The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1899-07-08
LOGIC OF AN EXTRA SESSION.

According to one estimate the Fill
pipo war has cost up to date, the sum
of s63, 900. 900. and the expenses are
going on at the rate of $3.50, 900 per day.
This does not, however. include the
full showing. The statement Is made,
on the authority of high officer. that
the expenditures for the troops, equip
ments, supplies, subsistence. mainten-
ance of the navy, Incidental costs and
the payment to Spain of s2O.0O0.O0O
total not less than 5000, 100000. In
the matter of bodily losses we are told
that 664 men have been killed and
$500 wounded and invalided.
If the war is to go on with an active
army of $1,000 men, the daily bill,
say nothing of naval costs, will be
s30O, 900. Before Congress can meet
in regular session and decide whether
or not we are to keep the Philippines
164 days must .elapse. Assuming that
1it will take thirty days to reach de-
c.sion 10 go important matter, we
have 1874 days to consider. which. at
$500, 900 apiece, would mean total
military expenditure of $5s,2OO,O 900
or course ifa larger army is employed
so. much, more money will have to be
LAID out on it.
Is not this paying rather high pre-
umtum on a $40, O,OOO, 900 investment
which Congress may see fit to discon-
tfnue? PuttingIthe conservative totals
together, the s63, 900, 900 and the $751;
100000. and the product is no less
sum than 1921 100000 for piece of
property we have ourselves rated at
less than one-tenth than amount.
Then there are the pensions to come.
What these maybe no body knows, but
an army officer has made the astound-
ing statement that 80 per cent of the
soldiers in the Philippines will get
pensions for dysentery and esher in
testiral complaints. If 10000 men
receive So per month each or this
account we shall have to pay out an
nually for no one knows how many
years, sum which at the beginning
will aggregate shs2O,O ,OcO. or nearly 10
per cent Of the market value of the
Philippines.
Would it not be good policy, before
we go any farther in this business, TO
find out what congress means to do
with our newly acquired possessions?
Would it not be simple common sense
to bold al extra session now? Sup
pose it should happen next December
or Japusry that congress should de-
eide against keeping the Philippin es;
ia 1t not true that the American
neople would have 12l .20o,0 reasons
and. more to regret that the national
did not tmeet earlier and
save the cost of six or seven months OF
war? IL seems to US square
business proposition that congress
should come together at once and
adopt a, program. The reasons we
state, however, are! not the only ones,
for the Filipinos are fighting in the |
hope their friends will manage con.
gress in their behalf. and if they are
wrong 10 that belief the sooner they
are made to know it the better
Tor our arms.-San Francisco Chron-
Icle. -.
There are other reasons bes i1es
hose quoter BY the Chronicle why
;he president should. convene congress
In extra session for the purpose of
the war in the Philippines.
There is'of course possibility that
may determine to withdraw
,he army from the islands, but under
,he present state of feeling this is not
probable. This makes the recessity
Of an extra session all the more imper-
stive. 1t ia generally conceded that
,he army now. authorized is not suf
icien ly strong numerically to sup
press the, insurrection, and the au.
shortly to enlist more than the 35,-
700 now authorized by law is needed.
Such authority can only come from
congress-. and delayin the matter is in
/ measure fatal Besides, the expense
Of the war has created deficiency of
about 800. .O00. COO for the past fiscal
Vearl and means for. raising more
revenue are demanded. The president
shohld not delay inlconvening con-
gress. iie,1Nttt