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REMARKS
BY
HONORABLE FARRIS BRYANT
DIRECTOR
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY PLANNING
AT THE
WEST VIRGINIA GOVERNORS'
CONFERENCE
ON FEDERAL-STATE RELATIONS
CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA
FEBRUARY 21, 1967
9
January 10, placed great emphasis upon
that idea. He said, in part:
"The 88th and 89th Congresses enacted
more social and economic legislation
than any two Congresses in our history.
But all of this legislation wll come to
nothing unless it reaches the people.
"Federal energy is essential. But it is
not enough. Only a total working partne
ship among Federal, State and local
governments can succeed. The test of
that partnership will be the concern
of each public organization, each
private institution, and each responsibl
citizen...
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"We intend to work with the States and
localities to do exactly that."
And just a few weeks ago, President
Johnson reaffirmed these sentiments in
his Budget Message to the Congress.
He said, in part:
"Our agenda must give high priority
to a stronger and more effective
federal system of government in the
United States. To meet urgent and
growing needs, the Federal Government
is providing a wide range of programs
to assist State and local governments.
Now the chief task is to manage these
pregrams efficiently at every level
of government to assure the most
effective public services...
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"Another aspect of the problem of inter-
governmental cooperation has been the
process of consultation with elected
officials of State and local governments
on matters concerning the development
and administration of Federal assistance
programs. Governors and local chief
executives are responsible for the
management of their units of government.
The Federal Government should take all
practical steps to increase the role
of these executives in the administratio
of federally aided programs..."
We are here today to implement tho
ideas. Our objectives are simple:
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1. To establish adequate
communications. We want to be sure
that we are all on the same frequency,
that our earphones are plugged in,
and that everyone who should be heard
has a working microphone.
2. To ensure coordination in
process and purpose. That means
putting the Governor in the co-pilots
seat.
While the President and the
Governors are setting our course, the
rest of us can keep the ashtrays
clean, and tigers in our tanks.
We have with us today a distin-
guished group of Federal Officials.
They know their jobs. We hope this
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meeting, and the fallout from it, will
enable them to achieve a broader under-
standing of State problems than can be
secured from dealing exclusively with
their special areas of concern.
I recognize the competence of
Governor Smith's staff. With such a
leader, it could not be otherwise.
We hope that they will acquire a better
insight into the underlying reasons for
Federal procedures.
If this chemistry works, we will
develop administrative initiatives
that will make possible the coordinatio
we all seek.
This is not our first effort in
the field of Federal-State relations.
We have over the past year:
l4
1. Held a State legislative
eaders' Conference in Washington --
he first of its kind in history.
2. Arranged for President
ohnson to meet with the Executive
and Highway safety Committees of the
Governors' Conference and with Federal
fficials to discuss traffic safety.
The suggestions made by the Governors
in these sessions were incorporated
in the final legislation.
3. Through Regional Offices of
the Office of Emergency Planning we
ave maintained a two-way dialogue
ith the States. OEP administers for
he President, funds made available
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to the States in times of natural disas
and coordinates the activities of the
entire Federal establishment when major
disasters are declared.
4. The Office of Emergency
Planning has several other activities
which impact upon the Federal-State
relationship. In the telecommuni-
cations field we are moving forward
with planning to improve communications
systems among the various levels of
Government. Since law enforcement,
education, water development, trans-
portation and air pollution are not
bound by geographical areas an assault
on the problems requires the most
efficient and swiftest communications
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acilities. In another OEP area, we
re using our computer facilities and
xpertise to develop a Data Comparability
tudy of direct interest to the States.
n effect, this study looks to the
implification of standards and
omenclatures used by the fifty
tates. In countless instances, these
efinitions are different and not
ranslatable unless the criteria are
horoughly understood and programmed.
e do not want uniform measuring rods,
ut it would be extremely useful to
now how one State's measurement can
e expressed in terms of measurements
eed by other States. This is partic-
larly important as we move increasingly
into regional compacts.
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5. Finally, I have been privileg
to represent the President at the
National Governors' Conference and at
various regional conferences. These
meetings, coupled with a steady corres-
pondence between my office and the
Governors, have helped to establish
and maintain the line of communication
which is the purpose of this Conference.
I would end on this note. There
was a time when Americans enjoyed
parallel citizenship under governments
which served different levels of need --
Federal and State. Today we have
parallel citizenship under governments
serving in the same areas of need.
Federal grants have risen from $30
18
illion annually in 1920 to nearly
15 billion today. If we are to use
hese funds wisely and well, if we are
0 develop programs most responsive
o the needs of the people, if we are
0 keep pace with an era of enormous
hange, we must innovate and create
he institutional means to master our
go in freedom. In the final analysis,
uccess will depend on the States and
he competence shown by them, as it
always has.
We are here today in West
Virginia to begin that process.
I'm happy to be in the great
mountain country of West Virginia.
Some of this beautiful State is part
of the famed Appalachian region. Its
eastern portions dip into the Potomac
River basin, which provides a geographi
link with the Nation's capital. This
team of Federal officials is here
today to reverse that flow and, by so
doing, bridge the communications link
so vital to a successful Federal-State
relationship.
It is fitting that we hold this
meeting in Charleston. Your distinguis
Governor Hulett Carlson Smith has been
foremost among the Governors in aiding
and using the Federal Government. As
co-chairman of the Appalachian Regional
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ommission, he is an active worker on
ehalf of West Virginia and all of
ppalachia. He is a most vigorous
articipant in the deliberations of
he National Governors' Conference
nd is a member of its Executive
ommittee. He is equally active in
he Southern Governors' Conference.
e is still a very young man, but
8 years ago he was voted the
utstanding young man in West
Virginia by the Jaycees.
In brief, he has already
egistered a very distinguished
career and he will add to that
rilliant record of achievement for
any years to come. Right now he
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is in the thick of nationwide efforts
to simplify and streamline our Federal-
State relationships.
On February 2, Governor Smith
testified before the Intergovernmental
Relations Subcommittee of the U.S.
Senate Committee on Government Operatic
He spelled out what is wrong... and
what is right about Federal-State
relations today. Governor Smith said
"our State has never enjoyed a higher
level of cooperation with the Federal
Government than during the administratio
of President Johnson." And he went on
to say "I favor a stronger role for
the States in all levels of these
programs -- and I favor active
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ecognition by the Federal Establish-
ent of the need to strengthen the
bility of the States to meet this
hallenge."
Those are sentiments we all can
pplaud.
The problems themselves are
ramatically demonstrated in the
tatistics of those relations. More
han 400 authorities exist for grant
rograms. At least 160 have been
dded since 1960. More than 1,000
ew Federal development districts,
reas and regions have been funded.
Last December, one of our Governors
eported to the Governors' Conference
that there are 170 separate Federal
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Aid Programs being administered by 21
Federal departments and agencies making
grants to more than 200 agencies and
political subdivisions in his State
alone. (W "5111mm;
B I I E M H t 5 II n J. I
Wm.)
Here in West Virginia, Governor
Smith and his administrative family
must live and work with about 160
separate grant programs providing more
than 150 million dollars, and affecting
every city and county in the State.
All these figures underscore a
serious question of centralization
which could weaken our Federal system
if the States do not exercise affir-
mative and aggressive initiatives in
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he management of these funds on the
tate level. Let me make abundantly
lear my conviction that the State must
ontinue to play a vigorous and vital
ole in our Federal system. It cannot
orfeit that responsibility despite
he increase in Federal grants.
The fact is that State and local
xpenditures in these areas currently
xoeed $75 billion each year, five
imes the amount contributed by the
ederal Government. And those State
nd local expenditures are expected
0 reach $142 billion by 1975.
Clearly, it is the States playing
heir traditional role in the partner-
hip which will determine the success
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of these efforts. There are two
separate problems:
One -- the obvious problem --
is budgetary.
The other -- less obvious, and
more important and difficult - is the
administrative problem.
Neither of these problems is
"deliberate," for they are the unintend
results of many separate actions by
the Congress in the pursuit of diverse
but good goals.
Neither of these problems finds
a natural or obvious solution within
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the framework of our established
institutions and practices.
One thing is clear! If we are
to find a solution, a methodology
must be formulated to insure the
coordination of diverse claims,
programs and administrations with
related activities, shared concerns
and similar responsibilities within
the State. It follows "as the night
the day" that this cannot be done
except through the office and person
of the Governor.
Essential to their solutions
is adequate "communications." The
President, in addressing the Federal
Department heads on November 11, 1966,
and in his State of the Union Message
PAGE 1
REMARKS BY HONORABLE FARRIS BRYANT DIRECTOR -F ICE OF EMERGENCY PLANNING AT THE WEST VIRGINIA GOVERNORS' CONFERENCE N FEDERAL-STATE RELATIONS CHALSTON, WEST VIRGINIA FEBRUARY 21, 1967
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9 dcuary 10, placed great emphasieon 'hat ids .H, sa id, in ears : "The 88th ard 89th Congresses enacted O cial ard sconoic 1.aistation is ary two Congresses in our history. o t alf this legslation wll aore to n third rle'se it reaches the people. -F energy is essential. But it is o t norugh. Only a total work ino partnerO :5a -0o Federal, State and local oernmen tS can succeed. The test of t0at partnership will be the concern ,f each publi organization, each vate institution, and each responsible oitizen...
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"We intend to work with the States and localities to do o ixct'y tht." And just a few weeks co, President Johnson reaffirmed these sen tients in his Budget Me-ago ro the Ccgessr. He raid, in tart: "Our agenda must C ie high prior ity to a stronger and more effective federal system of governmet in tie United States. Tc -eat ur ent nd growing needs, the Federal Government is provi ng a wide range of programs to assist Sta te aid local governments. Now the chief task s to -anage tiese Pr grams effiientIy at very Ievei of government to asure the most effective euhlic sers ice...
PAGE 4
11 "ohr aspect of the problem of interavernmertal cooperation has been the croces, of consultation with elected 0ficials or State and local governments so tosrs concerning the development ,nd ad ncstration of Federal assistance rOgrars -governors and local chief x c.uti ona ra ses tonsible for the aangement of their units of government. h, Fedral Govrnment should take all fact ia steps to increase the role f these executives in the administration o fderamlt. a ided programs..." ne ore here today to implement those ao. ur o njectivas are implte:
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1. To ea ll ih dequate commun cati ons. re w nt to be sure that we are a' 1o t1o e same frequency, that our earphoros are pclged in, and that everyone who should he heard hs a work no micr phone. 2. To ensure coordination in process and purpose. That means putting the Governor in the co-niloths seat. While the rc dent an the Governors are oettinr our course, the rest of us can kenp the ashtrays clean, and tigrs I our tanks. die have with us tod a a i tnguished group af Federal jfaiil They knew their Jos. We ahone th
PAGE 6
13 -stin and the fallout from it, will enable them to achieve a broader under
PAGE 7
14 1. Held a State leeislative leaders' Con f ernca in Wash in ton -the first of ts ki1d in history. 2. Arranged for President Johnson to meet wit' tie Executive and Highway safety c-'ittees of tie Governors' Con ference and with Federal Official to dibuess traffic safety. The suggestion, -ade by the Govern s in these sessi ass were incorporated in the final legislation. 3. Thyough egional Offices of the Office of -mergercy Plannino we have maintainel a two-way dialogue with the State. OE aldin ister' for the President, tunds ads available
PAGE 8
*o the Sates in times of natural disaster nd co rd mates the activities of the e rtre deral establishment when major ditern are declared. 4The Office of Emergency Planning has several other activities wich Tpact UfOP the Federal-State rlitir ship. In the telecommoniai sions field we are moving forward with pl r gnn to imorove communicatio n y-temv amorg the var ious levels of government. Since law enforcement, ducat rn, water development, transprtat on and a ir pollut ion are not ound hv reographical areas an assnut -the p-blems requ ires the most ,fficient and smiftert co un ications
PAGE 9
facilities. In other 01P 're we are snoe our c'pler -ci ,ties fd expertise to decl'op aatu ,om'araS iit' Study of direct interest to the S ates. In effect, th -t y I o1 ks to the simo'ificatin of sords h no e 'enclature; osed ty the fifty Stdte .In tunteos ,n't-n, t'ee definitiors are different and rt trnsltaible inl]se t0' r iter ie' thorou hlv u--,eo -n, A-roam We do not ar but It would kne how ne be expresed used by uthei :un i fer" m i ta t' Fl stee' -Ce n terris of ut .T r our in i r-o,, ueful tu 'ure'ert ,an -ea''reents i' iroar ticove increasingly ularly i.ror tat S oe r into regiunul coup
PAGE 10
17 5. Firslly, I have Seen orivileged repr-sent the Fresidest at the 1-itional Governors' Conference and at vrous regional conferences. These eetinCs coupled with a steady corresndnec he ween my office and the 'ovemrors ae helped to eshah ish nd mantair the line of communication whach s the purpose of this Conference. I would end on thin note. There asa e when Amer cans en joyed -arlel cilienshic under yovernmnts rhch erven different levels of need -nedera and State. Today we hanve -rallel citizenship under government ,ervin n sonta e area of need. federal grant have risen from S3C
PAGE 11
million aenu y l2f to nseoarl $15 billion -oday. If wi a-s to Is these fund wi ely nd well, if wE are to develop program -t r-eonsivo to the needs othe people, if we are to keep pace w th an era of enormst change, we mus iovate andl create the institute ial ean, o aster our age in freedom, n the inal arly i, success will depend on the Staten and the cosetsnc shor by -he,, as always has. We are her e today is We"t Virgin iv to heg in ha t process
PAGE 12
1'9 Pappy to he in the great moun' t r country of West Virginia. Some of this beautiful State is part of the fanen Appalachian region. It, eastern port ions dip into the Potoman atver rasin, which provides a neographic link wth the Nation's capital. This 'eam of Federal officials is here lanai to reverse that flow and, by so doin bridge the communications link so ialoS to a successful Federal-State relatinship. It I, fitting that we hold thim meot ma in Charleston. Yoo distinguished Governor Hulett Carlson Smith has been forest ancna the Governors in aiding -d ising the Federal Government. As co-chairman of the Appalachian Renional
PAGE 13
Commission, he s an active worker on behalf of West Virg nia nd all of Appalachia. He i a ost v igoro participant in the deliberation, of the National Governors' conference and is a member of its Execut an Committee. He io equall artav in the Southern Governors' Conference. He is still a Verv Young Tan, but 18 years ago he war voted the outbancdng young man in West Virginia by the Jayceo. In br ief, he nas already registered a very dist inguished o-reer and he will add to that br illiant record of achievement for many years to come. Right now he
PAGE 14
is in the thick of nationwide effort, to siplify and streamline our Federa
PAGE 15
recognition by the Federal Establishment of the need to streng then the ability of the Jtates to ceet this challenge." Those are ser timents we all can applaud. The probes theelveo are dramatically deorstrated in the statistics of those relations. More than 400 author ties exist for grant programs. At least 130 have been added since 1960. More than 1,000 new Federal develcpm'ent distr cts, areas and reg ions have been unded. Last December, one of our Governors reported to the G vernors' Conference that there are '70 separate Federal
PAGE 16
5 id Programs being admin istered by 21 federal departments and agencies mak ing rants to more than 200 agencies and p litical sbdji isis in his State ,Iose. (Gesrnnr bryant --Governor 0er t Mc Nair _a Suth Caral na ade th Ls statemn t.) Here in West Virginia, governor -Cith ard his administrative family must live and work with about 16 searate grant programs providing more toas 150 million dollars, and affecting -ery city and county in the State. All these figures underscore a serious ues tian of centralization whiah could weaken our Federal system if the states do not Caereisn affin,,, ive and astressiae initiatives in
PAGE 17
the management of these funds on the State level. -et ne mke atundantly clear my convit on that the State must continue to play a vigorous and vital role in our Federal system. It cannot forfeit that responsibility despite the increase n federal grants. The fact is that State and local expenditures in these areas currently exceed $75 billion each year, five tinen the anac t cortr buted by the Federal over ren t. And those State and local exend tures ae expected to reach 142 bitlion by 1175. Cln rly, it the State playing their traditional role in the partnership which will de erine the n ces
PAGE 18
,f these efforts. There are two separatee problems: Cn -the obvious problem -s budgetory. Th: other -ess bv ious, and re mortont and difficult --is the d in, isarativ orotlee. Nh other rf these problems is polit al," for they are coron for kepb] ans ard Democrats. N ither of these problems is *deliberat," for they are the un intended r oulto of rany separate actions by toe Conress in the pursuit of diverse cu o c yo. Is. Ne either of these problems finds a natural or obvious solution within
PAGE 19
the framework of our estabihed institution, and pro ti es. One thing Is .l-r: if we are to find a solut ion, p methodology most be fortulated to rnue the coordination of d diverse claim programs and Adminisratjions with related activaties, shared concerns and similar resosrsibilities within the State. If follows "is the night the day" that t,,ic cannot he done except through the office and person of the Goernor. Essential t: is adequate "cos President, in atc Oepartment heads and in his State their solution ~monica ion." The resting the federal on Ntvmce 11, 1966 of the Union Moesoge
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