Evening star., 1952-07-01
3 Major Money Bills
Still Unsettled as New
Fiscal Year Begins
BY Robert. K. Wnl,sh

The start of the Governments
nscal year today found nine major
approximations bills - including
the $46.4 billion military supply
measure-still awaiting final con-
gressional and White House ac-
ton.
Leaders, however, dismissed
Tears Of possible payless paydays
and agency tie-ups for lack Of
FUNDS. An interim resolution is
ready Tor adoption If necessary to
avert any hardship or stoppage Of
vital operations.
Adoption Of such q resolution
has been q frequent practice in
past years. It might not be nec-
eSSary this week because Congress
IS speeding toward adjournment
Saturday. Officials said no i'm
mediate emergency threatens ad-
ministrative departments or en-
ployes. as would be the case II
appropriations bills were stalled
into late July or August.
Bills StiII in Conference.
All except q $40 billion supple
mentary bill have been passed by
both branches but still are in con-
ference. Only one bill has. been
sent to the President.
Senate and House conferees be-
gan work today on the armed
services appropriation bill. The
SAC. .4OS. .00O. 900 measure. biggest Of
its kind to come before Congress,
was passed by the Senate. 66 to o.
at $3.50 pm. yesterday. after al
most nine hours Of debate and
numerous amendments.
The Senate version differs
greatly not only from the bill as
passed by the House several weeks
ago. but also from the original
requests Of President Truman.
The House-approved total was
$46.207. 900 900. The President had
asked for $51. .390, ,000, 900.
The most important point that
viii have to be worked out by
the conferees is a Senate amend
ment providing cash and contract
authority to help the Air Force
get 143 wings by July. 1855. The
present strength is about 80 wings.
A wing has up to IS planes.
House Amount Raised.
The Senate bill would give the
Air Force $21.122. 1851, TOO, as COM
pared with $40. .752. 1922 in the
bill as it came over from the
House. But the Senate amend
ment, sponsored by atorl
O'Mahoney, Democrat, Of Wyo-
ming, and adopted 79 to 0, speci-
flied that about So billion would bel
in contract authority.
The House had voted for cash
for the Air Force. The Senate
provision would give the Air Force
authority to make contracts now
for which SO billion in cash will be |
forthcoming in later fiscal years.
The Senate amendment actual
" provided $4,658, ,044. 900 in cash
for Air Force construction. OIL
that amount. So billion would be
for the fiscal year beginning to-
day. The rest would cover con-
tracts already made.
Ceiling Provision Rejected.
The Army would get $12,165,-
o80, 900 and the Navy $12, 2,669. STA
142 under the Senate version. The
House version allotted $12 2.244.-f
100000 for the Army and $12,-l
S15,152,142 for the Navy. In each
instance the sums were consid-
cradle less than those requested
by the administration.
The Senate would not accept a
House provision which would have
put a $46 billion ceiling on spend
ing by the armed forces during
the 1858 fiscal year.
The Senate approved an amend
ment, rejected by the House, to
give servicemen in Korea $45 a
month in combat pay.
Senator Douglas, Democrat, Of
Illinois, failed to get Senate ap-
proval of his amendment to re-
quire uniform special hazard pay
for paratroopers and submarine
crew personnel. He proposed that
pay be reduced to $50 a month
for enlisted men and 500 a month
for officers. Present pay is on a
sliding scale with some officers
getting as much as $210 extra,
Senator Douglas told the Senate.
The Senate also defeated an
amendment by Senator Morse, Re-
publican, Of Oregon, to cut about
$500 million from the $3.5 billion
item for Air Force maintenance
and operation.
The O'Mahoney amendment
containing the cash and contract
authority arrangement for Air
Force expansion created consid-
cradle confusion on the floor be-
cause of its unusual nature and
complexity.