The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1955-01-28
(By Congressman Lee MeteaIf)

amount of money involved.
The l,224-page book containing
President Eisenhower's propos-
ais for spending during fiscal
1856, the year beginning next
July l, is twice as thick as the
combined telephone directories
OF Butte, Missoula, Billings and
Great Falls. That's not counting
the 529-page budget supplement.
In those pages, the President
proposed that our Federal gov
eminent spend 1924 billion next
year, down Sill billion from the
estimate for this year.
Like his first budget presented
last year, Mr.. Eisenhower's sec
ond budget is frankly unbalanc-
ed. He asked for another in
crease in the debt ceiling, noting
that the national debt will rise
to $276 billion by June 80, 1856
from the present level of 2743
billion.
Almost two-thirds of the fiscal
1856 budget dollar, IS cents to be
exact, will 60 for national Sc
curity, which includes expend-
lures for the military, mutual
security, atomic energy and de-
Tense stockpiling. Another "a
cents is earmarked for changes
fixed by law, including interest
on the national debt, payments
to veterans and grants-in-aid to
the states. All other expenditures
will come to II cents out of every
dollar if the Presidents recon-
mendationS are adopted
From where the budget dollar
goes we move it to where it
comes from. Individual income
taxes raise 48 cents, corporate
income taxes 26 cents, excise
taxes Is cents, customs and other
duties 7 cents, borrowing 4 cents.
Now the budget is important
not only for what it does, but
also for what it doesn't do. By
now you've read about many
provisions of the budget. Several
are of particular Importance to
Montana.
For one thing, the President is
pushing huge highway con-
struction program, planned to
involve Federal, state and local
expenditure of more than 500
billion in the next few years to
bring our highway system up to
the level needed for our econo-
ic well-being and our national
security.
At the same time, there is
nothing new in the budget for
the critical building needs of our
public school system.
Nor is there money in the bud
get for any new starts on large
multipurpose projects nothing
for such needed projects as
Libby or Yellowtail Dams, and
no new generator at Fort Peck.
The budget recommendation
of S55 million for Bureau of Re-
clamation work on the Missouri
Basin Project compares with S35
million this year and a high of
$50 million in 1851. The S55 mil
lion will be used to continue
work in progress. The two big
items in the Bureau program in
Montana, outside of Investiga-
tions. are SSH million for Tiber
Dam and So million for the
Helena Valley unit. EXpend-
ture of the latter is contingent
upon formation of an irrigation
district.
The Corps of Engineers is TO
get 100000 to continue work
on the Bull Hook Project in
Havre
The Forest Service is budgeted
for an increase of almost Sl12
million. to nearly S84 million,
with both increases and de-
creaSeS of Importance to Mon
tina. There are increases for
timber resource management,
roads and trails, sanitation and
care Of public campgrounds.
, There is d reduction. which will
oppose. in the budget request for
Federal cooperation with state
and private agencies in forest
tlyr ruuIru! This cut amounts to
nlur, than s. million out of this
Years SlO'. million program.
The Park Service budget is to
be increased and ii is about
time. Expenditures of Sl,259,50
Oh roads and trails. buildings
, and utilities Is proposed for
Yellowstone Park compared
with Pudding S326,60O this
year But only S5S4.960. even
1 less than last years S608, 500, is
proposed for similar work in
! Glacier Park
The Bonneville Power Admin
lstration comes in for deep cut,
to S23 million from SS012 Most
of il comes from construction.
Cuts also are proposed for the
1 Soil Conservation Service, Farm
4 : i