Evening star., 1952-01-22


hearings on departmental bills
without waiting for the House to
pass them.
A flve-man subcommittee also
was appointed to decide promptly
whether the old McCarran For
eign-aid Watchdog Committee
should be revitalized oreabolished.
The McCarran group has been
handicapped by lack Of o STAN
for the past year:
+ First Step on Budget.
The committees decision was
the first step toward putting into
effect President Truman's new
1854 billion budget.
With the President insisting
that his proposed expenditures for
the fiscal year July / have been
held to a minimum, members OF
both Senate and House were
uniting In q demand for cuts.
Some were calling for saving
of as much as $14 billion-the
size of the prospective deficit on
July /, next year, in the absence
of new tax legislation.
And there was no idea that
taxes were to be raised in this
election year. even by the ap-
.proximately IS billion the Presi-
dent has asked.
$65 Billion for Defense.
Roughly, the President called
for $65 billion in defense expendi-
lures and $40 billion for nom
military activities, including about
$6.25 billion for interest on the
public debt. --- f~.
Cuts of up to 10 per cent in
civilian employment have been
demanded by leading Republicans,
who contend this would save a
billion dollars in the new year.
Congressional sentiment on mil
itary spending was disclosed last
week when the House approved an
1882 million annual pay raise for
armed services personnel by q
topheavy vote.
In the budget message which
went to Capitol Hill yesterday the
President called the spending pro-
gram a ''heavy burden" but said
it is the price of peace"
House Republican leaders didn t
see it that way. They joined in a
statement by Minority Leader
Martin declaring the budget
proved that spending and more
spending is the only answer the
President has for any problem,
large or small"
Taber for S. Billion Cut.
The G. o. P. fiscal spokesman in
the House, Representative Taber
Of New York, called for q cut of
"at least" SIS billion in new ap-
preparations.
Chairman Cannon, Democrat, Of
Missouri of the House Appropria- >
tions Committee wouldn't set a
goal for cutting, but said defense
as well as defense items will
have to be trimmed.
Representative Mahon, Demo-
crat, OF Texas. chairman Of an Ap-
preparations subcommittee han
ding defense spending, called for
pairing of military requirements,
but withheld specific details.
Senate Republican Leader
Bridges called the budget Shock
ing" and said Congress must
squeeze the water and waste"
out of it.
D. A. Hulcy, president Of the
United States Chamber of Com
merce, said in a statement the
proposed budget blows sky high"
any possibility Of a pay-as-we-go
program and threatens the Ma
tion with severe imitation"
Economy Called Cure.
IF taxes were raised enough to
cover the whole amount of spend
ing, the tax bill would amount to
the fantastic sum of $1,935 per
family" Mr.. Hulcy said.
'The only practical approach is
to cut Government spending to
the bone"
William Green, president Of the
American Federation Of Labor,
sent q letter to President Truman
declaring that "a balanced budget
is essential in the present period
of high employment, high prices
and high profits
Mr.. Green suggested that Con-
gress raise five to six billion dollars
in additional revenue by "elimi-
mating special tax advantages IA
VOrinQ certain classes 0f TOW.