Show ECONOMIC highlights 4 believe it or not there is a determined ter mined economy bloc working in congress and so far at least it has produced some results there is however considerable question as to whether it will win out in vie the und anc the advocates ot of more spend I 1 it are many and i iring ir ing anil ani the I 1 are massing solidly behind the farm and national defense measures spearhead of the economy drive is naturally in the houe or 0 representatives 1 senta tives where by constitutional I 1 mandate all appropriations legislation must originate its leaders have materially reduced proposed appropriations for a number of bur baus and purposes latest reduction was a paring of close to in the interior department supply bill which involved the complete knifing of a projected expenditure for admiral byrds current antarctic expedition so far cuts in the budget made by various house committe commit teel esl have come close to the point whether or not those it in favor of cost cutting will be able to resist the pressure in favor of loosing the floodgates flood gates of the federal treasury is now an interesting matter for speculation by the time this is lead congress will probably have pot lot around to considering the naval expansion bill with its proposed appropriation up until recently it seemed almost a certainty that this measure would go through without a hitch and that the fleet would be given all it asked As the polls show senti ment in this country for bu building eding a defense structure of unprecedented peacetime peace time strength is extremely strong the american people looking nervously at unpredictable europe are apparently eager to possess a navy that is more than adequate to deleat defeat any conceivable invader or combination of invaders at the same time a certain amount of doubt has arisen as to whether the proposed bill is completely necessary ces sary the bills opponents point out that the new ships to be launched would not be completed for years some of the ships are of more or less untried character and might prove failures as a s fighting uns units further they continue ships become obsolete fairly rapidly and the he old debate as to whether a large number of relatively small ships is more effective than a sm small all number of giant first line craft liis his not been settled and they say no matter who wins the worlds current wars in europe and asia the victors will be so exhausted that they guold be in no position to attack us even if they wanted to therefore they sum up there is no need for naval expansion on the scale now proposed similar mants are used against proposals for the purpose of tremendous of new military airplanes which as everyone knows may become outmoded overnight congressional controversy over farm appropriations is now reaching the limelight the senate appropriations committee has approved a billion dollar farm bill which if passed will entirely wipe out the total cut in the bud get made by the house and may make new taxes necessary it seems certain that the farm bill will pass the senate in the form approved by its committee forecast is that it will also be finally passed by both branches with but minor changes but the economy bloc will undoubtedly seek to pare it somewhat i outlook to ok is that something of a compromise will be reached so far as spending in general is concerned some bureaus will get less money moncy but expenditures which effect large numbers of voters and in n which as a result all elective officials have a political stake will be large though perhaps not as large as last year |