Evening star., 1947-02-19
BY J. A. O'Leory

AS the Senate prepared to open
debate today on the proposed
sc, ,000,000,000 cut IN President
Truman's budget, final COM
promise on a $5,00o,000,000 re-
duction appeared as the most
likely result of the division in
Republican ranks over the econ
omy issue.
A majority of the Senate appar-
emily was committed in advance to
hold the savings down to $4,500000,-
900. When the battle moves to the
House floor tomorrow, Republicans
there believe they will win approval
for the $6,000,000 900 reduction rec
commended by the Legislative Budget
Committee.
The two houses then would have
to settle the difference in confer
ence, which usually means meeting
each other about half way. What
ever figure is agreed on will not be
binding on Congress. 1t will be a
mark to shoot at in seeking to trim
the Presidents request for a total
outlay of $37 ,500,OO0,000 for the year
beginning July /,
OPA Controls Threatened.
The first real effect of the econ
omy drive came today in the an
nouncement of Max Mccullough,
OPA chief, that all remaining con-
trolls over rents, sugar, rice and
sirup will end Friday if the Senate
accepts House action yesterday on
the first deficiency bill,
The House took 100000 of cur
rent operating funds away from
OPA before passing the $139,36O,00
deficiency measure yesterday.
/ The House also chopped STR
258,000 from Veterans Admins
tration request for $307, ,258,o0o for
medical, hospital and domiciliary
services. Chairman Faber of the
Appropriations Committee, explain
ed, however, this was not final
reduction, but postponement Of
part of the program pending hear
ings on later bill.
Forecasts that the Senate would
not go along on $4,000, 100000 cut
in the budget as whole were borne
out late yesterday when Republican
Senators went into a party huddle
and divided as follows:
twenty-five for modified saving Of
$4,000, 100000; 10 for the 100000 000,-
900 figure. Although this left 10 Re-
publicanS not voting to de-
eide the party trend it meant the
Democrats could count on more than
enough Republican support to stop
the $4,000, 100000 cut.
Tax Cut Peril Seen.
Chairman Knutson of the House
Ways and Means Committee said
the smaller reduction would dash
prospects for 20 per cent reduction
in personal income taxes, but Chair
man Taft of the Senate Republican
Policy Committee insisted the tax
cut still is possible.
AS the debate got under way, Sen
ators had minority report filed
last night by seven Democrats.
warning that a $6.0O0,000, 900 reduc-
tion in the Presidents figures would
endanger national security.
I'VE fear" they said, that any
show of weakness on the part of the
United States Government, or any
disposition to withdraw from its
commitments or obligations, at home
or in its international relationships,
will be seized on by other nations
as reason for further intransi-
gence on their part in dealing
with us.
1T would be infinitely wiser, in
our opinion, to aid in the settle
ment of the outstanding differences
among all the nations of the world.
so that the United Nations would be
strengthened in its efforts to organ
ize the world for peace, than to give
undue evidence of our own weak
IGee PTTDGFT pope A41