Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-29
TIE ARGUMENT OF .CosT.

Our war with Spain IL costing us 5000,
CO. per day or at ,the rate of S7S00O000)
per yoar. Putting our population at
1900 0o which is Il fair estimate, that
is $40 per year for every man, woman,
and child in the United States. This
calculation is on tae basis of appropria-
tions already made for war expenditures
TO the end Of next December. To meet
bills current and future. the Treasury
has been authorized to borrow S4O0OJ),O coo
by issuing bonds. and $l0OO9ODoO by means
of shoT1-tiTne notes. and new taxes
have been levied aggregaung S150,OJoc)0
per annum. That the Treasury will Dor
row TO the full limit of its authority and
money is hardly to be questioned. In
deed, * was in haste 10 issue call for
subscriptions for $2Oo.C)OOOO of the bonds
before there was any real necessity for
so doing. Nor is IT to be questioned that
the proceeds of the increased taxation
Will be spent as fist as they are gather
cd in, and that IN any event the burden
OF the increase will continue TO harass
the masses for some years after the war
closes.
AS we have frequently said. we must
fight the war TO complete triumph
for American arms and 10 the accom-
plishment OF the work we set out 10 ac-
complish, no matter what the cost The
burdens necessary TO be borne in the
attainment of that contamination must
be borne cheerfuly and bravely. But
all other considerations aside, and view
ing the matter simply from the stand
point of dollars and cents, the facts and
figures we have presented should call
q halt 10 Imperialism.
What would be the cost Of imperialism
entirely apart from administrative eX-
penses-that Is as affecting our naval
and our military establishments, includ-
ing our pension system? That the ma
terianzation Of the policy OF expansion
. would necessltate great increase in
our standing army ana a corresponding
increase In ovr NAVY, is not debatable
question. At the lowest we would have
4, 10 double. both.
In 1897. the War Department eXpendi-
lures, exclusive of river and harbor inn
provement, footed up SSSOOO00O Double
that and We have S76.OO0,OOO. For the
! same year the naval appropriations
amounted to sS5.OoOOoO. Double that and
provide for keeping up dry docks and
accessories at Hawaii and in the Philip
pines, and we will not get out under less
than SlO0oo0.OO Here is an annual cost
OF our military and naval establishments,
on a peace basis and not counting pen
slons. OF $l7G.OOO,o0O. Now. add pensions,
ana we take only the present figures of
l50.0cO0CO, although these are destined 10
increase as tho result OF the war, and
we have FOR the two establishments,
grand total OF fSze.OO0.0Oo a year. AS the
total cost Of the British army and navy,
including pensions is set down for the
year 1ss7-'9S al about 5Oo0.c coo the com
rarative ngures show In savor OF Great
Britain the enormous difference Of
siz1 $4,000. Again, the estimated army
and marine budget OF France for 1895 IS
about NS,000C)o. and that OF Germany
,ieicoo .oOl-a total Of $i4.0COoO0. or only
sis,ooc,c)o less shan what is a reasonable
estimate OF the American army and navy
expansion budget. How do the tax-pay-
srs like the prospect of having to meet
the above bills and the bills for Colonial
administration In addition to paying the
actual expenses VI the war.