Evening star., 1960-08-27
Transit Fund Slash
Stirs Quick Protest
Finley Urges
Senators to
Restore Cut
BY JAMES G. DEANE
Star Stan Writer

Lie oendCe 10 Waro on What
they called a Gripping" slash
in the agency's first budget.
The House yesterday, on rec
ommendation of a deficiency
appropriations subcommittee,
sliced in half President Eisen-
hower's proposed $500,000 al
lotment for launching the agen-
cy's role of developing subways
and other fast transit facilities.
The Budget Bureau immedi-
ately urged restoration Of the
cut. and William E. Finley, di-
rector of the National Capital
Planning Commission, said the
slash would make it virtually
impossible" for the agency to
complete the mission given it
by Congress.
The mission, Mr.. Finley said,
is to make engineering plans in
the next 81 months for an ac-
tual start on construction of
new area commuter lines. This,
he said, involves IAN immense
amount of work" He said the
agency should not be Grip
pied in its first two years of
operation.
See misunderstanding
Mr.. Finley. in a letter sent to
Chairman Hayden of the SEN
ate Appropriations Committee
within hours of the House
committees action-which was
followed by formal floor op-
proval-blamed the slash on
misunderstanding.
Committee members in recent
cloSed-door hearings indicated
a supposition that the new
agency is to be temporary.
when actually it is to be the
core of a permanent new mass
transit organization. the plan
ming official pointed out.
He also offered a detailed
justification of various proposed
expenditures for technical staff.
consultants. equipment, travel
and other essentials.
President Eisenhower is pre-
pairing to appoint top agency
officials as soon as funds are
made available, Mr.. Finley's
letter said.
25-EmplOye Limit
Besides the fund cutback, the
House subcommittee headed by
Representative Thomas. Demo-
crat of Texas. and it's parent
committee set a 25-employe
limit on the new agency's staff.
The White House proposed 81.
Mr.. Finley's letter pointed out
that plans call for hiring 20
hieh-grade specialists alone to
do technical work that other
wise cannot be performed.
The House subcommittee
acted without public hearings.
The Senate committee sched-
uled a hearing for this morning
on the $90.5 million supple
mental appropriation bill which
includes the transit item, but
committee action was expected
Immediately afterward with no
chance for expressions from
White House or area leaders
who have strongly backed the
transit project.
Congress enacted the law to
establish the agency only a few
weeks ago with strong urging
by a Senate-H House committee
and the District committees.
Senator Bible. Democrat of
Nevada, is chairman of the Sen
ate District Committee and the
Joint Committee on Washing
ton Metropolitan Problems. A
leading sponsor. Senator Bible
is also a member of the Sen
ate Appropriations Committee
and is expected to make an
effort on behalf of the budget
restoration.
Questions BY Broyhill ,
Representative Broyhill. Re-
publican of Virginia, questioned
Mr.. Thomas on the House floor
regarding the impact of the cut
but did not seek to alter it. Mr..
Thomas assured the House the
agency could function ade-
quately on the reduced funds.
A Budget Bureau spokesman,
after being informed of the
slash. declared:
I'VE believe the S500,OO0 is
necessary and hope it will be
restored"
Besides the transit action. the
House yesterday approved COM
mittee recommendations:
Refusing $4,000 for four
special masters for Juvenile
Court.
Cutting $22,6Oo from a re-
quested $72,6O0 for the District
occupations and professions de-
partment.
Halving a $4,000 request for
a new commission to plan a
James Madison memorial.
Vetoing $7.3 million wanted
by General Services Admins
tration for fallout shelters in
some Federal buildings.
Approving $4,000 to set up
a legal aid agency to help de-
PENDANTS unable to pay their
own legal bills in WASHINGTON
courts.