The Nome Nugget

WASHINGTON. (AP) - President Eisenhower laid before Congress today a bulky program ranging from foreign aid to medical help for the aged but warned against "reckless spending schemes."

"This truth we must take to heart: In good times, we must at the very least pay our way," he said in a special message sent to the Senate as it resumed its election-year session. The message also will be waiting for the House when it reconvenes a week hence.

In the face of Democratic, and some Republican, criticism that the nation's defenses are growing relatively weaker in the face of Communist threats. the President insisted U. S. military power "is second to none and will be kept that way."

Saying he was taking measures to improve the armed forces' readiness, he said these may necessitate "a modest increase" in military personnel and money. If funds are needed. he said, we will ask for them.

But national security demands Congressional action too, Eisenhower said, and called for appropriation of the full amount authorized for foreign aid. He noted the appropriation bill for the mutual security program, as it now stands, is half a billion dollars under this.

"The nation's security and our inescapable interest in a stable world demand that these amounts be restored." Eisenhower said.

Eisenhower advised Congress that he had already taken some actions to strengthen this country's military posture, and that the Defense Department would carry them out "with its available resources insofar as possible."

White House Press Secretary James Hagerty said the President's wording meant that some funds impounded by Eisenhower were being unfrozen, and that Congress would be asked for more money if needed.

The President also told the legislators he wants:

1. A 100-million-dollar increase in flexible foreign aid funds "to keep America poised for sudden developments such as those in the Congo where a U. S. airlift and other effort were needed suddenly and critically."

2. A 600-million-dollar authorization by Congress for a program of aid to Latin America.

3. Advance approval for a food-for-the-hungry proposal which he said will be presented to the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Eisenhower said this will be a program, "whereby we and other fortunate nations can, together, make greater use of our combined agricultural abundance to help feed the hungry of the world."

On the domestic side, Eisenhower listed upward of a score of actions that he has said Congress should attend to now and not let them "go begging for months to come."

Eisenhower declared only six of the 27 measures he had named last May as required by the national interest have been enacted into law so far.