Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-09-06
81 Billion Top
0nAid Sought
ByDemOcrats
BY ]. A. OIEARY
Star Staff Writer

Star staff Writer
Acting Speaker Mccormack
said today he hopes Congress
will wind up appropriating 81
billion for foreign aid instead
of the $3.6 billion approved by
the House yesterday.
His statement to reporters
after a conference with Presi-
dent Kennedy reflected the
hope Of Democratic leaders
that the Senate will restore
most Of the cuts made in the
House and that the House con-
ferees will accept a generous
compromise.
A 81 billion bill would still
be $253.5 million less than the
authorized ceiling, but would
represent restoration of most
of the 1896 million the House
Appropriations Committee cut
out last week.
Mr.. Mccormack said that he
and Senate Democratic Leader
Mansfield told the President
that in their opinion the for
eign aid bill would be in
very satisfactory shape" when
it comes out of conference.
Key Goals Listed
Mr.. Mccormack listed the
public works and supplemental
appropriation bills. the Peace
Corps and the program for
retraining of unemployed work.
ers as measures Congress plans
to pass before adjournment.
The leaders said that while
they have some hope of ad-
journing September Is, their
calm judgment suggests it will
be closer to September %.
With strong backing from
moderate Republicans, the
House reclaimed $500 million
of the $500 million its Appro-
priationS Committee had slashed
from military assistance, but
this still left the bill 1896 mil
lion under the ceiling author
lied by Congress only a few
days ago.
Efforts to restore the other
cuts in economic aid failed, but
Senator Mansfield said today
he expects the Senate will pass
a bill close to the total amount
authorized.
Compromise Expected
Some observers thought the
final result probably would be
about 1913 billion, which was
the amount appropriated last
year.
The Senate Appropriations
Committee ended its hearings
on the bill today after hearing
organizations for and against
foreign aid. The committee
does not expect to vote on the
measure until September 13.
AS the House began debate
on foreign aid yesterday, Repre-
sentative Passman, Democrat of
Louisiana. chairman of the
subcommittee in charge of the |
bill, announced that he had de-
cided to take the lead in offer
ing to restore SITS million of
the $500 million cut in military
aid to allies.
But this failed to deter Rep /
resentative Ford, Republican of
Michigan, from moving to put
back $500 million. On the first
vote, Mr.. Mccormack and
Acting Democratic Leader AL
bert of Oklahoma voted against
restoring the $500 million. Later,
on a confirming roll call, both
Democratic leaders switched
and supported the restoration
Republican Leader Halleck of
Indiana supported Mr.. FOrd'S
motion both times.
There were indications that
Democratic leaders were trying
to avoid an about fight with
the Appropriations Committee
in the, hope that by following
this course they could persuade
the members of that committee
to agree on a more generous
compromise with the Senate in
conference.
This was reflected in the
statement Of Mr.. Mccormack
before the House met yesterday
that ut is the end result that
counts"
A $40 million fund to operate
the Peace Corps this year was
knocked from the bill in the
House on a. point of order 10y
Representative HieStand, Re-
publican of California, but is
almost certain to be restored
in the Senate.
Mr.. Hiestand made the point
that funds could not be ap-
propriated for the new agency
before both houses pass the bill
giving permanent status to the
Peace Corps. That bill has
passed the Senate and was ap-
proved by the House Foreign
Affairs Commute yesterday.
Inc administration asked Tor
$40 million for the corps. but
the House Appropriations Com
mlttee cut the estimate in half.
Other major caLegories of
foreign aid, and the amounts
by which they were cut IN the
House, follow:
Development loan fund,
Sl,O25, 100000, SITS million
cut; development grants, $3.50
million, a 1921 million cut;
supporting assistance to coun-
tries maintaining mutual de-
Tense forces. $500 million, a cut
OF sos million; the Presidents