The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-29
Senator HaIe's Warning.

Senator Hale injected into a running de-
bate in the Senate a few days before Con
gress treated itself to n recess for the
holidays a statement that ought TO make
every citizen Of the country put on his
thinking cap and give close inquiry into
the conduct Of his government. Two
thirds OF the revenues Of this country. ."
declared Senator Hale, are devoted 10
the burdens of past wars and preparations
for future wars"
Stated in round numbers. the EXPENSES
Of the Federal government are annually
S150,000,o00. The cost on account Of mill
1hry expenses is, according to Senator
Hale, $oo.00o.000. Mr. Hale is a member Of
the Committee on Appropriations. and in
the frequent and prOtracted absences. of
Senator Allison is chairman Of that great
committee He Is chairman Of the Com
mittee on Naval Affairs, a member Of the
Committee on Finance, and a member cf
the Philippines Committee. Aside from
his natural aptitude for governmental af-
fairs, his long experience in Congress and
his committee positions have given him
exceptional opportunities to acGualnt HIM
self thoroughly with the most important
subjects Of legislation and administration
He does not make reckless assertions. He
is not an alarmist Nor is he q cheese
pairing statesman. When he states that
tWo-thirds of the taxes paid by the
people for the support Of their govern
ment are devoted 10 the payment of mill
tary expenses, be furnishes food for very
serious thought. Europe is an armed
camp, but the military expenses Of no ma
ton In Europe approximate those Of the
United States. In very truth. no European
nation could stand such 4 burden. our
army is a mere nucleus compared with
the armies of every continental power in
Europe Our navy ranks fourth or fifth
among the navies of the world And vet
the taxpayers OF the United States con-
tribute annually from their earnings mil
lions more TO meet our military expenses
than are contributed by the taxpayers Of
Europe for a like purpose.
We are at peace with the world We
have no schemes of conquest Our adven-
ture into colonialism is being used as a
pretext by European chancelleries TO
place us in that list Of nations that look
with covetous eyes upon the possessions
OF others. But we have no designs upon a
single foot OF territory that is alien do
main No nation is preparing to attack us.
We are not unmindful of the frequent war
scares' that are started, but we observe
that these alarums are sounded usually
about the time the lawmakers are TO as
semble 10 prepare the annual budgets.
The japanese war scare" IS a case in
point. a year or two ago it was Germany
that was threatening US somewhere. and
over something that was not even as dis
tlnct or concrete as the vague excuse pre-
scented for a possible war with Japan.
These wild alarms have their natural ef-
feet upon the holders Of the nations purse
strings, and all that is asked for military
expenses is promptly granted. Occasion
ally voice like that Of Senator Hale is
raised in protest, but it avaiis nothing.
Under such a condition as this there can
be no hope for a reduction of the increas-
ing burdens Of taxation on the people.
Nobody understands this better than the
tariff standpatter If our military ex-
penses We're reduced, the voters soon yyouId
understand that the revenues raised bv
high tariffs We're not needed, and the
movement for revision would not be con-
fined to groups Of persons not in Office.