Evening star., 1953-06-21
Heuds Of Committees
Troubling Eisenhower
Writer Sees Fiscal Reforms
Delayed by House Choirmen

WIIteI sees flSC0I kef0fmS
Delayed by House Choirmen
By Fronk R. Kent
The blocking by Chairman John
Taber of the House Appropriations
Committee of the so-called single
package bill" seems to take the cake.
It even excelS in arrogance that of
Chairman Daniel Reed of the Ways
and Means Committee in his effort to
paralyze the Presidents fiscal program
by preventing the extension for six
months of the corporation excess-prof-
its tax. Unless there is affirmative
action on this by June 80 it, along with
certain other taxes, will expire.
Mr.. Reed does make an effort to JUS
tify his stand and he is officially sup
ported by the National Association Of
Manufacturers and the United States
Chamber Of Commerce. though it is
said neither Of these organizations has
a majority Of its members behind it,
and the more responsible leaders of
industry regard their position as short
sighted and stupid in the extreme. But.
in the case Of Chairman Taber's hostil-
ity toward the single package bill"
there does not appear any argument
worthy Of the name. Between them
these two men have created q situation
in Congress for which there is no ex-
cuSe.
The single package bill" was spon-
sored by Senator Harry Byrd Of Vir-
ginia and some SO other Senators Of
both parties. It passed the Senate by
a practically unanimous vote and it
has the approval of every fiscal off1cer
Of the administration. The first part
OF the measure does provide for q
single bill in which all general ap-
propriations shall be considered by
Congress within one cover. This is
as far as the so-called single appropri-
alton bill Of 1850 went The second
part, Senator Byrd explains, provides
that Congress shall write into all ap-
preparation bills limitations on annual
obligations against all available ap-
preparations both current and those
previously enacted. This provision.
Senator Byrd points out, has been in
the bill since its first introduction in
1941. ITO my mind" he says, 1T is the
most important provision" It would,
Of course. put an end to the inde-
fensible practice of piling up billions Of
unexpended balances now totaling
more than $102 billion. All Of which Is
money appropriated in previous years,
not spent but obligated, and for which
the new administration must somehow
find cash.
This" Senator Byrd says, "is not
responsible practice when the Federal
debt is already more than a quarter Of
a trillion dollars-when the necessity
for raising the debt ceiling is becoming
more evident every day-and when a
debt in excess Of $500 billion can be
reversed only by fortnight action!
I do not concede that deficit spending
must be continued. do not concede
that more debt must be piled up. But
these conditions are reality If Con-
gress acquiesces in default. The budget
for fiscal year 1854 cannot be balanced
by action on new appropriations. The
budget q year hence cannot be bal
anced by reduction in new appropria-
tions. This is to say that the Federal
budget cannot be balanced at all in the
forseeable future unless control over
annual expenditures is recaptured."
7atraG fH
No one really denies that Congress
virtually has lost annual control over
Federal expenditures. The chief pur-
pose of the Byrd bill Is to recover that
control. The Senate action. in its over
whelming passage, attests the belief Of
that body that that control is vital and
that this bill is the way to get it.
But 1t can't be had unless somehow
or other Mr.. Tabor relents. For years.
we have fumed and fretted over the
situation in the United Nations that
enables the Russians to block by veto
every constructive step toward dis
armament and atomic energy control.
The overwhelming desire Of the peo-
pie of the world for real and lasting
peace has thus been thwarted and the
great agency from which so much was
hoped has been reduced to relative fu-
tility.
Yet, for q much longer time we have
had in our own Congress a situation
that bears q remarkable resemblance
to the Soviet United Nations tactics
a situation where two chairmen Of
important House committees can use
their power to strangle legislation de-
sired by the Congress, desired by the
President, desired by the people. but
undeSired by themselves. Clearly this
is antagonistic to the national inter-
est. We seem powerless against the
Russian vetoes, but it does seem that
a way might be found to curtail the
autocratic authority Of the Reeds and
Tabers in cases such as today exist. A
vast deal Of talk and writing has been
done against the alleged iniquity Of
the senatorial f1libuster and, through
cloture rules, their complete effec-
tiveness has been somewhat reduced.
Is it not time some thought should be
given to this dictatorship Of the House
committee chairmen?