Evening star., 1947-02-20
House Votes Bal
10 Budget Cut
Amendments
22o-to-173 BuIIot
Clears Way for
Final Passage
By J. A. O'Leory

100000 budget cut late today was
foreshadowed early this after
noon when the House, in it's first
test vote, adopted a rule against
amendments from the floor. The
rule carried, 229 to 173.
The resolution will put the House
On record in favor of trimming
President Truman's budget from
s37 SOC, ,000, 900 to $31, SOC, 100000, the
detailed cuts to be decided upon as
the separate supply bills come along.
The special rule was denounced
as a gag" by Democratic leaders,
but defended by the Republicans as
justified ON this issue. Democrats
contended that when they we're in
control such gag" rules were con-
fined to tax bills, but Republicans
disputed the claim.
Democratic orators placed heavy
emphasis on the danger of cutting
Army and Navy funds at this time.
Republicans insisted substantial
economies are possible in the armed
services without imperiling national
defense.
Rayburn Sees Hypocrisy
Minority Leader Rayburn called
the economy resolution "a legisla-
tive gesture-an idle one" 1t was,
he said, utter and total legislative
hypocrisy" to say that the budget
would be cut by $6,0OOOOO, 900.
What will you say continued
Mr.. Rayburn, when you find on
June 30 that you have not reduced
Government expenditures by $6,00O,-
600, 900, by $4,000, 100000, or even by
S., 900 100000?
IF you are not going to cut the
appropriations for the Army and
Navy, where are you going to make
cuts Of $4,000 900 ,oOO?"
Majority Leader Halleck inter-
rupted to say he did not agree with
Mr.. Rayburn that his budget CELL
ing resolution was a "pious hope"
But" said Mr.. Halleck, "if 1t is
so, then I wish to say that the
law which provides for this resolu-
ton was passed while this House
was in control of a Democratic ma
jority."
Rayburn Fears for Conference.
MIR. Rayburn countered by say
ing that while the Reorganization
Act calls for such resolution on
the budget, it did not say anything
about $6,0O0,0O0, 1000, cut.
"The Secretary of State is leav-
| ~ Ior- - 10
ference in Moscow" Mr.. Rayburn
continued. you can't, let him or
the world know what you will cut
from the appropriations for the
Army and the Navy, or how much
you will reduce spending for the
starving peoples abroad.
II fear that Gen. Marshall will
fly with a crippled wing. You cam
not kill communism by starving
people, and I fear we will push
some of them, including the Chinese.
into communism. L fear you will
rue this day"
Representative Brown, Republican,
of Ohio closed the debate on the
rule. He ridiculed the criticisms OF
the Democrats that the Republican
ajority was seeking to gag the
House.
/ Other High Lights.
J Other high lights of the House de-
bate were:
Chairman Engel of the subcom-
mittee on Army appropriations as
serted that high-ranking Army and
Navy officers should resign and let
some one else try If they cannot cut
their current estimates by Is per
cent.
Chairman Taber of the entire
House Appropriations Committee
joined Democratic Senator Byrd of
Virginia in declaring there must be
next year a reduction to an average
strength of not exceeding 100000
Federal employees" (There are ap-
proximately 100000 noW)
/ Meanwhile, President Truman
promised to express his views in no
uncertain terms when Republican,
sponsored tax reduction legislation
reaches his desk He stressed this
intention when asked at a news con-
ference what he thought of the posi-
tion of Senator Taft, Republican, Of
OHIO that tax relief should come
before national debt reduction.
| Mr.. Engel, in q prepared speech,
said he has decided War Depart
ment estimates, including such civil
functions as flood control and har-
Dor work, can be trimmed $780,
000,0
| He said the total amount the
War and Navy Departments would
have to spend in the year begin
ming July l would reach about $l7,-
600, ,000, 900, including carryover ap-
propriations, if their full requests
were met He noted that a Is
| (See BUDGET, Page A-4D