Evening star., 1953-07-10
Information Agencies
S|ashed S54 Million
By House Committee

lie house ApprOpflaLlOnS
Committee today slashed $54
million from an originally re-
quested STA million for the State
Departments international in
formation and educational activ-
tiles. The committee declared it
was terribly disappointed" in
the information program.
This cut and criticism came as
the committee reported out a
bill to provide $168 miNion in
supplemental funds for a score
of departments and agencies
turing the fiscal year that started
July l. This was an overall re-
duction of "a per cent.
Original budget requests to-
tailed slightly more than 81 bill
lion, although later revisicns by
the Eisenhower administration
called for substantially lower
amounts for some items. The
committee nevertheless Topped
of approximately 5000 million
from the original request.
In its comment on the State
Department information pro-
gram, which includes the Voice
of America, the committee said
nothing about suggestions in
other quarters that the Voice be
greatly Curtailed and that it be
moved from New York to Wash
ington.
Aware of Importance.
This committee is fully aware
of the importance of a publicity
program which will effectively
and efficiently approach the
naindS of the peoples of the world
and do what may be necessary to
maintain United States prestige
and feeling of responsibility
and satisfaction with the United
States policies toward other peo-
pies" the report stated. THE
committee has been terribly dis
appointed that this has not been
accomplished.
Enormous numbers of person.
mel in excess of those required
are maintained and enormous
numbers are engaged in the prep
aration. publication and propa-
cation of things that are of no
value and which really tend to
make the United States ridicu-
lous. If this program were
cleaned up and established on a
sound basis so that it could have
the respect and confidence of
thinking people and be an ef-
fective arm of United States for
eign policy, this committee would
feel that it should continue to
have every consideration on the
part Of Congress. 1t is hoped
that result can be accomplished
quickly"
The committee recommended
$50 million for the program,
reduction of $54 million from
Truman estimates and about $28
million below the Eisenhower
administration revision. 1t struck
out an original budget request
for $40 million for acquisition
and construction of radio facil-
tiles
Additional Funds Possible.
The committee explained that
some additional money for in
formation activities might be
provided in the Mutual Security
appropriation bill expected to be
reported out late next week.
In other sections of the bill re-
ported out today, the committee
recommended $37.7 million in
stead of an originally requested
$149 million for the Federal Civil
Defense Administration. 1t
trimmed the amout for civil de-
fense operations from $12 mil
lion to S79 million but approved
S350,000 for research in connec-
ton with the civil defense atomic
testing program in cooperation
with the Atomic Energy Commis-
sion.
In recommending $240 million
for Air Force buying and con-
struction of real estate and
buildings, the committee COM
planned:
THE lack of decision which
has marked the military con-
struction program of the Air
Force building program in the
past is of deep concern to the
committee. Large balances indi-
Gated in a status table of appro-
priations as of May 81 do not
represent material savings. In
stead they reveal an inability to
formulate and effectively carry
out the construction program
necessary to support the men
and machines of the Air Force"
Mayor for IS Years