Plenary Session Transcripts

Governors Attending:

Guests:

Discussion Subjects:

State government organization; water resources; foreign affairs; treatment of mental illness; and motor truck regulation

Points of Interest:

Governor Frank Carlson of Kansas spoke of the report that had been completed by the Council of State Governments on the condition of education in the states, noting that many of its recommendations had either been adopted or were in the process of being adopted. He added that states had more than doubled appropriations for education and grants for maintenance and support of schools. Moreover, teacher salaries were being raised and school facilities were being renovated and enlarged.

With respect to water resource development, Governors made presentations on issues affecting their own states, such as flood control, reclamation, and hydroelectric power development. During their discussion of ways in which different levels of government could cooperate to undertake successful projects, Governors were not in agreement regarding federal involvement. Defenders of the federal government included Governor Gordon Browning of Tennessee, who touted the success of the Tennessee Valley Authority, and Governor Fuller Warren of Florida, who referred to the failed efforts of one of his predecessors, Florida Governor Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, to drain the Everglades and control its waters via a property tax, arguing that Governor Broward's project was simply too big an undertaking for a state without federal assistance.

At the same time, however, western Governors in particular expressed concern about the federal government's inequitable treatment of their states.

During a discussion of mental illness, including its causes and treatment, the issue of treating "senile" elderly was raised, and it was clear that in many states, such elderly people were being institutionalized alongside those with other mental illnesses.

In talking about truck regulation, Governors touched on both the problems associated with rising weights being carried by trucks, and concern that the federal government was diverting some of the automotive excise and gasoline taxes it was collecting rather than returning the money to the states for the purpose of highway improvement.

Secretary of State Dean Acheson, who was under considerable fire from various forces, appeared at the meeting to discuss the help that Governors had been giving, and could continue to give, in lending some of their technical experts to provide assistance to underdeveloped countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Governors took the opportunity to ask the Secretary pointed questions, including this one from Governor Carlson: "...many of our citizens in industry, labor, and agriculture are concerned about the competition of imports. For instance, in our own state, oil is one of the problems. I understand these conditions are arranged through reciprocal trade agreements. What is to be the policy of the government, for instance, on imports that force an industry out of operation? Are you going to subsidize it, or are you going to let it close?" The Secretary responded that once the Marshall Plan ended, Europe would begin producing and exporting its own goods. In addition, the White House recognized the possible consequences to U.S. producers and had asked former Secretary of the Army Gordon Gray to lead a staff working on this problem. The effort was to involve regional teams of private citizens reporting on how imports would affect them, after which the President would probably have experts from impacted groups meet to discuss the matter and advise him accordingly.

Memorable Quotes:

Governor Gordon Browning of Tennessee said these things about the Tennessee Valley Authority: "...there hasn't been one conflict between the TVA and my state....I don't see that we have lost any rights...While the development of the power is by federal investment, it's true, at the same time, private enterprise takes it at the switch and does exactly with it as they want to do...It was a blessing that we had it during this last war, because places like Alcoa, with its aluminum production, and Oak Ridge...depended on this power for operation, and it has been worth many times over what it cost...Everyone who mentions anything here wants federal money, but they don't want the federal government to have anything to do with it. I don't want to surrender to them, either, but I'm perfectly willing to give and take..."

Governor Earl Warren of California directed this remark to eastern Governors: "...I'll wager there has been a lot of money spent by the federal government on flood control in your state, and you don't have to pay a dollar of it back. We do make repayment on our reclamation projects. We pay back every dollar that is expended for irrigation. We back every dollar that goes for power, with interest."

Governor Elbert Carvel of Delaware speculated: "...what is the main underlying reason for so much mental distress? Well, in the first place, I believe...we have changed from a rural country, where the rural population was about two-thirds of the total and the urban population...was one-third of the total, until today we have reversed that position. Because of that...we have faced many, many problems and frustrations which have really caused this mental situation to become a minor crisis...we have got to approach this problem, not as a matter of attempting to cure something, but...of eliminating the cause...one of the most pressing problems...[is] to be able to prepare the people of this nation to meet the stepped up progress and tempo with which they are faced."

Governor Frank Lausche of Ohio noted "...today's highway congestion will probably continue to increase in severity...[imagine] a six-lane highway some 3,000 miles in length, being filled with vehicles bumper-to-bumper as a result of this annual automotive production...the situation is further aggravated because of the increased mileage and greater speeds at which each vehicle is being driven annually." He went on: "While in 1930 the three-and-one-half million trucks represented 13.3 per cent of all licensed vehicles, today the eight million trucks represent 18 per cent of all vehicles. The increase is...pronounced in the heavy units....It is generally conceded that we must have reasonable weight limitations in the laws to that highway transportation systems can be constructed within the limits of needs for all types of travel..."

Selected Resolutions Adopted:
(1) Recommending that states study the report produced by the Council of State Governments (CSG) on uniform state highway safety legislation and the establishment of standards governing truck regulation, and develop a plan dealing with problems applicable to their states; (2) urging that states consider enacting legislation enabling interstate cooperation in securing child support; (3) requesting CSG to study the issue of state development of recreational use for artificial lakes abutting federal land; (4) recommending that affected states and the federal government work together to bring about an equitable settlement of Indian treaties, promote self-help in social and economic rehabilitation of the Indian community, help educate and train Indians, encourage Indians to preserve their traditions, and bring an end to federal wardship; and (5) supporting statehood for Alaska and Hawaii.