Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-03-27
Authority 10 Expend
aid Funds in Z or IS
Months Urged by Taft
By the Asseeiated Press

sSusS wv ~ sNh
BY the Associated Press
Senator Taft, Republican of
Ohio, suggested yesterday that
Congress limit European recovery
funds to 1920, OOO,oO and let
President Truman decide whether
to use that amount during IL or
during Is months.
Senator Taft told reporters this
proposal has been discussed
among Senators along with sug-
gestions for a fiat 10 per cent cut
in the pending bill to put a S.
$50. 000.0 900 ceiling on Marshall
Plan aid to Western Europe in the
next IS months. The Senate re-
sumes debate on the measure to-
morrow.
The Foreign Relations Commit
tee has approved a $4.280. 000, 900
outlay for the year beginning July
/. 1t also has recommended that
$1,l50.0 100000 be made available
for April, May and June. plus
$150,000, 900 in contracting author
ity for later use.
Similar to '48 Move.
The Ohio Senator's suggestion
would duplicate the action Con-
gress took last year. when it voted
SIS, $50 100000 in actual appropri-
atoms for Is months but permitted
the President to telescope the al
locations into IL months. The
President did so.
Senator Taft said an amend
ment may be offered for 10 per
cent cut in the overall $780,
100000 figure in line with economy
talks between House and Senate
Republicans.
The Ohioan said there have been
suggestions that a 10 per cent cut
be written into every appropri-
alton bill, either as fiat reduction
or as an instruction to the Presi-
dent to scale spending down by
that much, leaving him a free
hand in deciding where funds
should be Topped off.
Senator Taft said he fears that,
unless some cut is made in the
European recovery budget there
won't be much overall savings.
Il don't see why we should be
asked to appropriate more this
year than we did in the last Con-
gress," Senator Taft said.
Leftover Funds Seen.
I'VE could make the S4,280,-
600, 900 available for Is months
and If the President finds it has
to be spent faster, we will be back
here next January and can take
the matter up then, just as we
have this year"
Senator Taft, who heads the
Senate Republican Policy Com
mittee, said he doesn't believe all
of the money made available last
year will be spent before this July
!.
He contended that, while con-
tracts may have been let or COM
mitments made for the remainder,
actual cash OUTLAWS by the Treas
ury for the Economic Cooperation
Administration will reach only
about $4,000, 900 900 on April /.
While the administration is ex-
pected to fight Senator Taft's pro-
posal, there is evidence that it
may attract substantial support in
the Senate. /
Others Seen Backing Proposals.
Members like Senator Capehart.
(R-IndD and johnson, O-Coloo
who have been talking about a cut
In the overall program could be
expected to back the Taft proposal
If amendments to slash the fund
fail as expected.
On the other hand, some men,
bers who want to keep the ECA
operating at top speed might ind
1t a palatable compromise. For
instance, Senator Knowland, Re
publican of California, member
of the Appropriations Commit
tee, said it was something to think
about.
II the 1920, 600, 900 fund were
used in IL months. ECA spending
would be at the rate Of more than
1856, 600, 900 a month. The whole
,580,0O0,000 fund, spread over
Is months, would give the agency
an average rate of 1910, 0OO, 900
q month.
Highest rate of spending is ex-
pected to be reached this spring
and summer, with the tapering
off process to start in the fall
and winter in line with promises
to cut the aid outlay next year.
Holds Out for Full Amount.
Senator Vandenberg, Republi-
can, of Michigan has held out
for the full $3.50, 100000 for the
IS months. He went along with
last years compromise to give the
President permission to use the
money voted then in IL months.
However, he is expected to con-
tend that if any such arrange
ment is made this year, it ought
to wait until after the Appropri-
ations Committee has surveyed
ECA and decided how much
money actually should be spent.
Thus he may oppose compro-
missing in the present bill, which
merely sets a limit on the funds
Congress will be called upon to
vote later.