The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1949-05-12
TAX BOOST
IS URGING
OF TRUMAN
Increase 10 Depend on De-
fieit TO Be Reported Dis
eusses Many Issues

WASHINGTON. May 12-R-
President Truman told his news
conference today he still sees a
need for $4,000 100000 increase
in taxes to avoid deficit and re-
tire part of the public debt.
He believes in and has been prac-
ticing rigid government economy.
be said.
He wants to apply between ST.
900. 100000 and $4,000, 0OO 900 toward
the public debt
Answering reporters who asked
whether he still felt $4,000, DOC. 900
Increase Is necessary. the President
first said that would be worked
out when the amount OF the defi-
cit is determined. Later he said he
did not expect any change in the
tax program he proposed last
January.
ESTIMATES DEFICIT
The last estimate of deficit
for the fiscal year ending June
30 placed it at between $500. 900 900
and s70O,0OO,000.
The discussion came when a
reporter asked whether Mr.
Iruman's views squared with those
of Chairman Doughton (D-NC) OF
the House Ways and Means Com
nlittee. Doughton said after con-
ference with the President yester-
day that he (Doughton) favored
rigid government economy instead
Of higher taxes.
| Mr.. Truman said he completely
agreed with Doughton about
economy and that he had prac-
ticed this in making his January
budget recommendations
He added the subject OF their
talk was Social Security and the
two also were agreed on that.
He declined to comment or re-
ports that his economic advisory
council had reported to him that
ii would be desirable to avoid big
tdA AiOiCdcC ~ ~ CouAd VIC 0oAsC
without deficit financing. He did
describe the report as not pessi-
mistic.
On other subjects, the President
said:
BYRD INCIDENT
He had no reason to comment
on a report quoting him as telling
veterans committee that there
are too many Byrds (meaning Sem
ator Byrd-D, Va in Congress-
He said the conversation he had
with delegation Of the American
Veterans Committee was confiden-
tial.
Asked If this indicated purge
Of Democrats opposed to some OF
his program, Mr.. Truman said he
is not interested in purge. He
added the people take care OF that.
He hopes to fill the vacancies in
the position Of Secretaries Of the
Army and Navy within few days.
He referred reporters to Jonathan
Daniels, Raleigh, NC, editor, when
asked why Daniels had turned
down the Navy Secretaryship.
He is happy over the lifting OF
the Berlin blockade and agrees with
a reporter that it is source OF
encouragement in the world situa-
ton.
He would not elaborate on Sec
rotary of State Acheson's state
ment yesterday that Franco Spain
is still dictatorship which denies
itr citizens the fundamental human
rights. He said Acheson answered
the question, concerning which
there has been recent controversy.
as to whether the United States
should resume fuller diplomatic re-
lations with Spain.
HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN
| Asked how his personal physi-
clan, Brig. Gen. Wallace Graham,
stands on his compulsory health
insurance plan. Mr.. Truman smiled
and told the reporter he should
know or Graham wouldn't be in his
job.
Immediately after the news con-
ference, the President walked across
from the White House to the old
State Department building to talk
to large group of businessmen.
| The speech, the White House
said, was completely "off the re-
cord"
The businessmen are members of
the Committee for Economic De-
velopment. a private organization
made up Of executives Of various
businesses
SALARY RESOLUTION
| He has decided to sign resolu-
tnl.