Evening star., 1951-04-17
Congress Is Determined
To Limit Expenditures
Single Appropriation Bill
Of Byrd Gains Booking
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

A growing determination on the part
OF Congress to limit the huge expendi-
lures Of the Government finds express
sion in the introduction of concur
rent resolution calling for a "single
package" appropriation bill by Senator
Harry F. Byrd of Virginia, Democrat,
with 46 other Senators, Democrats and
Republicans alike joining as sponsors
of the measure.
It Is Senator Byrd'S contention that
the single bill-in place of the dozen
separate appropriation bills for the
various Government agencies - makes
for economy. Economy, in view of the
$75 to $50 billion expected level Of appro-
priations annually forced by the Korean
war and the need to build up the ma
tional defense, is vital.
When former Gov. Thompson of
Georgia. a Democrat, announce he is
resigning job with the Federal Gov
ernment which paid him $3.50 day
after twelve weeks during which he was
given absolutely nothing to do. it looks
as though strong arm methods are
needed to prevent tremendous waste
by the executive branch of the Gov
ernment This means that approx
mately $4,000 Of the taxpayers money
has been expended and nothing re-
ceived. Mr.. Thompson. in his announce
ment of resignation, charged that many
others are on the payrolls-doing prac-
tically nothing. The $4,000. in Mr..
Thompson's case, represented annual
income taxes paid by IS American fami-
lies who average 500 in income tax
payments.
Danger Of Waste Ever Present.
Mr.. Thompsons appointment was to
one of the so called war emergency
agencies, set up to control prices. In the
name Of emergency, the danger OF huge
waste is ever present. This waste comes
at a time when rigid economy is most
necessary. The House Appropriations
Committee, considering supplemental
appropriation bills" to provide more
money for Government agencies for the
remainder of the present fiscal year.
recommended drastic cuts and the
House itself swung the ak. It knocked
S370 million out of request by the
Executive for S843 million for dozen
Federal agencies. A $216 million cut in
civil defense funds and almost $88 mil
lion reduction in Sthe Voice of America
represent most Of the House savings.
The House committee, in its report
on the supplemental appropriation de-
mands, wrote that the Federal Govern
ment, already too large" should not
be permitted to grow larger on the
pretext of having some connection with
national defense. 1t added that it is
wholly unreasonable for any one to as
sumo it takes 100000 Federal civil
employees to govern the country during
a normal emergency" A normal ener-
gency" is a novel term, although the
Government has leaped from one emer-
gency to another with exceeding rapld1ty
during the last 18 years. some OF them
much more normal" than the present
one. Each has brought its additional
thousands to the Federal payroll. -
Real Watchdog Of Treasury.
Senator Byrd, real watchdog OF the
Treasury, has for years sought to reveal
to the public as well as to his colleagues
in Congress, the non-esSential >expendl-
lures of the Government and the dangers
of deficit spending. His concurrent res
olution is assured of passage by the
Senate-he lacks only two of majority
of the Senate in the announced support
of the resolution.
The House last year, under the leader
ship of Chairman Cannon Of the House
Appropriations Committee. adopted the
single package appropriation bill. But
the House Appropriations Committee
abandoned it this year. over the protest
of Mr. Cannon, and reverted to the old
style of doing business.
Senator Byrd insists that Congress
cannot act intelligently on appropri-
tions of the present magnitude, with
piecemeal consideration. and 1t cannot.
If the House as well as the Senate puts
through his resolution, the single pack
age bill will become permanent rule.
With $40 billion increase in taxes
hanging over our heads - needed to
prevent another huge deficit in Govern
ment financing opinion should
get behind the Virginia Senator for q
more intelligent handling of appropria-
tions.
Why not?