Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1914-02-20
YOUR UNCLE SAM
SPENDS MONEY
1T COSTS A VAST SUM TO KEEP
THIS GOVERNMENT

THIS GOVERNMENT
Fred J. Haskins Writes From Wash
ington Where The Money Goes.
The item of pay for the navy is on'
of the largest expenditures in th,
government, for the American fight
ing man afloat is the best paid sailor
in the-world. The personal active and
retired, draws about $40,000,O00 q
year for its services. About $1,000.
900 is being spent this year for or
dinance and ordinance stores, includ-
ing the manufacture and purchase of
smokeless powder, while the bill for
increase of the navy will come to
twenty-five million. The expenses of
the United States Marine Corps ag-
gregate about eight million dollars,
covering its activities in all parts of
the world. The provision bill for the
navy this year is $7,592,441. Con-
tracts for fuel include not only the
supply of the vessels of the navy,
but coal dealers all over the world
are asked to give the figures at which
any time during the ensuing year they
will supply coal to the vessels of the
United States navy in sevepty-three
different ports as widely separated as
Wellington, Zanzibar, Hong Kong and
Lota.
Since the Republic of Panama re-
velted and entered into the treaty
with the United States which per-
mitted a beginning of canal construc-
tion in 1904, congress has appropri-
ated for the period up to June 30th,
1914, little more than $349 ,000, 900,
against the total authoriz-
ed Panama Canal bond issue of 1885,
100000.
The purchase of equipment for the
great task of cutting a ditch across
+he Isthmus has taken large part OF
this sum. So closely has the steam
shovel been identified with the Her
,ulean labor that most Americans will
De surprised to learn that only 102
American steam shovels have been
ised in the work. A part of the ex-
awaiting and construction equipment
brought to Panama by the French
vas utilized, but most of the French
locomotives. and excavators remained
in the jungle where they
we're deposited after arrival from Eur
pc. The other equipment purchased
included sixty-one cranes, seventeen
'ile drivers and ten track shifters, in
ddition to drills innnmerable and
IL the lesser equipment, as well as
large number of dredges utilized at
he entrances of the canal and, since
he water has been turned in, in the
'ulebra cut, in clearing away the
arth deposited in the canal by the
slides. As the work of
,ck construction was neared in 1909,
ne contract for 100000 barrels of
'ortland cement was let to single
rm.
Since Americans talk more about |
he weather than any one other sub /
,ct, it is interesting to know that the !
Gather bureau will cost this year !
| ,356,75O. The inspection of meat, q
the work for the eradica- C
on of diseases of meat animals, is
'sting $645,OOO, and the protection a
our food from adulteration costs b
$4,000 to which should be added
lough more of salaries in the bureau d
chemistry TO approach the million d
ark. For the single item of pre- o
'nting the spread of moths 5000, 900
as appropriated. G.
The activities of the department Of e
,riculture are held by its officials to I,
me peculiarly close to the interests
all the people. Ii is increased in 3,
ze more rapidly than any other de- a
Irtment of the government, and the
have grown from s3,- a,
6,022 in 1900, to 17,9S6,945 for
IA. Retired officers Of the army re-
i've $2.s77 900 and retired men, $2,-
0,935. The federal government l.
Us half n the expenses of the dis
let Of Columbia, amounting to ap- Ii
oximately s5,OOo.0OO a year. The Il
ninety-six senators e
aw $4,000 a year, and the mem u
rs of the house Of representatives,
-3O4 800, in addition to sl75,OOO
leaga for rauraee,faffraa aud SSI n