Evening star., 1947-07-28

July /, 1910, when Congress spent
whatever sums the executive asked
and there was no brake on expendi-
lures at all, there are 40 fiscal years
of peacetime operation since 1923.
OF these 40 years. Congress raised
the presidential budget in each OF
10 years, and cut 1t in a minor way
In the other 10.
In the 10 years when Congress ap-
propriated less than the budget, the
biggest single saving was by the
Democratic Congress in 1884. when
$3.50, 900, 900 was Topped off the
budget. This represented a saving
of Az per cent on budget OF
$s,261 ,000, 900.
Cannon Estimates Cut.
The 80th Congress, In dealing with
the appropriations for the fiscal
year which began on July last and
runs to July 1, 1s48, is conceded by
Representative Cannon. Of Missouri,
ranking Democrat on the House Ap-
propriations Committee, to have cut
off $2,2o7 5000 "at the very out
side"
Applying this to President Tru-
mans budget estimate Of $37, $780,
100000, this Is a cut of about 6
per cent made by the Republican
majority.
But Chairman Taber of the Ap-
propriations Committee, insists that
the final figures will show a saving
of at least 81, BOG, 900 900 or about
~ per cent. This, he says, is en-
tirely apart from $1,617, 100000 in
cancellations and recoveries which
the President did not include when
he made up his $500, 900, 900
budget. Mr.. Taber says 1t will be
found that the Treasury Is $4,423,-
900, 900 better off than II Congress
had followed the Presidents esti-
mates.
What Mr.. Taber says would mean
that the Republican majority actu-
ally achieved an economy Of as
much as II per cent and close to
Il per cent under the Presidents
budget. This would be an amazing
accomplishment.
For the present, however, even If
one takes the figures conceded by
Representative Cannon, the Demo-
cratic expert on such affairs who
for long time was chairman of the
Appropriations Committee, it is
evident that the Republicans broke
the record in percentage Of cut
under a presidential budget.
It is healthy thing for America
that q Congress should actually
strive to save money and cut the
presidential estimates. This was
really one Of the stimulating factors
in the effort twice to get a tax
reduction bill through Congress. 1t
is to be hoped the drive for reduc-
ton Of taxes continues because
without such prod the tendency
Is to spend without limit.
Already the "spenders" on the
other hand are lamenting the fact
that this Congress did not appro-
pirate for this or that social"
cause. The habit Of spending for
almost anything under the heading
of welfare" is 50 deeply ingrained
among '1eftwingers" and New Deal
ers that one wonders If they are
bent on wrecking the financial
structure Of the Government so
that q system Of State socialism
will be the more easily erected on
the ruins.
The American Government today
is carrying public debt in excess
of $3.50, 600, 900 900 and must not only
apportion a substantial amount for
debt reduction but must set aside
from the surplus each year a GER
tain proportion for tax reduction
so as to eliminate from the price
structure the many tax items that
enter into cost of operation now
adays. The Republican Congress
has made a great start and, regard
less Of party, deserves the applause
OF q grateful Nation for establish
ing once more the simple, frugal
principle that, except in emergen-
cies, a Government like an indivi-
dual should not live beyond income
received.
(HAproduction Rights RASeryed)