immigrants, for lawyers and doctors, housewives and white-collar workers, factory hands and miners-should not surprise any

one.

After all, we, in the United States Senate, or in the House of Representatives, have been sent down here to Washington in order to serve you, to fulfill your needs, to represent you in the best, worthiest possible way. We are your servants; the joy of being a public servant is to perform the job faithfully and well.

THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME

After all, this is only, of course, a partial report on 2 years of work in 1953 and 1954.

I could refer to a great many other issues: To my battle, for example, against the forces of crime at home and abroad.

In this respect, I fought for the enactment of the international opium protocol to control the vicious worldwide dope traffic (which has already cost us so much harm, parThe ticularly to our younger citizens. protocol was ratified unanimously by the Senate.

I fought, too, for the mass of legislation which had been recommended by the Ke

He had a better understanding of rubber problems, particularly synthetic, than any other legislator. The reason was that he made a study of the question and devoted a lot of time on it. It was Shafer who wrote the Rubber Act of 1948 that set up permanent Government controls over rubber after the war emergency was declared ended.

The preamble of the law was especially important to business. It emphasized that it was the intent of Congress to establish a free and competitive synthetic rubber industry as soon as conditions warranted.

This may be the year for the Government's disposal commission in negotiating with various companies on the purchase of the federally owned plants.

Congressman Shafer helped to write the bill last year which is now a law and which is designed to get the Government out of the rubber business.

An Akron visitor on various occasions, he was widely regarded as a conscientious public servant whose views were always respected. The rubber industry mourns his death.

citation from the Marine Corps League hangs in Senator HUMPHREY'S office. It reads, "For meritorious service in the field of legislation on the rehabilitation of Marine Corps personnel and Marine Corps veterans."

KOREAN GI BILL OF RIGHTS

If I were to single out of this distinguished veterans service record of Senator HUMPHREY'S the most notable piece of legislation to which he contributed, I would select the Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1952. This act, which Senator HUMPHREY consponsored and vigorously supported, is better known as the Korean GI bill of rights. It carries on the fine work that was begun by the original GI bill of rights first signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 22, 1944. Like its predecessor it extends to the veterans of the Korean conflict the benefits of education and training, GI loans for homes and businesses, and readjustment allowances for periods of unemployment. As Senator HUMPRHEY has said:

"These programs are an excellent example of how wise use of Government credit can prove beneficial to the entire Nation. These are not just spending programs, as some people would have us believe; they are sound

had been a member.

Not only did I fight for bills which I regarded as sound, but I fought against bills which I regarded as unsound, notably the infamous Chicago water-steal bill, which has been traditionally opposed by our own and other Lake States.

SUGGESTIONS ON PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS

And while I fought for good bills and opposed bad ones, I fought for good leadership as well.

I submitted various suggestions to the White House on Executive appointments, and I am exceedingly gratified that several such suggestions were adopted by President Eisenhower, notably in his selection of able Wisconsin-born Lewis Castle to head up the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.

CONCLUSION

And so I bring this brief report to an end. I hope you have found that it answers, if only in brief summary, your question, "What did ALEX WILEY do for his State and Nation?" The answer is: He did everything he could to report what he humbly feels are the best interests of 32 million Wisconsinites and 160 million other Americans.

I want to thank my readers for their attention and to invite their reactions to this report.

Industry Mourns Shafer's Passing

EXTENSION OF REMARKS

OF

HON. WILLIAM H. AYRES

OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Friday, August 20, 1954

Mr. AYRES. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to your attention Joseph E. Kuebler's column in the Akron Beacon Journal of August 20.

I believe that this article further illustrates what a great loss we all suffered with the death of our beloved colleague, Hon. Paul W. Shafer.

INDUSTRY MOURNS SHAFER'S PASSING
(By Joseph E. Kuebler)

The rubber industry lost one of its best friends in Government circles the other day with the passing of Representative Paul W. Shafer, Michigan Republican.

EXTENSION OF REMARKS

OF

HON. JOHN F. KENNEDY

OF MASSACHUSETTS

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

Friday, August 20, 1954

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I ask

This

unanimous consent to have printed in the Appendix of the RECORD an article by Col. J. M. Chambers, USNCR, retired, appearing in the current issue of the Veterans Appeal, entitled "A Veteran's Report on Senator HUMPHREY." article sets forth in detail the outstanding record made by the distinguished Senator from Minnesota [Mr. HUMPHREY] on behalf of America's veterans. I think all of us can be proud to be associated with one who has so ably and earnestly labored on behalf of those who fought to preserve our democracy.

Colonel Chambers is a veteran of five major campaigns in the Pacific. He is the holder of three Purple Hearts, three presidential unit citations, the Legion of Merit for combat, the Silver Star, and the Congressional Medal of Honor.

There being no objection, the article was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:

When I was asked to review the record of Senator HUBERT H. HUMPHREY on veterans' matters, I approached my task with real curiosity. I knew of Senator HUMPHREY'S many interests but I did not know what his veterans' record would show. I soon found that his record was an estimable one.

There are few, if any, men in the United States Senate today whose record on veterans' affairs surpasses that of the Junior Senator from Minnesota. Too often we are asked to judge a man on what he says he will do, on his promises. However, America's veterans need only look at the long list of deeds, actions, and solid achievement accomplished by Senator HUMPHREY in their behalf.

Indeed, Senator HUMPHREY'S concern for veterans already has been recognized by the numerous citations he has received from veterans' organizations. Among them are the certificate of merit from the Amvets and an award from the Marine Corps for his assistance in its postwar recruiting program. One

only pay for themselves but repay our Nation many fold."

LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE TAKEN BY SENATOR HUMPHREY FOR VETERANS

But the Korean GI bill of rights was not the only legislation on which Senator HUMPHREY took the initiative. Recognizing the severe financial strain that is put on many members of the Armed Forces who are de

fending our country, Senator HUMPHREY has proposed additional income-tax exemptions for persons on active duty, increased allotments for dependents of enlisted mèn; a program of grants-in-aid to assist the States in providing a program of infant and maternity care for enlisted men's dependents.

Support for the enactment of this latter program was voiced by the major veterans' organizations, including the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the AMVETS, the American Veterans Committee, civic organizations and other groups concerned with the problems of servicemen and their families. Urging favorable action by the Congress, Senator HUMPHREY said:

"It is essential, Mr. President, that the Congress enact a program of maternity and infant care. Many cases have arisen where pregnant wives of our servicemen have found it financially impossible to meet their medical and health needs as the result of the fact that the family's income was substantially reduced when the family breadwinner was taken into the Armed Forces. At a time when we are calling millions of our young men and women to serve their Nation in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, it is vital that the Congress face up to its responsibilities and provide for their families. The program envisaged by my bill is but the beginning of our responsibility."

In explaining his bill to increase dependency allowances Senator HUMPHREY remarked:

"The very least our Government can do for those called to service is to help provide for their families at the same time they are serving our Nation in time of crisis. We have a responsibility as a nation to protect the health, morale, and the security of the wives, mothers, and children of our fighting men. A soldier who is worried about the welfare and safety of his family is a soldier whose effectiveness is reduced. * . They are perfectly willing to be of service to their country; but they are chagrined, disappointed, and hurt by the fact that their country does not make adequate provision for the support of their families while they are away from home."

Other legislation which Senator HUMPHREY Joined in sponsoring included a proposal to make the Commandant of the Marine Corps a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Another bill provided for the distribution of waterproof cards to members of the Armed Forces on active duty advising them of the requirements for proving the incurrence of service-connected disabilities.

Senator HUMPHREY has always been a leader in the fight to assure the Veterans' Administration and other organizations that render services to veterans adequate appropriations to fulfill their vital tasks.

HELP FOR DISABLED VETERANS Senator HUMPHREY has told me that he believes no group, other than the dependents of those who have made the supreme sacrifice in the defense of freedom, have a greater claim on us than America's disabled veterans. While Senator HUMPHREY realized that no congressional measure could make up for the loss sustained by America's war widows, orphans, and bereft parents, he did everything he could to ease the additional financial crises that such losses often inflict. Therefore, he voted to appropriate $5 million for the payment of $10,000 indemnity to the beneficiaries of servicemen who lost their lives in active service. In another gesture of remembrance Senator HUMPHREY Vvoted to install a carillon in the Arlington Memorial Amphitheater, dedicated to the dead of World War II.

For 4 years Senator HUMPHREY served with distinction as a member of the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare. In 1951 he was the chairman of a subcommittee to investigate Veterans' Administration practices and policies on medical care. The report said in part:

"We believe that no medical care program can operate successfully for very long in an atmosphere where • uncertainties can be exploited by bureaucratic strivings for power, justification or personal glorification * *. In this regard the subcommittee strongly emphasizes the fact that the subject medical and hospital program is so essential to the well-being-even the very lives of many of our veterans that it absolutely must be kept dynamic and alert to the continuous advances made in hospital care.” Senator HUMPHREY and his subcommittee recommended 5 administrative and statutory changes in order to strengthen the veterans medical service program. Most of these changes were put into effect. The Humphrey investigation and report helped the VA medical program over a serious crisis which threatened to return the program to the shambles which made it a national scandal in 1945.

3

Thanking Senator HUMPHREY for his contribution to the high quality of VA medical care, Dr. Joseph C. Hinsey, chairman of the executive council of the Association of American Medical Colleges, stated:

"We wish to congratulate you and your committee upon the objective and thorough investigation you have made and for your constructive recommendations."

The sharp concern demonstrated for our disabled veterans by Senator HUMPHREY as he headed this subcommittee is further illustrated by his voting record. He has voted to increase compensation rates to a level adequate for a decent standard of living; provide vocational rehabilitation to those with service-connected disability; establish for World War II veterans a presumption of service-connected disability in the case of tuberculosis, progressive muscular atrophy existing within 3 years after discharge; restore full compensation rates to World War I service-connected disability cases; provide special housing assistance to disabled veterans; help disabled veterans purchase specially designed automobiles; extend to members of Reserve components including National Guard men, who are killed or in

Jured during short training periods the same benefits they would receive if they had been called to the colors for periods in excess of 30 days.

Senator HUMPHREY has explained:

"When I vote for this kind of legislation I do not believe we are granting any 'special privileges' to veterans. America is the great land of opportunity. All America's veterans want is the same chance to seize the opportunity that they would have had, had they not been called to defend our Nation. When they responded to that call, they did so at a great sacrifice of time, money, and blood. And this is not to mention the anguish of prolonged separation from loved ones. I believe it is the duty, rather the privilege, of Congress to compensate for these sacrifices. It is our job to restore as fully as we can the opportunities the veteran lost when he spent 5 years patrolling the North Atlantic or when he left a torn limb on the bloody slopes of Mount Suribachi, or Heartbreak Ridge."

Senator HUMPHREY has recognized the important role our veterans organizations have played in protecting the interests of veterans and in enriching community life. He voted to authorize the Armed Forces to lend certain property to any recognized veteran's organization for use at any national convention or national youth, athletic or recreation tournament. Senator HUMPHREY also has voted for legislation designed to protect the badge, medal, emblem, and other insignia of auxiliaries to veterans' organizations.

There is no room here to detail or even to mention the more than 100 measures Senator HUMPHREY has supported for veterans' and servicemen's benefits. However, I do believe that the few I have mentioned give a good indication of how Senator HUMPHREY feels and acts on veterans' matters. This has been part of the record of Minnesota's Senator HUBERT H. HUMPHREY, a man whose deep belief in the principles of American liberty and democracy will never let him forget the men who fought to preserve it. Veterans are fortunate to have such an advocate.

Incentive Is All-Important

EXTENSION OF REMARKS

OF

HON. EDWARD MARTIN

OF PENNSYLVANIA

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

Friday, August 20, 1954

Mr. MARTIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Appendix of the RECORD an editorial which appeared in a recent issue of the Washington Reporter, Washington, Pa. There being no objection, the editorial was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:

INCENTIVE IS ALL-IMPORTANT

Since 1926, oil consumption in this country has increased more than 257 percent. Yet, due to the industry's intensive exploration and development work, our known oil and gas reserves underground are actually 229 percent greater than in that year.

Something that few of us think about has been largely responsible for this achievement. It is the 271⁄2 percent tax depletion allowance on income from oil producing activities.

The head of a major oil company recently had this to say about the depletion allowance's importance: Any reduction in this provision of the tax law would adversely affect the stability of the petroleum industry.

"In making provision for the depletion tax allowance, Congress recognized the basic fact that not only oil and natural gas, but all other minerals in the ground, are capital assets of the owner. Once used, they cannot be replaced.

"Exploring for oil, always tremendously expensive, is increasing in cost every year. Without the incentive and capital recovery provided by the depletion allowance, many companies and individuals would be unable to continue oil exploration and drilling."

In wildcatting operations, only 1 out of 8 or 9 wells sunk turns out to be a producer. The rest are worthless. If we want men to take such long risks as these, we must offer them suitable inducements.

Tenth Anniversary of the GI Bill of Rights

EXTENSION OF REMARKS

OF

HON. PAUL H. DOUGLAS

OF ILLINOIS

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES Friday, August 20, 1954

Mr. DOUGLAS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Appendix of the RECORD a speech dealing with the 10th anniversary of the GI bill of rights which was delivered during a nationwide radio broadcast by one of my constituents, Mr. Edgar C. Corry, Jr., of Chicago, Ill., president of the board of trustees of the AMVETS national service foundation.

There being no objection, the speech was ordered to be printed in the RECOrd, as follows:

Ten years ago-while the guns of World War II were still firing in Europe and Asia, in the Atlantic and the Pacific, and the outcome of that global struggle was in doubt, the United States Congress drafted a bill unparalleled in history. In the course of one decade it affected the lives of more than 10 million men and women, and stimulated the economic welfare of America.

On June 22, 1944, President Roosevelt signed into law the GI bill of rights (more formally known as Public Law 346). At that time he said, "This law gives emphatic notice to the men and women of our Armed Forces that the American people do not intend to let them down."

A new concept was thus introduced into American thinking-help the veteran help himself. For as far as possible, the cost of war and of victory was to be shared by all Americans-not just those who served or died in uniform. It substituted the helping hand for the handout.

It is appropriate now-10 years later-to measure the results and the cost of the GI bill of rights.

Under the GI bill, the door of opportunity was reopened to millions in whose faces it had banged shut with frightening decisiveness after Pearl Harbor. During the troublesome years since 1944, millions of veterans have passed through this door; some to acquire new homes or farms, or to enter new businesses made possible by the guaranteedloan provisions; some to receive educational and on-the-job-training benefits; and some merely to receive readjustment allowances while seeking a job.

It was very hard for most veterans to readjust themselves to the challenging circumstances confronting them when they returned from the war. But thanks to the GI bill, the transition period was measurably shortened, the absorption of 18 million ad

ditional civilians into a peacetime society was accomplished with a minimum of difficulty, and a threatened depression turned into prosperity.

How different from the aftermath of former wars. If you came back then in one piece you were on your own-go pick up the shreds of life by yourself-if you had a family to support in the meantime, well, it was just your tough luck. If you hadn't been able to learn a peacetime trade, or hadn't finished your schooling, or had little actual job experience, well-you were a tough-luck Charlie. Vast numbers of odd-job drifters and unemployed were taken for granted as a necessary price of war.

This time America faced facts. Almost a whole generation of our youth had been put into uniform. You can't turn loose 18 million young men from whom you have taken the 4 most crucial years of their life-you can't just turn them loose without wrecking a large percentage of them, and thereby inviting national economic disaster. Our Congress evolved a way of assisting the GI to become integrated into the business and community life of this country.

As a past national commander of AMVETS, and as president of the board of trustees of AMVETS national service foundation, I know at firsthand some of the great good the GI bill has accomplished. The basic intent of the law-the restoration of opportunities lost through no fault of one's own, likewise was one of the motivating reasons for the establishment of AMVETS-the only World War II veterans organization chartered by Congress. To help fulfill this objective, the AMVETS service foundation was created in 1948.

The help the veteran needs, as conceived by Congress, fell into three categories: education, readjustment allowances, and financial loans.

Nearly 8 million World War II veterans obtained education and training under the GI bill-that's 1 out of every 2 veterans. Some finished high school, other entered colleges and postgraduate schools. Still others received business education in what was known as on-the-job training and on-the-farm courses. More than 31⁄2 million went to trade and vocational schools. The cost of all these training benefits was $141⁄2 billion, but the country is reaping a rich reward in that investment. Since the draft law was enacted in 1940, the Armed Forces have been channeling much of our youth away from colleges and universities, but, since 1944, the GI bill has been filling the vacancies so created, with veterans. Every level of education and training has boomed under the impact.

The GI educational benefits have helped build our reservoir of trained manpower in fields of endeavor ranging from atomic physics to airplane mechanics-from medicine to the ministry. It has assured that the productivity of our land will continue high because of new specialists in agriculture and animal husbandry. It has raised the education level of the entire country and likewise has raised the national income level. A Census Bureau survey discloses that 1947 to 1952, the median income of the veteran has shot up 40 percent while during the same period the nonveteran group has gone up only 10 percent. The Census Bureau further reports "the higher incomes of these veterans may reflect the combined influence of the increase in work experience and higher level of education which veterans have achieved as compared with nonveterans. The net result is that the veterans who have had GI training will be paying approximately $1 billion more each year in Federal income tax. Within the next 14 years, these same veterans alone will pay off the entire cost of this program.

The second category of help which Congress devised was the readjustment allowance

program which permitted allowances of $20 a week for a maximum of 52 weeks for veterans seeking a job. For those millions who were seeking their first job, and who now had families and dependents, the situation was exceedingly grim. They didn't want to be on relief. Nearly 9 million veterans received some readjustment payments, but to show you what stuff these guys were made of, only The 10 percent drew their full benefits. average GI had his new job in hand in 6 weeks. The readjustment allowance program was often viciously attacked and ridiculed during its first 2 years of operation. It was nicknamed the 52-20 Club with the implication that everybody would take a free ride on the Government, would wait until they had drawn their full $1,040 before they even started looking for a job. Well, the boys proved the cynics were wrong in a big way, and that the faith Congress had in them was well justified. And, by the way, that $32 billion spent on them was immediately pumped back into circulation-it went for food, clothing, and rent. With a perspective now of 10 years, it can be safely said that the readjustment allowance program which ended in 1949 amply fulfilled the need for which it had been created.

The third major category of opportunities was the GI loan. Under this provision, the veteran was given the right to borrow money for which he had to pay interest at 4 or 42 percent. With a guaranty by the United States Government, over 3 million veterans acquired a home for themselves and their families. When a man becomes a homeowner, he becomes an important and stable member of his community. You will be interested in knowing that $232 billion were borrowed from banks, insurance companies, building and loan associations and other lending institutions. What kind of homes did these veterans buy? Sixty percent of all the homes acquired were in the $10,000 to $15,000 bracket. Each home purchased or built added strength to its community, and provided an additional source of tax revenue. The veterans need for housing spurred a gigantic building boom, and the availability of credit thus furnished, stimulated a multibillion dollar exchange of money.

Much can be said for other types of loans guaranteed by the GI bill-such as business and farm loans. There are thousands of success stories emerging from modest beginnings aided by small business loans guaranteed by the Government in an amount not to exceed $4,000. More than 50 percent of the one-half billion dollars of these loans have been repaid in full. Now that is such a terrific fact, that I'm going to repeat it again-more than onehalf of all the business loans have been repaid in full. How's that for ability, integrity,

and drive?

Many were fearful that the veteran was

being saddled with a financial burden that would result in wholesale bankruptcy and create national chaos. The facts prove that the veteran has been an exceptionally sound financial risk. Over $3 billion have been repaid in full. The total defaults on all loans have been less than 1 percent of the funds borrowed by veterans. Many cynics anticipating a very high default rate on the Government-guaranteed loans believed that the American taxpayer would be the big loser when these defaults were absorbed by the Government. That less than 1 percent of defaults I mentioned amazed not only the cynics but the hopeful endorsers of the GI bill.

In actuality the Government received an additional source of tax revenue from all the individuals, businesses, and industries which profited and prospered as a result of this multibillion-dollar spending.

Has the task undertaken by Congress in 1944 been completed? In part yes, and in part no. In part yes, because, as I said, the readjustment allowances were terminated in 1949, and no new applicants for education

and training benefits are being accepted. The only major benefit still in force today is the GI loan. Its deadline is 1957. The VA has done a monumental and praiseworthy Job in processing and administering all these many benefits for the able-bodied as well as its vast work in the medical field for the disabled.

ceases.

In part no, because the problem of lending a helping hand to those who need it never AMVETS and its service foundation were established for the purpose of helping the veteran help himself and to repay in what small way we can the moral debt we owe to the widows and orphans of our partners in combat. To accomplish this we have maintained a staff of national service officers and VA accredited representatives, who counsel free of cost with the veteran, acquainting him with his rights and assisting him in the complicated mechanics of obtaining them.

Another illustration of the work of the AMVETS service foundation is the annual 4-year college scholarship given to 6 deserving high-school students whose fathers died in combat or were totally disabled. These students, carefully tested by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, receive the sum of $2,000 prorated by semesters. By the way, they are setting a terrific pace in college.

The annual AMVETS Christmas party provides homeless orphans throughout the Nation with a real Christmas celebration complete with toys, individual gifts, and a TV set or radio-phonograph for the orphanages in which they live. Right now let me thank all of you whose generous donations have helped us carry out such programs.

American generosity has given much to those who bore the brunt of battle. The 10th anniversary of the GI bill heralds an enriched America whose heroic soldiers have become its most devoted citizens, its local, State, and national leaders. That bill was a humane as well as a sound business investment made in the youth, and therefore the future of America.

Federal Funds for School Buildings

EXTENSION OF REMARKS

OF

HON. JOHN F. KENNEDY

OF MASSACHUSETTS

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

Friday, August 20, 1954

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Appendix of the RECORD a resolution adopted by the Board of Aldermen, City of Chelsea, Mass., on August 17, 1954.

There being no objection, the resolution was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:

Whereas the Federal Government has spent millions of dollars for roads; and

Whereas the Federal Government is continuously spending enormous amounts of money to foreign countries; and

Whereas all this money that is being spent comes from the people of the United States; and

Whereas many cities, including Chelsea, are confronted with serious problems, especially school buildings, and due to lack of money are unable to provide suitable quarters for the schoolchildren: Be it therefore

Resolved, That the President of these United States, the Senators of Massachusetts, and our Congressman look into this matter and find ways and means of having the Federal Government help our citizens by enabling cities such as Chelsea to build new

States and Federal Government, if a majority of the members of the system vote in a referendum in favor of coverage. There are about 3.5 million persons in this group.

Domestic workers: The bill extends coverage to domestic workers in private homes-and others who perform work not in the course of the employer's place of business-who are paid $50 in cash wages by an employer in a calendar quarter, regardless of the 24-day test required in the present law. This provision will extend coverage to about 250,000 persons.

The bill also extends social-security coverage to the following groups for the first time:

First.-American citizens employed outside the United States by foreign subsidiaries of American companies under voluntary agreements between the Federal Government and the parent American company-about 100,000.

Second. Home workers who are now excluded from coverage as employees whether or not they are now covered as self-employed persons-because their services are not subject to State licensing laws-about 100,000.

Third. Employees engaged in fishing and related activities, on vessels of 10 net tons or less or on shore-about 50,000.

Fourth. American citizens employed by American employers on vessels and aircraft of foreign registry.

Fifth. Cotton-gin workers: The following is a breakdown for the additional coverage-3,600,000 farmer operators, 2,100,000 farmworkers, 200,000 domestic workers, 3,500,000 State and local employees, 250,000 ministers, 100,000 homeworkers, 50,000 fishermen, 100,000 employees of foreign subsidiaries, 50,000 in employment not in course of trade or business, 100,000 professional self-employed, and 150,000 Federal employees; totaling 10,200,000.

INCREASE IN BENEFITS

More than 6.5 million persons now on the benefit rolls will have their benefits increased as of September 1, 1954. The average increase for retired workers will be about $6 a month, with proportionate increases for dependents and survivors. The range in primary insurance amounts for those now on the rolls would be $30 to $98.50, as compared to $25 to $85 under present law.

Persons who retire or die in the future would, in general, have their benefits computed by the following new formula: 55 percent of the first $110 of average monthly wage-rather than $100 as in present law-plus 20 percent of the next $240-rather than 15 percent of the next $200. Thus, an individual's retirement benefit will be as high as $108.50 a month, and he and his wife together could receive as much as $162.75 in retirement benefits.

The minimum monthly benefit amount for a retired worker would be $30, and the minimum amount payable where only one survivor is entitled to benefits on the deceased insured person's earnings, would be $30.

The maximum monthly family benefit of $168.75 would be increased to $200;

the provision of existing law that total family benefits cannot exceed 80 percent of the worker's average monthly wage would not reduce total family benefits below 11⁄2 times the insured worker's primary insurance amount, or $50, whichever is the greater.

EARNINGS BASE

The total annual earnings on which benefits will be computed and contributions paid is raised from $3,600 to $4,200.

COMPUTATION OF BENEFITS

The individual will be entitled to drop out from the computation of his average monthly wage for benefit purposes up to 5 years of his lowest earnings.

RETIREMENT TEST

The earnings limitation would be removed entirely at age 72—instead of at 75, as under present law. For beneficiaries under age 72, the earnings limitation would be made the same for wage earners and self-employed persons. A beneficiary could earn as much as $1,200 in a year from covered work without loss of benefits. He would lose a month's benefit for each unit of $80-or fraction thereof-of covered earnings in excess of $1,200, but in no case would he lose benefits for months in which he neither earned more than $80 in wages nor rendered substantial services in self-em

The provisions of the 1952 amendments, presently scheduled to expire on September 30, 1954, with respect to temporary increases in Federal payments to State for old-age assistance, aid to dependent children, aid to the blind, and aid to the permanently and totally disabled are extended through September 30, 1956.

The provisions of the 1950 amendments for approval of certain State plans for aid to the blind which did not meet the requirements of clause (8) of section 1002 (a) of the Social Security Act are extended from June 30, 1955, to June 30, 1957.

ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS

As an alternative to the present re

quirements for fully insured status, an individual would be fully insured if all the quarters elapsing after 1954 and up to the quarter of his death or attainment of age 65 were quarters of coverage, provided he had at least 6 quarters of coverage after 1954.

Benefits would be paid to the surviving aged widow, widowed mother, and children, or parents of any individual who died after 1939 and prior to September 1, 1950, and had at least 6 quarters of

coverage.

PRESERVATION OF BENEFIT RIGHTS FOR DISABLED

The period during which an individual was under an extended total disability would be excluded in determining his insured status and the amount of benefits payable to him upon retirement or to his survivors in the event of his death. Only disabilities lasting more than 6 months would be taken into account. Determinations of disabilities generally would be made by State vocational rehabilitation agencies or other appropriate State agencies pursuant to agreements with the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.

RECOMPUTATION OF BENEFITS FOR WORK AFTER ENTITLEMENT

An individual may have his benefit recomputed to take into account additional earnings after entitlement if he has covered earnings of more than $1,200 in a calendar year after 1953 and after the year in which his benefit was last computed.

Program in Ohio EXTENSION OF REMARKS

OF

HON. JAMES G. POLK

OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Friday, August 20, 1954

Mr. POLK. Mr. Speaker, I recently expressed my concern over the policies of Secretary of Agriculture Benson in administering the agricultural conservation program. He seems not to fully understand the importance of conserving our Nation's greatest asset-outside of our children-our topsoil. Since 1936 we have made great strides in Ohio in assisting farmers in carrying out soil conservation practices. Prior to the ACP we used only 175,000 tons of lime and in 1952 we used 2,641,173 tons. But in 1954 we are going to use less than 2 million tons-possibly as low as 1,500,000 tons. Our lime needs in Ohio are 4,900,000 tons annually, according to soil specialists at Ohio State University. Why have we reversed this trend?

Prior to the agricultural conservation program, we used 15,862 tons of superphosphate in Ohio and in 1952 we used 84,199 tons of superphosphate under the ACP on pastures and seedings of legumes. In 1954, to date, our farmers have not applied for one-third this much.

In 1953 the 91,346 Ohio farmers participating in the agricultural conservation program seeded 368,706 acres of green manure. In 1954 this very important practice has been completely eliminated from the ACP. Why? To date, less than half of the 91,346 Ohio farmers participating in this conservation pro