Salt Water & Sympathy

Lyndon Johnson of the Texas hills knows water's value and drought's pain. "In my country," he said as he signed the Water Resources Planning Act last week, "sometimes you can't get a glass of water even out of the rivers--much less out of the restaurants."

Passing out souvenir pens by the passel, Johnson explained that he had hastened to sign the bill "because we just cannot overemphasize and we cannot overdramatize and we cannot overreact to this nation's growing problem of water supply." He used the northeastern drought as an example of how bad things can get, said the long-term goal must be the "drought-proofing" of metropolitan areas by desalinizing sea water (see U.S. BUSINESS).

But large-scale desalinization and other projects that may grow out of cooperative federal-state planning under the new law--which provides matching grants to states over ten years--will not produce results for years. Meanwhile, Johnson promised federal help to parched regions. Then he produced a report from his Water Resources Council, which contained the grim reminder that "the most immediate, lowest cost solution to a rapidly dwindling supply is drastically curtailed consumption."

Last week the President also:

> Received a commemorative copy of a new book (Magna Carta, by Oxford University Professor James C. Holt) from Sir Patrick Dean, the British ambassador, and took the occasion to Lyndon-ize history: "The Magna Carta has always meant much to all Americans. The success of the lords who, shall we say, reasoned together with King John 750 years ago inspired the Americans who tried the same on King George III 189 years ago from Philadelphia. The outcome was good or bad--depending on the point of view."

> Announced his intention to establish a United Nations fellowship program in memory of Adlai Stevenson. Details are lacking, but broad-brush plans call for recruitment of young people from U.N. member countries to "intern" in U.N. agencies. The program is similar to the White House fellowships, awarded this year for the first time to 15 young Americans who in September will begin to work in Washington.

> Signed the Silver Coinage Act, which he requested of Congress seven weeks earlier because of the worldwide shortage of silver. This first fundamental change in coinage in 173 years will soon take all silver out of new dimes and quarters, reduce the silver content of new 500 pieces from 90% to 40%. The President warned against hoarding the remaining silver money for speculation. An estimated 12 billion silver coins will remain in circulation, he said, and another billion will flow from the mints before the changeover occurs.

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