Evening star., 1950-08-04
Final Senate Action
Due Today on Slash
In Non-D Defense Funds
By Cecil HoIIond


action today on a $34.237 900, 900
omnibus appropriation bill after
voting for a 10 per cent slash in
most non-defense and non-for-
eign aid expenditures.
Senators predicted they would
finish work sometime today on
the money bill for operating Gov
ernment activities. 1t will then
be sent to conference to iron out
differences between the Senate
measure and the bill passed
earlier by the House.
In a gruelling 10-hour session,
the Senate:
/. Adopted by vote of IS to 81
an amendment sponsored by Sen
ators Byrd. Democrat, of Virginia:
Bridges. Republican. Of New
Hampshire. and others, cutting by
10 per cent most Federal ex-
penditures not specifically ex-
empted in the bill. The action
was estimated to add about $525
million to the $l,750,000, 900 al
ready cut from President Tru-
mans budget.
Marshall Plan Funds Spared.
2. Voted IS to 20 to exclude the
Marshall Plan program from the
10 per cent economy slash, an
action that saved the Economic
Administration from
a $267 million cut in his requests
for financing the third year Of
the European recovery undertak-
ing.
3. Beat down by a IS to Is vote
a move by Senator Kilgore, Dem
crat, of West Virginia, to recon-
slider the Senate action of Tues
day in directing a 500 million
commercial loan by the Export
Import Bank to Spain. This &C
ton was taken soon after Presi-
dent Truman had told a news
that he was opposed
to the rider on the appropriation
bill sponsored by Senator Nc
Carran, Democrat. Of Nevada,
the loan to Spain.
4. Shouted down a motion by
Senator Morse, Republican, of
oregon. TO strike from the bill
provision giving the Secretaries
of State and Commerce absolute
discretion in firing employees in
the best interest of the Nation"
Votes on Exemptions.
Before economy minded mem
bers got behind the Byrd-Bridges
several votes came on
other proposed exemptions beside
the ECA portion and various
amendments to raise items in the
bill.
BY a 44-to-41 vote the Senate
the $l2 million Amer
lean contribution to the United
Nations International Children's
Fund from the 10 per
cent slash. But it refused by a
vote of 46 to 80 to exempt the
$29 million earmarked for Presi-
dent Truman's Point Four" pro-
gram to aid undeveloped areas of
the world.
An amendment by Senator
Magnuson, Democrat, Of WASH
ington. seeking $64 million addi-
tional for cancer, heart, mental
and dental disease research was
voted down, 48 to 36.
Another Magnuson amendment
seeking additional funds for re-
conditioning auxiliary fleet units
such as hospital ships was beaten
on a standing vote. Opponents
said this money could be provided
more quickly by a supplement re-
quest made by President Truman
for the same purpose.
Educational Funds Increased.
The Senate also voted after
lengthy debate to increase funds
for vocational education and re-
from $19,877,760 to
$23, ,435, 900. 1t also added at the
request Of Senator Taft, Repub-
lican, Of Ohio an item Of $40, 900
for flood control work at Rose
vile. Ohio.
Administration leaders waged a
sharp but hopeless fight against
the Bridges amendment.
Senate Majority Leader Lucas
described 1t as meat AK reduc-
ton and voted against 1t along
with other administration stall
warts.
On the showdown 36 Repub-
licans and 19 Democrats voted for
the slash. Opposed to it were 80
Democrats and only two Repub-
licans - Senators LANCER and
Young. both of North Dakota.
Sharp debate marked the days
discussion of the loan to Spain.
Senator Anderson. Democrat, of
New Mexico. took the floor in a
Commute speech to warn against
what he described as the far
reaching implications of the loan.
Soon afterward Senator Kilgore
filed his motion to reconsider.
Senator Lucas told the Senate
the vote to have the Export I'm
port Bank make the 500 million
loan to Spain had saved the ECA
from a cut of that amount in its
funds. Senator McCarran's origi-
nal proposal would have taken
the funds from the ECA appro-
priation.
Pointing out that the Senate
Democratic Policy Committee had
approved the compromise, Sena-
tor Lucas added:
Il knew exactly what I was
doing when that compromise was
made. Senator McCarran had the
votes to take $100 million away
from the ECA. think it was a
good deal and I don't care what
any Senator or anybody else
thinks about it. That move saved
the ECA $100 million and I don't