Evening star., 1947-01-09
Taft and Taber al Odds.
I0n 6. 0. P. Proposals
For National Defense |
by the Assoeioisd Press

III vi NQUVIl0l UGlCll9C
BY the Assoeiofsd Press
Congressional Republicans are
at odds among themselves over
national defense costs.
Representative Taber of New York
is demanding that Army Navy out
lays be cut drastically while Sena-
| tor Taft Of Ohio is counseling
against such a course.
Mr.. Taber, who heads the new
\ House Appropriations Committee,
told reporter today he is con-
vinced the military services can get
along with 5000, 100000 between
them in the budget year beginning
next July /.
(! Furthermore, he said that if Pres
ident Truman recommends larger
amount in the budget message to
Congress tomorrow, steps will be
taken to trim the proposed ex-
penditures. 80
Taft Opposes Cuts.
| Senator Taft, chairman of the
| Senate Republican Policy Commit
| tee, told newsman he thinks SEN
ate Republicans want to find budget
reductions elsewhere and not make
them at the expense OF national
| defense.
Senator Bridges, Republican. of
New Hampshire, who heads the
Senate Appropriations Committee,
shares this overall view. He said,
however, he and others will insist
| that savings be effected where mill
tary purchasing, intelligence and
similar operations can be combined.
Senator Bridges said he thinks a
number of Army camps, now being
maintained in this country with
skeleton staffs, could be closed and
some reductions made that way.
Mr.. Taber contended that about
| 50 500 900, 600 can be Topped of mill
| tary expenditures for items and serv-
ices that were necessary IN the past,
but no longer needed.
Navy Savings Urged.
Representative Plumley, Repub-
lican, of Vermont, who heads a
Naval Appropriations Subcommittee,
voiced the opinion that substantial
savings" can be made in the Nays
budget, in comparison with the
present year.
If President Truman fixes total
Federal spending at about $37 ,00o,-
000. 900, as is generally forecast, Sen
ator Taft said it seemed likely that
from $4,000, ,00O, 900 to $4,000, ,000,-
900 of this amount would be for the
Army and Navy.
He said that while Senate Repub-
licans would favor pairing the
larger amount he doubted If they
would wish to challenge the smaller,
except where it was apparent saw
ings could be made without i'm
pairing military efficiency.
He has no doubt, Senator Taft
continued, that Republicans can
find places to cut of at least $3,-
500 O0O,0O0 from $37, 900, ,000, 900
budget without any drastic defense
reductions.
Committees to Meet.
Any clash of viewpoints between
House and Senate Republicans is
likely to come to head shortly
when the taxing and appropriate
| ing committees of both houses meet
to make their own survey of pros
pective income and proposed spend
ing. This procedure, a new one, is
called for under the congressional
reorganization law.
The taxing contingent-Senators
Millikin, Republican, of Colorado,
and George, Democrat, Of Georgia,
and Representatives Knutson, Re-
publican, of Minnesota, and Dough-
ton, Democrat, OF North Carolina
was promised an advance look at the
income situation in a conference
today with Secretary Of the Treasury
Snyder.
That meeting will bring the first
head-on collision between the Re-
publican drive for 20 per cent slash
| in income levies and the Democratic
administrations firm stand against
any immediate tax cuts.
Mr.. Truman told Congress in his
economic report yesterday that taxes
should be kept at present levels be-
cause it would be sound public
finance"
Mr.. Knutson quickly said he could
not agree with the President. He
added to a reporter that the Re-
publicans intend to reduce Govern
ment expenditures to point where
tax cuts will be possible without en-
dangering the Governments fiscal
position.