The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-07
The four
Tho four

The four
months. 81. SAC. 900 Sss. 57?.ooo S1l7.121.oo
Although the war technically began OIL
April 81, according to the joint resolution
of Congress adopted four days later, we
have included the whole Of April in the
table, April having been a month of prepa-
ration and extraordinary expenditure.
From the total given above should be
deducted the normal expenditure for the
maintenance of the military and naval
establishments in time of peace. For the
corresponding period last year, that is to
say, for April, May, June and July Of 1897,
this amounted to 1913, zee, 600. The ex-
traordinary expenditure on accoun of the
war, therefore, from April 1 to August / as
shown by the regular Treasury statements,
would amount to $3.50, 1855, 900.
But it would be a gigantic mistake to as
sumo these figures as showing the money
cost of the war thrust upon us by Spain.
The Treasury statements include merely
the sums of money actually disbursed
by the Treasury from day to day dur
ing the period covered. They do not repre-
sent the cost of war operations during
that time. The actual cost Of the war in
July, for example, may be met in great
part or wholly by the expenditures Of
August and the following months.
There is a vast difference in Govern
ment bookkeeping between current ex-
penses, in the broad sense, and current
expenditures. We are still paying some of
the cost of u wal that ended thirty-four
years ago. Those arithmeticians. therefore,
who are attempting to compute the money
cost of the war on the basis of the Treasury
statements are trying to construct totals
without the indispensable material.
Yet it is possible to form some idea of the
final cost of the Spanish war even now, for
we lave the experience of the civil war to
guide us. Into the question Of ultimate
cost there enter certain considerations
which are apt to be overlooked by those
who take their pencils in hand. The cost
of a war. in the final reckoning, includes
several classes of expenditure or direct
loss. Among them are these:
/. Current war expenses, paid on account
Of the War and Navy departments by the
Federal Government with money raised by
taxation or borrowed upon the nations
credit.
This item, in the four years of the civil
war, amounted to $685. 1872, 9O4. In
many respects the expenses of the pres.
emit contest are relatively far heavier
than those of the Federal Government
during the civil war. Our known and al.
ready recorded naval expenditure during
the past four months, for instance, runs at
a rate more than 80 per cent. higher than
the average monthly expenditure during the
years 1S62-65. In the War Department the
expenses Of transportation and mainte-
nance, owing to the geographical conditions
of the struggle, are greatly in excess OF
former experience. In the civil war the
average number of volunteers In service
was about $4,000, and the average annual
cost Of the army was $67S. 900, 900. If we
suppose that in the war with Spain we
shall have employed an average of 800. DOC
men during twelve months only-and the
notion that war expenses will cease at once
or decrease considerably when peace is de,
clared Is grotesquely erroneous-$250, 900,
600, or O thousand dollars a man, would be
a moderate estimate of the years expenses
for the army alone. Four hundred million
dollars for the total war expenses of the
year Is an estimate moro likely thar
not to be exceeded when the figures
are all in. 1t will be remembered thai
when the Administration was beginning
hostilities with Spain, at the command Of
Congress and with the hearty approval o.
the American people, Senator HALE o.
Maine, Chairman of the Committee OIL
Naval Affairs. predicted that the cost o
the military and naval operations woulC
amount to from 800. OOO, 900 to $500,
OOo, 1000 for a year.
.. Money appropriated and expended b!
the Governments OF the several States TO
the equipment and comfort of their respec
tive troops.
With New York in the lead with
total appropriation of 81 100000 for thi
purpose, the various State Legislature
generally and generously voted a%ppropria
lions for this purpose. There are no dat
yet for an exact Abatement of the sum
thus expended throughout the Union, ant
we shall set down the total arbitrarily a
$15, 100000.
8. Money raised and expended by organ
cations of citizens for the alienation o
the soldiers and sailors condition.
Under thssplendid leadership Of the Re
Cross Organization thaPs are to-day thou
aAndbo 4 local assoelAtions Of patriotic me