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Home , Gerry Mullins, Gordon Gravelle, Jim Clack, Martha Griffiths

802 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD- HOUSE January 20, 1975 PRICES VERSUS WAGE INCREASES Based on those hourly rates and using the sented the other side, I suggest that the coin Parade chart, here's what our hour's pay also has some edges. would buy of each of these items in the Her figures put the situation in perspective three comparable years: so far as the salaried person is concerned, the HON. PAUL FINDLEY Steak-3 lbs. in '54, 4 lbs. in '64 and 4 lbs. one whose hourly pay has steadily increased along with inflation. OF ILLINOIS in '74. Sugar--6 lbs. in '54, 8 lbs. in '64 and 3 lbs. But let's take the guy or gal who retired on IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES in '74. (This one's a baddie). a fixed dollar pension around 1964. Where Friday, Janwary 17, 1975 Bread-19 loaves in '54, 24 loaves in '64 does this leave that person? Hungry, maybe? and 22 loaves in '74. The list of commodities on the chart has gone Mr. FINDLEY. Mr. Speaker, the editor Coffee-2 lbs. in '54, 6 lbs. in '64 and 6 ll':>s. up 80 percent in 10 years. Social Security and of the lllinois State Journal-Register re­ in '74. some other pensions have been increased dur­ cently wrote a perceptive column on the Eggs-5 dozen in '54, 8 dozen in '64 and ing that 10 years, but many have not. And a. relationship between prices and wage in­ 9 dozen in '74. lot of retirees who thought they had it pretty creases over the past 20 years. The text Milk-3 gallons 1n '54, 5 gallons in '64 well made now find out they don''t. of his comment appears below: and 5 gallons in '74. There's something else the letter writer's Lettuce-15 heads in '54, 20 heads in '64 figures show that affects millions of Ameri~ PRICES VERSUS WAGE INCREASES and 18 heads in '74. cans and is the source of much of the con­ (By Ed Armstrong) Butter-4 lbs. in '54, 6 lbs. in '64 and cern and pessimism today. 8 lbs. in '74. Between 1954 and 1964, her husband's One of our readers sent me a letter a few Postage Stamps (for ordinary first class wages went up about 62 percent. Of the 10 days ago about what she considered irre­ letter)-101 in '54, 101 in '64 and 81 1n '74. commodities on the chart, his wages would sponsible or incomplete reporting. It re­ Gasoline-10 gallons in '54, 16 gallons in buy more of nine of them and the same of ferred to a chart in Parade Magazine, the '64 and 15 gallons in '74. one-stamps-in 1964. He could buy far more newspaper supplement produced by Parade Most people want to go back to 1954 prices coffee, eggs, milk and gasoline with an hour's Publications and distributed as part of the but they would not go back to 1954 wages! pay in 1964 than he could buy 10 years Sunday State Journal-Register. So, when reading charts such as this, take earlier. There was not a single item on the I hope she wm forgive me for using her into consideration the rise in wages during list that he'd have to work longer to buy. letter here instead of in our letter column. the same period. Clearly living standards of people as meas­ I'm doing so because it includes some things NAME WITHHELD. ured in consumer goods were going up in that that I believe deserve discussion and the She accompanied it with a signed note say­ decade. making of some points beyond the valid ing, "It always irks me to see only one side of Now, what happened between 1964 and point she makes. the coin," and requesting that her name be 1974? Here is what she wrote: withheld because she thinks it shouldn't be Although her husband's salary went up an­ EDITOR: We know there 1s inflation but it other 60 percent, almost as much as it did isn't as bad as it is printed by a chart in everyone's business how much her husband earns. the previous decade, his salary would buy your Parade Magazine on Jan. 5, which pur­ She's right that just telling how much more of only two commodities of the 10 on ported to reflect the purchasing power of prices have gone up in dollar terms without the ohart. It would buy the same amount of the dollar from 1944 to 1974. three and less of five. What the chart left out was the wage in­ reflecting how many more dollars wage earn­ ers are receiving is telling only half the story. This is the essence of today's infl!litionary creases people have received during the same economy: more salary 1s buying less goods. period. And she's right that most of us would like to have 20-year-ago prices but we wouldn't set­ Thus, a people who were accustomed to a We are just an ordinary famtly. My hus­ tle also for 20-year-ago wages. It's human long period of steadily growing 1affiuence now band works in public utilities. I do not have nature to want more and better than what we find themselves having to fight to stay even. available exact figures for 1944, but based have, and that's what we'd have if we had '54 This is the situation the leaders of our on 1954, 1964 and 1974 figures, his hourly prices and '74 wages. country are trying to turn around, but the wage was $3.13 in 1954, $5.07 1n 1964 and But while the Parade chart showed one question is: Do any of them really know how $8.10 in 1974. side of the coin, and this reader's letter pre- to do it?

HOUSE OF REPRESE.NTATIVES-Monday, January 20, 1975 The House met at 12 o'clock noon. ceedings and announces to the House system, which was most convenient for The Chaplain, Rev. Edward G. Latch, his approval thereof. the Members, of placing the material in D.D., offered the following prayer: Without objection, the Journal stands the various boxes. Let your light so shine before men, approved. If for some reason that is not feasible, that they may see your good works, and There was no objection. then I would urge that at least we be glorify your Father who is in heaven.­ given until 5 o'clock or 6 o'clock in the Matthew 5: 16. afternoon or within 15 minutes after the 0 Lord, our God, as in reverence we PROCEDURE WITH RESPECT TO session ends, whichever is later, to sub­ bow before Thee, breathe upon us Thy SUBMITTING EXTENSIONS FOR mit our insertions. Spirit that with honor bright, hearts RECORD SHOULD BE CHANGED BACK pure, and hands clean we may face the W. R. "BOB" POAGE MOST COM­ duties of this demanding day. Send us (Mr. BINGHAM asked and was given PLETELY QUALIFIED MEMBER OF forth into these hours ready to do the permission to address the House for 1 AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE TO right, without fear or favor, firm in the minute, to revise and extend his remarks SERVE AS CHAIRMAN conviction that at the heart of the and include extraneous matter.) universe goodness reigns and truth Mr. BINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, late last (Mr. SEBELIUS asked and was given will ultimately prevail. summer, because of the most misguided permission to address the House for 1 We pray for our country. May ill will, humor of some unknown individuals, minute and to revise and extend his greed, and all selfish endeavors be swept presumably interns, a very stringent rule remarks.) away by the power of Thy Spirit and was announced with regard to placing Mr. SEBELIUS. Mr. Speaker, the com­ may honor, justice, cooperation in serv­ material in the Extensions of Remarks ments I am about to make are based ice, and self-sacrifice for the good of all section Of the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. It upon the fact that I have the responsibil­ flourish abundantly among us. seems to me that this rule should now ity of representing as best I can the cit­ Make us one in spirit as we give our­ be reexamined, particularly since we izens within my congressional district selves in deep devotion to the welfare have short sessions in this period of the and our Nation. of our beloved Nation. Congress. We should not be limited to 15 I realize many may think my remarks In the spirit of Christ, we pray. minutes after the session ends within uncalled for as well as an intrusion into Amen. which to place material in the Exten­ a political matter that I have no business sions of the RECORD. discussing. I can only say I am speaking I would earnestly suggest that, if the from the heart. I would feel negligent if THE JOURNAL Member signs the document that is to I did not speak out. The SPEAKER. The Chair has ex­ be placed in the Extensions of the REc­ The best friend that the American amined the Journal of the last day's pro- oRD, we could safely go back to the old consumer-and I want to stress that, the January 2'0, 19 7.5 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 803 American consumer-and the farmer Sh uster Studds Wiggins COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Thomas and stockman has had during the 6 years Sisk Symms Wilson, Bob E. Morgan (chairman), Pennsylvania; Clem­ Snyder Teague Wilson, ent J. Zablocki, Wisconsin; Wayne L. I have had the privilege of serving in this Solarz Udall Charles, Tex. body has been W. R. "BoB" PoAGE. He is Staggers Vander Jagt Wolff Hays, Ohio; L. H. Fountain, North Carolina; Stanton, Walsh Wydler Dante B. Fascell, Florida; Charles C. Diggs, also the most knowledgeable, best in­ James V. Whalen Young, Ga. Junior, ; Robert N.C. Nix, Pennsyl­ formed, and most completely qualified Steiger, Ariz. Whitehurst vania; Donald M. Fraser, Minnesota; Ben­ member of the Agriculture Committee to The SPEAKER. On this rollcall 319 jamin R. Rostmthal, New York; Lee H. Ham­ serve as chairman. ilton, Indiana; Lester L. Wolff, New York; Members have answered to their names, Jonathan B. Bingham, New York; Gus I want to stress that I say this with a quorum. high personal regard and great respect Yatron, Pennsylvania; Roy A. Taylor, North By unanimous cons·ent, further pro­ Carolina; Michael Harrington, Massachu­ for the fine ability of others on the com­ ceedings under the call were dispensed setts; Leo J. Ryan, California; Charles Wil­ mittee who are eligible for consideration with. son, Texas; Donald W. Riegle, Junior, Mich­ as chairman. igan; Cardlss Collins, Illinois; Stephen J. As a member of the minority in this Solarz, New York; Helen s. Meyner, New legislative body, I want to go on record ELECTION TO CERTAIN STANDING Jersey; Don Bonker, Washington. as pleading with the majority Members COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS: to reconsider their action of last week. Jack Brooks (chairman), Texas; L. H. Foun­ Mr. O'NEILL. Mr. Speaker, I offer a tain, North Carolina; John E. Moss, Cali­ Decisions within the House Agriculture privileged resolution

EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS

AMERICA-MERCHANT OF WAR I would remind the administration that Pictured on these pages are some of the economic and pragmatic considerations U.S. weapons most in demand now and in recent years. are not sufficient grounds for stockpiling Iran for instance, has agreed to pay 1.9 HON. JONATHAN B. BINGHAM for.eign military arsenals. Sales based billion dollars for 80 of the Navy's newest OF NEW YORK solely on these considerations are irre­ jets-the F-14 Tomcat. The deal is consid­ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES sponsible-and I would hope that the ered a key factor in keeping open: 'the Long Ford administration would refrain from Island plant of Grumman Aerospace Corpo­ Monday, January 20, 1975 them. The United States will and should ration, which makes the plane. Mr. BINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, the 93d continue to supply some arms to its al­ The sale, completed after the Shah of Iran lies and friends, in amounts and in type was given a personal aerial demonstration of Congress passed historic legislation giv­ the plane, helps to make Iran the leading ing the Congress the legal authority for consistent with our national security re­ customer of U.S. arms. oversight and control over the sale of quirements and their defensive needs. Israel is a close second. In the 12-month weapons of war to foreign countries. That But, at the same time, America must en­ period ended June 30, 1974, Israel bought legislation, which was based on an courage restraint in conventional arms 2.1 billion dollars' worth of military equip­ amendment to the Foreign Assistance transfers. ment, including A-4 Skyhawks and F-4 Act which I offered in the House and I call upon Mr. Ford to exercise such Phantoms, C-130 Hercules cargo planes and restraint and to encourage other nations large numbers of helicopters, tanks, artillery Senator NELSON offered in the Senate, re­ pieces and other equipment. quires the President to submit quarterly to do likewise. Given the increases in reports to the Congress containing list­ arms sales reported almost daily in the FIERCE SALES FIGHT ings of all sales and offers to sell. These press and the increasing danger for vio­ Now something even bigger is in the works. reports must include the dollar amount lence they represent, it is essential that Northrop Corporation and General Dynam­ of the sale, the defense items to be sold, the President move rapidly to implement ics Corporation are competing under an the sense of Congress resolution on mul­ Air Force contract for a lightweight fighter the country purchasing the item, the that could result in sales of 8 billion dollars military service selling the item, and the tinational a.rms transfer regulation con­ or more, with most of the potential market dates of offer and acceptance of the sale. tained in the Foreign Assistance Act thought to be in Europe or elsewhere abroad. Additionally, the legislation requires passed by the 93d Congress. That resolu­ French and Swedish companies have entered that the President seek congressional tion urges the President to develop and the fierce competition. concurrence for any foreign military sale propose a draft international agreement The reason for the booming arms market, for $25 million or more. Under the legis­ for regulating the transfer of conven­ defense-industry officials say, is partly that lation the President must submit a state­ tional weapons at the Geneva Conference the U.S. has reversed its attitude on military of the Committee on Disarmament. It sales. ment describing the intended sale and This reversal in policy represents a de­ wait 20 calendar days before forwarding also requires the President to report his cision that refusing to sell weapons to for­ the letter of offer to the intended pur­ progress in implementing the resolution eign countries only sends them to other chaser. During this 20-day waiting pe­ to the Congress within 6 months. I urge suppliers and does nothing to halt the pro­ riod, Congress may disapprove the sale the President to achieve substantial lifera tlon of arms. by concurrent resolution. progress toward the goal of the resolu­ Rather than discouraging such sales, U.S. The need for a strong congressional tion in less than 6 months. officials now are working hard with defense­ Mr. Speaker, because of its relevance, I industry salesmen around the world to boost role in determining the U.S. role in stock­ sales even further. ing foreign military arsenals is now more commend the U.S. News report to the Industry officials estimate that for every pressing than ever, in wake of recent attention of my colleagues: billion dollars Olf sales abroad, 31,000 Ameri­ massive arms sales to Iran and Saudi AMERICA ON TOP AMONG WORLD'S ARMS cans are put to work as a direct result, and Arabia and the pro-sales policies of the PEDDLERS another 60,000 jobs are created in support Ford administration. The United States, Not even Russia seUs more major weapons businesses. according to a January 13, 1975, report in abroad. Orders for American-made arms have In some cases, foreign sales are of critical doubled in a year, and there is no slowdown importance. Items like the Northrop F-5E U.S. News & World Report, is the No. 1 in sight. Tiger are built primarily for export. Penta­ arms peddler in the world. The Ford ad­ Sales of U.S.-produced arms to foreign na­ gon aides say that if overseas sales stopped, ministration reportedly justifies the tions are soaring to record levels. the plant making the plane would have to boom in sales over the last few years in Orders from abroad for U.S. aircraft, mis­ be closed. part on economic and pragmatic siles, tanks, ships and other weapons of war Military sales abroad are in addition to grounds-the sales provide jobs for have doubled in a year to more than 8 bil­ the half bllllon dollars in arms a year hand­ Americans, while American refusal to lion dollars annually. ed out free as military aid to friends and sell only sends countries seeking weap­ U.S. officials say that these sales make the allies. Not included, e.ither, are the millions United States the top arms merchant in the of dollars in second-hand weapons that ons to other suppliers. Accordingly rather world. The Soviet Union, however, is not far are passed on to other countries. than discouraging sales, U.S. News re­ behind, with its major armament program in Aid recipients are potential customers in ports that officials are wol'king hard with the Middle East. France and Britain are the future, say Defense officials. defense industry salesmen around the rated a distant third and fourth in arms ex­ Japan is an example. Grant ald to Japa­ world to boost sales even further. porting. nese ended in 1966. Since then, arms sales