Evening star., 1949-04-10
Bridges Urges Action
To Set Overall CeiIinq
On Federal Budget
By ]. A. o'Leoy

BY J, A. OLeoT
Senator Bridges of New Hamp-
shire, ranking minority member
Of the Appropriations Committee,
urged congressional leaders last
night to tackle the problem of
fixing an overall ceiling on the
Federal budget for the year start
ing July !, as contemplated by
the Congressional Reorganization
Act.
Recent public discussion of the
arms program for Western Eu-
rope. and the question Of whether
It's cost Is to be In addition to or
integrated with the Presidents
original January budget, was cited
by Senator Bridges as one reason
why the budget as whole should
be reviewed now.
The Reorganization Act fixed
February Is each year as the date
for drawing up an overall estimate
Of the Governments probable in
come and outgo for the next fiscal
year, as a guide to the House and
Senate in striving to keep the
current budget in balance.
Plans Still Indefinite.
At the start Of this session ad-
ministration leaders put a resolu-
ton through the House and
Senate. postponing the date to
May /. That date is only three
weeks away, and inquiry at both
ends Of the Capitol yesterday in
dicated plans are still indefinite
as to what should be done about
the budget ceiling.
Since the February postpone
ment. however, the House APP
propriations Committee, under
the leadership Of Chairman Can
non. has made such rapid head
way In acting on the detailed
budget requirements for each de-
partment that the last Of the
regular departmental money bills
will be reported to the House late
this week. None Of them has gone
through the Senate yet, however,
and until they do the final figures
will remain uncertain.
1--WE will know what our ceiling
Is when that last regular depart
mental bill comes out this week. "
said Mr.. Cannon, referring to the
House situation.
He said the House committee
total for all Of the bills. when the
last one is out, will show sub
stantial reduction below the
budget.
To Consult Leaders.
Asked about the May / ceiling
date, Mr.. Cannon said, well con-
suit with House and Senate lead
ers to see what they want to do
about it," He raised a question,
however, as to what would be ac-
complished by the fixing Of CELL
ing now, with nearly all Of the
supply bill drafted in the House.
Ever since its enactment in 1916
the budget ceiling process has been
plagued. by a difference Of opinion
among members of Congress over
its value, This difference of opin-
ion Is not confined to either Of
the major political parties.
For example, on the Senate side
EaNa fnr GnNr0n nnrNn0raf nf
Georgia, chairman of the Finance
Committee, agreed with Republi-
can Senator Bridges that the ap-
propriate committees of both
houses should begin celebrating
onswhat to do about the May i
date.
On the other hand, Representa-
tive Taber of New York, the rank
ing Republican on the House Ap-
preparations Committee. said yes
terday it would be better to repeal
the budget-ceiling requirement.
His view is shared by Chairman
Cannon of the House Committee,
who called the budget-ceiling pro-
vision "a fifth wheel"
Mr.. Taber called the ceiling re-
quirement. which was enacted in
1946, IAN instrument in the hands
Of the spenders rather than the
savers" Explaining, he said the
"generalities on the part Of the
spenders cannot be refuted" in
February, until "after the savers
have taken testimony" on the de-
tailed appropriation bills.
Budget Group to Meet.
Senator Bridges said that with
the country on spending spree,
and with the question of whether
the arms program (for Europe)
and other supplemental estimates
are to be In addition to the orig
inal budget. it gives rise to a feel
ing of the necessity of having a
meeting of the legislative budget
group to discuss the overall
picture"
The Republicans were in control
OF Congress when the Reorganlza-
ton Act went into effect. and
they attempted to carry out the
ceiling requirement, although the
results have given rise, to much
debate.
In 1947, the first year. the
House and Senate went on record
for different ceiling figures and
were unable to adjust the differ
ence. Last year they succeeded
in fixing a ceiling figure, but
members of Congress have dis
agreed over how it worked out.
Some of the difficulty in 1947
and 1948 may have been due to
the division of control, with a Re-
publican Congress and a Demo-
cratic administration in the exec
utive branch.
Chairman Mcclellan Of the Sem
ate Appropriations Committee
said he has had some talks with
Mr.. Cannon about the ceiling
provision, and hopes some con-
clusion will be reached this week
on what should be done. Senator