Evening star., 1949-07-16
| Senators Seek Slash
In Military Beyond
Billion Already Cut
~ the Associated Press

military spending program on the
heels of a $1,010,0oO, 900 Appropri-
ations Committee clash.
Senator Ferguson, Republican.
of Michigan told a reporter the
committees pruning was not deep
enough and promised to ask the
Senate to increase it another
1921 900. 900 later.
Senator Elmer Thomas, Demo-
crat, of Oklahoma. who led the
successful economy drive in the
committee, opposed Senator Fer
guson's plans. but had one of his
own to save another $500, 900 900.
1t also may come before the
Senate
Senators all agreed that the
sl.010,0 100000 cutback put the
military budget below a $15,900.-
100000 total approved by the
House April 13.
Air Forces Cut Most.
Most of the Senate committees
reduction-some $799 900, ,000-ap-
piled to the Air Forces. An at
tempt to restore at least part of
this on the Senate floor appeared
likely.
After making that reduction.
the Senate committee boosted
House figures for number of
other items-and then wrote in a
directive to Secretary of Defense
johnson to cut $453.000,000 from
the higher total.
The net result, and center of a
sizzling controversy. was the over
all cut of $1,010,000.000.
The House report claimed the
Presidents budget was more than
$15. 200, 100000 but Senators say it
actually was much less.
Senator Ferguson with support
of other economy advocates wants
Mr.. johnson to be directed to save
81 1921 900, 900 instead of the $780,
100000 plus figure voted by the
committee. He said this commit
tee figure was only about 3 per
cent of the presidential request
while Congress has been aiming
at a 10 per cent savings.
Senator Thomas said Secretary
johnson approves the bill in every
particular" and previously agreed
to make the s4Oo 900 900 plus slash.
If the Senate restored certain re-
ductions voted by the House when
it greatly increased Air Force
funds.
Stockpiling Under Fire.
Senator Thomas explained his
idea of cutting another $500, ,000,-
900 in defense costs would be
through reduction of 1886 900 900
funds for stockpiling strategic
and critical materials. These
have already been voted by Con-
gress in other money bills this
year. Senator Thomas has asked
Senators who handled those bills
to recommend the cutback as a
rider to the military bill.
I'VE already have a billion dol
lars worth Of stockpiled supplies
on hand" Senator Thomas said.
The Senate economy move ap-
peared to give Secretary johnson
a stronger purse-string control
over the three competing services
Army, Navy and Air Force
than ever held by cabinet men,
ber.
He could apply the full cut to
any of them, although Senator
Thomas indicated Mr.. johnson
would soon be out of Office If he
The House in voting funds to
greatly expand the Air Forces
and increase orders for new fight
ing aircraft, marked this off
against $500 100000 President
truman has asked for universal
training.
Congress has ignored the UNIT
request and Senator Tydings,
Democrat. of Maryland, after a
White House visit. listed Mr.. Tru-
man as favoring saving the $780,
000, 900 unless 1t went for UNIT.
Navy and Army Fare Best.
Unless Secretary johnson cuts
deeply into Navy and Army funds,
those two services appeared to
have bested the Air Force in their
rivalry for funds.
Senator Thomas said the. Gov
should be able to balance
It's budget in the current fiscal
year if Congress goes along with
the armed services cut. previous
Senate committee slash in foreign
aid funds. and a recision bill yet
to be offered. The latter would
nullify between $4,000. 900, 900 and
SO ,000. .00O,000 of this and previous
years cash and contract author
ity voted by Congress.
Appropriations Committee clerks
worked into the early morning
hours revising hundreds Of items
in the military bill for a detailed
report to the Senate, probably
today.
AS reported to the Senate the
bill included these features:
Authority for the Navy to spend
$115 100000 in reconstructing and
undermining two wartime aircraft
carriers as we'll as a number of
destroyers and other combat ships.
Secretary johnson agreed to this
after he bluntly halted construc-
ton of the 65,000-ton super air
craft carrier which the Navy had
started.
Authority to the Navy for use of
$40, ,000,0 to equip its anti-sub-
-, = r;x,o ,ircroff opd cI,iy,c yx,ith the