Evening star., 1947-02-15
Big Budget Cut
0pponentsPin
Hopes on Senate
Gurney Will Renew
Fight for Limit of
S4,150, ,000, 900
By J. A. OLeoy

OppOIlGlUS VI IIl6 pTOpOS6Q
$6,000,000,000 budget cut, who
fear it will weaken national de-
fense, today pinned their hopes
of changing it on the Senate,
although the first round may be
fought in the House.
Chairman Gurney of the Senate
Armed Services Committee, Re-
publican. announced he will renew
on the Senate floor his unsuccessful
effort in committee yesterday to
limit the reduction to $4,150,000, 600
Declaring he does not want to
"hamstring the Army and Navy
until the outlook for a peaceful
world is brighter, he said his pro-
posal would require only token
cut in military requirements.
Cannon Calls Meeting.
Representative Cannon, Democrat
of Missouri called a meeting today
of House Democrats on the joint
Legislative Budget Committee who
opposed the $6,0oO,000,000 reduction
to draft a minority report.
Mr.. Cannon said the Republicans
seem to have "a steamroller ready
to deal with the budget ceiling in
the House. He predicted, however,
that the Senate will have an oppor-
tunity to amend it, after which a
compromise will be possible in con-
ference.
Representative Taber, Republican,
of New York, this afternoon will file
the majority report of the Legisla-
tive Budget Committee, recommend
ing a ceiling of $31 500, 100000 on
expenditures for the year starting
July /, as compared with President
Trum5ns budget estimate of $751;
500,000,000.
Vote is so to 22.
Adopted late yesterday by a COM
mittee vote of so to %, the majority
report estimates the Governments S
income for the next fiscal year will
be $39, 100000. This would leave
$500, 100000 to be used partly for
tax cuts and partly for debt reduc-
ton.
While some Republicans, who fear
so deep a cut could not be made
without impairing overseas military
needs and national defense, will join
Democrats in the floor fight for
smaller cut, number of influential
Democrats are supporting the COM
mittee report. These include Sena-
tors Byrd of Virginia and McKellar
of Tennessee.
While the committee was in ses-
sion, voting down all attempts to
compromise on a smaller cut, Sec
retary of State Marshall was warn
ing a press conference that failure
to vote the Army adequate funds
for food in the occupied areas would
result in an "intolerable situation" J"
"If the Army is deprived of ade-
quate funds to provide food for
those people who are so sorely in
need" he told reporters, "a prac-
tically impossible condition is Gre
ated for our troops and our Gov
ernment's position in its interna-
tional commitments
Agriculture Slash Considered.
Republicans who drew up the
$6,00000O,000 figure refused to say
Just where the slashes will be ap-
piled.
There was clause in the resolu-
ton, however, saying that at least
100000 of the Governments $780,
900 civilian workers shall be fired.
Representative Mahon, Democrat, of
Texas said he understood severe
slash is contemplated in the Agri-
culture Department, including elm
ination of the school lunch pro-
gram.
Chairman Taber countered Mr..
Mahons claims by quoting the fol-
lowing from the committees reso-
luton:
"Of course, if the accompanying
resolution be adopted, there is no
commitment as to any reductions in
. specific items contained in the bud
get. The resolution expresses an
overall objective and its realization
depends entirely on the final action
of the Congress on budget estimates,
individually and collectively"
The Chairman of the budget
group admitted also that the ceiling
itself is not binding, except as
moral obligation. He added: For
my part, shall strive to keep within
the ceiling"
Senator Brewster, Republican, of
Maine predicted on the radio last
night the Senate will not go as far
as the Budget Committee.
II voted for it because it was that
or no reduction at ALL" he said,
but 7 will oppose it on the Senate
floor and I predict the final figure
will be $4,500,000,
There also were indications of
opposition to the broad budget slash
from Senator Vandenberg, Republi-
can of Michigan, president of the
Senate and Chairman of the Foreign
Relations Committee.
Senator Vandenherp told q Con-