The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-09-02
HALF BILLION FOR DEFENCE
Washington Believes sum viii be Split
Between Army and Navy. So-eall-
ed War Tax 10 be Extended.

Between Army ana Navy. No-tai-
I'd War Tax 10 be Extended.
Washington. August 30-Secretary
Garrison will presen, to the President
this week his completed report on the
needs Of the army in the development
Of more adequate measures Of nation
al defence.
Secretary Daniels, who Is expected
10 return 10 Washington next week,
will be in a position by that time, il is
believed, 10 outline 10 the President
the recommendation Of the general
board Of the navy.
As soon as the President has di-
gested thoroughly the suggestions Of
both departments be will lay the
whole national defence program be-
fore the cabinet for an exchange Of
views. and before the army and navy
bills are finally drafted the President
will hold series Of conferences with
the chairmen Of house and senate mill
itary, naval, appropriations and
finance committees. II is the intention
as far as possible 10 present to con
gress program which will have the
support Of the Democratic leaders.
The impression prevailing in Wash
ington is that the program will call
for a total appropriation of approx
equally between the army and navy.
This sum is in round numbers about
s250000,000 in excess of the combin-
ed army and navy appropriations au-
thorized for the fiscal year 1856.
Where the money is to come from
10 make up this additional sum is still
to be decided. Although Chairman of
the senate finance committee has ex-
pressed the opinion after talk with
the President that the excess be
financed through an issuance of bonds
or short term notes the entire fiscal
outlook of the government is at pres
ent so uncertain that the President
has not attempted to settle the ques-
ton.
Not only Senator Simmons but Off |
cials Of the administration have given
intimations that the President is op-
posed at this time to any tinkering
with the tariff. Discouraging as the
customs have been under the Under
wood tariff, the President is said to
believe that the Democratic tariff law
should have a longer trial.
He is described as clinging firmly
to the belief that as soon as the Eu-
ropean war is over and imports are
hack on a normal basis the ability of
the Underwood 'ar!T to produce nec-
essary revenue will be established.
Not only is he opposed, it is stated,
to any tampering with the general
schedules, but he has rebuffed sugges
tions of repeal of the free sugar pro-
vision Of the law which under a gradu-
ated scale, becomes entirely effective
on January i, thereby looping off $50,
100000 in revenues.
It is believed that the President
would be far more reconciled to the
idea Of increasing the rate of the
scope Of the income tax which as
revenue producer, has fallen short of
The administration expectations.
In any event and entirely aside
from the requirements for larger mil :
tary and naval expenditures, the pros
,ect of continued deficit in the treas :
Try will make almost certain extern
zion for another year of the operation
If the war tax enacted by the last
congress. This tax unless extended
viii go out of operation in December.
Available for the purposes Of bond
ssue are about $3.50, 100000 worth of
panama canal bonds which have never
'een put on the market. These, it is :
expected, could be sold without furth- >
r authorization Of congress. Some of :,
he Presidents advisers, however, :
how preference for a short term note
ssue provided one can be obtained
rom congress on the ground that the
eed for more adequate defence at y
his time amounts TO an emergency,