Evening star., 1948-02-27
Slash in Funds Bill.
] ImperiIs 1900 Jobs
At State Department
House Group Also
Reduces Commerce
Request by 1870
BY the Associoted Press

The House Appropriation!
Committee today cut BAIT, ,16.
from the $587,837,431 which
President Truman asked for the
State, Justice and Commerce
Departments and the Fedora
courts.
This represents a total cut of i
per cent. BY agencies, however
the reductions range from 28 pei
cent for the Commerce Department
to less than l per cent for the
Justice Department.
The money is for the fiscal year
starting July l.
Here are the amounts the COM
nittee recommended in the bill
it sent to the House for debate
next week:
State: $l97.217, ,463, a cut of ST.
l01 ,068,. or 8 per cent. The budget
OF the voice of America was cut
from $34,378,000 to $28,000,000, but
this still is almost double the amount
granted this year.
Justice: $116,330, TOO, a cut of only
$591 800. The FBI received the full
$43, 900, 900 it asked, and the Anti
trust Division was given $161 ZOO
more than the $3,250,O0O it sought.
The committee called for more action
against antitrust activities, partic-
ularly as they refer to food, clothing
and shelter"
Commerce: $l71,os7 900, a cut of
$65, 1885, 500.
Federal judiciary: $18,785, 100, a
cut of $968, 800 or per cent.
$37,000,000 Airport Program.
The $503, ,420, 1853 total compares
with $632, ,109, 1852 given the same
agencies for the present year.
In addition to the direct appro-
priations, the bill includes $75 ,400, 900
in contract authority-that is, the
right to contract for things which
will be paid for later.
OF this authority, $37, 600, 900 is for
the Federal-aid airport program,
s12 600, 900 for establishment of air
navigation facilities and $26, 6,4O0, 900
for Philippine rehabilitation work.
The committee contended that
both the State and Commerce De-
partments have too many high
salaried people on their payroll
1t suggested that the State De-
partment withdraw from member
ship In many Of the international
organizations to which it belongs.
The entire State Department
structure is "wasteful, costly and
inefficient" the committee said.
It added it was not convinced
that the entire $34,378, 900 asked for
international and educational serv-
ices could be Economically and
wisely expended" These services
include the Voice of America broad
casts designed to counter anti
propaganda from Russia
Antitrust Funds Increased.
Explaining the boost in funds for
the Justice Departments Antitrust
the committee said 1t had
in mind President Truman's recent
request for sufficient funds to per-
NIT the proper enforcement of anti
trust laws"
The committee eliminated the en-
tire $4,000 asked by the Commerce
for the Office of Tech
nical and Scientific Services. This
Office has been analyzing and dis
tributing German technical data.
Business can do this job for itself
the committee said
In addition to the contract au-
thority for those functions, the COM
mittee recommended $10,099, 900 in
cash for air navigation facilities and
s., ,000, 900 for airport development.
On other aviation matters, the
criticized the Civil Aero
Board for lack of admins
trative foresight and indecision,
and said the economy of the avia-
ton industry cannot for long with
stand the confusion which seems to
1See APPROPRIATIONS, Page A-6.)