The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-24
TODAY
and

Continued From Page One)

tNUlltll1uCu AoA
the speech as printed after de-
liverv in The Congressional ne
cord. the error has been correct
ed. Therefore, it cannot be salo
that MI. Taft is unaware mat
there is a problem of savings.
That may make a lot of difference
as the search for the solution OF
that extraordinarily difficult
problem proceeds.
Though the question of the
budget now before Congress IS not
unrelated to it, there are other
considerations which have to be
taken into account more lmme-
diately.
The controversy which has risen
over the Presidents budget arises
from the fact that under the law
the Legislative reorganization
act of 1946'-the four money COM
mittees of the two houses are re-
ouired jointly to report "a leglsla-
tive budget of the estimated
overall Federal receipts and ex-
p~enditures'' for the fiscal year be-
ginning July, 1947. This report was
due Feb. Is. The report, when
adopted by the two houses, is sup
posed to fix "the maximum
amount to be appropriated for ex-
p~enditures."
The Administration wishes to fix
that amount at the Presidents
figure, namely 81 IL billions. The
Republican majority with Some
Democratic support wishes to fix
it at 81 ~ billions. Senator Taft
and a number of others are pro-
posing to fix it somewhere be-
tween 81 and SO billions.
Congress is in a difficult posi-
ton because the law requiring this
decision is new, and the machln-
cry tor operating it efficiently has
not yet been set up. Another year
the situation will be different. But
this year Congress has no evil
dence before it by which it can
decide intelligently what the total
appropriations ought to be. Yet
the law compels it to decide. So
it must either take the Presidents
figure, approving it without know
ing why, or fix its own figure, not
knowing why. If the legislators ac-
cept the Presidents figure, the Re-
publican majority will have reneg-
ed. without knowing whether they
had to, on their campaign prom
ises to reduce expenditures. If
they cut the Presidents figure
blindly. and that is the only way
they can now cut it, they may
cause serious injury to the nation
al interest.
The dilemma, though embar-
RAISING. is not SO serious as it
looks. For while the law requires
a decision. and then an honest eff
fort to abide by it. it is not, as
Senator Bridges pointed out. IAN
irrevocable action" and disclosed
need could modify it in either di-
rection." Senator Millikin confirm
ed this view saying that under the
reorganization act 1--WE have no
alternative but TO reach a result
based on let us call it, rough judG-
ment.s This is also the position of
Senator Taft, who made it quite
clear. for example, that while he
wishes now to act as if the item
for foreign relief can be cut III
half. he knows that he is acting
on ''the pious hope that the crops
in Europe will be sufficiently
good the pext summer and
through next winter" and that II
they are not. the money he is pro-
posing to cut now may have to
be restored when all the evidence
lis in
What this all adds up TO is that
in fixing a ceiling on appropria-
tons now, Congress is placing the
burden of proof on the Admins
t%ration in the hearings which will
be held by the appropriation COM
mittees. But the ablest and most
influential leaders are not saying
that they will not listen to proof
that more money needs to be ap-
propriated.
| My own guess is that while in
the end Congress will insist Oh
many reductions in services that
reflect the expansion of govern
ment under the New Deal, the
total national expenditures in the
year beginning July may be as
great, and perhaps even greater,
than the Presidents budget. We
may spend more money than the
President asked for but the alloca,
ton Of the money may be diff
ferent.
For the next eighteen months
the period Congress is now consid-
ering-will be highly critical.
There is at least an even chance
that the coming conference at
Moscow may show that in the ex-
listing balance of forces in the
world, nc general settlement can
be reached. If that happens, we
shall have to spend a lot more
money than even the President is
asking for.
But even if things 60 better at
Moscow than we can anticipate
reasonably now, it is still as GER
tain as anything can be in advance
that the position in Britain and
the British Empire, and in west.