Evening star., 1947-02-21
Republicans Hailed
For Budget Courage
Capital Atmosphere Surcharsed
With New Deal Spending, Spirit
By David Laurence .

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With New Deal Spending Spirit
By David laurence
The Republicans in Congress are en-
titled to the applause of the whole eoun-
try for their political courage.
For when politicians who could get
votes by giving the public's money away
to special groups or blocs apply re-
straints to themselves and actually try
to cut down the Governments expenses
and save money for all the people, the
action is so rare that 1t merits attention.
So surcharged is the Washington
atmosphere with the New Deal habit of
spending and spending that the Ma
tional Capital still seems to be domi-
mated by critics from the Democratic
side who are horror struck at the idea
Of a general cutting of the budget.
1t may take long while to rid official
Washington of the spending complex it
has had since 1933-that money is some
thing turned out by printing presses
and that debt is just a thing that can
be piled up indefinitely. z-
Comments Are Amazing.
1t is amazing to read the comments
that are going forth these days about
the determination of the Republicans
to cut the Truman budget by several
billions. One would think that $37, ,000,-
100000 budgets are normal and that
any one who attempts to cut them is
destroying" the Government. Indeed,
the cry of calamity If the budget Is cut
is familiar one as it comes from
bureaucratic circles. Only few Demo-
Gratis, like Senator Byrd of Virginia,
have been pleading for economy during
the last decade. and now the Virginia
Senator joins with the Republicans in
demanding a $1,000 100000 cut In the
budget. :
Whether the budget can or cannot
be cut exactly by any such figure is less
important than the formidable oppo-
sition to any budget cutting which is
coming from most Of the Democrats
and from President Truman. Just how
Chairman Hannegan expects to re-
elect Mr.. Truman-when he has sent q
budget of s37, 500, ,OOO, 900 to Congress and
only last month predicted a deficit for
the current fiscal year, and there is
already cash surplus of more than
$4,000 100000 visible for next month
will remain somewhat of a mystery.
The Democrats generally are lining
themselves up with the spenders. They
are not helping In the budget-cutting
process. Only the Republicans are
carrying the ball on that issue, and
they are doing it despite the sniping
from the left wingers" who, of course,
want more and more spending and their
vested interest in bureaucracy to
continue.
The decision of the Joint Budget
Committee of Congress to cut $6,000,-
100000 from the Truman budget has
been favorably received by the House
of Representatives, where large num-
ber of conservative Democrats are join
ing with the Republicans to cut down
waste in Government. In the Senate,
some Republicans here and there are
weakening but a coalition may order
a cut anywhere from four and q half
to six billion dollars.
Economies Started.
The details, to be sure, are not yet
available, but already it is apparent
that the determination to cut Is having
its effect throughout the Government
departments. Economies that should
long ago have been made are now be-
ing put into effect, especially In the
Veterans Bureau. AS long as the psy-
chology is one of increasing rather than
diminishing expense, there can be no
progress made. This Is the tide that
Republican policy is now reversing.
When it is considered that Mr.. Tru-
man wants to spend more than 81 bill
lion dollars q year and can't see any
substantial cuts immediately-notwith-
standing the fact that the budget he
submitted for the fiscal year which
ends June 80, 1s48, will be covering
Government operations fully three years
after the war ended in Europe and al
most three years from VI day-tndi-
Gates how far away the administration
is from recognizing that the people of
America want to get back to peace
time basis.
The difficulty. of course, Is that the
Democratic Party is still a New Deal
party and Is still welded to the philos-
ophy Of getting votes by spending
money. The Republicans, too, played
that game many years ago but for
tunately today they are trying to
benefit the maximum number of people
by cutting the budget and stabilizing
the value of the dollar.