Evening star., 1947-01-20
Gag on Budget
WorkCharged
By 0'hahoney
6. O. P. Members Soy
Curb on Hearings Is
Necessary for Speed
By J. A. O'Ieory


ney, Democrat, of Wyoming
that a gag rule is being applied
to budget et-balancing procedure
enlivened the first meeting of
House and Senate leaders on
that subject today.
Senator O'Mahoney directed his
charge at a decision he said had
been made not to let other members
meet with subcommittee which
was appointed to estimate the Gov
ernment's total income and outlay
for the next fiscal year.
Republicans denied that any ques-
ton of gag rule is involved. They
insisted they could not comply with
the mandate in the Congressional
Reorganization Act to fix an overall
budget by February Is if all men,
bers were permitted to attend and
ask questions while the subcomR1it-
tee is at work
Nearly 100 Attend Meeting.
Today's meeting was attended by
nearly 100 members of the four
major committees that deal with
Government finances. These are
House Ways and Means, Senate
Finance and the House and Senate
Appropriations Committees.
Although most Republicans have
been aiming at chopping from $3,-
000, 100000 to $4,000, 100000 from
President Truman's $37, ,528 ,000, 900
budget, there was no discussion OF
probable total at this first meeting.
Aside from Senator O'Mahoney's
protest, it was reported the first
session was confined to routine Or
ganization steps, including:
Election of Chairman Taber of
the House Appropriations Commit
tee as chairman of the joint group.
Election of Chairman Bridges of
the Senate Appropriations Com
mittee as vice chairman.
20-Man Subcommittee Named.
Appointment of 20-man subcom-
mittee TO do the detailed estimating
five from each of the four regu-
lar committees.
Subcommittee members already
chosen are:
Ways and Means-Representatives
Knutson of Minnesota, Reed, New
York, and woodruff, Michigan, Re-
publicans; cooper, Tennessee, and
Dougiaton, North Carolina, Demo-
Gratis.
Finance Senators Millikin pt
Colorado, Butler, Nebraska, and
Taft, Ohio. Republicans; Barkley,
Kentucky, and George, Georgia,
Democrats. -~-z
House Appropriations Represent
atives Taber of New York, Wiggles-
worth, Massachusetts,, and Dirksen,
Illinois, Republicans; Cannon, Mis-
souri,, and Mahon, Texas, Demo-
Gratis.
The Senate Appropriations Com
mittee will name its five members
tomorrow.
Says All Have Problems.
AS he emerged from the closed
meeting, Senator O'Mahor1ey told
reporters, "It's gag rule at the be-
ginning Of the new Congress. He
said the conference had just de-
cided not to notify all members of
the four committees of subcommit-
tee meetings. Every member, he
argued, has problems affecting his
part of the country to bring to the
attention of the subcommittee,
I'VE would never get through
under those circumstances" replied
Chairman Taber, referring to the
suggestion that all members be
allowed to attend and ask questions.
Representative Dirksene also in
sisted there was no gag rule He
said as he reads the Reorganization
Act, the overall budget ceiling must
be reported and acted on in both
Houses by February Is Some had
thought the findings merely had to
be reported by that date.
Sees Chance for Tax Cut.
Mr.. Dirksen pointed out this
leaves only Is days, including Sum
days, to comply with the law, and
added the subcommittee certainly
could not accomplish it's work if all
members take part The Illinois
member said the extent to which
other members are consulted is
question still open to further action
by the subcommittee.
Mr.. Dirksen told reporters that if
the budget of exDenSes can be held
down below estimated receipts he
believes the balance could be cham
neled partly into tax reduction and
partly into debt reduction.
Before today's meeting, Senator
Byrd, Democrat, of Virginia had is
sued a statement topping some Re-
(See SPENDING, Page A-3)
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