Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-08
By ROBERT X. WALSH

House debate this week on the
$3l billion defense appropriation
measure will arouse Republican
charges that Democrats con-
trolling Congress want to spend
much more than the Eisenhower
administration proposes in it's
overall budget economy program.
Democratic leaders deny they
are trying to discredit that pro-
gram by piling millions on top
of administration proposals in
governmental supply bills for the
fiscal year beginning July l.
At the same time they say
they have no ambition to Guido
the Republican-controlled SD
Congress in cutting appropria-
ton bills merely for the sake of
setting some sort of record.
Some repeatedly have re-
marked that increased funds
voted by Congress for various
agencies and projects conceiv-
ably could benefit Democrats po-
htically in the 1856 elections.
But they contend that House
and Senate actions on fund bills
to date prove, if anything. that
the administrations recommen-
dations have suffered compar-
atively little either individually
or in net increases.
House consideration of the de-
tense appropriation bill is likely
to provide more evidence, one
way or another. A group of
Democratic members hopes to
add at least $3.50 million.
AS reported out by the House
Appropriations Committee last
week, the bill would allot $751;
488,206,0O0 in new money for
Defense Department operations
and programs. This total was
about STA million less than the
administration asked. Much of
the cut made by the committee,
however. was described as more
technical than real.
Oppose Manpower Cuts
The intended attempt to add
$750.000 could result in a very
real reversal of a major provi-
sion in the administrations mill
tary program. That extra sum,
according to its sponsors. would
prevent military personnel re-
auctions.
The Presidents plan, backed
by the House committee. would
trim Army personnel strength
by more than $4,000 during the
coming year. Overall OUTLAWS of
new money stipulated in the bill
would give the Army about $500
million less than it has in the
current fiscal year. the Navy
about $640 million less, and the
Air Force $34 billion more.
The appropriations picture
thus far in the 84th Congress
OLlOWO IILdI.
House and Senate have COM
pleted action, Except for possible
changes in conference agree
ments) on bills for the Treasury
Post Office and the Interior and
Agriculture departments. The
House also has passed bills for
the Labor Health. Education and
Welfare, the State-Justice-Judi-
ciary, and Independent Offices.
Further Clashes Due
Besides the defense bill, sched-
uled for House debate Wednes-
day and Thursday. several other
bulky and more controversial
measures are to reach the House
later this month. These include
bills for public works programs.
Commerce Department, foreign
aid and the District.
Bills passed thus far by either
House and Senate, or both, have
a net increase of about $75.9 mil
lion over amounts requested by
the administration.
Boosted in Senate
Bills passed only by the House
added a net of $32 million to
administration recommendations
On four of those six regular
bills, the House voted for less
than the administration asked.
1t trimmed SITS million from
the Treasury-Post Office, $94.6
million from Labor-H ealth.
Education and Welfare, $15.4
million from Interior, and STA
million from Agriculture. But 1t
added $204.8 million for the In
dependent Offices and 1891 mil
linn fAt. CkANA