The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-24


war department below the appropriations
of last year amounted to S10,0Oo.oOO. The
reduction in the estimate of the navy de-
partment for the expenses of the year
ending June 80 1911, also amounted to
SIC, Oo0,OO0 The reduction in the interior
department of estimated expenses for
1911 below the appropriations for 1910
amounted to $S,000,o00.
THAT reduction in the treasury and
in the postoffice departments made up
the balance of the A2 100000.
Army and Navy Needs
Speaking with reference TO the army
| and navy it should be said that the re-
ductions were not in what may be called
| the permanent expenses of the deparC-
ment. but We're rather in cutting 1own
| proposed improvements. which, IL the
plans of the departments are properly car
Rad out, must some time be met In
other words, 1t is a postponement only of
expenditures that are necessary until the
income shall be sufficient to meet them
| Let us take the war department
| There was a very considerable cut in
the expenditures needed to complete with
modern appliance the coast defenses on
the Pacific and Atlantic seaboards. There
| is needed at the mouth of Chesapeake
bay between Cape Henry and Cape
Charles an artificial island upon the
so-called middle ground. which shall COM
| mand the entrance to Chesapeake bay
| Chesapeake bay is the most important
| body of water from a strategic naval
| standpoint on the whole Atlantic coast
and 1t must be defended.
so, too, we have now determined that
the great naval base of the Pacific for us
| 4. aI,,1t N,a,.
years there was discussion as to whether
we ought to make the naval base at Subig
bay or at Cavte in Manila bay in the
Philippines. BY unanimous consent Of
| naval and military authorities it is now
conceded that we do not need a naval
base in the Philippines at ali; that we
ought to make Coregldor island at the
mouth of Makerel Lake, Coregioor at
Manila bay mpregnable and establish
supply station in Subig bay, but rely
on the Sandwich Islands as our base
This will all involve heavy expendi-
ture at Honolulu, but for the present the
amount provided is comparatively small.
Big BattIeships
I'm the naval expenditures we have
| retained q provision for two battleshfpS
Of the large 25,OO0-ton capacity and We
have done this on the ground that until
the Panama canal is completed we ought
| to go on and add to our naval strength.
| The Panama canal will certainly be
completed in 1915, and If we have two bat
tleships a year until that time the open
ing of the canal will so double the eff
ficacy of our navy for the protection of
our Pacific and Atlantic coasts that we
can abate and reduce our expenditures in
new construction,
1.-THE reductions in the treasury depart
ment were, I think. more of them In the
cost of administration than in the eN-
in oh 10
ter, and. this was also the case in the
postoffice department.
| 1.-THE reduction in the interior depart
ment IS, 100000. was due to reduction in
the amount Of the pensions TO be paid
cut and we may reasonably hope that
as the years now go on TINS AMOUNT Will
gradually be reduced.
ION the other hand there are certain
of our departments. to-wit,- the agricui-
tural department with its forestry bureau,
| the war department insofar as 1T is con-
structive department for the improve
ments of rivers, the department of com
merce and labor, including as it ought, 1t
seems to me, O. bureau of health. which as
the opportunities for lettering the condi-
ton of the people by governmental in
| yestigation increase, grow In Importance
and in cost. we ought not to expect 4 re-
duction either in the expenses growing
out of a conservation of our resources.
Billion Dollar congresses
For some time 1t has been said we
nave billion dollar congresses. The
statement in itself is an unjust one
because 1t is generally construed to mean
thai the total expense of the departments
to be paid out of taxation amounts TO
S, 000, 100000 year. This is quite an err
ror for the reason that in making up the
$1,000 ,0oo the expenses for the post
office department are always included,
whereas the expenses of the postofflce
department are not paid for out of the
proceeds of taxes. They are paid for out
Of the receipts of that department from
the sale of stamps with the exception OF
s17.5Oo,O0O which was the excess of the
cost of the postoffice department last
year over its receipts This, therefore,
reduces the cost by taxation of the gov
ernment each year to something like $780,
10000.
at is now proposed to appoint con-
gressional commission to look INTO the
| question of a general reorganization OF
the departments of the government with
view to reducing the expenses OF ad-
ininstering the government
"I think I have already made clear the
distinction between those expenditures OF
the government that go into PERMANENT
| i,onrovements and that when reduced one
wear must be increased another and the
actual routine cost of administration. A
| reduction in the costs proposed is not an
elimination Of improvements but merely a
| postponement of them; whereas reduc-
| tion in the cost of administration would
he permanent economy that of course
ON that account becomes most import
| ant.
Saving to Government
at has been stated on the floor of the
Senate that 1t would be possible by this
commission to reduce the cost of admin
istering the government 500 100000 year
and that il free hand were given to {
business man the reduction in the ex
penses OF the administration might b'
doubled or tripled
II am unable to confirm these state
ments as to exact amount, but L am yer,
sure that conservative, prudent ant
fearless commission could make a mos
material reduction in the cost OF admin
istering the government.
"They will find in Congress there is NJ
squabble to secure the proper construc
ton Of the Panama canal. But II by Ill