Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-04-08
INCREASING ExPENDI-
TUREs FOR ARMY AND NAVY
NO MONEY FOR PEACE
BILLs-DECLAREs MONEY IN
TREASURY Is BEING Sc Ia
KEN UP FOR MILITARY Es-
TABLLsHMENr THAT oBIlGA-
TIoNs OF GOVERNMENT ARE
PASSED by.

NPih "a WtiuluS
against increasing expenditures for
the military establishment OF the
United States was sounded In the
senate yesterday by Senator Hale.
chairman of the committee on naval
Affairs. and his alarm was taken up
and repeated by other senators.
The discussion was based on
signed article printed in the Wash
ington Post yesterday saying in cf-
feet that Secretary Taft favored a
reorganization and an enlargement
of the army that would bring Il up
TO l25,000 men. The immediate oc-
casion for Senator Hale's speech was
the passage yesterday of the army
appropriation bill, carrying nearly
SloO'OOO.O00. and he used II as
showing the tendency of the times.
a Startling Statement.
Moving to reconsider the vote bv
which the army bill was passed MIR
Hale said senators did not realize
ohat 20 per cent. of the revenues Of
this government were today expenl-
ed for what has been termed the
needs of past, present and future
work.
What is going on" continued MIR
Hale, without senators or the coun.
! try being aware of n are the onor-
nous increases of the military es-
tablishment to the prejudice of all
other appropriations and claims. we
cannot get consideration of other
bills because, as everybody knows.
the revenues are waning and we arc
likely to be confronted with a deficit
and In not many months ahead W.
shall be found spendlrs more money
than comes into the treasury from
the existing and ordinary sources.
We cannot pass tho omnibus appro-
priation bill. which has thousands of
items that ought to be paid as much
as note at hand; we are to have
no river and harbor bill because Il
Is peace bill; we can have no pub
lie building bill because the military
expenses are mounting so rapidly
that we cannot afford these items
that are for peace"
Mr.. Hale recapitulated appropria.
tions for military purposes and said
every item represented great appro-
priations for the future. There had
he said, been an increase OF 500
100000 in the appropriations for
the army and about the same in
crease for the navy This. he said
did not represent the enormous in.
crease for the navy, as only two
instead OF four battleships are pro.
vided for.
What Building Up Navy NIeons
When you build up a navy" he
declared, you only begin to spend
money. You commit the country n
repairs and maintenance, making
necessary an increasing appropria.
tion' and If you go on we are going
70 nave a naval appropriation I'm
three or four years that will amount
10 100000 annually"
1 hope" said Mr.. Hale. "tbat
this enormous, unreasonable and
wicked program is not the judgment
OF the secretary OF war"
Mr.. Hale declared that anvono
who talks with .he general star of
the army, az senators have done
within few days, will be told that
the army has got to be doubled.
That" he said, lis the opinion
Of he chief Of the general star WIN
Is he head Of the operating part Of
the army with authority, during the
prolonged frequent and necessarv
absences OF the secretary OF war 4"
Army would Cost 5000. .O0o. ooo
"If his program is carried ont
we will have an army costing 5000
100000. and nothing short Of that
viii satisfy the army hone
whoevcr the secretary Of war shall
be, We shall not be called upon 70
max" This enormous expenditure. n
still have on my mind a rcsidum of
hone that the alleged program for
army enlargement IS not To- be car
ricd on. and that thc secretary OF
war has not n program for such exc
I pcnditurcs OF funds drawn from au
the people wish 90 call attention
to this distinctly, feature OF th.
/ enrcNlous Increases OF the military
establishments OF the government. TO
the prejudice and hurt OF approprla-
tions that arc peaceful and which
deal not with soldiers and sailors.
armies and navies. ranks and grades.
epaulcts and paraphcrnaIia"
Mr. Hale spoke Of the Philippine
Islands as a "pestilencc" which had
contributed to the policy OF military
expansion. lie said the general stan
would not now abandon any "rickefv
- because OF this proposed miii-
nsiqh The army. he said.