Evening star., 1949-04-15
GeorgeSupports
Drive 10 Slash
u. 5. Expenses
Backs Wherry. Bridges
On Cuts to Prevent
Tax Rise or Deficit
BY the kssoeiofed Press

Senator George, Democrat. OF
Georgia-No. / tax authority ir
the Senate-offered today to sup.
port a drive to slash Government
spending. The drive has been
started by two Republican Sen.
ators.
Senator George. chairman OF
the Finance Committee. told a
reporter that he agrees with Sen
ators Wherry. Republican of Ne
braska and Bridges. Republican
Of New Hampshire that Congress
must start using a knife on spend
ing bills If it is to avoid tax
increase or in-the-red financing
THE acid test will come on
our appropriations for foreign
spending-the ECA, the Atlantic
pact and similar measures" he
said.
Nobody can expect members
of Congress to cut down on our
domestic programs unless we first
make reduction on foreign
spending" Senator George con-
tinued. IF we're going to pare
down anywhere, We must start
there"
Wherry Announces Drive.
Senator Wherry, Republican
floor leader. called reporters to
his Capitol Office last night to an
nounce the Republican drive to
slash both foreign and domestic
spending.
First he expressed agreement
with President Truman that the
Nation may spend more than it
is taking inf Congress con-
tinues its present spending rate
without raising taxes.
Senator Wherry said Repub-
lican Senators feel that it "looks
like the spending situation IL
getting out of hand"
The Nebraskan said that pei :
sonally he favors general cut
of 10 to Is per cent in the Presi-
dents spending plans but he
added sit would be silly" to try
to slice everything that comes
along.
AS appropriations committee
men, Senator Wherry said. he and
Senator Bridges. former chairman
of that group, will aim first at the
$3.50, 100000 European recovery
authorization just cleared by Con-
gress.
Expects Plenty Of Support.
If Congress is forced to vote
additional taxes-as requested by
Mr.. Truman-"a depression and
hard times would result. Senator
Wherry said.
The Republican leader said he
expects plenty of support for the
economy drive from those on the
other side of the AISLE" referring
to Democrats.
Informed of this. Senator
George said he thought many
Democrats would join in the drive
to cut spending and avoid new
taxes or a deficit.
Senator Wherry released q
statement on behalf of himself
and Senator Bridges. 1t said:
IF all the money-spending. So
cialistic recommendations made
by the President are adopted by
Congress, taxes must be increased
by $4,000. 100000 or the Treasury
Department will have to return
to the highly inflationary policy
of deficit spending.
Either road spells hard times
for the American people"
They estimated that the pro-
posed new farm program Of Sec
retary of Agriculture Brannan
might "cost more than $1,000. .000.-
600 a year" They spoke out. too
against bigger and bigger social
welfare programs" and said they
will comb carefully the foreign
aid program.
, May Vote on Housing Tuesday.
The Wherry- Bridges statement
pointed up the split among Senate
Republicans over what to do about
the social welfare legislation. such
as the housing program, which
Mr.. Truman wants.
Senator Taft Of Ohio, chairman
of the Senate Republican Policy
Committee and a sponsor Of the
bipartisan housing bill, has argued
that the Republican Party can't
survive If it fights such legislation
designed to benefit low income
families.
The long range housing bill may
be voted on Tuesday In the Senate
It's foes have acknowledged pri-
vately it will pass. There were no
fiat forecasts. however, that all the
spending authorized in the bill will
be approved.
1t provides. among other things,
for construction Of $4,000 public
units during the next six years.
The Federal Government would
contribute to local communities
(See ECONOMY, Page A-3.)