Evening star., 1947-05-21

can. which he so pre-eminently is.
The question is not as to his desire: !:
the question is how clearly he can
see the right and how successful he
is in witnstanding the forces whose
special interest it is to divert him.
At the moment, both the President
and the Democratic Party appear to
have placed themselves in opposi-
ton to three rather basic things,
the achievement of which seem
greatly wanted by a large proper
ton of the American people.
One, of course, is heavy reduction
in the cost and size of the Federal
Government. A second is a lower
ing of the tax rates and the third is
legislation which will protect the
people from the abuses OF power
drunk labor bosses.
It may be that in the end Mr..
Truman will not use his power to
block these proposals but will ap-
prove. Nevertheless. his present at
titude and that of his followers in
Congress is one of opposition.
Tax Cut Opposition Sound.
There is sound ground for op-
posing any tax cut, despite admin
istration underestimate of the cur
rent surplus. The new expenditures
abroad are of such uncertain mag
nitude plus the necessity OF
strengthening the Federal finances
to stand the strain that deliberate
reduction in revenue seems a very
perilous performance indeed. But
for the extraordinary resistance
which every branch of the admins
tration is putting up against any
reduction in the 1948 budget and
for the opposition of the Demo-
cratic leadership in Congress to any
form of economy there seems no
excuse whatever.
For it is impossible Mr.. Truman
should not know that department
heads invariably request far more
than they need so as to allow for
cuts not only by the Executive but
by Congress. If the terrific fight
which the departments. supported
by the President, are now making
is successful, the net result will be
to rivet $37 900, 0o,0o0 budget on
us as a permanent thing. with
deeper and ever deeper deficits in
the future.
The simple truth is that though
they may rally in the end, the Re-
publicans, with their lack of tech
nical help, have not been able to
make. much headway against this
resistance. The impression has been
created that tremendous cuts have
been made in every department and
the "ax wielders" have been ruthless
and reckless. Actually, this is sheer
propaganda, most of which has
emanated from the departments.
some of which have yelled murder
when they had not been hurt at ALL
Economy Results Meager.
A few days ago Senator Byrd,
Democrat, of Virginia, who knows
more about departmental costs,
needs and tricks than any one else,
compiled the figures of the reduc-
tions in House and Senate. They
reveal results SO meager as to make
the claims, squeals and general out
cry on the subject appear COM
pletely ridiculous.
For example, Senator Byrd shows
from the committee records that
after four months the House cuts
In the appropriations of the Labor,
Federal Security. Treasury, Post
Office, Interior, State, Justice, Com
merce and Judiciary Departments
total 81 1095 ,9o5, ,176. The 1948 Tru-
man budget for these 10 depart
ments is. $6,856.577,743. The Sem
ate will not slash deeper on any
of these, SO that the total reduc-
ton SO far amounts to less than
10 per cent.
About the only appropriations not
yet dealt with are the huge $11 ,000.-
600, 900 one for the Army and Navy.
The House committee has reduced
the Navy 10 per cent. If, as expected,
it cuts the Army by the same per-
centage, it viii bring the grand
total of the Republican slices to
little more than $4,000, 900 900 out of
a $37 ,00O, ,000, 900 budget-an utterly
unimpressive cut when compared to-
the goal Of "A to billions.
But, it win be even worse than it
looks because this does not take into
consideration the appropriations al
ready made, which are not in the
budget at all. Among these are the
Greek Turkish $500 000, 600 loan:
s75, 900 600 to be allotted to the sew
eral States for 1948 under an
to the Public Health
Service Act and $35 ,000. 900 authorized
by the Senate for Federal Old Age
and Survivors Trust Fund for sal
aries and expenses.
In addition, Senator Byrd points
out that the reduction in the Treas
,,ru-poef nf6ce hills includes taf0 /,