THE ADMINISTRATION: Red Ink

Last January, President Harry Truman predicted that the nation would go at least $8 billion into the hole during fiscal 1952. But when the figures were all totted up, last week, the bill was much lighter than anticipated. Because of the stretchout, military spending was $840 million under estimates; total Mutual Security spending came to $2.5 billion less than originally planned—the tab for military assistance to foreign countries was $1.8 billion under expectations. Fiscal '52s actual budget deficit: $4,017,000,000. The total national debt: $259 billion.