The Washington herald., 1911-03-26

tor of the Philippines. We ought to have
q navy and an army. of course. but there
Is no sensible reason why we should
waste our money in strutting up and down
the earth carrying swords and guns and
wearing feathers in our hats. We are
not soldiers or sailors, but farmers, me
chanics, and business men.
The phrase, be prepared for war,
sounds very patriotic, but II is mostly
professional and commercial. The manu-
facturers of guns, ammunition. battle
ships and armor plate, together with
their statesmen and lawyers and our army
and naval officers, are the chief ex-
ponents of the policy of preparation. III
Congress listened to and followed the
counsel of military experts the Treasury
would be empty every day in the year.
War with them. you understand, means
opportunity for heroic deeds and per-
sonal advancement. Also, they are nat
urally proud of their profession. So are
lawyers and physicians. But experts can
be extravagant and visionary. Occasion
ally they are funny.
II went down the Chesapeake Bay
once as a member of a committee. Mill
tary gentlemen had pressed upon Con-
gress the urgent necessity Of building and
fortifying an island between Cape Charles
and Cape Henry There was a shoal,
they said. that could be pieced out with
cement and masonry. When We got down
there, however, We discovered that the
military experts did not know whether
the shoal was mud, sand, or rock. But
they had the cost figured out.
Suppose said ono Of them. that
Great Britain and England should de-
clare war on the United States The
supposition was rather grotesque, but 1
did not want to be impolite and so kept
quiet. They would put an army of 10o.-
900 men on Transports the expert went
on solemnly to say. and send 1t to Cuba
From Cuba the army would be brought
right into Chesapeake Bay and disem-
ington and the other cities of the East
Would Take n Year to Invade.
TN the meanwhile asked, what
would we be doing? II took England
three years to get 10000 men into Africa
1t would probably take year or two
to land an army of that size in the
United States by way Of Cuba Your
hypothetical INVASION I said, is not
particularly impressive Neither was
his islan1. The appropriation was not
made. However, the proposition may be
living yet. 1t is possible that some Con-
gress in the future will authorize the
building of the island.
War seems to be an attractive pros
pect to many Americans, other than
soldiers and interested manufacturers,
Mr. Fitzgerald said in conclusion. They
do not stop to think that even in time
of peace the support of our army Is
equal in money to the yearly gold pro-
duction of the whole country, including
Alaska Last year the mines of the
United States produced ss6.Oo,0o0 of gold
and about s2s,eOO000 of silver, not enough
by q considerable margin to maintain
the navy and pay for our new ships"
rs too much money being appropriated
for public buildings?" l asked.
About 800 buildings have been au-
thorized. Some of them are under way.
They are half for use and half for monu-
mental purposes When one OF them Is
outerown Il cannot be employed to ad-
vantage either for stores or offices With
out saying there are too many buildings,
1 would criticise the architecture that
makes them unfit for any but govern
mental occupancy"
One Committee in Control.
Would it be better if all the appro-
priations made by the House Of Repre-
sentatives came from a single commit
tee?" I inquired.
'1 think ii would. The Committee on
Appropriations prepares supply bills for
about $3.50 1000 900. 1t does nothing else.
for the army, the navy,
the Indians, the Post-office Department,
the Department OF Agriculture, and for
rivers and harbors are prepared by other
Primarily, those committees
were created to consider legislation per-
tanning to the various government de-
partments. As II is. most OF their time
is now given to the writing of bills ap-
money. Furthermore, the
Naval Committee, by a perfectly natural
process has become the representative
of the navy. the Military Committee the
of the army. and so on.
1t seems TO me that all appropriations,
with the exception, perhaps. of those for
rivers and harbors, should emanate from
one committee. which would examine the
estimates of the different departments
and write its bill in full understanding
of the revenues of the government and
the governments legitimate needs. Re
sponsibility would then be centralized,
and not scattered. Money, l am sure,
would be saved. And all interests. i
think. would be certain OF fair treatment
Fifty years ago the total expendi
tures Of the government amounted 10 $66,-
$4,000. Twenty-Five years ago they were
$242, 4S3 0o0 a sum that is now required
each year for our army. our navy, and
our scheme of coast defenses. Militarism
is a disease of nations. The germ came
over the ocean after we went to war
with Spain. We have been suffering
ever since. AS an everyday
IL a man were to spend a
large part of his daily wages or income
for pistols, guns. and bowie knives. the
sheriff ultimately would get the residue
of his substance Likewise, there would
be a commission in lunacy to sit upon
his case
Copyright. 1911. by James B. Morruw.)