Evening star., 1948-04-01
Congress to Get
Message on Tax
Cut omorrow
By Joseph A. Fox

greSs today he would ask for
$3, 900, 100000 for new defense
funds and a $375 ,O00, 900 con-
tract authorization for stock
piling of strategic materials Ito
round out and balance our Ma
tionS security program"
Additional funds may be asked
later, the President said.
Just "a hours in advance of
message to Congress, in which he
is expected to veto the $4,000 900 900
tax cut sponsored by the Republi-
cans, Mr.. Truman sent a letter to
House Speaker Martin outlining the
new demands that are to be made on
the Nations finances, and explain
ing:
1T is my earnest hope that on the
solid foundation of our foreign aid
programs and a limited increase in
our present military strength We
can achieve a substantial lessening
of the present international tension
and move forward toward our goal
of securing a just and lasting peace"
Detailed Requests Not Ready.
The Presidents letter covered the
overall picture. He explained,
however, that detailed appropria-
ton requests will come along later
Earlier, Press Secretary Ross told
reporters it would be 10 days to two
weeks before these are ready.
The Presidents action. at this
time, in serving notice on Congress
of the scope of the contemplated
defense expenditures, was looked on
as an implied warning against the
threatened overriding of the ex-
pected tax bill veto.
The $4,000 100000 figure was bro
ken into five categories-S775,O 900 900
for the requirements for additional
military personnel, the same for
aircraft; S660,000,0OO for mainte-
nance and operation facilities and
equipment; S500,000,000 for procure
ment and production programs and
$50 100000 for research.
The President said that out of this
sum the 1s4s fiscal year expenditures
are estimated at $1,700,000, 900.
The regular military budget for
1949 already calls for 1000, ,O00, 900.
Taft Promises Early Action.
The letter was sent to Speaker
Martin short time after Mr.. Ross
announced that the Presidents mes
sage on the tax-cutting bill would
go to Congress tomorrow.
It is believed certain that the
President will veto the measure, and
Senator Taft, Republican, of Ohio
said at the Capitol that COP leaders
have agreed to consider the expected
veto Immediately.
The estimates sent up today were
in line with those discussed by
Secretary of Defense Forrestal at
a congressional hearing a week
ago.
The text of the letter to Speaker
Martin follows:
In my address to the Congress
on March II, 1948, I stated that
we need an adequate and balanced
military strength to carry out our
purpose of achieving peace in the
world. To accomplish this objec-
tive a limited increase in our ma
tional security program is re-
quired.
Would Increase Stockpile.
"As one element in building up
our strength to the necessary level,
I am transmitting herewith for the
consideration of the Congress, a
draft of a proposed provision for
contract authorization of S375,000,-
900 for the Treasury Department,
in the form of an amendment to
the budget for the fiscal year 1949
This contract authorize ton is re-
quired to permit the Bureau of
Federal Supply to enter into long
term contracts for strategic and
critical materials SO as to increase
the supply available for stockpil-
| ing other essential needs.
THE details of this proposed pro-
vision, the necessity therefor and
the reason for its submission at
this time are set forth in the letter
of the director of the Bureau of
the Budget, transmitted herewith,
in whose comments and observations
thereon I concur.
In addition, I have authorized
the Secretary of Defense to prepare
detailed estimates for additional
appropriations totaling $4,000 900 900
for the military establishment for
the fiscal year 1949. While almost
every part of our military program
will be affected by the proposed in
crease, the additions may be grouped
in five cateeories:
First, SITS 900 900 for the require
ments for added military personnel,
such as pay and allowances, sub
sistence, clothing and medical care.
Aircraft Procurement.
Second, SITS, ,000,0 for the pro-
curement of aircraft, aircraft COM
ponents. and aviation research and
lSee DEFENSE, Page A-4D