Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-06-30
Cost OF THE PHILIPPINE WAR.

From careful estimates in the New
York World it appears that the war with
the Philippines has already cost Us over
S1j0 100000. The cost of pensions that
must certainly follow, and other con-
tingent expenses, will amount to as
much more. And the war has hardly
begun. We believe it is reasonable
estimate that If the war is continued I'M
til we subiugate the Philippines the eX-
penses growing from it will be at least
81 900 900, 900, and probably S2,000,000,-
900. This matter of expense is of
course very small part of the
evils connected with such war, but
viewing it only in this light is there
single person in the United States who
would have seriously proposed, in ad-
ance of the war, to have paid 81 900 .000,-
900 for the Philippine islands? Is there
one who would seriouly have proposed
to pay 800, 100000 for them? There is
certainly no sane person. In undertake
ing to rob the Filpinos of their country we
are doing what we ought not to do, and
every consideration of prudence as we'll
as right urges the abandonment of any
such policy, and the establishment at
once of Just and reasonable peace with
the Filipinos.
Touching upon this subject the Phila-
delphia Ledger, one of the largest and
ablest of the papers of the country,
says
The treasury department at Wash
ington estimates that the de felt for the
fiscal year 1899, which ends on June 80,
will approximate 100000 900, Ia spite
of the very onerOus war taxes which
were levied to meet the Xraordinary
expenses of the war the deficit will. if
the estimate proves correct. be about
SG2 100000 greater than for the fiscal
year 1898, which ended June 80 last
year. During the fiscal year 1898 the
receipts from all sources amounted to
S405, 1921 $50, while the expenditures
were Sil3,3GS,5S2, leaving a deficit of
S3S OH, Pa. The receipts thus far this
year have been about $500 900 000 with
expenditures of about 5000, ZOO, 900. leav-
ing "A l0O,00O 900 deficit During the
fical year 1898 the receipts from customs
$500, 600, 600 received from the same
source this year, with ten days of the
fiscal year uneXpired. The internal rev.
enue receipts in 1898 were Sill 200. 900
against S2G3, 800, 900 collected up to June
20 of this year under the war tax. The
expenditures this year will exceed those
Of last year by SlG5, 900 900. while the
receipts will show an increase of only
about Sl00 100000.
OF the SG0O,000,0 900 spent this year
S22S ,000, 900 has been paid on account Of
the war department, SCI 100000 for the
navy. Sl39,00O,000 for pensions, Sl0,-
10000 interest on the public debt, SIP,
60, 900 for Indians. and Sill, 100000 was
paid for civil and miscellaneous pur-
poses. According to the calculations of
the treasury officials the war taxes will
| bring to the treasury a little less than
/ SlC0, 900, 900, and they estimate that the
expenditures on account of the war
with Spain and the war in the Philip
pines will aggregate for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1899. alone, about S230,-
900 900, which includes the $4,000, 900
paid Spain for the Philippines, and the
S3,OOO,OOO granted the Cuban soldiers.
The extraordinary receipts of the treas
ury include this year over 1000, 900
paid in on account OF the Central Pa
cific railroad claims in addition to the
/ 500, 600 from war taxes. and the
treasury department estimates that if
! $3.50, OOO, 900 had not been required to de-
fray war expenses there would be to-
day, leaving out of account the eXtraOr-
binary receipts of 81 900, 900, a surplus
of $4,000, 900 instead of deficit of
500, 600. 900.
Accepting as correct the treasury es-
Inmates of the expenditures for the war
alone in the fiscal year, though as yet
the calculation is largely coniectural,
the treasury figures furnish the clearest
possible exhibit of the cost of the ex-
pansion policy and the danger and folly
of our new crusade. Two arguments
have been advanced strenuOusly in be-
/ half of imperialism-the interests of
humanity and the extension of trade.
As an exhibition of humanity and be-
nevolence the course of events in the
Philippines has been so modifying that