Evening star., 1953-02-05
The Political Mill
Byrd Shows the Way
10 d Bolonced Budget
Key Is in Curb on Spending
Of Post Appropriations
By Gould Lincoln

Under the leadership of Senator Byrd
of Virginia, nearly one-half Of the en-
tire membership OF the Senate Is spon-
soring real attack on Government
deficit spending object q bal
anced budget. forerunner to cut in Fed
eral taxes. They have the enthusiastic
backing Of Secretary Of the Treasury
Humphrey and Budget Director Dodge.
two Of the men President Eisenhower
leans upon for advice and administra-
ton Of the Governments fiscal affairs.
The Byrd bill does three things. It
provides first for single-package ap-
preparation bill-inStead Of dozen un-
related bills-So that Congress and the
country can get clear picture Of the
spending program. In addition, the
bill provides that committee reports on
appropriation bills shall show annual
expenditure estimates and compare
them with estimates Of revenue. SEN
ator Byrd points out that II q Con-
gresham knows the total proposed ex-
penditures and the total estimated
revenues, he will have no excuse for
voting for deficit expenditures and ap-
preparations. His district, his State
and the country will know II he votes
to put the Government in the red.
Important Provision.
Most important of all, however, Is
the provision In the bill which directs
Congress to write into an appropriation
bill-of the single-package variety
limitations on annual obligations for
expenditure from all appropriation
those previously enacted as well as
those currently under consideration.
This is the real meat in the bill-some-
thing which has not been attempted
in the past. It is possible and prob
able road to q balanced budget.
The greatest obstacle to 3 balanced
budget today lies In huge reservoir
for Government spending-$102.3 bill
lion of unexpended earlier appropria-
tionS. It must be remembered mat IL
is the actual expenditure OF money IN
fiscal year, compared to the revenue
received in that fiscal year. which paints
a red or black balance sheet. Con-
gresS has been exercising virtually no
control over these unexpended appro-
priations. The importance Of taking
firm control now is apparent. Former
President Truman's budget, submitted
to this Congress before he left office.
called for expenditures Of $78.6 billion
in the fiscal year beginning July /. 1t
estimated revenue at $68.7 billion. and
a deficit Of $9.9 billion.
The Truman budget asks for $72.9
billion Of new appropriations. But Cf
this amount, only SAIL billion win find
its way into the planned Government
fvA, "a Acnol
while $37.9 billion Of spending will come
from old appropriations. II no limita-
tions are placed on the $37.9 billion Of
past appropriations, 1t means that all
the reductions in expenditure must
attach to the SAIL billion Of new ap.
propriations. Included in the new ap-
propriations will be large items for
interest and other fixed expenditures,
which cannot be cut-leaving, 1t is
estimated, only $40 billion, from which
to slice $9.9 billion to keep the budget
in balance. What Byrd proposes is that
Congress take q shot at the total pro-
posed expenditures by placing limita-
.tions on the amounts that may be ex-
pended from the old appropriations.
In his way. he believes. it will be pos
sible to balance the budget.
Eisenhower Budget.
President Eisenhower has still to send
to Congress his own revised budget.
Whatever he proposes in the way Of
reduced appropriations for the fiscal
year beginning next July /, there will
still remain the hard fact of huge
amounts to be expended from past un-
expended appropriations. Byrd's con-
tention is that II Congress does not act
to place limitations on the spending Of
these old appropriations, q balanced
budget is going to be impossible.
II President Eisenhower win throw
his influence back Of the new Byrd bill.
which has among its sponsors Repub-
lican Senators Taft Of Ohio, majority
leader: Bridges Of New Hampshire,
chairman Of the Senate Appropriations
Committee, and Saltonstall Of Massa-
chusetts, chairman Of the Armed Serv-
ices Committee, the plan may be put
through. In the House Appropriations
Committee. there has been strong OPP
position to one-package appropria.
ton bill, and appropriation bills start
on their legislative course in that COM
mittee. Under the leadership Of Rep.
reSentative Cannon Of Missouri, Demo-
crat. one-package bill was put through
two years ago, but the plan was aban-
doned the following year, with Re.
publican members supporting the
change back.