Evening star., 1947-05-15
Vote i Planned
In House Today On
|4-Agency Fund Bill

80 - - - I - ~
House leaders planned i final
vote today on the $535, IA, ,O0s
supply bill providing for the
State, Commerce and Justice
Departments, and the Federal
court system, IS Z new move was
started to get money for the
State Departments cultural re-
lations program, which has been
eliminated from the regular
appropriation bill.
Representative Gary, Democrat,
OF Virginia sought yesterday to re-
store m Item Of 431 ,381 ,220 for the
cultural program, which had been
cut out Of the bill, but the move
was blocked on 4 point Of order by
Representative Stefan, Republican,
Of Nebraska.
Mr.. Stefan insisted that the pro-
gram had not been set up by
separate law, and that the House
therefore could not appropriate for
1t. This contention was upheld by
Representative Curtis. Republican,
OF Nebraska who was presiding.
Smith Endorses Broadcasts.
In the meantime, however, q bill
to authorize the program which Is
aimed to sell the American way
LOT life abroad by radio broadcasts
and other methods was supported
/ in the House Foreign Relations
Committee by Walter Bedell Smith,
American Ambassador to Russia and
supporters indicated they would seek
to have the Senate supply funds
when the appropriation bill is han
died there Then the matter will
come before House and Senate con-
ferees.
On the House floor unexpected
support for the cultural plan came
from Representative Short, Repub-
lican, Of Missouri, who urged the
House not to resort to "ridicule''
to kill 1t.
why should you kill the foreign
information program simply be-
| cause some mistakes have been
made?" Mr.. Short asked. He con-
tended that the United States needs
| to offset propaganda OF other ma
tions.
Representative Brown, Republi-
can, Of Ohio criticized the art activ-
tiles of the program and distributed
among members photographs OF an
art exhibition sent around the world
under State Department auspices.
Much of the art, Mr.. Brown said,
cannot be understood.
Any member OF Congress who
contends such art helps world peace,
he said, ought to 60 into the nut
house along with the fellows who
drew these"
Chairman Taber Of the Appropria-
tions Committee which dropped the
money for the program out Of the
State Department supply bill. told
the House the Voice of America
broadcasts that make up large
part of the program will discredit
and destroy America He cited
Lowell Thomas and Fulton Lewis as
the type of broadcasters who should
handle the program.
william Benton, Assistant Secre-
tary Of State in charge of the cul-
tural relations program, told the
Foreign Relations Committee that
many members Of Congress fear
There Is "disioya}ty toS the Govern
fment" in the cultural relations office.
Il think Congress has got to be
satisfied on this question q. LOYALTY" "
the said. ssas@s ssss.A Ss's . ~ ass ss---@ a
No Objection to Probe. n
Mr.. Benton said he had no objec-
ton to Congress creating a special
committee with priority to. inyesti-
gate the State Department and his
particular field.
| Republican lines held firmly yes
terday in beating down all efforts
to restore part Of the "a per cent
cut recommended for the State De-
partment. Not penny change
being made in the $219, 12s.058 pro-
posed for the departments opera
tions.
No changes were considered like
lily either in the $108, ,396,50O recon-
nended for the Justice Department
and the $l7,l46.4 .450 for the Federal
Judiciary. These represented bud
get cuts of 81 and 20 per cent, re-
spectively.
The Commerce Departments rec
commended total OF $l91 ,057 ,0O0--a
SO per cent budget cut-was reduced
another $l,700,0oo yesterday when
that amount was stricken out of an
allotment for technical and scien-
tific services. but COP leaders con-
ceded privately that Representative
Rooney, Democrat, OF New York,
would succeed in putting over his
supply bill amendment to add $4,-