Evening star., 1947-02-16
Arms Cut PeriIs
Moscow ParIey,
~ in House Say
Joint Budget Group
Democrats Ask Delay
In Fixing Ceiling
fTert of Minority Report on
Page A-4.
By J. A. OLeoy

by J. n. VLeoFy
Nineteen House Democrats
warned Congress last night that
a premature cut in funds for the
armed forces might handicap
American diplomats at the Mos
COW Peace Conference.
simultaneously, Chairman Van-
denberg of the Senate Foreign Re-
lations Committee declared against
any cuts that would require the
United States to "disarm alone"
In a minority report against the
proposed $4,000, 100000 slash in
Truman's $37, 5Oo,OO0,0oO budget for
the year beginning July l, the House
Democrats urged delay in fixing any
budget ceiling until a better break
down of possible reductions Is avail
able ...-.-
Other Opponents Strengthened.
'It is possible that such delay, es-
pecially if international agreements
for permanent world peace should
be effectuated in the meantime,
would make possible and feasible
even greater reductions" the minor
ity predicted.
Senator Vandenberg's strength
ened the stand of other Senate Re-
publicans-including Senators Cur
ney of South Dakota, Millikin OF
Colorado and Brewster of Maine
who are advocating a smaller re-
duction in administration estimates.
With the budget issue due to be
voted on in both houses this week,
it appeared last night that the
House would sustain the majority
report for q $4,000, ,000,00 cut, but
that the Senate would scale 1t down
to about $4,500, 100000.
Compromise Likely.
If this happens the difference
would have to be settled in confer
ence, and probably would result in
a final compromise on $4,000, ,000, 900.
The majority of the Joint House
Senate Committee, led by Represen-
tative Taber, Republican, of New
York, the chairman, contended IN
it's report that the fixing Of an over
all ceiling Of $31, SOC, ,000,000 on ex-
perditures, $4,000, 900 900 under the
Presidents figure involved no COM
mitment of any specific reduction In
any particular item.
The opposition insisted however,
that such ceiling would mean tax
ing $1,000, 100000 from the Army,
$3.50 ,00O, 900 from the Navy and $780,
100000 from civil functions OF the
War Department.
Senator Vandenberg said he
feared a cut of ,750,000,000 in
Army Navy funds might upset
American prestige in troubled inter-
national affairs.
He Awaits The Facts.
IT shall vote for the maximum
economy which is not at the expense
of American prestige, authority and
safety in an uneasy world" said the
Michigan Senator But shall never
vote to disarm alone, and I fear this
is the result of the pending budget
recommendations. await the facts" :"
Chairman Bridges of the Senate
Appropriations Committee, who will
present the $6,000,000, 900 recommen-
datfon to the Senate Wednesday,
conceded it probably would be mod
flied in that branch.
The question also is slated for
House debate Wednesday, but the
Rules Committe must determine to-
morrow or Tuesday the conditions
under which it will be taken up.
House Republican leaders had not
decided yesterday on the type of rule
they would favor, but Representative
Cannon, Democrat, of Missouri, in
dicated he expected it to be a
CLOSED" rule, which would require
the House to vote the $4,000, 900 900
figure up or down without amend
ment.
Ridiculous" Keefe Says.
Other developments yesterday
were:
Senator OMahoney, Democrat, of
wyoming, predicted a minority re-
port against the $4,000, ,000, 900 figure
also would be filed in the Senate
this week. He indicated Minority
Leader Barley is considering such
a report.
Representative Keefe, Republican,
of Wisconsin described as "ridicu-
lous" suggestions that the recon-
mendation for $31 500, ,000, 900 CELL
ing means sabotaging national de-
fense.
Mr.. Keefe said Army and Navy
estimates would be Scrutinized for
waste and extravaganza" along
with other departments, but added:
ITO say, however, that our de-
fenses will be shot and our Army and
Navy rendered impotent by the pas
sage of this joint House-Senate
budget resolution is perfectly ridicu-
lous." "The resolution specifically
provides that there is no commit
ment as to any reductions in specific
(see BUDGET, Page A-4D