Evening star., 1947-05-20

D6ulOCIdb, "a - CA1'a oe@AA SSeA<y
the Navy and Marine Corps
will have to discharge $4,000
men If Congress accepts the
10 per cent cut the House APP
propriations Committee rec
commended in funds President
Truman asked for the Navy. .
by The kssoeioted Press
The So, ,469, ,761, 100 Navy appro-
priation bill, cut II per cent be-
low budget estimates, moved to
the House floor today as some
Republicans called for deeper
slashes in Army and Agriculture
Department funds.
Although they proressed no fear
Of being unable to uphold an APP
propriations Committee recommen-
dation for the $377 SIS, 200 Navy re-
duction. Republican leaders set
aside three days for debate on the
bill.
Seif-styled big Navy" advocates
decided in advance to make their
main fight when the bill reaches the
Senate.
"I know the cards are stacked
against u.s." Representative Shep-
pard, Democrat, of California, said
They have the votes and intend to
use them. We're hoping the Senate
will restore at least part of the cuts. Z"
Sees Danger for Navy.
Mr.. Sheppard Is top minority
member of the subcommittee which
wrote the bill, based on total budget
estimates of $3,847, ,280, 800. This sum
included $170,000,000 in contract
authorization and transfers of $164,-
10000 from other naval funds.
Mr.. Sheppard said he believes
the recommended reduction "is en-
dangering the Navy" and said he
opposes heavy cuts until the Rus
sian picture is settled"
Both Mr. Sheppard and Repre-
sentative Plumley, Republican, of
Vermont, chairman of the subcom-
mittee, agreed that proposed cuts
may force the dismissal of about
l25,000 of the Nays 100000 civilian
personnel, including shipyard
workers.
Halleck Sure of Passage.
Mr.. Sheppard contended that
many of the dismissed workers
would have to be replaced by uni
formed personnel, thereby the Navy's
military strength.
The Appropriations Committee
insisted, however, in recommending
the reductions last week that the
lesser money will not result in 'sacri-
ficing any of the efficiency of the
fleet" or reducing essential naval
activities"
House Majority Leader Halleck
said he expects little trouble in win
ming passage of the measure as
written.
But there are indications that
the Republican high command is
not In full agreement over pending
cuts In War and Agriculture De-
partment appropriations.
Speaker Martin said after two
hour meeting of party leaders late
yesterday that there were demands
for larger cuts than those reported
to have been recommended" by the
Appropriations Subcommittee hand
ling farm funds.
Committee members have re-
ported a decision to trim approx
5imately $500, 100000 in the Agricul-
.ture Departments finances for the
fiscal year starting July l. Based on
the Presidents request for new ap-
propriations of approximately $944,-
600 900, this would be cut of about
80 per cent.
Committee members also said after
yesterdays meeting that the War
Department subcommittee has been
urged to make further cuts in the
Army supply bill for 1948. In fact,
they said, the subcommittee already
has revised it's earlier recommends
tion for a 511a per cent budget cut
and now is advocating 10 per cent
reduction in the $500, 10000 Presi-
dent Truman requested.
The War Department Subcom-
mittee was told to cut the Army at
the same rate the Navy was cut" a
committee member said. There
was objection to it at first, but they
have gone back over the bill and
the cut now is around $500,000, 900
instead of 300,000,000.'