Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-15
Bill Cut
$3.50 Million
By HouseGroup
General Services,
Civil Defense, VA
Are Hardest Hit

NOtIlLllIIee To-Day SlaSAeQ S5l6, y
million from the $50 billion in
new funds President Eisenhower
requested for 10 miscellaneous
agencies.
1t was the biggest cut, money!
wise, made by the committee on
four bills it has sent to the
House this year. The funds are
for the fiscal year starting July / .
II the House upholds the COM
mittee next week. it will have
cut $500 million from presiden-
tial requests totaling about SOB
billion to date. On the three
previous bills, none Of which has
passed the Senate, the House
has followed its committed S
recommendations wit hout
change.
Major slashes imposed by the
committee in the independent
Offices appropriation bill were
$206, 657,700 from Veterans Ad-
ministration funds, SILT million
from the Civil Defense Admin
istration. and $l65, 1884 from
the General Services Admins
tration.
Reductions recommended in
VA allotmentS included $4,068.-
900 in operating expenses. ST.
293, 200 in medical administra-
ton and miscellaneous funds,
7i2 millions in hospital construc-
ton and replacement programs.
l49l millions in compensation
and pension funds, and SAL, Alb
600 in readjustment benefits.
Congress frequently has cut
these funds in past years only to
restore them subsequently in
supplemental bills.
No Hospital Reduction
There was no cut in the 702
millions requested for operation
of the VA hospital program.
which includes l73 hospitals ex-
pected to provide care and treat
ment for an average Of 100000
veterans in 1858.
Neither was there any reduc-
.tion in the 179 millions requested
Tor outpatient medical and den
tai care for veterans with serv-
ice-connected disabilities.
In reducing funds for new hos
pital construction. the commit
tee called for an end to what it
described as 1.-The gingerbread
and waste that often character
ICES VA hospital construction. +"
The funds allotted provide for l8
projects next year. the two larg-
est being at Nashville, Tenn.
and Jackson. Miss.
The committee denied all re-
quests for additional automobiles
and for increases in travel al
lowances for Government per-
sonnet
The Civil Defense Admlnistra-
ton received only 1893 million
OF the $3.50 million it requested.
Sill million of the cut being in
funds for Stockpiling emergency
supplies and equipment. The
committee said the Government
already has ON hand or on order
S2l95 million in such supplies
some of which are six years old
and many of which are poorly
located from the standpoint of
availability
Disaster Request Survives
There was no cut in the $40
million Mr.. Eisenhower request
ed for his disaster relief fund.
which is used to help States and
local governments during major
disasters.
Largest slash in GSA allot-
ments was Sill million in funds
for stockpiling strategic and
critical materials The commit
tee approved $l9 million for the
purpose, commenting that in
ventories now are estimated at
$7.2 billion. with 81 per cent of
minimum requirements on hand
or on order.
The GSA was given Sl27 AGA. :
600 for operating its public
buildings service. sos million for
repair and improvement of over
$500 Federal buildings. SO mil
lion for site acquisition and other
See BUDGET, Page Al