Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-20
BY GEORGE W. CAKES

Congress Is becoming lnCIehs-
lnRly concerned over a conviction
that the administration, through
the Budget Bureau, has been with
holding funds the lawmakers have
voted 10 be spent. A power strug-
gle on the issue has sharpened
during the current session, ana
White House resistance 10 Demo-
cratic demands for large Federal
spending TO fight the recession
may intensity II further.
Many Democratic members OF
the Senate and House are making
this point: Even II the Democratic
controlled Congress should pass any
antirecesSion public works bills
such as that approved last week
by the Senate. and the President
should sign them. recent eXpe-
rience suggests that the money
won't necessarily be spent. Dur
ing the past year especially
the Executive has exercised and
can continue TO exercise various
powers 10 delay the rate Of SPEND
ing and TO withhold funds already
appropriated. including thoSr re-
quested by major Government de-
partments.
Among those being heard on
this subject are Senators Lyndon
Johnson and Mike Mansfield. the
Senate Majority Leader and the
Democratic whip. They have cited
as an example the fact that the
administration, in order TO live
within its expenditure ceiling. last
wear froze $22 300 900 out of S32,-
300, 1000 in Federal funds voted by
Congress for the construction Of
National Guard armories.
Current congressional pressure
for antirecession spending is likely
to bring about the release OF those
particular funds, but members
claim there are other examples
and that more are expected.
Bills introduced
Congressional opposition TO fund
withholding has risen to the point
that last month Senator Mans
field and Congressman Hebert,
Democrat OF louisiana, men,
Der OF the House Armed Serv-
ices Committee. introduced bills
TO deny any official or agency the
right TO prevent appropriated
funds from being promptly used
:. for the purpose designated"
Congressional critics do not
question the legality of the ad-
mlnistratlon's action as much as
they blame Congress for having
drafted legislation that gives the
Executive an opportunity TO carry
out a method of indirect financial
control over the intent OF the
Congress. Some of them declare
that this is one way in which Con-
gress is abdicating its constitu-
tional control of the purse.
Currently a congressional COM
mittee is holding closed hearings
on this subject in order to deter
mine how Congress can reduce the
opportunity for the Executive to
hold up funds that Congress
wishes to have spent.
What is this Executive control
exercised by the Budget Bureau
on behalf of the President? To
a great extent it derives from the
general powers Of the presidency
and from the fact that congress
sional appropriation is an author
ity. not a mandate. to spend up
10 a certain amount OF money.
Also many appropriation acts not
only give the President diScre-
tionary power over the rate OF
spending OF voted funds. but also
provide that the money need not
be spent in any one fiscal year.
There is even more specific
legislation that authorizes the
Budget Bureau to establish re-
serves and effect savings Of appro-
priated funds in order TO promote
efficiency of operation on the basis,
among other reasons. Of develop
ments subsequent to the date on
which such appropriation was
made available"
The latitude Of this law permits
a broad interpretation-too broad
in the view of congressional critics.
Under it. the President can hold
up spending OF funds after they
are voted despite the intent OF
the Senate and House. This con-
troll has been extremely effective
and useful during Government
economy waves such as the one
the administration put into effect
last year.
'Apportionment' Process
The Budget Bureau procedure
OF reviewing the spending OF APP
propriated funds is known as the
apportionment process. After Con-
gresS votes the money for GER
tain department or agency, and