Evening star., 1932-11-20
HALF BILLION SLASH
IN BUDGET PLANNED
Hoover Calls Special Session
of Cabinet for Study of
!. Reduction.
Continued From First Page.)

below the last budget estimates, and in
fact so low they will be hard for Con-
gress to do any further cutting. Every
department head is cutting his estim-
Ates, and with this corporation we will
succeed in cutting right down to the
bone"
1t was made evident by ether cabinet
members as they trailed out of the
cabinet room that they were with the
President in his program for economy.
Secretary of Interior Wilbur said he
reported saving in his big department
of at least S5,500,0O0 He explained
that that saving will be spread out, and
not confined to any one or a few of the
activities.
Postmaster General Brown said he
hoped to submit figures showing a saw
ing Of at least $4,000 He indicated
that some OF his saving would be
effected by a reduction in postal service
personnel
Postal Saving S55,000,00
The Postmaster General added that
his department was one that did not
exceed its budget estimates for the
present year. He said he recently
showed the President that his depart
ment would run about SAL 900 900
ing yesterdays meeting he said he was
now able to say that this saving would
amount to $55,000000
Although the President has said
nothing in public on the subject, 1t IS
generally understood he approves CT
a continuation of all provisions of the
economy act of last year, including the
81 per cent pay cut and ban on leave
IN appropriations for next year.
Faced by q Treasury deficit that now
amounts to more than S700000,0O0 and
with a reduction in anticipated reVe-
nues, President Hoover has been greatly
concerned about the preparation of the
new budget. He held almost daily long
distance telephone talks with Director
of the Budget Roop during his final
campaign swing which carried him TO
the Pacific Coast. Since his return to
Washington last Wednesday, he has
conferred with the budget director as
well as individual members of the
cabinet, particularly Secretary Mills.
1t is Understood that confidential
estimates on the Treasury-Post Office
and Agriculture appropriation bills
have already been submitted to sub
committees of the House Appcopria-
While their total amounts are not
known. it is known that these bills
show a reduction of real proportions
compared with the present year.
Stimson and Hurley Absent.
The only members of the cabinet not
In attendance at yesterdays eXtraorQl-
nary session were Secretary of State
Stimson and Secretary of War Hurley.
Secretary Stimson was engaged in work
at his home on the war debt problem.
The President conferred soon after
this cabinet session with Senator Hiram
Bingham of Connecticut. The latter is
the ranking Republican member of the
Special Senate Economy Committee.
He pointed cut to the President that the
death yesterday OF Senator Jones OF
Washington, chairman of this special
subcommittee, left a vacancy that
should be quickly filed. He said that
the committee would support the Presi-
dent in his aim for greater reduction
in governmental costs.
Meanwhile, from Capitol Hill came
reiterated expressions CT an adanant
attitude against the recreation of the
War Debts Commission and against
an extension of the moratorium. Should
this view prevail, a demand by the
United States for payments due on De-
cember is would be the only course
available.
Both Mr.. Hoover and President-elect
Roosevelt, when they sit down together
over the debt problem at the White
House Tuesday, will have as common
ground an expressed belief against can
collation. of the war obligations.
From high administration quarters
has come word that the Chief Executive
is definitely opposed to another one
year moratorium, and favors instead
more rigid attitude toward foreign
debtors than any wholesale suspension
of the payments due on December 10.
How far Mr.. Hoover will go in his
discussion with Mr. Roosevelt Of the
requests of Great Britain, France and
Belgium for renewed debt negotiations,
neither he nor his aides have disclosed.
Nor has any intimation been given Of
how big part disarmament will play
in the conversation.
Curtius Met BOrah.
It was learned yesterday that DR..
Julius Curtius, former German foreign
minister, conferred while here with
Chairman Borah of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee. He had previous
Iy paid calls upon the President and
Secretary Stimson.
The Chief Executive has said re
SPECIAL NOTICES.