Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-01-26
Economy Campaign
On Capitol Hill Trims
Bills S127,800,000
None of Four Measures
Approved as Yet by
Both Houses, However
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

four appropriation bills now on their
way through the legislative mill.
They are still tentative savings,
because none of the four bills has
received final Endorsement of both
Houses, but economy advocates saw
in the developments thus far a
desire among members of Congress
to avoid the necessity of voting
higher taxes or an increase in the
public debt limit if it can be avoided.
Both Houses Cut.
Both Houses joined in the cutting
process yesterday in the following
rapid series of actions:
The House passed and sent to
the Senate the $1032,154,6l2 Treas
ury-Post Office bill, from which SILL
491, 900 had been trimmed from budg-
ct figures.
The Senate passed the $251 ,822.-
538 deficiency bill for neutrality en-
forcement after approving reduc-
ton of nearly sl3,O00,OO0 in Army
and Navy funds, on which the House
must now act. The House already
had shaved 100000 off budget esti-
mates in passing this bill originally
so that it is now $20,0O0,0O0 under
the budget.
The House also quickly approved
and sent to the Senate yesterday an
urgent deficiency bill carrying $751;
$500, about half of which is for
naval armament and the remainder
for tax refunds. This was approx
mately S1,S82,000 below the budget
estimates for this bill.
Adding these reductions to the
bigger cut Of $94,500,000 the House
made week ago when it passed the
$1.100,l67,000 independent Offices
bill, brings the aggregate cut in
budget figures to date up to roughly
Sl27S00,000.
Retrenchment Sentiment Strong.
The President said in his budget
message that if an increase in the
debt limit of s45,O00,00O,0 was tc
be avoided Congress would have to
hold appropriations to his bedrock
estimates of $4,000, 100000 and to
raise s460,000,000 in new taxes to
meet higher defense costs.
Senate Leader Barley, Democrat
of Kentucky said yesterdays votes
showed that Congress wants to cir
cumvent both a greater debt and
higher taxes.
Neither of these is a happy pros
pect," he commented.
Senator Byrnes, Democrat, Of
South Carolina expressed a similar
opinion. while Chairman Harrison,
Democrat, of Mississippi, of the
Senate Finance Committee, said he
never had seen stronger retrench-
ment sentiment in Congress.
ut certainly shows healthy
condition" Senator Harrison said
adding he had been informed that
Treasury receipts were maintaining
a high level and that even more
optimistic reports might be expected
later.
Both Senators Harrison and Byrnes
commented on the Senate's quick
acceptance Of its Appropriations
Committees recommendations for
reductions, Senator Byrnes observ-
ing that that has not been the
case before
Recess Over Week End.
With both Houses in recess for
the week end, no further develop
ments are due until Monday, ex-
cept that a Senate subcommittee
will continue hearings today on the
independent offices bill.
Most of the reduction in the in
dependent Offices bill is accounted
for by the looping of S75OOO,O 0C
from the construction fund of the
Maritime Commission, leaving S125,-
100000 for that purpose, plus cuts
in public buildings and highway
funds.
In addition to these substantial
money savings the House struck
from the independent Offices bill all
provision for the National Resources
Planning Board, the Office of Gov
eminent Reports and the Council
OF Personnel Management on the
ground there was insufficient basic
authorization for them. The ap-
preparation involved only about 81
100000.
Officials of the Resources Plan
ming Board went before the Senate
subcommittee yesterday to urge re-
lnstatement of the 81 100000 for the
expenses of that agency.
Points to Authorization.
Frederic A. Delano, chairman,
pointed out the board draws its
authority from two sources: The
functions of the National Resources
Committee and the Federal En-
ployment Sterilization Office, which
were consolidated in the Planning
Board by the Presidents reorgan-
lzatlon plan No. l, and that was
approved by a joint resolution of
Congress last year.
Charles W. Eliot, director of the
board, described in detail how the
Planning Board is in a position to
study the needs of various sections
OF the country. Mr.. Delano en-
phasized that the board is perform
ing an advisory service, cooperating
but never competing with other
Federal agencies.
The only serious effort made in
the Senate yesterday to upset COM
mittee pruning of the national de-
tense neutrality items came on a
move to restore 100000 for pur-
chase of land for the Army in
Puerto Rico. On a roll call the
committee cut was sustained, As
to 10.
Most of the nearly S13,OO0,000 the
Senate took from this bill was for
81 naval bombing planes, $6,875, 900;
for Army field maneuvers, $4,000
600, and reduction of S1,O0O,000 in
the Navy fund for reconditioning
old destroyers.
Conference Expected.
The House on Monday has the
alternative courses of accepting the
Senate cuts or sending the bill tc