Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-20
HoIdbock on Funds
Worries Congress

the President has approved Il, that
agency must request the Bureau
10 make the money available not
later than Is days after the APP
preparation act Is passed,
In 1893 this function was trans
ferred by Executive Order TO the
Budget Bureau from the various
agencies, The apportionment pro-
cedure is intended 10 achieve the
most effective and economical use
OF funds made available by Con-
greSs and. for appropriations
available for a definite period OF
time, To prevent the necessity for
supplemental or deficiency appro-
priations.
Frequently conditions change
between the time the agency orig
inally requested Congress TO vote
the funds and the date when
the appropriations were enacted.
Without some such reviewing pro-
cedure money could be spent on
projects no longer required be-
cause OF altered circumstances.
But Congressional and other crit
les OF the Bureau claim that these
powers have often been carried
too far especially during the cur
rent fiscal year when the Bureau
slowed down the rate OF spending
" line with the economy drive.
81 Million Cutboek
For example, Congress voted
over $3.50 million last summer for
certain types of domestic military
construction. The Defense Depart
ment in october requested the
Budget Bureau to release the
money. Less than a month later
the Bureau made reductions total
ing more than So million on spec
cific items. The end OF the economy
wave hasn't reversed this situation
for there are reliable reports that
appropriated funds in the amount
OF several million dollars which
the Defense Department wants
now for military construction are
being held UP by the Budget
Bureau.
Not only is it argued that the
total amount requested by the
Defense Department and author
lied by Congress should have been
spent but many believe that the
Defense Department should be
the agency to determine what
military funds are required and
where any necessary cuts should
take place. This point Of view is
heard from high officials of exec
utive departments as we'll as in
Congress.
1t is further argued that the
bureau not only holds up funds
but slows down the rate Of SPEND
ing of line items" in military
construction appropriations after
they have received congressional
and Defense Department APP
proval.
announcer example
Here is another example being
cited on the Hill: Federal hous-
ing Representatives gave a Wis
consin builder the impression that
he would receive Government loan
insurance If Congress would APP
propriate 500 million for a CO.
operative housing program to full
fill the need for moderate rental
housing. The money was voted in
July but only $50 million was
committed in accord with the
economy program then in vogue.
The Budget Bureau contends
that limitations of the debt ceiling
as we'll as administration policy,
supported by a Congressional res
olution urging economy, was re-
sponsible for the withholding of
the mortgage money.
Representative ReusS, a Wis
consin Democrat OF the House
Banking and Currency Committee
protested in November the Budget
Bureaus action, stating that
Budget Director Brundage as
serts that he, instead of the peo-
Piles duly elected representatives.
should decide what the Nations
housing needs are" In December
an additional $40 million of mort
gage funds was released. AS a
result, the Wisconsin builder was
finally able to go ahead with his
planned construction program.
In introducing his bill to curb
these powers of the Executive,
Senator Mansfield said that Con-
gress faces "a Constitutional prob
lem which we will have to meet
some day if we do not want to see
our power steadily eroded and our
Constitutional position as a CO.
equal branch of the Government
reduced still further" The cur
rent Congressional pressure for
large public works spending can
be expected to stimulate efforts to
gain greater Congressional control
over appropriated funds.