Evening star., 1942-07-27
Byrd Economy Group
Urges Surveys on
War Agency Spending
Cuts in 'Non-EssentiuI
Bureaus Only Scratch
Surface, Report Declares
BY J. A. O'LEARY.


Committee took the position today
that the 81 1,313, 1888 ,208 saved at this
session on essential Govern
ment functions has only scratched
the surface of possible economies
and that the search should go on
in war agencies as we'll as in nom
war bureaus.
Bringing war agencies into the
scope of the economy effort for the
first time, the report declares:
The committee realizes that there
is growing need to examine closely
the activities, practices and ex-
penditures of the so-called defense
and war agencies. It is to be hoped
that these agencies are approaching.
at least. leveling- -of stage where
efficiency and vigilance over prac-
tices properly may be demanded
without interference with the maxi
mum war effort.
Time to Change Policy.
"Heretofore the committee has
hesttAted to call up these .so-called
war and defense agencies for minute
examination because they were In
the course of organization and be-
cause Of the imperative nature OF
the business Of most OF them. How
ever, it seems to be more and more
evident that the time lis approach
ing for the committee to change this
policy.
with the national debt standing
today at approximately $50, ,00o, ,O00.-
600; with 1t increasing every day at
a tremendous rate necessitated by
| the war and augmented still further
| by other expenditures. and with un-
expended war balances totaling
$160, ,000, 900 900, there is in prospect
a national debt of at least $500 O00.- :
/ 900. 900 by conservative estimates.
This, of course. takes into consid-
Grafton revenue which is meeting
not more than 80 per cent of ex-
| penditures this year.
With such fiscal future in view,
the need for every possible economy
in none essentials is urgent. There
| fore the committee contemplates a
| vigorous continuation of all phases
OF its work for reduction Of nom
essential Federal expenditures"
Made public by Chairman Byrd
the report expressed qualification
that the total saved at this session
exceeded the 81 ,301 OTIS 900 the Joint
Committee estimated in a series OF
recommendations last December.
Continued Drive Urged.
In urging that the economy drive
continue, the Joint Committee q
view Is not out of line with the spe-
cial Senate Economy Committee
which last week criticized failure to
streamline non-defense activities for
an all-out war effort.
Chairman Tydings' Senate group
was set up primarily to find out how
many employees could be transferred
from peace time to war agencies to
avoid further personnel increases.
The Tydings group laid on the
Budget Bureau most of the blame
for not saving more, and asked the
Senate Appropriation Committee to
investigate the bureaus methods
the philosophy OF deficit spending
and to consider the advisability o1
taking the budget ofIice away from
the executive branch of Government
to make it directly responsible tt
Congress.
There is one note of conflict ir
the two reports. namely over whal
the Budget Bureau has accomp.
lished. In contrast 10 the Tyding.
criticism of that agency, the Byrt
report states that the Joint Com.
mittee does not claim sole credit fol
savings made this year, adding thai
some agencies co-operated in bring
ing them about, and that "the
Budget Bureau has worked diligent.
ly in reducing n-essential expen.
ditures and in pairing down bulge
recommendations
Surface But Scratched.
Looking to the future, the Byre
report said:
THE committee realizes that thu
possibilities for economies have beer
no more than scratched. On tn,
basis of studies being made 1t Il
apparent that further reduction
should be made in Federal spending
Although the committee recon-
mended that over a billion dollar
could be saved in its preliminar!
report, 1t has since determined tha
there are many other necessary saw
ings that can be effected withou
any interference with the wa
program.
TN normal times the amour
!. recommended by the committe'
would be considered a substantial
savings but due to the tremendou
war expenditures 1t is imperative
| that tha roynusiffAA continue its A.