Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-03-20
Loud Voices on Economy
SiIenced in Senate Vote
Lack of Stamina Shown
By G. O. P. Lawmakers
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

by SOul0 Lincoln
Economy rarely wins. And one Of the
reasons is that shouting friends OF
economy in Government so often do
not stand hitched. Faced with
presidential budget which contemplates
$71.5 billion of expenditures in the
coming fiscal year and the imposition
of $165 billion additional in taxes, the
Senate gave an exhibition of lack or
economic stamina just the other day.
1t had before it a very commendable
bill for Federal aid to the States to
extend public health services of one
kind or another. The bill, however,
could mean the expenditure of $40
million a year, all of which would be
taken from the pockets of the tax
burdened citizens. Did the economy
advocates defeat the bill in the Sem
ate-believing that the purposes OF the
bill were admirable, but that with
Treasury depleted it should await
better day? They did not. The bill
passed with q vote of 38 to 35
The loudest voices for governmental
economy have been raised on the Re-
publican side of the Senate and House
chambers Governmental economy has
been made Republican issue in politi-
cal campaigns for many years. If the
Republicans, particularly in the Senate.
would stick together against new and
additional Government spending. they
would be joined by sufficient number
of economy minded Democrats to kill
off these new proposals.
Bill Has Special Appeal.
In the vote on the so-called local
public health units measure of 1851.
10 Republican Senators voted for the
bill Ten Democratic Senators voted
against it. Since there are more Demo-
cratic than Republican Senators. under
these conditions, the bill won its way
through the Senate. 1t still has to
run the gantlet of the House. But
there, too, the bipartisan strength OF
spending may prevail. And if it does
pass, and the bill goes to the President
for his signature, Congress, not the
Chief Executive, will be responsible for
adding this tax burden, for that il
what it really is, on the already heavily
burdcned shoulders of the people.
This particular bill, of course. has
a special appeal. 1t is put forward as
a measure to improve the health OF
the American people, and also as
measure to aid in the national defense.
It may be that it will do good, If it
becomes law. 1t is, however, like a lot
of other projects which would be Of
benefit, but for which there is no
money.
The Republican Senators who voted
for the bill are Aiken of Vermont, Cain
of Washington, Ives Of New York.
oyol Of
North Dakota, Malone of Nevada. Morse
of Oregon, Saltonstall of Massachusetts,.
Mrs Smith of Maine, and Smith OF
New Jersey. They are recognized.
most of them, as progressive-minded
Republicans.
The 10 Democratic Senators who
voted mo" on this measure are Byrd
of Virginia, George of Georgia, Hoey
of North Carolina, Holland Of Florida,
johnson Of Colorado, McCarran of Ne
vada, Mcclellan of Arkansas, O'Conor
of Maryland, Robertson of Virginia.
and Smith of North Carolina.
Citizens Must Pay All.
During the consideration of the bill,
1t was argued by one side that If the
bill were written into law 1t would
lessen the demand for socialized medl-
cine, since the people would find more
of their health and medical needs taken
care Of without the adoption OF
system of compulsory health insurance
(the polite name for Sociallzed medl-
cine). The other side contended that
the proposed law would merely whet
the appetite of those who desire social
lied medicine, and also that by helping
to raise the taxes, would soften up all
the people for Government handouts.
In the case of this measure, $50
million us to be supplied by the Federal
Government and $3.50 million by the
States and localities. All the money
must come from the same Source-the
pocketbookS of the American citizens.
A Democratic Senator, Benton OF
Connecticut, last Friday put out a
strong plea for the adoption by Con-
gress of all the Hoover Commission plans
for reorganizing the Federal Govern
ment-as a great economy move. He
made a remark that will arouse the
bile of many Republicans-who like to
plaster the blame for big Government
spending on the White House (occu-
pied by a Democratic President). Hs
said:
What many people forget is that it
is not the responsibility of the admin
istration to economic in Government.
but the primary duty Of Congress to
effect such economies"
Since all appropriations have to be
made by Congress, before the admins
tration can spend the money, Senator
Benton is obviously right-to degree.
The demands made on Congress in
the Presidents budget, for large sums,
play their part. too.
Incidentally, Senator Benton was one
of the Democrats who voted for the
new public health bill. Economy is
made OF sterner stuff.