Evening star., 1949-05-26
House voteC eCIearsWa\
For Compromise on
Slash in ECAFunds
Plan Would Permit Use
OF A,642,470,m
Over Shorter Period

The House cleared the way to-
day for approval Of q compromise
on the foreign-aid appropriation
bill which would retain the sharp
committee cut In funds but make
the reduced amount available for
spending over a shorter period.
On q voice vote, the House ap-
proved a special rule to permit
consideration Of the compromise
as an amendment to the t4.6l2.-
470.000 measure recommended by
the Appropriations Committee
Representative Smith. Democrat.
Of Virginia proposed the rule.
After it, adoption, the House
began four hours Of general de-
bate on the bill to run the foreign
aid program during the fiscal year
beginning July / and TO meet DE-
ficiences In the last three months
Of the current fiscal year. Leaders
predicted approval late today.
The bill. as brought TO the floor,
would provide ss.56s. .470. 900 for
the next fiscal year. President
Truman had asked s4,los 200 900.
It would add the $1.o74. .000. 900
asked by Mr.. Truman for the last
three months OF this fiscal year.
Could Be Used by May Is.
Under the compromise. the
President could approve expendi-
ture OF all the money by next May
Is, instead Of June 80. the end Of
the fiscal year. II this were done
and the Economic Cooperation
Administration then obtained an
other deficiency appropriation at
the same rate Of spending. the
program would have available
over the entire 15-month period
almost as much as the President
requested.
As the debate got underway. one
Of the leading economy advocates
In the House. Representative Rich.
Republican, Of Pennsylvania took
the floor to declare:
1T takes q lot Of nerve to get
up here and talk 70 q Congress
that seems to have In mind giving
away America to foreign coun-
tries"
Asks Stock Taking.
He pleaded with the members
to take stock Of the Nations
general financial situation and
warned that countries receiving
ECA aid and future assistance
under the North Atlantic Pact
might turn around and use that
against u.s."
Representative Rabaut. Demo-
crat, Of Michigan retorted:
How far do you think you'd
60 into the red II we had hot
war;"
The compromise amendment on
the foreign aid fund was worked
out quietly by administration and
economy minded Republican lead
ers yesterday.
I'VE viii not oppose the amend
ment. said House Minority Leader
Martin. AS . matter Of fact, we
favor it."
Representative Taber Of New
York. ranking Republican member
Of the Appropriation COMMITTEES.
said he had no objection 70 the
proposal.
welcemed by Administration.
Administration leaders welcomed
1t too. They had feared the slash
would have m adverse eject on
European recovery efforts and the
current meeting Of the Council
Of Foreign Ministers IN Rarts.
They had vigorously opposed The
slash recommended by the House
Appropriation Committee and only
yesterday Undersecretary Of State
webb said ii would be . serious
blow to the European recovery
program :.
The compromise does not re-
store the sl5o. .o00. coo cut By The
Appropriations Committee from
the 81 900. 900 900 sought by the
President for government and
relief In occupied areas Neither
does IL affect $50, 900 O00-tl1e