The contractor cut out the old medicine cabinet in my house, and I discovered a couple of yellowed, wadded-up Oregonian newspapers in the wall from May 1st and 2nd, 1963. In there, along with the ads for Ford Galaxies, and vacuum-tube color televisions, was this article:
Senate OKs Works Bill
Washington (AP) - The Senate passed Wednesday a $1,488,683,841 supplemental appropriations bill after overwhelmingly rejecting a Republican attempt to cut $200 million from President Kennedy's $450 million job-making public works program.
Included in the bill is a rider providing for direct payment to the Philippine government of the $73 million Congress voted last year for the payment of damage claims growing out of World War II Japanese occupation of the islands.
The vote to keep the accelerated public works program at $450 million was 60-26.
The bill was passed by voice vote. It now goes back to the house for action on the Philippines rider and other Senate changes.
Sen. Everett M. Dirksen, R-Ill, the GOP leader, protested in vain against the $450 million appropriation, already approved by the House after a floor fight April 10.
"If this is the way to get the country moving, we are moving in the wrong direction," Dirksen told the Senate.