National Affairs: A Dual Responsibility

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¶ New spending authority for military assistance under the Mutual Security Program, down by $500 million because "lead-time financing has been reduced—notably for spare parts—[some] maintenance support . . . has been eliminated, and items have been removed from grant-aid which countries can now pay for themselves." Ike's military-assistance cut was a real concession to the congressional economy spree and a clear effort to forestall whacks with an even heavier meat ax.

Having suggested specific cuts, the President pointedly turned to steps the Congress might take to "improve the Federal budgetary situation." He zeroed in on that granddaddy of all pork barrels, the rivers and harbors bill, by urging Congress to "reject new projects not approved by the Board of Engineers," to provide for "more local participation in approved projects,?' and to "withhold authorization and construction of all but urgently needed projects." He asked Congress to "establish interest rates for Government loan programs that will induce private funds to participate in their financing." He plugged for postal-rate increases and argued for user charges (levied against plane operators) on federal airway facilities.

Unique Acceptance. Perhaps most important of all, President Eisenhower asked for the right to veto specific items in appropriations bills instead of having to sign or veto the bills in their entirety. The item veto would be a mortal blow to the congressional pork barrelers—and they are certain to resist it with all their might.

The new budget message was a unique acceptance of second-time-around budgetary responsibility, and was calculated to cut spending by about $600 million in fiscal 1958 and even more in future years. But the message was more than that: it was an all-out Administration effort to recapture the lead in the budget-cutting uproar touched off by the Humphrey flap. Moreover, it was a unique way of dramatizing the fact that Congress too has an impelling duty to act responsibly.

Yet Congress still seemed more interested in the political possibilities of budget-cutting. No sooner had he received the President's letter than Speaker Sam Rayburn renewed his talk about tax cuts. A top Democrat reacted to the message with a sneer: "It don't amount to a sneeze in a cyclone."