The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-07
The Costliness Of War.

The difference between the eXpcn-
ditures Of tho rifty-fourth and the
Fifty-ffth congress is in round num-
bers half a billion dollars and this sum
represents in Il rough way part of
the cost of ou" brief war. The total
cost can mover be expressed in figures,
even If we du moi try 10 take into ac-
count the sentimental aspects. Much
of the cost ui the war has fallen upon
individuals They bear it cheerfuliy
and there is no way of ascertaining its
sum. ON tho other hand, nobody can
compute the dollar value Of the gains
which the war has brought in its train
Ever a rough idea canrot be formed
until orr commerce with the new de-
peudenci,s has had time 10 adapt itself
to ana to reflect the new conditions
Net or the general subject of war eX-
pcnses the rhiadalpha Ledger offers
some information and advice which are
good cnoU2h to quote. The war" 1t
says. "and this is true Of all wars, has
encouraged the spirit OF prodigality in
national ,vpenGiturcs i'm directions
So that the Grand foDtinES show that
the United states mas become one of
the most cTpcnsivCly, probably the
most extensively, governed countries
on the globe. The enormous sums APP
propratcd Nv the British government
ON national debt account. for aTnuities
10 th" royal family. for the navy and
.
sitiys of tn" mother country AMI for
the defence Of it's colonies scattered
throughout tho world, are represented
by ngules which fall fay below the eX.
hibit made hy the two sessions of the
FIity-titth congress. \ comparison of
the present cost of running the British
government with hat which has been
incurred by the United states ',hows
the pace at which We are going. and
emphasizes the necessity Of praCticing
close economies in our national house
keeping. The total expenditures of the
British government for the two years
ending April t. lSS7 and 1898. were
nearly $1022, ,0G3, So. Nor has Great
Britain been On a pence footing. strict
ly speaking, during this period. The
camraiCn i'm the Soudan has been cost
ly. ana the protection of British ir-
terests i'm other parts Of the world is
constantly imposing heavy expense
upon the country. The republic, by
virtue Of the duty and the necessity
which the war placed upon it,has spent
millions in extraordinary expenditure,
from which there was no way of es-
cape after the war was inevitable The
situation which the Ffty-fifth congress
faced was thus far exceptional, but it
ought To have enforced frugality and
parsmOny in dealing with other than
war appropriations, where common
prudence dictated such a course. The
log rolling process, by which numbers
of unimpOrtart towns are furnished
with pretenti3us Federal buildings and
by which millions are reckless!y spent
and to meet dcmarls which would not
grow into Just claim upon the govern
ment for years to come was as much
in evidence in the late congress as il
was IN any previous congress. The in.
coming congress viii illustrate it's pat
riotism hy its heroic economies "
There can bc no eainsayal of tn,
truthfulness and tineliness of our con,
temrnrarys advice. Liherality is ia,
removed from extravaganza, and tn,
tendency should be TO keep this broad
distinction continually before the mind'
Of mon who administer public funds