Evening star., 1939-11-28
Reductions in Funds
Declared Depending
Upon Roosevelt
House Committeeman
Join Economy Aims;
Some Are SkepticoI
BY the Associated Press.

~ skAS AoooNldIC0 6AcoS.
Seven House members who help
set up the bank accounts of Federal
agencies echoed today President
Roosevelt's expression of hope that
Government expenses could be cut
next year. but some expressed doubt
that material savings would be ef-
fected.
Gathering for hearings on a s277,-
00O, 900. emergency fund for neutral
ity and defense purposes, these
House Appropriations Committee
members took the position that re-
ductions depended chiefly on White
House recommendations.
Mr.. Roosevelt said recently at
Warm Springs. Ga, that if general
Government expenditures could be
cut. If defense programs could be
financed on ''pay-as-you-go" basis,
and If business continues to improve,
next years deficit might be slashed
so per cent.
Smith COnfers on Cuts.
Some of the cutting apparently
was plotted yesterday at Warm
Springs as the President conferred
for three hours with Budget Director
Harold D. Smith. Later, it was indi-
Gated, they gave particular atten-
ton to the funds of the Treasury
and Justice Departments and the
Panama Canal.
Mr.. Smith was flown from Wash
ington in an Army bomber TO expe-
dite his return with some presiden-
tial decisions and prevent delay to
the House Appropriations Subcom-
mlttee considering the Treasury sup
ply bill.
Following his session with the
President, Mr.. Smith told reporters
we were taking out a few ap-
pendices.' He indicated Mr.. Roose-
velt might have some further COM
ment at his press conference this
afternoon.
The House members here for the
committee session were Chairman
Taylor, Democrat, of Colorado, and
Representatives Woodrum, Democrat,
OF Virginia; Starnes, Democrat, of
Alabama; Ludlow, Democrat, of In
diana; Taber, Republican, of New
York; Wigglesworth, Republican, of
Massachusetts,, and Otter, Repub-
lican, of Pennsylvania.
House Stand in Doubt.
Chairman Taylor predicted the
group would continue trying to lower
recommendations of the Budget
Bureau, but pointed to the empty
House chamber and said:
Il don't know what the House
will do"
Representative Woodrum called
the Presidents economy program
"one OF the brightest notes that has
been struck
III represents cooperative effort
between the legislative and executive
branches he said. Il believe that
Congress, at least, is ready to cut
down..
But Representative Taber, senior
Republican member, said:
There's no such thing as economy
in sight. 1t will take a fight every
step of the way to keep anywhere
near the budget
Representative Otter said Mr..
Roosevelt would do well to redeem"
his 1882 campaign proposal for 25-
cent reduction in Federal eXpendi-
lures. And Representative Wiggles-
worth expressed the hope that this
new intention to economize would
be more fruitful than those in the
past"
Asks Help of Senate.
Representative Starnes comment
ed that IF the Senate will 60 along
with us, Congress can 60 places on
economy" Representative Ludlow,
voicing opposition to increasing the
national debt and taxes, suggested
that highway. reclamation, public
building and river and harbor ap-
preparations be reduced.
The three Republican committee
members joined Mr.. Starnes in ar
guing against segregating defense
appropriations and arranging to f.
nance them on a "pay-as-you-go"
plan. Discussing special taxes for
defense, Mr.. Taber said:
Il would want to know first what
that tax would be. 1t is a very
clever shot in the air, especially if
the man on whom falls the burden
of paying that tax doesn't know
what it will do
In the Senate, there was some
talk that the President would en-
counter opposition to his request for
higher defense funds.
Il think he will be lucky if he
gets as much as he got last year
for defense" said Senator Adams,
Democrat, of Colorado. a leader of
the so-called economy bloc.