The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-12-31
WHAT BECAME
OF THE MONEY
APPROPRIATED?
HEADS OF THE ARMY AND NAVY
DEPARTMENTS ARE RESPONSE.
BILE If THIS COUNTRY IS NOT
PREPARED FOR WAR.

this nation in state of military pre-
paredness?
This is a question for Secretary OF
War Dickerson particularly. to answer
inasmuch as he admits not only tia
the United States is unprepared for
war, but that his army Is not even in
a condition to repeal invasion If at.
tempted on our coast by any first-class
power
The amount spent on the army
since 1897 is s1.044. 101.188. This
is more than twice as much than has
been spent in the same period for free
rural delivery, rivers and harbors and
public buildings and grounds com
bined
Despite this awful military cos.
Chairman Hull Of the House Com
mittee on Military Affairs states in a
lanquid tone of voice that 'if war
should come, our supply of ammurt
ton for the field artillery would be
exhausted in one engagement"
The navy under republican admin
istration, has cost the people even
more than the army. Congress has
appropriated S1,126,21o,139 for the
navy since 1897.
If the army and navy are in a stage
OF unpreparedness. it is not due to
lack Of money voted by Congress,
but to military nismanage1nent and
stupendOus extravaganza and wasteful
ness. At least this is the conclusion
long ago reached by army and navy
officers who are fully cognizant Of the
unbusinesslike methods used in both
the army and navy. These officials,
however. dare not tell what they
know. If they were to do so, they
would be liable to court martial
The men who are directing the ex-
penditures of the millions of navy con-
ditions made public. Their excuse
for secrecy is that publicity would
enligbten foreigners as to our unfor-
titled condition. It is literary true,
hover. that this country has no army
or rayal secrets, except from the
raopl| of the United States Army
and Wy journals have 81 stated time
and again.
Foreign navy journals are pointing
to the practice Of our government in
placing lawyers and bankers at the
head Of our army and navy, as being
something akin to a Joke. One journal
calls attention to the fact that four
of the lase five naval secretaries were
lawyers, and that not one Of them re-
NAMED in Office long enough to get
we'll acquainted with the heads Of the
department. Secretary OF the Navy
Meyer, a former banker, was put in
charge of our billion dollar navy after
having been graduated from the post
Office department. He knew nothing
whatever about naval matters when
given the political berth OF naval sec
rotary. Mr.. Dickinson was a railroad
attorney when placed at the head of
the army.
Where the Money Goes
The navy department spends $780,
100000 annually. What becomes of
this vast sum? Only about twenty
millions go to buildinn new ships.
Only about four million, according
to Senator Hale, go to charging thu
dry docks and equipping the yards
where ship repairs are made. It does
not require 106 millions for coal am
munition, nor even for the salaries
and food of the men and officers.
A large sum goes to navy yards
that are almost useless, yards located
on water so shallow that the big first
class vessels Of which the navy is now
composed can not reach them. The
chief beneficiaries OF these political
navy yards are not the navy nor the
American public. but the constituents
OF Senators Hale, Gallinger and Per
Hns ct al
Pay Inspector Mudd not long since
made a report in which he sh owed
where at least a part of the money
goes. It occurred to the pay inspec-
tor to make some comparisons be-
tween the cost of articles manufacture
ed at the different yards.
A 16 1T. dingey cost s10417 at one
yard and $196. "a at another. Awning
stanchions We're S150 at one ward
and $3.50 at another. Rudders were
Sc at one yard and SO ct another. A
tiller was 81 at one yard and So a.
another
George Kibbe Turner declared IN
McClures magazine that of the $780,
100000 the navy is costing the nation.
s4O,O00.o00 is wasted because Of gil
gantic incompetence.
Champ Clark As Presidential Posi-
biiity.
If as speaker Of the House Of Rem
resentatives Champ Clark Of Missouri
gives the right Of way to progressive
legislation which has been strargled
TO death by the republicans. he will,
n the opinion OF many politicians,
have made a presidential poss!bilit,
out Of himself. 1t is being talked
over in the cloak room. and ali agree
that Clark's chances will not be so
bad if ne makes good as speaker.
Il is argued for the next speaker that
he is unsophisticated so far as hay
ing any deals with the special in
terests is concerned It is said he
would be an excellent compromise
candidate, as he has the friendship
and confidence of both the socalled
radical and conservative wings OF
democracy. Clark is a man OF COM
manding personality. and physically
he is we'll preserved and striking in
appearance. He is one Of ne PLANES:
men, and one of the frankest. in
American politics.
Things the People Pay For.
Sofa pillows, peroxide OF hydrogen,