Evening star., 1947-02-21
Peril 10 Peace
In Cuts Feared
ByVandenberg
Tydings Also Speaks
Against Six Billion
Slosh h in Budget
By J. A. OLeoy

Congress was warned today by i.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican,
of Michigan that the $4,000 ,000.-
900 budget cut voted by the
House yesterday would require
such a heavy reduction in ma
tional defense as to "jeopardize
our winning of the peace"
The Senate President pro tenn.
and leading Republican authority
on foreign relations, took the floor
in support of $4500, 100000 sub
stitute reduction plan which the
Senate is expected to pass.
Leaders hoped to get vote late
this afternoon, but there was no
agreement making it certain. In
the House, where the Republicans
stood almost solidly. the $6,000,00o.-
900 figure was approved 239 to 159.
Twelve Democrats voted for the
higher figure and only Republican
Representative Margaret Chase
Smith of Maine opposed it.
Tydings Opposes House Figures.
In the Senate, however, the 81
Republicans are almost evenly di-
vided, which indicates that the
lower goal will be substituted. The
difference then will have to be
settled in conference, probably at
S.. .Oo0, 900, 900.
Senator Tydings. Democrat Of
Maryland, also spoke out against
the House decision, asserting that
without an adequate national de-
fense, no bond of this Government
may be worth the paper it is written
on" The Marylander said: Men
in this chamber, and out, view with
alarm the expansion and the po-
tential power of the Russian gov
ernment" Yet, he said, they talk Of
using a sledge hammer on "the
one thing that above all others
will save what we hold dear"
Senators Vandenberg and Ty-
dings agreed that the House figure
of $4,000 100000 would necessitate
taking $2,250, 100000 from the Army
and Navy, in addition to cuts al
ready made by the Budget Bureau.
Senator Vandenberg said he ap-
plauds the new principle in the
Reorganization Act Of setting bud
get goal at the start of the year, but
added:
"You have not saved one thin
dime by this resolution. The saw
ings come later as you vote on ap-
preparation bills
neerer Outs poSSihIe Later
He argued it is far better to set
a goal of $4,500, 5000 and then try
to cut deeper if the facts justify.
than to reverse the process and fall
short of the goal when the real
test comes on the money bills.
To illustrate, he recalled that in
1888 President Roosevelt started his
my drive, in which he said govern
ments are wrecked ION the rocks Of
loose fiscal policy" Admitting that
he joined others in Congress in vot-
ing for a Is per cent slash in ap-
preparations, the Michigan Senator
observed:
I'VE were all heroes pro tempore.
Then as the cuts began to be ap-
piled. the country began to groan.
Congressman began to sweat, our
orchids began to wilt. Then the
Is per cent cut went out the win
dow and as it flew out, the biggest
spending spree in history started"
Senator Vandenberg said that
since he could not bring himself
to vote later to cut $2,250, 900 900
from the Army and Navy, he could
not vote today to set the economy
goal at $6,000000, 0,000.
''I beg you to remember that the
war is not over for us until we
have completed our occupation task
in Middle Europe and the Far
East" Senator Vandenberg con-
tinued.
Some Extravaganza Conceded.
He said he would not deny that
instances of extravaganza could be
singled out which hold up the Army
and Navy to scorn and ridicule, and
said he agreed with Senator Byrd
of Virginia that the armed services
should not be "untouchables.
He told his colleagues to call the
military leaders, brass hats, If you
will" but to pause long enough to
consider what they say would hap
(See BUDGET, Page A-6)