handled more economi not be subjected to the burden of com level of government. cally by Secretary Chapman or by State plying with unnecessary and conflicting I am very proud, Mr. President, that regulatory agencies? regulations. Nevertheless, gas com no one has ever accused me of being the The answers to these questions are ob panies are not the only interested parties type of "political dreamer" referred to vious to all those who are even slightly in this controversy. If regulations pro by Chief Justice John Mai:shall in Mc acquainted with the work of the public mulgated in Washington are too drastic, Culloch against Maryland. utility commissions of the several States. thousands of employees in the gas ap ADJOURNMENT The initial announcement of the Petro pliance industry, in industries depend leum Administration for Defense was ent on natural gas, and in the home · Mr. MURRAY. I move that the Sen• generally interpreted to mean that the building industry will suffer unemploy ate adjourn until 12 o'clock noon to sale of gas for industrial use and for ment which is inevitable as the result morrow. home heating would be controlled in the of such regulation. If the regulations The motion was agreed to; and <at whole area east of the Mississippi River. of the Petroleum Administration for De 3 o'clock and 7 minutes p, m.) the Sen In response to the storm of protest which fense are not tight enough, users of ate adjourned until tomorrow, Tuesday, greeted this announcement, Secretary natural gas, industrial and domestic, July 24, 1951, at 12 o'clock meridian. Chapman said in a press release of July will suffer great hardship, particularly 10, 1951: during the winter period. NOMINATION In consultation with industry, PAD is Last Friday the House of Representa currently assessing the whole situation with tives approved an amendment to the Executive nornination received by the a view to drafting a restriction that will ap Defense Production Act of 1950 offered Senate July 23 (legislative day of June ply only to those areas in which it appears by Representative Bow, of Ohio. The 27). 1951: that gas shortages in varying degrees of Bow amendment would prevent the Fed IN THE ARMY severity may occur. eral Government from placing any re Brig, Gen. Claude Henry Chorpenlng, strictions on natural-gas use in states 012088, Army of the United States (colonel, Regulations designed to meet natural U. S. Army), for appointment as Assist gas shortages cannot be applied equitably where the regulatory body of the State ant to the Chief of Engineers, United in areas defined by Secretary Chapman. is exercising its authority over supply. States Army, and as brigadier general in the They cannot be administered fairly or I hope the Senate conferees on the Regular Army of the United States, under efficiently on an area or regional basis, bill to amend the Defense Production the provisions of section 11, National De or even on a State-wide basis. In my Act will accept the Bow amendment. In fense Act, as amended, and section 513 of home State of Ohio, for example, Toledo my judgment, the Senate would have the Officer Personnel Act of 1947. may experience a shortage of natural approved a comparable amendment had • gas at a time when the supply in Cin it been aware of Secretary Chapman's WITHDRAWAL cinnati and Cleveland is ample to satisfy proposed regulation at the time when all demands for service. The Ohio S. 1397 was being debated. A similar Executive nomination withdrawn from Public Utilities Commission has been · encroachment on State authority was the Senate July 23 (legislative day of limiting the use of natural gas· in some contemplated in a provision of the ad June 27), 1951: areas of my State ever since the close of . ministration bill designed to give the POSTMASTER World War II. The regulatory com OPS authority to intervene in public Mrs. Rufina W. Gully, Gholson, Miss. missions of other States are either al utility . rate cases all over the United ready limiting the use of natural gas, or States. The amendment proposed by have ample powers to combat impend the administration was defeated in the ing shortages. The argument that Sec- Banking and Currency Committee. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES _retary Chapman, sitting here in Wash Adoption of the Bow amendment ington or campaigning in the West, would serve as a warning to Secretary MONDAY, JULY 23, 1951 is better qualified than the State public Chapman that the Congress, at least, utilities commissions to limit the use of still respects the rights of the States. The House met at 12 o'clock noon. natural gas is utterly fantastic. Some If Secretary Chapman chooses to ignore Dr. Bob Jones, Sr., founder of Bob of the problems involved are, first, de this warning, Congress. is not ,powerless. Jones University, Greenville, S. C., of termining which cities in a particular It can adopt what is in my judgment an fered the following prayer: State have shortages which require lim eminently sound principle, namely, that Almighty God, we thank Thee that itation orders; second, determining any Federal official who refuses to allow Thou "hast made of one blood all nations when restrictions on the use of natural State governments to play their legiti of men for to dwell on the face of the gas should be released or terminated; mate role in the defense effort should earth"; but h~lp us not to forget that 1951 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 8861 Thou "hast determined the times before The SPEAKER. Is there objection to Born in Merrimack, N: H., in 1896, and appointed and the bounds of their habi the request of the gentleman from later a resident of Massachusetts, Ad tation." Georgia? miral Sherman graduated from the We thank Thee that we live in a coun There was no objection. Naval Academy in 1917, second in his try where we may be Jews or Gentiles, Mr. VINSON. Mr. Speaker, yester class. During World War I he served Catholics or Protestants, Christians or day, Admiral Forrest P. Sherman met his on board the U. S. S. Nashville in the infidels, and no one has any governmen death suddenly in line of duty. At the Mediterranean. Following that war he tal right to persecute us for what we be time, he was on an important mission served at sea until 1922 when, after re lieve; but we thank Thee that we do have overseas designed to further the defense ceiving flight training, he was designated the constitutionul right to convert each of the United States, his final task in a naval aviator, a designation he re other to our way of thinking as long as a life devoted to the service of his coun tained until his death.