Evening star., 1953-03-27
Benson Urges Cut
OF 1OPct. in Spending
In Revised Budget
By the AsSoeioied Press

Secretary Benson has plans to
reduce Agriculture Department
spending-except for farm price
Supports-about 10 per cent in
the coming fiscal year and con-
siderable more in the following
year.
With White House approval,
he laid before Congress yester-
day a revised budget for the f1S-
Cal year beginning July /. trim
ming $131, 100000 from a budget
of $1.324. 100000 recommended
by former President Truman.
Mr.. Benson indicated possible
reductions of more than 5000
million in a budget to be SUBJ
mitted a year from now.
The new secretary said he ex-
pected opposition to his proposed
reductions. But he said it is time,
in view Of the national debt and
big defense spending, to reduce
Government activities wherever
possible.
Subsidy Reductions Urged.
From the farmer standpoint,
the most significant recommend
alton made by Secretary Benson
was that the annual $3.50 million
agricultural conservation subsidy
program be reduced to $140 mil
lion beginning with the 1854
crop.
He said that under this pro-
gram the Government should
make payments to farmers for
permanent type conservation
practices and for initial applica-
tionS of lime and fertilizers to
lands involved in production adj
justments recommended by the
Government.
This would eliminate payments
to farmers for recurring annual
conservation practices, such as
re-application of lime and fer
tiliZer.
Mr.. Benson estimated that his
budget would reduce the depart
ment's payroll the equivalent of
3,454 full time employees from
the 64,S02 full-time employe level
anticipated by the Truman
budget.
No Cuts This Year.
The Secretary said the $3.50
million conservation subsidy pro-
gram could be carried out this
year with an appropriation Of
only $211 million. largely through
savings in administrative ex-
penses, without cutting l cent
off subsidies already promised
farmers.
Mr.. Benson'S budget-as was
the case of Truman recommen-
dationS-did not cover outlays
for loans and commodity pur-
chases under price support pro-
grams. These expenditures are
financed largely from a $6.750.-
100000 revolving fund in the
hands of the Commodity Credit
Corp
However, Benson aides said it
Is possible that, because of grow
ing farm surpluses, price support
outlayS in the coming fiscal year
may be greater than the $729
million forecast by Mr.. Truman.
Price support expenditures do
not necessarily involve net losses
to the Government. In the past,
the great volume of such expend-
itureS have been Offset by repay
ments to the Treasury from sale
Of farm products accumulated
under price supports"
Other Drops Recommended.
Mr.. Benson would reduce funds
for rural electrif1cation and tele-
phone loans from 5000 million
recommended by Mr.. Truman
to $145 million.
Other reductions from the
Truman proposals included:
Sugar program subsidies, $59,-
$4,000 instead of SCAT million:
research, $77,157, 900 instead of
$79. sos. 900: flood prevention
work, 81 million instead of
$15,566.000; Soil Conservation
Service. $60.325,OOO instead of
$66, ,491 900; Farmers Home Ad-
ministration loans, $3.50 million
instead of $165 million; farm
production adjustment programs,
$6,350.000 instead of So million.
Mr.. Benson recommended that
funds for building forest roads
and trails be increased from
1887 900 to $21 .021 900 to make
1t possible to salvage damaged
and infested timber in Western