Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-02-22
EXPANSION Comes High.

Expansion comes F7iSn'
The appropria ton bill for the main
tenance of the military establishment
now before the house, calls for a grand
total of Sill, 1894, 649.10 the largest ever
offered for the army since the civil
war, exceeding by several millions the
heavy demands made during the year
following the Spanish war. For many
years past, until the Spanish war, tie
average cost for the support of SOL
dier has been about $1,000. Thus,
when the army consisted of about 20
600 men, the average appropriation
for the military establishment was
about 1923, 100000. The appropriation
in 1897 was s23,27S, 402 and in the pre-
ceding year it was 23,500000. For the
year 1900 it was $50, $4,000 and for the
current year the total was STA, 220, 900.
The new army will consist of 100000
instead of $1,000 men, and the average
cost for each member will be consider
ably more than $1,000. The estimates
of the army officers were for $3.50: 600
600. 1t remains to be seen whether
the army officers were correct. or the
committee which cut down their esti-
mates by more than $4,000.
The biggest single item of expense
for the army in the pending bill is for
transportation of troops and supplies.
For this purpose the quartermaster's
department is allowed $4,000, 900
which is $1,000, 900 more than was re-
quired for the support of the army
five years ago. General Ludington
the quartermaster general of the army
says the great bulk eff this money will
be expended in sending troops to and
from the Philippines, China and Por-
to Rico. During the seven months of
the current fiscal year 500, 100000 has
already been spent in carrying troops
back and forth, SO it looks as if 1884,
100000 were small, perhaps too small
estimate. The food and tailoring bills
of the soldiers make big item of ex-
pense. Commissary General Weston
has estimated that it will cost 3d. 600
600 to feed our army Of 100000 thu
coming year. This includes an esti
mate for $4,000 Filipinos. who, it il
said, can be fed cheaper than the Am
erican troops. 1t will cost a round
$s,O00,O00 to provide clothing and uni
forms for the army. The doctors bills
for uext year will be over $1,000, 600
The salaries of the surgeons are not
included in this estimate.
The second largest item in the new
bill is for the pay of officers and men
about $24 100000 being provided fol-
the purpose. OF this Sl4 .000,0 900 is for
enlisted men, 100000 for officers
100000 for pay of officers for length
of service, 100000 for enlisted men
for length of service, $500 600 to pay
the enlisted men the 20 per cent extra
for service out of the bounds of tho
United States proper, and $500, 900 fol
officers on foreign stations. Another
Sl,50o,000 is appropriated for the sup
port of the large number of officers on
the retired list. A special provision
is further made giving authority II
the war department to give travel pa.
and allowances to enlisted men VIII
Te-enter the service in Manila afte
their discharge. This amounts t
about $500 per man, which, it is b.
lieved will be an inducement to re-er
liStment. To fire the morning an
evening gun at the yarians army pos
throughout the world costs S25, 0O0i
powder.
The probable appropriations of til
Fifty-siXth congress will be 81, 800 ,O0
900 per capita of 800. The money i
circulation in the United States Jan
ury l, 1901 was s2.173,25l,879, a pr
capita of s28.l9. Truly being ''wor!
power" comes high.-Des Moines LIE
der.