OCR Text |
Show By James W. Douthat WASHINGTON it is clear that Congressional forces seeking to cut appropriations and to prevent undue expansion ex-pansion of the huge federal government must fight daily battles from i.ow until the end of the session. This may ' be for a period of more than two months. The House has cut deeply in many of the appropriation appropri-ation bills which make up the $71.8 billion budget. But immoHhtnlu flnnnali arc made to the Senate for restoration. Similarly, the New-Fair Deal groups seeking legislation to Inaugurate In-augurate far-reaching new programs pro-grams such as grants-in-aid lo stairs for various projects wage an unceasing fight. 'Congressional economy leaders point out that past history shows ttiat pressure groups seeking to extract funds from the federal treasury often have their greatest .-success in the hectic days which precede an adjournment of Con-gress. Con-gress. They are hopeful that this year the situation will be reversed that businessmen and taxpayers generally will keep up such a demand for economy that this spirit will rule Congress. WHAT LIES AHEAD The Senats is in the midst of overtime over-time sessions in an effort to act upon the bie appropriation bills before June 30. Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson, John-son, In charting the Senate's course, said that it should act upon one appropriation bill each day during the later part of June In order to reach the goal. The House also had major ap-Tproprlatlon ap-Tproprlatlon bills to dispose of. Fit has cut more than $1 billion under the budget in those already al-ready passed. SPENDING AUTHORIZATION I BILLS Bills authorizing fu- ture spending programs amount, lng to billions of dollars also 'confront Congress for decision i before adjournment. I An early test of strength is expected ex-pected on the bill authorizing appropriations of $1,500,000,000 over a five year period as grants to states for aid in construction of schools. The House Education and Labor Committee, which reported the bill, is divided. There Is sharp division In the House, also. Foes of an expanding federal government contend that authorization auth-orization of federal aid-to-education would be followed by other oth-er programs of the same nature all tending to increase paver I of the federal government and destroy that of state and local I governments. DEPRESSED AREAS Federal Feder-al aid to depressed cras also involves a huge, future finding program and ?xpan!sa of federal fed-eral power. Under this proposal, the federal fed-eral government would provide $325,000,000 In grants and loans to build factory and community facilities to aid In attracting bus-iness bus-iness and Industry to provide jobs. Significantly, some of the strong supporters of this program say it Is but a "pilot project" and that federal expenditures would be greatly expanded In the future. I FOREIGN AID PROGRAM The new foreign aid program may be cut one billion under the original presidential request before be-fore final Congressional action is completed. The original proposal of $4.4 billion was modified by President Eisenhower to $3.8 billion after a re-examination. Initial action in the Senate cut $227 million from this figure. But the bill faces other tests In Congress. |