Evening star., 1946-11-24
BY Seno tor Robert A. Toft

High in the line up of the legis-
lative problems which must be set
tied quickly by the new Congress
convening In January is the issue
OF national defense and peacetime
expenditures by our armed forces.
Defense expenditures admittedly
can be reduced substantially from
necessarily high wartime levels, but
1t Is not feasible to slash these ex-
pencitures willy-nilly. Our armed
forces should be given exactly what
they think is necessary to maintain
adequately our security and to main
tain peace in the postwar world.
1t Is my guess the national de-
Tense budget can be pared from $18,-
100000, 900 to some where between
Sl1 .000, 100000 and $4,000, ,000, 600
This Is in line with the figures sug-
gested by our military commanders
themselves, and is possible because
OF nonrecurring items such as ter
minal leave, war shipping, UNNRA
and sharp reductions in the Mari
time and War Assets operations
amounting roughly to $1,000 900 900.
In my opinion the idea of crippling
our national defenses because of q
lack of money to carry on would be
sad mistake. But the Congress can
trim expenses, and it should be done
at the earliest possible date.
Budget Reduction Necessary.
The budget which President Tru-
man set in August was SAL 500 ,000,-
600, with anticipated receipts of $780,
600,000,000. This deficit makes it an
economic necessity to reduce the
budget. A reduction of about one
fourth is, I believe, easily possible.
Roughly, $4,000, ,000,0 900 of this years
appropriations will not recur. This
would place the budget at $33,500,-
100000 billion without the econo-
mics which are anticipated in other
Government outlays.
This means that something like
q 20 per cent cut in personal income
taxes may be effected. Since a
citizen now spends one-third of his
working hours toiling for the Gov
ernment, 1t is time that sufficient
economies in Government be made
to reduce this awful drag on his
pocketbook.
Immediate termination of the war
controls by general resolution also
is an order Of business on the Re-
publican agenda. This matter is
being studied, and sufficient infor-
nation on the ramifications of the
War Powers Act should be available
in January to allow an early end to
these extraordinary powers. Con-
tinuation of war controls has been
a restraining influence on our re-
turn to peacetime economy.
Fayors Speedy End to OPA.
The Congress should see to quick
termination of the Office of Price
Administration, and subsequent de-
control of all remaining items, with
the possible exception of rent.
Undoubtedly, the 80th Congress
must consider some type of labor
legislation making unions as respon-
sible to the Government as en-
ployers. I favor the reintroduction
of the Case bill, or similar legisla-
tion. We must prevent violence and
secondary boycottS, but we also
should provide for acooling-off
periods before strikes and, to this
end, provide penalties for violence.
A fact-finding board may be de-
sirable so that both sides can have a
nonpartisan forum for their griev-
anceS.
I believe foremen should be per-
mitted to organize, but not In the
same unions with those working
under them.
1t isn't necessary to hamstring
labor to the extent that all its hard
won rights are nullified. Collective
bargaining is essential to our econ
omy. On the other hand, labor
unions must realize that their hard
won victories in the past have given
them tremendous responsibilities
and that, in the future, they must
live up to them.
Must Consider Compulsory Training,
Compulsory military training and
unification of the armed services
will be considered at an early date
In the field of social welfare the
Congress will consider programs for
medical care, education and hous-
ing. 7 believe every American who
needs medical care should be able to
obtain it. This can be accomplished
through Federal aid to those States
which cannot provide adequate medi-
cal care for their citizens. I intend
to re-introduce the so-called Taft
Ball-Smith bill which provides for
those States.
Since every American child should
be able to obtain an education
whether the community in which
he lives can afford it or not, I plan
to push legislation establishing a
$40-a-year floor" under education
for every child in the United States
Some of the poorer States now
average about So per child, while
others are able to go as high as $50
per child. Federal aid should be
offered to those States that need
1t so that the average expenditure
per child will be $40 per year.
OF extreme Importance to the Con-