Evening star., 1947-06-13
500 More in 5 u. S. Agencies
HereFoce firing House Group
S|oshes Funds for 33 Bureaus
Total of 81 Billion,
$3.50 Below Truman
Estimates, Asked
By The ksssciofed Press

Committee trimmed $130,884,- =
220 from Veterans Administra-
ton funds today in approving
an $8,493, ,409,759 bill to finance
33 independent Government
agencies next year.
The total cut in the independent
Offices will amount to 1886, $40, 1872
or 3.9 per cent below the amount
President Truman asked This
brought to approximately $780,.
100000 the claimed savings of House
Republicans in their drive to chor
$4,000 100000 from Mr.. Truman's
1948 budget of $37, 100000.
The Veterans Administration
however, was pared only 18 pei
cent in getting S6,e44, ,457,o80 for its
work during the IL months begin
ming July /.
Budget Bureau Funds Cut.
Among major recipients covered
by the bill are the Office of the
President, not cut at all; the Atomic
Energy Commission, reduced 80 per
cent: the Civil Service Commission,
cut less than per cent; the Fed
eral Communications Commission,
trimmed II per cent; the Federal
Power Commission, cut IL per cent;
the Federal Trade Commission, re-
duced almost one third; the Federal
Works Agency, cut IL per cent, and
the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion, trimmed 10 per cent.
Even the Presidents own Budget
Bureau was cut, receiving S93,39
less than the $3,470,000 it had asked
The Maratime Commission drew a
stern rebuke from the committee
for its accounting and general ad-
practices.
These are the major Offices
financed by the bill, and the effect
the measure will have on them if
the House and Senate uphold the
committees recommendations:
Atomic Energy Commission: Cut
from $250,000,000 to SITS 900, 900, but
given the full $25e,O00000 contract
authorization it requested. The
committee said additional funds
could be provided early next year
if shown necessary. OF the total
$25,000,000 was earmarked
for research in cancer control.
VA Given s6,s44,4 ,457, $50.
Veterans Administration Given
Sc ,944, ,457 ,080 of the $7,075, ,341 800 it
had requested. The amount granted
was $1,38O,052, 2,335 less than the VA
has this year.
The committee said its cut would
lot impair veterans benefits or re-
luire the reduction of "even one
penny in financial assistance" to
eligible veterans and their depend
ants.
But it said there are disturbing
weaknesses" in the VA setup and
IN apparent lack of proper central
control of personnel" and supplies.
Construction costs were called "out
If line" and the committee cau-
Toned that VA must be put on a
more efficient basis to avert another
economy act such as slashed vet
,rans' benefits in 1888.
The committee Topped $50,0O0,0o0
off the Army and Navy pension
.und, saying the budget request for
his item was overestimated. 1t
granted the full 100000 for
81 bill benefits, and approved funds
FOR construction of Is new veterans
hospitals.
S759,000 Civil Service Cut.
Civil Service Commission: Cut
s759,000 from the $3.50, ,063, 900 it re-
luested, with the explanation that
the number of Federal employees is
to drop from 100000 on
June 30 of this year to 100000 a
year later.
Federal Communications Com
mission: Given $1,260,000 less than
the $7,3o0,000 it sought and denied
S375, 900 for special telegraph in
Federal Works Agency: Given
1892, ,375,727 of the S378, ,260,059 it
asked. The committee cut $4,000, ,000
from the grade-crossing program
and $31 ,288,854 from the Federal-aid
postwar highway program.
National Advisory Committee for
Given all but 1890, 900
of the S43 ,839 900 it asked, including
funds for developing guided missiles
and planes of unprecedented speed
to keep the United States on top in
Philippine War Damage Commis-
sion: Budget cut from S90,000,00o to
$40 100000 for paying war damage
claims in the Philippines.
Maritime Commission: Allowed
See APPROPRIATIONS, Page A-6)
r.