Salt Lake Telegram | 1949-10-29 | Page 1 | Truman Holds Fund to Expand A. F

Truman Holds Fund fo Exoand A. F. a Impounding of Monty Will Ke)p Strength From 58-Group Level WASHINGTON, Oct M Iff Prealdent-Truman signed the largest military appropriation in peacetime history Saturday, but impounded 1613.000,000 It carries to build the sir force up to 68 groups. The measure carries a total of I15,58S,83,498 for operation of the army, navy, air corps and marines. In a statement the president said that congress' action in la-creasing la-creasing funds for the air fores above his budget recommendations recommenda-tions "could have a serious effect on our ability to maintain balanced military forces In subsequent years," Declaring that the larger air force insisted upon by the bouse would be "Inconsistent with a realistic real-istic and balanced security program pro-gram which we can support In peacetime," the president added: Pteee n Keaerva "I am therefore directing the secretary of defense to place in reserve the amounts provided by the congress In H. ft 414 fos Increasing In-creasing the structure of the air force." The president said also: "Although these increased authorisations au-thorisations would have comparatively compara-tively little effect apoa military expenditures m the current fiscal year, the fact that they are largely for the procurement of aircraft would have a serious effect oa expenditures ex-penditures la the future. "As additional aircraft authorised author-ised by the act were delivered, we should have to make corresponding correspond-ing provision for additional personnel per-sonnel to man them, for higher maintenance and operating cost and for greater replacement cost What Bill Flnaaoe "The present authorisation for Increased procurement would thus be merely the first step in an expanding ex-panding program which would have to be supported by greatly Increased appropriations In future years." The bill finances the army, the navy, the air force, the national security council, the national security se-curity resources board and the office of secretary of defense for the year ending next June SO. Its total Includes !12,iH9,M2,488 In case and l2,s3s,S02.O00 in contract con-tract authority for which future appropriations may be needed.