Evening star., 1949-08-25
Johnson Seen as Hero
In Order TO Cut Costs
BY Layoff Of $4,000
SIoshes to Hit Districts
Strongly Fortified With
Political Influence

Strongly Fortified With
Political Influence
By David Laurence
Louis johnson. Secretary OF
Defense, bids fair to become a
national hero. He is the first
person in the executive branch OF
the Government-or in Washing
ton for that matter-who has ex-
hibited the courage to cut ex-
penses even though it hurts on the
political side. Congress itself has
fallen down miserably on that
score this session.
Secretary johnson has done
what nobody else has done here
In the memory of observers whose
recollections go back over the
years. He has ordered cuts in
those districts which up to now
have been strongly fortified with
political influence-the districts
where Army posts. Naval estab-
lishments and Air Force install
lations have been located.
For several months now, as the
cry for a balanced budget has
been growing louder and louder
from the country, the only answer
has been more and more spending.
For several months also the
Truman administration has been
urged not to make cuts because it
would add to unemployment. In
fact, the executive agencies have
been ordered to increase employ
ment by channeling governmental
projects into areas where unem-
ployment to employment ratios
are largest.
Courageous Action.
But now the Secretary Of De-
fense has tackled the biggest
single concentration Of political
power - the Congressman and
Senators of both parties who up
to now have resisted any attempts
to cut down work In their con-
stituencies.
1t Is true the blow falls heaviest
on civilian employees, but it has
been pointed out in these dis
patches recently that the over
head remaining from the war is
tremendous and that economies
are possible therein without i'm
pairing the effectiveness Of the
armed services. There are billions
to be. saved by taking out the
waste in the armed forces.
II "unification" means this kind
Of courageous action, it viii be
applauded by the country because,
as Secretary johnson says. he is
opposed to making a WPA out
of the defense establishment.
Historically the armed services
have been well aware of much of
this waste but the men in uniform.
dependent as they are on the good
will Of Congress, always have been
reluctant to recommend the
abandonment Of a navy yard or
an army post, for example. In q
State where an influential Senator
is located. Certain areas have
been regarded as untouchable be-
cause it would hurt politically.
If, somehow, the example set
by Secretary johnson could be
followed In other agencies and the
so-called pork barrel idea could
be eliminated from the Federal
budget, there would be every
chance Of a balanced budget at
a reasonably early date.
It is conceivable that II Secre-
tary johnson gets the backing of
the country, as he should, q
stimulus will be afforded to other
cabinet officers to make cuts in
other parts Of the budget which
are now plainly protected by
political considerations.
Significant, to be sure, is the
applause that has come from
members of Congress who have
been in the forefront Of the econ
omy drive-as, for instance, Sem
ator Byrd, Democrat, of Virginia,
and Senator Ferguson, Republican,
of Michigan. Other Republicans
and Democrats congratulated the
Secretary Of Defense.
Met Protests Head On.
MIR. johnson anticipated re-
percussions. So he invited all
members Of Congress whose dis
tricts are. affected by the cuts to
come to his Offices to get an ex-
PLANTATION of what was being done
in order that they. in turn. could
explain the matter to their con-
stituents. This in itself was one
OF the most unusual as well as
adroit moves that he could have
made under the circumstances.
Instead of waiting for the pro-
tests, he met them head on.
"ACA4UCAo VI SOuSIcSS WILL 40
q lot OF criticizing, as they will
doubtless feel 1t necessary to show
their constituents how hard they
are working to prevent the cuts
from taking effect. But with q
Nationwide support for what is
being done and with many dis
tricts being affected very much
the same way, it is unlikely that
the political pressure exerted will
be of any avail.
AS the figures stand now, there
will be dismissals of 10000 civil
lians in the Navy, 1000 in the
Army and $4,000 in the Air Forces.
Besides this 12,073 Reserve Off
GERS will be put on inactive duty,
thus cutting that payroll ma
terially.
The truth is the whole military
establishment has remained in
an overextended condition on the
civilian side. since the war be-
cause of political influence or
fear of antagonizing politically
influential people.
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