The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1951-03-22
Washington Report
By United States Senator
Herbert K. O'COnOr

he major business before the
Senate this week, which the leader
ship is striving to conclude before the
Easter recess, is the question of
Presidential consultation with Con-
gress ON future proposals sent Ameri-
can ground troops for the defense of
Europe.
The two resolutions now being dis
cussed approve the action of Presi-
dent Truman in Europe in the COM
mon defense assistance of the North
Atlantic Treaty measure by sending
four divisions of ground troops to
Europe This is the only specific
troop movement so far projected.
Opinion on Capitol Hill now seems
to be veering to the conviction that
the President should consult with
both houses of Congress before such
decisions are made, which would
mean the Sc Senators and Congress
men in the Foreign Relations and
Armed Services Committees of the
Senate and the House. 1t was to avoid
the possible delays Of such broad
gagged Consultation" that | sug-
gested some weeks ago, and have
found considerable support for, set
ting up of a bipartisan Congressional
Policy Committee which would be
composed of II members, from the
two branches of Government.
Approval of the sending Of the first
four divisions, which seems fore
gone conclusion, would mark a de-
parture from all military policies of
the past and the end of the Isolation
ISM" the determination to let Europe
settle its own quarrels, which has
guided the United States on the inter
national level since the days of Gener-
al George Washington.
Good News for Taxpayers
Whatever increase is finally deter
mined upon in income taxes for the
current year, it will most likely not
apply to the first quarters of
the calendar year. in the opinion of
Senator Walter f. George, Chairman
of the Senate Finance Committee,
which will draft the Senate version of
the tax bill.
Part of President Humans re-
quested total of 1612 billion dollar in
crease for the year would be made up
of million dollar personal income
tax increase. Whether the Congress
will attempt to write a bill which
would yield the total which the Presi-
dent has indicated is necessary, is eX-
tremely doubtful
AS | pointed out sometime ago,
such an increase, added to the in
crease in income taxes made effective
last fall would amount to approx
mately 60 percent, an additional bur
den on the harassed taxpayers which
! declared, and still am convinced,
seemed Fantastic"
The most likely answer of Con-
gress, if one is to judge by its present
mood, will be budget balanced part
ly by new taxation and partly by re-
ductlon IN proposed budget eNpendl-
lures, achieved mainly through elimi-
nation of non-defense construction
and through avoidance of new OF eX-
banded social services.
The 100000 cut in the
budget which | have advocated as a
minimum requirement, in justice to
taxpayers, would make unnecessary
the Presidents suggested additional
program of taxation. 1t can safely be
predicted, my consultations with
other economy minded Senators con-
vince me, that the various monde
Tense budget proposals as they are
discussed upon the Senate floor, will
be challenged as perhaps never be-
fore, and subjected to scrutiny and
unremitting attack.
UNIT Seen As Boon to Health
One of the salutary results fore
seen for the youth of our country I'M
der Universal Military Training,
whose ultimate fate is now in the
hands of joint Conference Commit
tee after having been approved by