Evening star., 1947-01-11
BUDGET
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opposing economy at the expense
of national security.
Merger Seen Helped.
Some advocates of merging the
Army and Navy saw chance to
further that cause while the Re-
publicans are looking for ways to
save enough money for 20 per cent
income tax cut. Even If complete
unification is not achieved. however,
indications are that savings will be
sought by eliminating Implications
In Army and Navy expenses.
A White House aide said today
there was nothing surprising" in
Republican criticism of President
Truman's budget message.
Asked what the President thought
of the criticism, Secretary Charles
G. Ross told reporters he did not
believe the President had anything
to say. Mr.. Ross himself added:
at was rather expected in view Of
statements which previously had
been made"
Meanwhile, Republican leaders
appeared to be settling on $780,
000, 900 as the extent of the budget
cut. Chairman Taber of the House
Appropriations Committee said he
thought the Presidents total could
be cut "at least three or four bill
lions
Taber Explains His Stand.
Mr.. Taber said his earlier refer
ence to a $40 SOC, ,000, 900 budget had
teen widely taken to mean he would
try to cut 50, ,000, 600 from the
White House figure. He explained
he was referring only to new appro-
priations when he used that total,
whereas the budget also includes
several billions of carry-over funds.
Substantial, honest-to-goodnes
cuts" in military spending were
foreseen by Representative Engel,
Republican Of Michigan, if the
Army and the Navy are merged.
Mr.. Engel, who will head the
Appropriations Subcommittee hand
ling Army funds, said even without
a merger, large cuts could be made
without sacrificing essential ma
tional defense"
One of the first things his COM
mittee will do, he said, will be to
review the personnel needs of the
Army to determine whether 1.070,-
600 uniformed men will be required
during the next year.
Navy Cut Called Possible.
Representative Plumley, Repub-
lican, Vermont, who will head the
Naval Appropriations subcommit-
tee, said there is room for reduc-
tions in the Navy's budget but de-
clined to specify what items could
be shaved.
Known as a "big Navy" man, Mr..
Plunley emphasized that he will
not propose cuts that would inter-
fere with efficiency.
The chairman-designate of the
House Armed Services Committee,
Representative Walter Andrews,
Republican, New York, took a firm
stand against ''any cuts affecting
security but said he believes reduc-
tions are possible through "elimina-
ton of duplication of the same
functions by the Army and the
Navy"
Representative Vinson of Georgia,
top Democrat on the Armed Serv-
ices Committee, declared budget
cutting should not be "at the ex-
pense of the armed forces with
world conditions the way they are
today"
Senate Also Is Critical.
The chairman designate of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee,
Representative Eaton, Republican,
of New York declared 1--WE must
keep our armed services efficient and
strong enough to keep the respect
of the rest of the world and dis
charge our responsibilities in Eu-
rope and the Orient"
While Democrats generally sup
ported the Presidents figures as
rock bottom estimates, few joined
some Republicans In differing with
the President on the question of
slashing taxes. Senator Taft insisted
20 per cent cut income taxes is
feasible.
Senator Byrd, Democrat, of Vr-
ginia remarked, "It is very evident
that the President has not even
scraped the surface of the oppor-
tunity for retrenchment which ex-
lists in every single agency of the
Government"