Evening star., 1946-01-28
Truman Budget Hit
AS Masterpiece Of
Confusion by Taft

Calling President Truman's
budget for the next fiscal year
a masterpiece OF confusion"
Senator Taft, Republican, of
Ohio called on the White House
today to explain some of its fea-
lures in more detail.
Senator Taft's move came on the
heels of a statement by Senator
Bridges, ranking Republican on the
Senate Appropriations Committee,
terming the budget a masterpiece
of deception" and asserting the
public debt will rise SIS 100 600 900
in the next Is months instead of
declining.
Il have been studying the budget
for week, and it is impossible to
tell what some features of it mean"
said Senator Taft. "For example,
the President includes $4,000, 900 900
for his so-called recommended pro-
gram, but these are things that
have not yet been authorized, and
no one can tell what it is for"
NO nope Tor Tax Cut.
Senator Taft said the Presidents
budget offered the people no hope
| for further tax reduction. The
Ohioan suggested such reduction
would be possible If the budget fig
ures were clarified and scaled down.
In statement last night. SEN
ator Bridges said:
THE President made every effort
to have taxpayers believe that the
Federal Government will grow
financially stronger during the next
18 months of his administration. 1t
will, in fact, become dangerously
weaker"
Calling the budget presentation
"a blueprint for continued waste of
the taxpayers and BOND buyers
funds" Senator Bridges declared
the administration is figuring on
reducing its gross debt by dissipat-
ing its cash balance. He said that
is like drawing on savings account
to meet an overdraft on a checking
account
The President estimated in his
budget message week. ago that no
increase in the national debt would
be necessary in the fiscal year be-
ginning next July i. He estimated
expenditures of s35 300 OO0, 900, net
receipts of $31 SOC, ,000,0 900, and said
the estimated difference of $4,300.-
000, 900 would be met "by a reduc-
tion in the very substantial balance
which will be in the Treasury dur
ing the next fiscal year"
Senator Bridges said the figures
show clearly that a cash balance
of 5000 100000 in the Treasury
at the end of 1945 will be melted
away to S3,200, ,000,0 by June 30.
l947, with the net debt rising
steadily.
Deficit Declared Inexcusable.
Asserting that the budget can and
should be balanced, Senator Bridges
said deficit of $4,000, ,OO0, 600 is
"unwarranted and inexcuasable."
mo budgetary manipulation can
substitute for thrift and efficiency
management" he said. Real Fed
eral debt reduction can come only
by Government living within its
means"
The Republican Senator had a
number of specific criticisms.
why is it necessary to increase
the civil departments and agencies
expenditures to $500, ,00O,0 900 from
81 zoo, ,000,000 in 1882" he asked.
Aren't Federal pay rolls and non
essential bureaucratic activities al
ready over-inf1ated? s "
why must s1,100, 900 900 be spent
on public works at time when in
dustrial activity, if it were freed
from Federal oppression, could pro-
vide all the jobs and facilities that
are needed?"
He said the President had asked
Sic, ,0co. 600, 900 for the armed forces
when Congress and the Army and
Navy have not determined their re-
quirements: that $1,75O,O00, 900 set
up for international finance depends
on congressional action on loan re-
quests, and that If Congress approves
all the Presidents suggestions for
social betterment and similar i'm
provements, $500, ,000, 900 item will