CLARENCE CANNON, MO.,

GEORGE H, MAHON, TEX.
HARRY R. SHEPPARD, CALIF.
ALBERT THOMAS, TEX,
MICHAEL J. KIRWAN, OHIO
JAMIE L. WHITTEN, MISS.

MAJORITY MEMBERS a MINORITY MEMBERS

_ JOHIN TABER, N.Y.
CHAIRMAN . (> BEN F. JENSEN, IOWA
: \ H. CARL ANDERSEN, MINN.
iu WALT HORAN, WASH.

House of Representatives IVOR D. FENTON, PA,

GERALD R. FORD, JR., MICH.

=

HAROLD C, OSTERTAG, N.Y.

 

GEORGE W. ANDREWS, ALA | Committee an Appropriations a

J. VAUGHAN GARY, VA.

CHARLES RAPER JONAS, N.C.

: MELVIN R. LAIRD, WIS.

JOHN EF. FOGARTY, R.1. Cighty-Sebenth Congress ELFORD A. CEDERBERG, MICH.
ROBERT L. F. SIKES, FLA. , GLENARD P. LIPSCOMB, CALIF.
come e. mn wie Washington, B.C. ete Puente

. 5 . . NY.
SIDNEY R. YATES, ILL. PHIL WEAVER, NEBR.
FRED MARSHALL, MINN. . WILLIAM E, MINSHALL, CHIC
JOHN J. RILEY, s.c. ace caniyenet ag ROBERT H. MICHEL, ILL.
JOE L. EVINS, TENN. December 9 5 L 961 SILVIO O, CONTE, MASS.
JOHN F, SHELLEY, CALIF. WILLIAM H. MILLIKEN, JR., PA.
EDWARD P. BOLAND, MASS. EARL WILSON, IND.

DON MAGNUSON, WASH.
WILLIAM H. NATCHER, KY.

DANIEL J. FLGOD, PAs CLERKS AND STAFF DIRECTORS
WINFIELD K, DENTON, IND. KENNETH SPRANKLE

‘TOM STEED, OKLA. PAUL M, WILSON

HUGH Q. ALEXANDER, N.C,

ALFRED E. SANTANGELO, N.Y. TELEPHONE:

JOSEPH M. MONTOYA, N. MEX. CAPITOL 46-3121

GEORGE E. SHIPLEY, ILL. EXT, 27!

JOHN M. SLACK, JR., W. VAs
DALE ALFORD, ARK.

-

font
&
@

Honorable John IF.
The Woite House
Washington, D. C.

annedy

Dear Me. President:

Since 1933 there has been only one regular session of Congress that
was not over 200 days in length. I do not know of any Member who disagrees
with the thought that this is longer than need be to accomplish the work of
the Congress in any but war years and, more importantly, is undermining the
very basic principal of representative government upon which our country
was founded.

   

 

 
   
 

ean truly represent the people of his Disbrict without spending
sl amount of time with them; nor can he fulfill his responsibil-
ities to his people and country without being present and participating in
oroceedings when the Congress is in session an of the firm opinion that

e
with these long, Grawi-out sessions of Congress he cannot do both.

The Congress realized the danger this poses to our very Porm of govern-

 

nent when it passed the Reorganization Act of 1946 providing, with exceptions,
that Congress mist adjourn no later than the last day of July each year.

The trouble has been the exceptions, which have been stretched to the point
of making this provision of law almost meaningless.

   
 

I realize that this is primarily a problem Congress itsel? must solve.
During the past several months I have talked about this w ny Memoers in

sitions of leadership and I believe that the will to abide by the obvious

  
      

 

inte of this provision of the Reorganization Act and adjourn by duly Su
is stronger now than it hes been ab any time since World War II. My incens:
is % vs toward this end and to seb @ personal exemple, as

 

he

Chairman of the Labor-Health,
by getting work I am responsible for handled expeditioughy.

 

te

WLobee,

lucation and Welfare appropriations subco

 

 

sLf to solve, the

 

 

 
  

 

* 4. 2 2 * Shee eyes way Egy whe
While this is primarily a problem for the
ren fad 4 et ttt 4 cutting ney
solution will be mach facilitated by cooperation srezich
as v

T heve seen exemple after example of important

 
Honoreble John F,. Kennedy wie Decentber 9, L961
from the executive
or by guilbbling beby
the President!

Branch being delayed for weeks and months by inaccion
yeen agencies and between divisions of the same agency.
wh

5S annual budget is seldom ready until the legal deadli
ive

 

   
  
 

% iLine
has practically arrived. And a bad practice that has developed. inte almost
standard procedure is to submit, Later in the session, amendments and requests
for supplemental aporopriations that could have been included in the annual

 

4 s

From the years that 2 worked with you in Congress and Prom observation
of your other activities I know you to be a man of sual energy and vigor
who abhors unnecessary delay in accomplishing any job. My comments
delays in Executive recommendations for Congressional action apply la
to experience prior to your assuming the office of President and not at all
to you personally. My only purpose in writing to you about this matter is
to encourage you to do all you can to inculeate in those responsible for
assisting you in preparing recommendations to the Congress, the same Tervor
you have Yor getting the job done. With cooperation I em sure that we can
it possible for the elected representatives of the people of this
country to be with then more and so be cognizant of and better represent
their needs, beliefs, and opinions

   
   

    

     

 

 

Jith best personal wishes,

a

Sincerely yours,