Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-03-07
The Political Mill
New Regimes Record
Is One to Be Proud of
Curbs Lifted, Tax Cut Seen,
Stutes Muy Get TideIonds
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

SeSS WY 0St ssOSs0uOS
By Gould Lincoln
Minority Leader of the House Sam
Rayburn'S merry, If sarcastic, reply.
when asked to comment on the achieve
ments of the Eisenhower administra-
ton. was there have been no achieve
mentS." Mr.. Rayburn overlooked one
thing-President Eisenhower has re-
stored very considerable measure of
confidence to the American people.
Further. within six weeks of the Presi-
dents message to Congress on the
state Of the Union, setting forth in
part the administrations program, leg
islation of Importance is about to roll
on Capitol Hill, led by the bill to admit
Hawaii into the Union of States. An
other and more concrete example Of
achievement is the removal of price
and wage controls.
Critics Are Loud.
The critics. of the New Deal-Fair
Deal persuasion, however, are COM
menting that nothing has been done
about Korea, or about reducing taxes
and Government expenditures, or
about amending the Taft-Hartley labor
law. An answer, of course, is that
nothing was done about any of these
important matters during whole two
year Congress - President Truman's
laSt--immediately preceding Gen. Eli
senhowerS entry into the White House.
still better answer is that President
EiSenhowers order to the 7th Fleet
to step aside and permit any attacks
the Chinese Nationalist may attempt
on the Communist forests the first
break in the stalemate program of the
former administration. Also, the House
Ways and Means Committee under the
leadership of Chairman Reed has re-
ported and placed on the calendar a
bill to reduce taxes.
It's of more than passing interest
that two Of the most determined Re-
publicans in the House. occupying key
positions. are intent on steps to bring
about balanced budget for the Gov
eminent. Mr.. Reed, who is confident
he will get his tax reduction bill
through, and Chairman John Taber of
the House Appropriations Committee.
Mr.. Taber and his committee are work.
ing now-although they still await the
Eisenhower budgetary figures-to be-
come familiar with the situation in all
departments and agencies. Mr.. Taber
continues to insist they will slice from
$40 billion to $12 billion off the Gov
enment's spending program for the
fiscal year 1854, and thereby make it
possible to balance the budget-and to
cut taxes.
Shocking Conditions.
Chairman Taber says he has un-
earthed shocking conditions of excess
slve expenditures and overlapping. Par
t1cularly has he found such things in
the handling of overseas programs For
example, agricultural agents or experts
are stationed in the same embassies
by the Department of Agriculture, by
the Department Of State and by the
MSA-the Mutual Security Administra-
zion. Commercial representatives of
the United States are placed in the
embassies by the State Department.
the Department of Commerce and by
the MSA. These are. according to Mr..
Iaoer, just types of wholesale waste
OF the taxpayers money.
About labor amendments - which
VIII De aimed to improve labor laws
ana labor relationship House Com.
mlttee on Labor has already held ex-
UenslVe hearings and will continue
them Tor perhaps another month be-
fore writing labor bill. The Senate
Labor Committee, headed by Senator
smith OF New Jersey. is expected to
get down to the job of hearings and
Dill writing, too. within a short time.
This is one Of the toughest problems
with which the administration and the
Republicans in Congress have to deal.
The important thing today is that thew
are dealing with it-not backing away
from 1t as the Democrats and Mr..
truman did during the last two Con-
crosses,
Within short time, a bill giving
the States - California, Texas and
Louislana-control of the oil tidelands
Is expected to reach the floor OF the
House and of the Senate. The COM
mittees handling this legislation. the
Judiciary Committee of the House and
the Interior and Insular Affairs Com
mlttee OF the Senate, have both COM
pleted their hearings-and the House
committee has already tackled writing
a bill
The Eisenhower administration and
the Republican SD Congress have had
huge job of transition and readiust-
ment on their hands since the begin
nlng OF the year. They are moving into
position now to ROLAND accomplish
ments OF major importance may be
expected.