Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-04
Further Reduction
In Defense Measure
Is Sought in House
By John A. Giles


There were strong demands on
Capitol Hill today for further
slast1es in the $46.6 billion mill
tary appropriations bill which a
House committee already has cut
by $40 billion.
President Truman had asked
$500 billion for the military serv-
ices.
Administration leaders had
rushed the big defense measure
to the House floor in the hope of
getting it passed substantially in
its present form before the Easter
recess. They feared that if Con-
gress waited it might be in a mood
for even deeper cuts.
But. even so, there was no ques-
ton that the big bill was in for
a hard time.
RecOmmittal Refused,
Before sending it to the House
floor late yesterday, the Appro-
prlations Committee refused, %
to IT. to return it to a subcom-
mittee for further reductions.
The top committee members,
Chairman Cannon and Represen-
tative Taber, Republican, of New
York, repeatedly joined in the de-
mands for cuts up to SIS billion.
Representative Mahon, Demo-
crat, Of Texas, who is chairman
OF the military subcommittee, said
the total won't be enough if &C
tual war starts and will be far too
much If peace comes suddenly.
Saying he was unwilling to
gamble" on defense, Mr.. Mahon
said he would defend the bill as
1t now stands.
Nothing was cut from the overall
budget of SIT billion for research
and development to produce the
latest-type weapons.
Shares Listed.
Here's how the services would
share the money recommended:
Army-$12,520, 00O, 900, a cut of
1850 ,000,0 900.
Navy-$12,815,s1s,0 900, a cut of
81 .006 1884. 900.
Air Force-s20, 1928, 17s, ITO, a cut |
Of 81 .502, 200, 900.
Office of the Secretary. includ-
Ing retirement pay for military
personnel-$414.562, 500, a cut of +
$51, 702,5 500.
National Security Resources
Board-$1 500 900, a cut of $780,
600.
National Security Council
Sl5O.O00, a cut of $50, 900.
National Security Training Com
mlsslon-$75.000, a cut of $4,000.
The total is $10,076,174.152 less
than Congress appropriated for
the current fiscal year for the
Armed Forces.
Refuse Carrier Fund.
The committee voted against
funds for a second "Forrestal"
class plane carrier which the NAVY
had given top priority and wanted
to start building Immediately asI
an estimated cost Of $21O million.
The "Forrestal." a 60,O00-ton ship,
is under construction now and
funds to complete it have been
appropriated.
Mr.. Mahon told newsmen the
subcommittee is not necessarily
opposed to building another super
carrier but deferred construction
because it would take five years to
complete the job.
Mr.. Mahon also claimed a cut
OF $3.50 million in the Nayy's air
budget and $1,5O2, 200, 900 in the
Air Force budget would not re-
tard the plane procurement pro-
gram. deliveries from which now
are being financed from money
previously appropriated. The Air
Force. he said, wanted to order
$500 more planes and the Navy|
2,700 more for future delivery.
Big Job Reduction.
Mr.. Mahon predicted the cuts
by his group would mean "a con-
siderable reduction of civilian en-
ployeS in many areas" He said
the budget request for 1O1 900
additional civil workers would be
completely unobtainable." The
group also turned down a request
to raise the 100000 ceiling on
classified employees by $4,000.
In all. the armed services will
have a total of 1895 civilian
employees on June 30.
The committee ordered a deep
cut in funds for public informa-
ton personnel. Mr.. Mahon said
the effect would be to slash the
information payroll in the Penta-
gon by rs per cent and the field
service by SO per cent.