Evening star., 1946-01-25
Truman Faces
Senate Battle
On Remode|inu
New Effort Likely
After Defect of
Plan in House


to hold up his s1,65o.ooo project to
expand the White House executive
Offices, the fight over the plans will
be carried to the Senate, it was indi-
Gated today.
Shortly after the House adopted
move to block use of the fund for
the construction, there was specula-
tlon the Senate would seek to restore
the fund.
Such move, observers said, would
bring new demands that other means
be found to give the Presidents
staff more ample Office space without
transformation of the White House
into an Office building"
Roll Call Possible.
Ihe House last night passed the
independent Offices appropriation
Dill without roll call on an amend
ment which would strip the Presi-
Gent OF his present funds for re-
modelling and expanding the
executive offices.
The amendment, offered by Rep
resentative Case, Republican, of
south Dakota was adopted tenta-
lively, ITO to Al, while the House
was sitting as Committee of the
Whole House. This was subject to
roll call before final passage of
the bill, If opponents so wish. The
test was not made, apparently on
the belief the Senate likely would
restore the construction fund if the
President determined to go ahead
with the project.
There was no comment from the
White House on the House action.
Press Secretary Charles G. Ross. re-
porting this, told a news conference
he thought the President had dis
cussed the matter sufficiently yester-
day.
More Than Protest.
TO economy-minded Republicans
In the House, the Case amendment
was more than protest against |
Mr.. Truman's plans for expanding
the White House-it provided an
opportunity to pare down Federal
expenditures. Minority Leader Mar
tin made it clear that yesterdays
action was "the beginning of a move
to try to cut every bill that comes
in"
The goal of House Republicans,
Mr.. Martin said, is to balance the
budget "by making up cuts in the
difference between estimated income
and expenditures"
When the session is over" he
said, I'VE will be able to point to a |
balanced budget, or the blame will
not be on U.s."
House action yesterday came a |
few hours after President Truman
at his morning press conference had
termed the furor over the project
tempest in teapot. Though he
gave reasons for the expansion, the
opposition in the House was
adamant.
Hot Debate Precedes Vote.
The Case amendment was adopted
after half hour of hot debate, with
most speakers attacking the plan
to enlarge the White House struc-
ture. They had vehicle readily at
hand, for the pending business was
the independent Offices appropria-
ton bill and the first item up was
the section to grant $685., $50 next
year for salaries and other normal
expenses of the White House. To
this the Case amendment adds
proviso that this cost be paid out
OF the 81 1,650,000 which Congress pro-
vided last December, in the first
1946 Deficiency Appropriation Act,
for remodeling of the White House. !
The Case amendment also provided !
that any Of that fund remaining
$780, ,340 must be returned to the i
United States Treasury.
The House action created a di-
lemma over who is going to foot
the bill for preliminary work which
has already been done on the White
House addition.
1t was the fact that work had al
ready been started that led the
House to speedy consideration of
the Case amendment. Representa-
tive Hendricks, Democrat of Flor
ida said ne would support Mr.. Case
In requesting the President to de-
lay ME project but that he did not
approve the prohibiting rider. But
Mr. Case and others pointed out
that the work had already begun.
Smith Urges Action.
Others who insisted on imme-
diate action were Representatives
Smith, Democrat, of Virginia:
Stefan, Republican, of Nebraska:
Rees, Republican, of Kansas and
Jensen, Republican, of Iowa.
Supporting the President was Rep
reSentative Mcmahon, Democrat, of |
Texas, who argued that the presi-
dency was man killing job" and
that the Executive required more
Office space to tighten his burdens.
The auditorium included in the re-
modelling plans is necessary, Mr..
McManon said, so the President |
can receive large delegations.
Foreign potentates may isolate
themselves from their people" the
legislator said, but we want our
President to be accessible to the
people"
MIR. Smith and Mr.. Case told
their colleagues that neither the
House nor its Appropriations Conn
mittee had been given a chance
TO study the expansion plans. The
construction fund was added in the
Senate, they said, and when the
measure was given to conferees
and finally sent back to the House.
virtually no explanation was given
as to the purpose of the item. Only
recently. they said, was the scope
OF the project revealed.
1919 Slash Defeated,
Another effort to amend the ap-
preparations bill by slashing salary
funds Of all agencies except the
Veterans Administration 10 per cent
was defeated. The amendment was
proposed by Representative Taber,
Republican, of New York and turned
down by vote of ITS to 145. 4
The action, If successful. would /
have had the effect of cutting the
Presidents $4,000 salary by $500.
although MIR. Taber said later he had
not aimed particularly at doing SO.
The President was also prevented
from using a $5,000,000 balance in
his emergency fund when Mr.. Taber
raised a technicality that did not