Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-10
Denies
Orgy
In Works Plan
Construction Speed
No Crush Program,
Committee Is Told
BY J. A. O'LEARY
star stan Writer

l
ate Public Works Committee to-
day that his resolution favoring
a speedup of existing public
works contemplates a crash
program or an orgy spending"
He pointed out that President
Eisenhower announced Satur-
day he already is planning such
an acceleration. The Texas
Senator said all he wants is for
Congress to let the President
know promptly that it also in
dorses the fullest practicable
use Of existing appropriations
to create jobs.
His denial of a crash program
came when Senator Cotton,
Republican Of New Hampshire,
suggested that "a crash pro-
gram" affecting only conStruc-
ton work will not take care of
idle textile workers in the
South and New England, or I'M
employed auto workers in De-
troit.
"Only a First Step"
This is not the only step
I'd be willing to take" Senator
johnson replied. This is only
a first step. I am not talking
about any kind of crash pro-
gram"
Senator johnson said his
resolution will be followed by a
housing bill in the Senate to-
morrow and then by several
bills to help farmers, and a
bill to expedite the Federal
highway program.
None of them are crash
steps or spending orgies" Sem
ator johnson added.
Meanwhile Speaker Rayburn
said that if the housing bill
were passed soon by the Sem
ate it could be taken almost
Immediately by the House.
Senator Cotton praised Sen
ator johnson for offering the
resolution, but said it seemed
to him that while it, may have
a good psychological effect. 1t
also might be a rather mean
ingless gesture" since spending
ION construction projects was
already at a high level in Janu-
airy and February.
Sees Costs Even Increased
The New England Senator
said it might even increase fur
ther the cost of construction
work, such as on highways.
Il am not prepared yet to
go into a crash program of
pump-priming whether recon-
mended by Republican or a
Democrat" said Senator Cot
ton. He suggested that more
might be accomplished by judi
cious increases in certain APP
preparations than in faster
spending on previously author
lied public works.
| other highlights of the hear
ings we're:
/. Senator Case, Republican
Of South Dakota. took offenSe
at the proceedings because, he
said, several Democrats were
permitted to ask questions be-
fore any Republicans were
called on.
2. Senator Martin. Republic
can of Pennsylvania, warned
that faster spending on public
works will mean either deficit
financing or more taxes. and
said he would prefer additional
taxes to keep the dollar sound
One for Finance Committee
Senator johnson replied that
Senator Martins problem was
one for the Finance Committee
to determine, but Senator Mar
tin said all committees should
be concerned with how expend-
itures are to be met.
Senator Chevez. Democrat OF
New Mexico, the chairman. as
sured Senator Case he had no
intention of conducting the
hearing on a partisan basis and
said he was sorry If some Dem
ocrats had spoken ahead of any
of the Republicans. Senator
Case pointed out that it is Gus
tomary to alternate questioning
between majority and minority
members.
Later, Senator johnson said
in a Senate speech that 1.-The
President. in effect, responded
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