Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-03-21
House Economy Move
Pushed After Cutting
. Items in Fund Bill
BY Cecil Holland

house economy advocates drove
head today in their efforts to
Finn President Truman's record
beacetime budget of ST. billion
after winning three test votes
on items in the Treasury-Post
Office money bill.
While the cuts in the Treasury
Post Office bill-the first appro-
priation measure to reach the
House floor this session-were rel
atively small, they indicated the
pattern that will be followed by
the economy bloc as other major
funding bills come up for con-
sideration.
The economy bloc, composed
mostly of Republicans and South
ern Democrats, succeeded in max
ing cuts in three items below what
the House Appropriations Com
mittee recommended. The three
together amounted to only $685.
900 in the 1921, 100000 bill. But
the economy supporters said the
reductions indicated firm inten-
ton on the part Of Congress to
trim the presidential budget.
Treasury Chief Target.
1t was the first successful drive
against departmental appropria-
ton bill in many years and was
directed largely against the Treas
ury despite the fact that Secre-
tary Snyder usually gets along
more smoothly with members of
Congress than most Cabinet Off
GERS.
The bills handlers forced a de-
lay in further consideration of
the bill until today after the cuts
in three items were voted tenta-
lively and another was pending
to chop off another 81 million.
They indicated they were hopeful
of stopping or slowing down the
economy drive.
However, Representative Taber
of New York. ranking Republican
member of the House Appropria-
tons Committee, predicted the
economy drive will continue. He
declared there was not a single
office, which could not take a 10
per cent cut in personnel.
Representative Cox, Democrat,
of Georgia described the House
action as significant. He added
it should convince "the bureau
Gratis" and fuzzy minded do
coolers" that the spending hon
eymoon is over"
The cuts already voted, subject
to a later vote, were:
l. A reduction from $2,648, 900
to $2,400,000 in funds requested
for the Office of the Secretary of
the Treasury. The vote was Ill
to 40.
2. A slash from $2,0e5, 900 re-
quested by the President and So
050,000 recommended by the COM
mittee to s1.850.000 in funds for
the Bureau of Accounts. This
vote was LOT to 81.
3. A cut of $450,000 from the
Treasury's Division of Disburse-
ment Salary allotment. leaving it
at $11,5 100000. The President had
asked for $12 million and the COM
mittee had recommended $115
million. The vote on this reduc-
ton was 112 to 81.
Larger items were scheduled for
consideration today. inclu d ng
funds for the Postoffice Depart
nent.
Leave Cut Sought.
Demands for a reduction in an
nual leave allowed Federal en-
ployes and the elimination on
many high-salaried jobs in the
Treasury and other Government
departments preceded the success
full economy votes.
Representative Passman, Demo-
crat, of Louisiana, said annual
leave should be reduced by sep
arate legislation to 20 days. He
estimated this would save the
Federal Government 1886 million
annually.
Representative Edward A. Hall,
Republican. of New York, said
Congress should earmark many
high-salaried positions for the
slaughter house"