Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-06
Committee
backs221.bi||ion
Cut in Budget
Democrats Beaten on
Larger Slash and
Bigger Debt Payment
By J. A. O'Leory

Government spending next year
to $37,2O0,0O0,0OO was approved
today, A to 16, by the Joint Con-
gressional Budget Committee
composed of both Republicans
and Democrats.
If successful, this ceiling would
mean a cut of 100000 from
President Humans budget. Actu-
ally, it will require a much deeper
cut, since Congress already has
passed veterans and civil service
benefit bills calling for expenditures
of more than $500 100000 that were
not in the Presidents $39, ZOO, 0O0, 0Oo
budget message.
This means that, as of today, $3,-
900 100000 would have to be saved
in other parts of the budget to stay
within the ceiling, and If the Presi-
dent submits any supplemental es-
Inmates between now and June, as
Republicans expect he will, the ulti-
mate savings will have to exceed
$4,000, 600, 900 to stay within the CELL
ing.
Democratice Moves Fail.
A surprise Democratic move de.
veloped in the closed meeting today
to amend the report SO as to call fol
a cut of $3,000,0 100000 instead Of
So, 800, 100000 as of today. Repub.
licans beat it, A to II.
The Democrats made two Other
futile attempts to set aside more
of next years revenues for debt re-
tirement than the $4,000, DOC, 0O(
minimum recommended two day.
ago by a 20-man subcommittee.
One motion by Representative
Written, Democrat of Mississippi
proposed that 10 per cent OF thu
Governments annual revenue col
lections be applied to the principa
of the public debt. This lost Is y
As.
Then Representative Gore, Demo
crat, of Tennessee, tried to put thu
Joint committee on record for
debt payment of not less than S.,
00O, 100000. This was beaten il
to A.
The report then was adopted ex'
actly as recommended "wednesday
by the smaller subcommittee. Sen
ator Bridges, Republican, OF New
Hampshire, chairman of the join
budget group as well as the Senate
Appropriations Committee, said the
ceiling resolution will be taken uE
for ratification in the House ane
Senate about February 16.
Report Not Binding.
Even if both houses approve, II
will not be binding. Under the
Congressional Reorganization Ac1
of 1916, it is merely an economy
target which, both houses are di-
rected to set up early each year
Whether it is lived up to depends
on how beth houses vote on the
detailed appropriation bills for each
Government department as they
come up.
Representative Cannon Of Mis-
souri,, ranking Democrat on the
House Appropriations Committee
made the unsuccessful motion to put
the meeting on record in favor OF
aiming at a cut of $4,000, 600, 900 in
stead of $4,000 100000 in the Presi'
dents figures.
Chairman Bridges told reporters
Mr.. Cannon said he did not believe
President Truman's January esti'
mates could be reduced, but mas
much as the effort was being made
it should be put at the amoun
which now appears necessary to stay
within the $37,2Oo,0OO,000 contem'
plated ceiling.
Chairman Taber of the House APP
preparations Committee Joined il
the press conference to say tina
the minority voted for $3,000,'
100000 cut, but against the $780,
100000 figure"
Bridges Again Criticizes Law.
Senator Bridges announced tina
he repeated to the full COMMITTEES
the statement he made earlier II
subcommittee that the law requir'
ing Congress to fix this budget cell
ing so early in the session is "un
realistic" and should be amended
The fact that Congress in the
past week has voted to authorize
more than $500, 100000 of expendi'
lures that were not in the Truman
budget was cited by Senator Bridge:
as proof the law is impractical a!
it stands. He said also that rumors
have reached the Capitol of othel
new expenditure items the Presi-
dent will submit later for aid tt
China and for additional main
tenance money in American. zones
of occupation.
Senator Bridges also agreed with
a ouestioner that if the current de-
cline in the grain and stock mar.
kets becomes a permanent trend II
may require general revision OF the
estimated Government income ane