Evening star., 1947-05-22
Senate 10 Vote
Monday on Plan
To Delay TaxCut
Byrd Asks Bipartisan
Program Be Set Up
On U. S. Financing
By ]. A. o'Leorv

Virginia today urged the Senate
to delay action on a $400, 600, 900
tax cut and called on the Demo-
cratic and Republican Parties to
establish a bipartisan economy
program to back up the biparti-
san foreign policy which has
worked so well this year.
In a Senate speech, he opposed
passage of the tax-cutting bill until
Congress has demonstrated it Is
going to reduce Federal spending
by that much or more.
He spoke just before the Senate
agreed to vote at pm. Monday
on a Democratic motion to post
pone action on the tax-cutting bill
until June 10. Senator George,
Democrat, OF Georgia, author Of
the postponement motion, said the
voting time was satisfactory to him.
Senator Byrd told his colleagues:
I'VE have determined on BIZ
partisan foreign policy. Our ability
to carry out our commitments lirl-
der this policy is dependent on our
fiscal solvency. 1t would seem that
a bipartisan policy for retrenchment
and economy should be the founda-
tion stone upon which to build our
foreign policy, since America can
perform these commitments only by
keeping strong at home"
Sees Divergent Actions.
Instead of bipartisan action ION
the vital question of preserving our
financial strength" Senator Byrd
continued, I'VE find that the Presi-
dent has said his budget should not
be reduced one dollar, and the
Republicans cannot make up their
minds on a spending ceiling.
1.-THE 1,l41 bureaus cry to the high
heavens whenever one dollar is
taken off of any of their appropria-
tions. Yet, an analysis of the ap-
preparations show that virtually
every peacetime bureau is receiving.
even under any reductions at this
time made, substantially more than
in peacetime years.
'T know OF nothing that would
strengthen our hand abroad and
encourage Americans at home more
than for the Republican and Demo-
cratic leaders to have bipartisan
policy for economy at home as we
have in our policies abroad. One Is
necessary to implement the other
Wants Sharp Budget Cuts.
Although Senator Byrd Joined
other leading Democrats In sup
porting Senator Georges motion, he
went further than most of his coll
leagues by urging sharp reduction
in administration budget for the
coming year.
Senator Byrd warned the Repub-
licans that the 81 $50 900 900 surplus
the Treasury expects to have on
June 80 is the result Of temporary
imitation which has boosted tax coll
lections. He said tax revenue that
comes from imitation may be here
today and gone tomorrow" and is
not reliable barometer on which
to base tax reduction.
The enly substantial basis for cut
ting taxes is to reduce the cost of
government, he said. insisting that
as of today only S87,214.000 of actual
savings have gone through both
houses
Against that meager sum, Con-
gress has authorized $400. .000, 900 for
Greece and Turkey, which was not
in the Truman budget in January,
Senator Byrd pointed out.
Wants Tax Action to Wait.
Although Republicans insist they
will succeed in cutting $4,000, ,000, 900
from the Truman budget when all
appropriations bills have passed.
Senator Byrd's plea was that the
Senate had better wait until 1t is
accomplished before cutting taxes.
If sufficient economies are made
eventually, Senator Byrd said he
would vote for the bill.
! Minority Leader Barkley and Sem
ator Tydings, Democrat. OF Mary
land were prepared to speak when
Senator Byrd concluded.
Chairman Millikin Of the Finance
Committee which amended and ap-
proved the House bill was willing to
give the opposition all the time 1t
wants.
While Senator Millikin held to
his prediction that the immediate
action group will prevail on the
showdown, he has been checking
the membership list. name by name,
with Senator Wherry Of Nebraska,
the Republican whip. Senator
Wherry was not so confident.
This Is going to be the closest vote
in long time" he said.