Evening star., 1953-03-03
Mixup Over Number
OF Economic Aides
Troubles Conferees
By Robert K. Welsh

Differences over what to do
about an economic adviser or
advisers for the President-and
what President Eisenhower
wants to do about it-troubled
Senate-House conferees today on
a $948 million appropriation bill.
The measure, as passed by the
Senate yesterday, would provide
an additional 100000 to keep the
Council of Economic Advisers at
least until the end of the fiscal
year ending June 80.
The bill, as passed by the
House February 10, rejected a
request for SIS, 900 for that pur-
pose. It struck out the Council
of Economic Advisers item. It
approved a separate budget pro-
vision for $4,000 for salary and
expenses of an economic adviser
in the White House Office. The
House regarded this as eliminat-
ing the council arrangement.
Mixup Developed.
The issue seemed clear-cut
enough until the conferees began
to ponder a report by congress
sional leaders who talked with
the President yesterday. Those
leaders said he would go along
with a single economic adviser
until a study showed whether a
three-member council is adviS-
able.
That raised a question today
as to whether the President
changed his mind. It also raised
a possibility that signals were
crossed again between the White
House and the Capitol. But it
also was interpreted as meaning
that the difficulty is more appar-
ent than real.
Letter From President.
When the bill reached the
Senate Appropriations Commit
tee last week, a White House
letter arrived from Sherman
Adams. the assistant to the
President. He stated that Gen.
Eisenhower had not yet been
able Ito complet his plans and
stating for the agency" (Coun-
Gil of Economic Advisers) but be-
lieved it was highly important
that the agency be continued"
The President himself followed
up with letter several days ago
urging the supplemental outlay.
Accordingly. the Senate COM
mittee threw out the House bills
section which had cut out the
$4,000 request. The Senate yes
terday approved it's committees
recommendation for $4,000.
The White House view at
tributed to the President after
yesterdays conference with con-
greSsional leaders led some off,
cials to wonder whether the
President now might be willing
to go along with the $25 900 al
lowance voted by the House.
Those favoring the Senate
stand said they saw no irrecon.
cilable conflict. The President,
they explained, might be tend
ing toward the idea that a single
economic adviser would be suf-
f1cient. He nevertheless might
still want the 100000 additional
voted by the Senate to Keep the
councils establishment in oper-
alton at least until June 80, they
said.
Need More Information.
In any event, as Senate-House
conferees start reconciling differ
ences in the $948 million bill,
they seem likely to SEEK further
enlightenment from the White
House on the economic advisory
item.
The Senate passed the big
bill with items totaling $22 mil
lion more than those approved
by the House.
1t agreed with the Houses pre-
vious action IN turning down a
request for $1.2 billion in extra
military funds, which had been
included in former President
Truman's original request. Like
the House, it did so in winking
recognition of the fact that most
Of this defense money you'd
have to be voted eventually
that the cut meant more on pa
per than it did in fact.
Both versions allow $20.5 mil