Evening star., 1949-03-23
Taft 10 Ask Billion Cul
lin ECA Funds When
Bill Reaches Senate
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press
Senator Taft, Republican. of
Ohio, said today he will vote to
cut about $l.OO0,000.000 off the
bill for a second year of European
recovery when it reaches the Sen
ate, probably tomorrow.
The Senate bill to continue the
Marshall Plan calls for the full
$3.50, 100000 asked by the admin
istration and the Economic Co.
operation Administration.
But the House Foreign Affairs
Committee last night approved a
different version with an ar
rangement under which $200,000,-
900 would be cut from the total,
but private investors would be
encouraged to sink up to $272,-
100000 of their own money into
Europe's comeback.
That way, committee members
said, the program actually might
get 72,0O00,000 more than was
asked. The House bill would offer
certain guarantees to investors.
but it would not guarantee them
against business failure.
Requests Trimmed.
The 5000, 900, 900 cut in the Gov
ernment's outlay was accom-
plished by slicing $5O,0O0,OOO off
ECA's request for $1,15O, ,OOO, 900
to be used between April 3 and
June 80. and turning down an
additional $3.50, 900 which the
Government asked for possible
later use.
The $4,2S0, ,O00. 900 asked for the
IL months starting July was
left intact.
Senator Taft told a reporter he
has no quarrel with that last
figure, either. He said 1t repre-
sents a reduction in the rate OF
foreign spending.
But think the $1.150, 900 900
proposed for the three months up
to July is obviously padded" the
Ohioan said. The ECA says 1t
has to have that money to keep
its pipelines full, but I'm not at
all sure it wouldn't get along Just
as well If we cut the overall
amount"
At Odds With Vandenberg.
Senator Taft's opposition to
approval Of the full authorization
puts him at odds on this point
with Senator Vandenberg, Re-
publican, Of Michigan.
Senator Taft added, however,
he expects to vote for contin-
uance Of the recovery program
even II the Senate refuses to cut
the amount.
The Ohioan's. call for a reduc-
ton is regarded as likely to en-
courage some Of those who have
been plugging for even bigger
cuts.
Senator Capehart. Republican.
Of Indiana told a reporter he will
offer an amendment to bring the
economic aid total down to at
least $4,000, 100000. He has pro-
posed that any such Saving" be
used to pay for the cost of help
ing Western Europe rearm. If
Congress decides to go into that
field.
AS an indication that the move
to reduce economic aid Is likely to
have some bipartisan support.
Senator johnson, Democrat, of
Colorado said he doesn't think
more than $4,000,o00, 900 should
be provided for the 15-month Pc
riod starting April 3.
Senator Vandenberg said he
stands by the $5.5so.o00,00 au-
thorization figure, but is leaving 1t
up to the Senate Appropriations
Committee to decide later how
much money actually should be
available.
Both the House and Senate bills
merely set a limit on spending.
but do not provide any actual
money.
It has been Senator Vanden-
berg's position that commodity
prices might change enough by
the time the appropriations bill
actually came before the Senate
that some cut in the funds could
be made then. =.
No New Aid to China Hinted.
Meanwhile, Chairman Connally
of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee limited strongly that