Evening star., 1947-04-02
House 6. 0. P. Sounds
New Economy Call
After First Defeat
BY III. Assoeiatsd Press

Rallying from a $356, ,O00, 900
defeat, their first In the Repub-
|lican-controlled Congress, House
COP fiscal leaders sounded a
new call today for governmental
economy.
"If they 60 on that way there's no
hope OF balancing the budget or
anything else, " said Chairman Taber
of the House Appropriations Com
mittee, who led the widely heralded
Republican economy drive"
Mr.. Taber was referring to yester-
days House action adding 1856, ,027,-
638 to deficiency appropriation
bill which gave the new majority
party its first lacing of the Eightieth
Congress.
He was not chagrined, Mr.. Taber
said, over an amendment that re-
stored $3.50, ,0O0, 900 to the fund for
veterans benefit payments under
the CT Bill of Rights because "a
misunderstanding" caused the Ap-
propriations Committee to knock
out the money in the first place.
Disturbed by School Lunch Fund.
But the New Yorker was plainly
disturbed over two other amend
ments, both offered by Democrats
and accepted by two-party coah-
ton.
One added $6 600, 900 for continu-
alton of the Government financed
school lunch program.
The other tackled on $2,l58 to pay
court ordered back-pay claims of
three former Federal workers fired
at congressional insistence.
Mr.. Taber fought both PROPOSE
tions on the floor.
The back-pay amendment pro-.
vides funds for Goodwin B. Watson,
Robert Morss Loyett and William
E. Dodd, jr., whose salaries were
denied in 1943 appropriation bill
after a committee report accused
them OF subversive Affiliations. The
Court of Claims and the Supreme
Court upheld their right to pay for
the time they worked after the bill
was passed.
Taber Is Disappointed"
The 11O-to-97 vote that decided
they should be paid followed a de-
bate over the right Of Congress to
circumvent Supreme Court ruling
by exercising its "purse-string Veto"
While the $2,827, ,526, 1876 bill still
is s252, ,000, 900 below the amount
originally asked by the administra-
ton, Mr.. Taber told newsmen he
was disappointed" over the treat
ment House members accorded the
measure.
"They didn't stand up" he COM
mented. They didn't vote for econ
omy or proper administration of
Government.
"But I don't want anybody to
think I'm backing down on econ
omy-even If I am not supported in
the House. AS chairman, will try
to see that bills are reported out of
my committee with the lowest pos
sible figure consistent with proper
operations of Government"
I'VE routed them foot, horse and
dragon" rejoined Representative
Cannon of Missouri, top Democrat
on the Appropriations Committee
and sponsor of the school lunch
amendment.
I'VE broke into their cohesive
organization. They are beginning to
hear from back home and things
are happening nationally that dis
turb them.
II hope we can save the Army
and the Navy from partisan cuts
at a time when we are shaking our
fingers under Joe Stains nose. This
is no time to sink battleships and
scrap your weapons" Mr.. Cannon
added
Among committee approved cuts
that did stand up in the House
were ones to lop 181 Veteran Ad-
ministration press agents off the
payroll, cut the allotment for vet
Grams pensions by 5000, 900 and
refuse to allow the National Labor
Relations Board $685., 100 in addi-
tional money for the balance Of this
fiscal year.
The bill now goes to the Senate.