First, and perhaps most important among those eagerly bidding for metals, metal products, etc. are those responsible for our national security programs. Under these should be included 1. The National Military Establishment; 2. The stock-piling program; 3. The international aid program; 4. The Atomic Energy Commission; 5. The merchant shipbuilding program; 6. Economic readiness measures in the Federal budget for (a) Expansion of power generating facilities; (b) Construction of strategic highways; (c) Modernization of Federal airways; (d) Exploration and development of scarce minerals; (f) Development of synthetic fuels and others of like nature. What, it may be asked, do these programs amount to? Let us, then, examine the figures on new obligational authority and estimated expenditures for fiscal 1949, which ends June 30 next; and similarly the figures on recommended new obligational authority and estimated expenditures for fiscal 1950, or the year beginning on July 1 next, from the budget message of the President submitted to the Congress on January 10, 1949. These figures, with increments indicated, are shown in the following tabulation: Budget authorizations and estimated expenditures for selected national security activities 1 Taken from an address on Jan. 20, 1949, by Dr. Ralph J. Watkins, Director of the Office of Plans and Programs, National Security Resources Board. New obligational authority includes actual and recommended net new appropriations and other authori zations (e.g. contract and loan authorizations), and excludes appropriations to liquidate prior year contract authorizations. 3 Includes 2.9 billion dollars (largely aircraft) for 1949 program provided in fiscal year 1948 supplementals; excludes 279 million dollars being made immediately available in fiscal year 1949 to cover increased cost of eompleting authorized naval ship-construction program, which is included in fiscal year 1950 figures. • Proposed. |