Precarious Balance

The most precarious balancing act since the original Great Wallendas retired from the high wire--President Eisenhower's 1960 budget--is still gamely keeping its balance. Budget Director Maurice H. Stans reported last week. Said normally solemn Accountant Stans, fighting hard to smother a grin: during the half-year since the President presented his budget to Congress, the economy's energetic climb has added $1.9 billion to the Administration's income estimate for fiscal 1960 (ending next June). But over the same span, the outgo estimate has also crept upward by $1.9 billion, reaching $78.9 billion. Biggest reason for the outgo increase: rising interest rates, upping the cost of carrying the national debt for the fiscal year from $8 billion to $9 billion. Net result of the higher income and outgo estimates: the budget still shows the skimpy surplus, about $100 million, that the President predicted back in January.

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